Hunts for Heroes - Desert Bighorn hunt

[Chris]

Great story, and great ram!

[300RUM]

I've never been motivated to join a forum before. This event has changed that. The forum members coming together on such short notice to assist a deserving veteran was incredible.

 

The 37B Sheep tag was donated by Chris, my best friend and hunting partner for over 25 years. Chris is not a skilled long range shooter so the first week we ran a stalk and maneuver hunt trying to get a close shot. We were consistently defeated by the mountain. In one case Chris tumbled down the mountain, breaking his rifle stock in half. By the end of the week he had nicknamed Picketpost "The Mountain of Pain." The second weekend we had a bold plan to hunt from a camp on top of the mountain. This would have provided plenty of short range shots to positions the sheep liked. I caught bronchitis, the weather was terrible, so Chris aborted that plan and stayed low.

 

On the 22nd Chris called to inform me the hunt was over. His mother had just been rushed to the hospital and her condition was not promising. The place for him to be was at her side. He decided to donate the tag to a veteran. I told him to include my name and number with it. All the knowledge we had gathered needed to accompany that tag. The hunter would not much time as the tag expired on the 31st. I was also willing to get out in the field when I was available to do so. Jim, another of Chris's friends was willing to assist as well. On the 27th, I was contacted by Tom, who had gotten the tag re-issued to a veteran. Tom and Andrew came to my house that evening and we went over maps and satellite images. The whole time they were coordinating with volunteers and making a plan to get the hunter in the field the next day. This thing was actually going to take off and fly! As they left I told them I would see them out there Friday and Saturday.

 

At 3:20 P.M. on Wednesday the 28th I received a text, "Big Ram Down!" I called Chris. In over 25 years of hunting together we have obviously experienced both success and failure. Although Chris didn't tag the ram we both agree this hunt goes in the success pile. It was inspiring to be able to turn the hunt over to a veteran instead of letting the tag expire in Chris's wallet at the hospital. Fortunately, his mother is stabilized and may be able to leave soon.

 

Neil, I appreciate your service and sacrifice. You jumped right into a challenging hunt with no time to prepare, then got out on that mountain and made it happen. Nice shot Marine! That is a beautiful ram.

 

Lee Zimmermann

[Chris]

Nice writeup. Some of my best memories came as tag soup! Great idea about the tag. I never knew you could do that!

[AzPlumber]

Outstanding addition to this story, welcome to the forum.

[300RUM]

I wonder how many people are not aware you can donate a tag to a vet?

 

Let me throw out a suggestion, See if some newspapers would run a little story about this. It is the kind of story that might get published. The reason to get the story published would be to communicate the fact a tag can be donated to a Vet.

 

It would obviously have to be Neil's call to whether proceed with this.

 

I have frequent contact with the Globe newspaper and another co-worker who hunts frequently goes to the Payson paper.

[AzPlumber]

I have no doubt that a hunting magazine or two would run the story. The Western Hunter would be a good one.

[Wrk2Hnt]

Thanks for the writeup Lee(300RUM). I'm glad all is going well for your friend and the tag was still used. I'm glad Chris was aware enough to donate the tag.....even tho last minute. It worked out and I'm sure plenty of people were apreciative it went to a great cause.

[Flatlander]

And now you know the rest of the story . . .

 

Thanks for adding that Lee and welcome to the CWT family. Don't worry, not every thread is as inspiring as this. Just wait a day or two and I am sure our sibling like quarreling will resume.

 

Hope you get felling better.

 

- Andrew

[Lv2hnt]

There are several of you CWTers who are eager to get this story out and help promote the Hunts for Heroes program. That's great. Let's do it in an organized manner.

 

Since Hunts for Heroes is a part of the Arizona Elk Society, let AES take the reins first on getting the story out about this hunt. CWT's involvement will be duly noted, be assured of that --- this hunt's success would not have happened without those who showed up from CWT! Going forward, input from all of you is welcome --- there are many outlets to be pursued. Feel free to contact me anytime.

 

Look this coming week here on CWT for follow-up on Neil's hunt --- maybe even a way for you to get involved ...

 

 

[Viper]

Big congrats to Neil. Thank you for your service! I have hunted a lot around Picket Post and would have loved to be involved with this. I was helping my buddy with his WT hunt and was not on CWT for several days. Big kudos to AES and CWT!

Maybe G&F would put the story in Wildlife Veiws?

[300RUM]

How about writing an article and submitting it for publication in Bugle, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation publication. It is just the kind of thing they would print, with national exposure. There have to be other states with tag donation to veteran programs. Getting the word out that tags can be donated to veterans increases the chances that they will be.