As I have said before many people come into our lives.  In the outdoor world of hunting and fishing, I feel that we connect with the land and those that are part of the land…

For me there have been many Ranchers that I have come in contact in regards to hunting, especially in the state of Oregon…

In the 80’s. 90’s, 2000’s, much of my time was spent in Central Oregon mostly on the west side of the John Day River in pursuit of deer, elk and free ranging exotics.   Through the years one might become infamous or notorious in relationship of the owners of the rimrock, sage and junipers.   This past summer my son and I visited one of the ranchers that I have known through others, as well as how he knew me, yet we have never sat down and had a fireside chat…   During the 4 or so hours we spent in a tent on his property, setting life straight and becoming friends of the mind, a common bond was made.   Life is not easy for Ranchers, especially in the hostile land of the John Day River.

So the following was able to happen because of the gathering of the past summer!

Hi Frank-

“I found your website after sending you a private message on Ifish after you responded to my post about my son needing a place to hunt for cow elk in the North Grizzly Unit.  If you have any contacts that would be great the season ends on November 30 and I am running out of options.  Any help you could provide for a 14 year old kid would be greatly appreciated!”  Jeff

Being able to come up with an area and the Rancher’s phone number, Jeff was able to get permission to hunt on this land.  

 Hey Frank-“Look at what we found! Ha-Ha….

Great hunting experience for my son we put in a long stalk in on Saturday morning after putting the elk to bed Friday night. We ended up walking the rim rock all the way to the end. We crawled to the edge where my son touched one off from the top clear down to the bottom. He hit her in the back leg with a stiff wind coming from left to right, very tough shot!

 The Wind always blows in the area!

They took off running she was hurt yet still ran for an extended period.  We caught up to her a couple of times but she ran off before he could settle in to shoot.  I finally spotted her bed down in front of a tree at a high vantage point. This time we cut a limb off a tree after he missed twice so he could get a good shot.  He connected while she was laying down right in the neck and died immediately…  Took us all day to finally get her out with the use of a 4 wheeler but we were both still beat after coming in and out of that Canyon a couple of times!  Finished skinning her out then cut her in half and headed for home about 6PM last night.”

Great experience!

Hey Frank-Happy Black Friday!

We ended up on Dave’s property….he really took to the “kid” as he called him…..Ha-Ha.

He let us use his 4 wheeler to haul that thing out which really helped the cause!

He also enjoyed the whiskey, salmon, beer and tuna that I brought to him as Thanks.

Hell of a memory for a 14 yr old kid, made it even more special that we were able to do it together….

Thanks again for the connection, Max is very thankful and wanted me to say Thanks as well….