2024 saw the first year in a long time that Tom successfully filled an elk tag! With spending so much time running the business, he never had time to hunt. By the end of November we were close enough to retiring, and all our shows and business dealings were in good hands with our sons, Tom and long time friends were at in once again. This year (2024) he did make the change from archery hunting back to rifle hunting, something he has not done since we left Montana some 35 years ago. 

This was the year!!! After being extremely lucky and drawing coveted antlerless tags, they headed to a few favorite spots in the Starkey unit and the hunt began. Warmer wet weather prohibited driving to the gates of the favored spot, so the 45 minute walk started every morning well before sunrise. After almost giving up on the 6th day, and slowly making his way back down the hill.... SURPRISE!!! Was it luck, skill or determination? Well Tom will tell you luck, but the deed happened and although small, we all had fresh elk meat in the freezer. 

Jump to this year, 2025 and once again at their favorite spot in the Starky unit, the hunt began. Tom was 2 days late due to an unexpected loss of a family member, but still maintained a positive attitude and headed up the hill once again. Being a little wet and muddy, and not wanting to take any risks with the new Duramax, he made the 45 minute uphill walk to the start of the hunt. Day 1, nothing but where someone else had poached an elk probably the week prior. Sickening to see how little regard someone had to life and the waste of an entire elk carcass. Day two saw 
Tom and long time friend and fellow hunter Bob driving up to the gate ( it was cold and the road was hard enough to drive). They split up and went in their own directions. After a couple hours Tom and Bob were texting to see where each were. Tom had just returned his phone to his coat pocket when he noticed movement. Yup you guessed it, lucky again, and this time a much larger elk. So once again, 2025 sees all three hunting buddies have fresh elk in the freezer!!!

The following pictures are from our camp. First is the morning after the 2025 harvest. The next three are a progression of the sunrise from the same exact spot only the next morning, 2 days after the harvest! The others are random from the Starkey unit...

Nothing like hanging on by a thread!!!