CatfishKev

Well got the truck packed and hooked to the camper. Got the boys with me and heading up for my bison hunt. Mommas supposed to come tomorrow with the oldest daughter. Heading out of the valley up the steep incline we here a thud and all of the sudden no power...uggh you gotta be kidding me. Turbo gage drops to zero... limp up the hill to the flat at like 15mph. After a phone call and look over things we figure I blew my intercooler. Drive another hour and a half back to the valley to get one of two in the valley I can pick up tonight. Pick up at autozone and start to work not realizing I'm right next to a 7 11. After the first encounter with a local undesirable I pack the boys back in the truck and head up to the happy valley walmart. Was really wanting to be up there at first light but hey that's how it goes. I'm just glad ot ain't something worse and that were not stuck in the middle of nowhere. At the very least I suppose it's a character building experience for my boys. Hopefully we can be back on the road in a couple hours.

When we went to the store for snacks she didnt even wanna go in because her stomach hurt so bad over it. She's a good kid.

Hey man I need to make my little girl feel better.

Awesome dude! Took the whole family in there and got the crushed pennies. Even got two to make my wife earrings. The skull looks awesome. Are you gonna do a mount or a blanket?

100% We did spend all day. Hiked miles around and down to the nearest tank. Even came back for 2 of dale and Heathers dogs and went back out to search but came up nada. Found a tiny piece of lung I think but that was it. I'm pretty sure it clipped the upper corner of one lung and she will survive so I guess that's reassuring at least.

To be honest not exactly sure. I think if we are walking in with a rifle we are poachers so were not doing that. . Someone please correct me if I am wrong. I'm actually not sure on this one.

Coming real soon... Spent though. More storytime tomoro.

Well what can I say, this season has been a ride. Started with the bison card hit then pondering whether to do the co op or not. In the end.. decided not. only had a handful of dates between hunts to check things out and set cams. A big shout out to many previous tag holders on these hunts. Heat, Notags, Idgaf, Mt sourdough all had info to pass along to me. Flew up on short notice with my wife and checked a handful of areas and set cams. Ran short on time when my battery light came on in the f250, had to call it a day and spent the afternoon in Kanab at the napa parking lot changing out my alternater. Got back and finished what I could before the hunt that started the next day. Fsst forward.. The downside was 2 of my kids had elk tags the same time. We made plans with Dale and Heather in Young AZ (Wild Heritage Taxidermy) to take my kids out and stay with them while my wife and oldest son joined me on the bison hunt. That plan changed because I wanted my kids to have the opportunity to see the kaibab and see live free ranging bison up close and personal. The plan now was if I didnt fill my tag quickly momma was gonna zip them down to young and I'd stay with my oldest boy Auggie and hunt the bison. Well the day came, left with the boys and the camper and momma was to follow the next day... then the whole turbo intercooler fiasco took place and that basically cost me my day of checking cams and scouting. Once we finally hit the north rim we set camp in a dash and went to check cams.. the boys were already over it. I had asked quite a lot of them and they delivered but now on minimal sleep and food it was becoming less fun. While checking cams I'm noticing most the spots that seemed hot the activity had pretty much completely dropped off. This sent me into a mental tailspin and I started freaking out a little bit. By this point Auggie and Enoch my oldest and youngest sons were spent and started napping in the truck. Next cam spot my middle boy wanted to continue with me. Hiked down to a spot recommended by Idgaf and checked the cam. Looked at pics Whoah! We missed a herd by a half hour. After looking through pics I figured I had a chance that a herd would show up every 3 to 5 days. It was decided, this is my spot I'm gonna hunt.. Opening morning.... chewing on what weapon to bring. I really wanted to take a bison with my bow as first choice. Alternatively my wife has a marlin 30-30 that her pap had bought for her dad when he was young back in PA. I thought to myself if not a bow to take such a historic animal what better then an old historic rifle.. well I decided to bring both. Get the bow out in the dark and have my boy shine a flashlight in it to illuminate the pins. I take 2 practice shots and its shooting four inches left. At this point I'm worried about the co op hunter potentially getting to the spot before me and decide to come back at lunch and zero in my bow. We gather up our gear and throw it in the truck and zip down the road. We park a good 300 yards or so to not spook anything and we load up heavy. 2 nice lawn chairs with hi tech pistons, the blind, 2 packs with a rifle and a bow, 2 down bags stuffed inside and a mr buddy heater and some snacks and drinks etc. We get down and set up the blind before its light out and I check the co OP blind and its empty... a sigh of relief. Now we wait....

I'm hoping it's like that. I actually feel well have a dead cow waiting for us but it's that wondering that causes pure mental madness.

This is true. On the phone with my wife I said I killed a bison on day one, brakes didn't lock up on the highway with my kids in the truck and we are all safe and alive. Son killed second day and daughter had a shot. Heck I'm just happy to fill my bison tag. Even after all the bad luck I still feel lucky to have a once in a lifetime harvest and all my little ones safe and sound. My oldest baby girl has true grit when it comes to hunting, I'm proud of her regardless of what tomorow brings.

Shots fired. Questionable hit. Hopefully recovery in am.

Ok, new caliper on, 3 more hours to get it done..

Well as per usual Aurora has to suffer on her hunts. Got on a herd last night and blew it, didnt realize I was that close and they blew out. Same herd this morning glassed from way high and as soon as a verify location start heading down. Ad I'm going through the last gate I glass one more time to verify and spot another guy with his kid moving in on them and they are closer. Sucks cuz we were in there earlier, he just parked closer. Got a bull bedded with cows I was gonna maybe go after but then my brakes went to crap and I'm now sitting waiting for the part to show up. Should be here soon. Hopefully we can make it happen in the 11th hour.

Well I'm in another vehicle jam. My passenger side caliper is fubar and my truck is undriveable. Theres one available in payson if someone could potentially grab ot on there way. I'm stuck in young right now at Dale and Heather's place, (Wild Heritage Taxidermy). Figures theres gotta be someone on the way with a hunt starting tomorow.

I even had a dude call me was gonna drive it up to me from tucson because he didnt have anything better to do. Crazy..

Crisis averted. Ones on the way.

My cell 520 227 6720

Have to head back up to 12a in 2 weeks for the deer hunt but dont wanna tote the camper back home and all the way back up if I dont have to. If anyone has space to let ot sit for two weeks that would be sweet! Thanks guys.

Got a place lined up. Thanks guys

Cow down last night! Hopefully another tonight.

Drop off would be next couple days, depending on elk kill, hopefully tomorow evening until next Thursday the 24th and would hope to pick up early Thursday in the am.

It's like 30ish feet

Changed my mind, payson is too far out of the way.

Nice job Dave. Just so you guys know Dave felt so guilty he got one and the wounded warrior did not. But he was there first and they didnt show up until after sunrise. He also offered to leave And they told him to stay, and when He decided to stay still gave them dibs on first shot opportunity (which could have cost him his shot). They missed, he gave chase and filled his tag. I pretty much told him empathy is a good thing and more people should have it. But he has zero reason to feel guilty. Dave, you are a man of character and you deserve that bison. Congrats dude! I'm super happy for you!

Dont go too romantic or you'll end end up like me with a life of servitude to children!