Aj's first bull

[ridgewalker]

What an absolutely grand report! Left a lump in my old throat just thinking about the young hunter and what effort he had to exert to achieve his goal. And, what a wonderful experience you must have had just to have witnessed his accomplishment!
Thanks to you and his dad for helping him reach his goal!

 

[wc870]

That's what it's all about! The older I get the more satisfaction I get out of taking someone new or younger afield rather than shooting something myself and seeing their excitement.

 

[Allen Lone wolf]

Thanks so much for sharing this story, it really touched my heart. This world is still full of good people and you are on the list. God bless you and your wife for what ya'll did and congratulations to AJ for a great bull.

 

[johnphx]

Great Bull !

 

[Jeremy Henderson]

Congratulations! Thank you and your wife for helping make memories that no one can take away.

 

[tim1457]

What an awesome story with a wonderful outcome, and like ridgewalker said "left a lump in my throat." Congratulations on a nice bull and God bless you for stepping in to help.

 

[Turpentine21]

Man that's awesome. You'll never forget this hunt and neither will AJ. Always a pleasure to see stories like this! I love to take kids hunting. I get much more out of a hunt when a kid shoots vs. doing it myself.

 

[Guhndawg]

This made my day!

 

[Southern 62]

WOW!!! So heart felt. You Sir have no idea the impact you made on Aj and his dad. I'm sure you and your wife were thanked many times by them. Hugged and may even had a tear or two. I can totally relate to this. I won't say why in this thread out of respect to Aj his dad and you. Thank You for letting you and your wife hands and feet be guided by your heart. That young man will go far in life with a dad like his and a new friend like you. Great Elk and story. May God continue to Bless you all. He certainly did that day

 

[RockyRandy]

Awesome job to all.

 

[MOA or bust]

Crazymonkey,
You, sir, are an inspiration to the rest of us!

 

[mountainman83]

WOW!!! So heart felt. You Sir have no idea the impact you made on Aj and his dad. I'm sure you and your wife were thanked many times by them. Hugged and may even had a tear or two. I can totally relate to this. I won't say why in this thread out of respect to Aj his dad and you. Thank You for letting you and your wife hands and feet be guided by your heart. That young man will go far in life with a dad like his and a new friend like you. Great Elk and story. May God continue to Bless you all. He certainly did that day

After reading a post asking for help on a champ elk hunt I decided I would go and help. Aj is 12 and has cerebral palsy. His dad Dan put him in for his first elk hunt in az unit 27. I'd never been in the unit. It's steep country!
My wife and I made the 5 hour drive with the trailer to meet Dan and Aj. Once I met them I knew I'd made the right decision.
Friday I ran across a guide with a hunter and they were on 3 bulls but not what they were going after . Seeing I didn't have a rifle they asked what I was looking for . I explained I was helping on a champ hunt. They pointed out the elk and I went to get Dan and Aj . We set up to shoot the bigger bull as he was bedded and had a broken leg . The weather moved in and we waited for a opening . Another group of hunters moved in and busted the bull .
We kept after it for days and on the last day finally got a shot at a spike at 850 yds at the shot . He was covered up at 450 by cows. It was a complete miss but Dan made the trip and checked to be certain. Walking the fence line he spotted elk on the ridge we'd been seeing them . So we made a last day push to get on them . It was a push as Aj is not super mobile and we walked in a half mile . Dan forgot his binos in the scramble to get everything . So I adjusted mine and gave them to Dan and he worked into a lane on the elk . The big bull stepped into the window we had ( only 10 feet wide ) . I got Aj into the spot and at 450 uphill it was a one and done as the bull dropped at the shot. A complete sigh of relief came over Dan and myself as it was a grind but Aj never complained once. The kid is a trooper and it goes to show you to never give up.

That is FANTASTIC!
Congrats to AJ and his father on such an exciting hunt that neither will ever forget.
Crazymonkey, its people like you that makes this world a better place. Thank you for stepping up and helping this family.
Smiles on everyones faces says it all!

 

[Rosebud]

After reading a post asking for help on a champ elk hunt I decided I would go and help. Aj is 12 and has cerebral palsy. His dad Dan put him in for his first elk hunt in az unit 27. I'd never been in the unit. It's steep country!
My wife and I made the 5 hour drive with the trailer to meet Dan and Aj. Once I met them I knew I'd made the right decision.
Friday I ran across a guide with a hunter and they were on 3 bulls but not what they were going after . Seeing I didn't have a rifle they asked what I was looking for . I explained I was helping on a champ hunt. They pointed out the elk and I went to get Dan and Aj . We set up to shoot the bigger bull as he was bedded and had a broken leg . The weather moved in and we waited for a opening . Another group of hunters moved in and busted the bull .
We kept after it for days and on the last day finally got a shot at a spike at 850 yds at the shot . He was covered up at 450 by cows. It was a complete miss but Dan made the trip and checked to be certain. Walking the fence line he spotted elk on the ridge we'd been seeing them . So we made a last day push to get on them . It was a push as Aj is not super mobile and we walked in a half mile . Dan forgot his binos in the scramble to get everything . So I adjusted mine and gave them to Dan and he worked into a lane on the elk . The big bull stepped into the window we had ( only 10 feet wide ) . I got Aj into the spot and at 450 uphill it was a one and done as the bull dropped at the shot. A complete sigh of relief came over Dan and myself as it was a grind but Aj never complained once. The kid is a trooper and it goes to show you to never give up.

The world of hunting, and the world in general needs more people like you. It warms my soul to read this story.

 

[Allen Kitts]

Great Story and kudo's to you for helping out. There just aren't that many good guys left in this world that would help out in a situation like this. You should be very proud of yourself, I don't know you but I am proud of you. Not that that really means anything, but it seriously warms my heart to hear when people actually reach out to help each other in today's world. Your a good man.