New Beginnings

Well 2013 didn't quite turn out to be the hunting season I was hoping for.  This past year brought many new chapters to my life.  I began the year with the birth of my first child, Lane.  My wife and I are very blessed to have such an amazing child.  He has brought a joy into our lives we never thought possible.

After having Lane not much else had changed.  Next came spring turkey season where I was lucky enough to harvest my best bird yet with my bow.  I hunted in SD with Dusty and Stephen and once again where we captured some great video footage.  We all filled tags on great birds.

After spring season finished up the summer flew by.  We didn't do a whole lot, but made it back to Lemmon for my 10 year high school reunion.  It was a blast getting to see most everyone again and there is nothing better than going home.  It always amazes me how much that small town can change.

After summer passed us by I now began to look for employment in the western part of the state.  Leah has been wanting to move to a larger area and I was very excited for the prospect of trying something new out. 

I managed to land a job in Helena so the move was made.  I left the family behind for a little while before they moved out with me.  I was lucky enough to fit a couple days of antelope hunting in, but never had any success.  It was great just getting out when I had the chance.

So there I was all packed up and ready to begin my new adventure.  We bought a 27' bumper pull camper and that would be home.  I moved out the last part of Aug. and of course elk season was right around the corner.  I knew with the move and beginning a new job hunting was going to be put on the back burner.  I would hopefully get out a little bit and explore some new areas.  I didn't manage to fit any elk hunting in, but am very eager for next fall.

All while this big move was going on, I was privileged to help out Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls by going to a seminar and sitting at booths for them selling product and demonstrating how to use them.  It is always a blast getting to visit with other hunters both young, old, new, and experienced.

After getting in a couple of shows and a seminar in it was time to work.  Work has occupied the majority of my time, but I knew that coming in.  I finally got the family all moved in and as cramped as it was I could ask for nothing more.  We eventually found a much roomier place to live and are doing great.  I'm loving the area.  The sights are endless and I can't wait for the coming spring and fall.  While living her I have recently taken back up fly fishing and am loving it.  I managed to sneak a few days in here and there and am looking forward to hitting the river in the spring.  It is an art I'm still learning, but am in a great area to learn.

Living closer to bear country will be great.  My plans are to hopefully make a trip back to SD to hunt some turkey, but will most likely concentrate on doing some spot and stalk hunting for black bear with my bow. 

With this move there has been some big changes.  New home, new job, and loss of a couple of pets.  Unfortunately we had to put down a very loved family dog and sold our two horses as we don't have the room or time needed for them.

I got to hunt whitetails a couple of days and ran across one of the better whitetail bucks I have seen in quite a few years.  While living in eastern MT I concentrated on mostly mule deer, but look forward to transitioning back to the whitetail frame of mind.  It has been a very hard year for me not spending much time in the field, but now as a parent my perspective has changed.  Hunting will always be a huge portion of my life, once you add a family in the mix everything changes.  And that is a change for the better.

It's hard to say what 2014 will bring, but the future looks very bright and the anticipation is exciting.  Only time will tell what tags are filled and what adventures I will go on.