HOOKED FOR LIFE

  A Labor Day Hunt to Remember One of my favorite archery hunting memories started with a simple idea: I wanted to share the hunt with someone new. Every Labor Day, my wife’s family holds a reunion near the Utah-Wyoming border. For me, that’s perfect because I'm usually holding an over-the-counter archery tag, and it’s a great excuse to explore unfamiliar terrain far from home. A few years back, I started inviting her cousins to tag along, not just for the extra set of eyes (and maybe hands for packing), but to give them a window into what I love about hunting. One of her younger cousins, Travis, really took interest. He came out with me a few times, curious and eager to learn. One morning, we decided to check out a new spot we’d scouted on OnX. We weren’t 100 yards from the truck when we heard a crash in the brush ahead. We froze. A beautiful cow elk stood just 10 yards away. I instinctively reached for my bow, only to realize in the rush I’d left my trigger release behind. I drew back with my fingers, but didn’t feel confident in the shot, even at that range. So I let her walk. That moment was all Travis needed to be hooked. He started practicing, buying gear, and sharpening his skills. Fast forward a couple of seasons, and we were both back in that area, tags in hand, ready to go. That evening, we set out early, looking for sign and water holes to sit on. As we reached one promising spot, we moved to the edge to check for tracks, and then we heard movement. A spike elk came down the hill and stepped into the water just 65 yards away, stopping broadside. I looked at Travis and asked, “Do you want to try?” His response said everything about his character: “I can't make that shot.” So I drew. We both watched as the arrow cleared the brush and buried perfectly into the vitals. The trail was short, maybe 100 yards, a clear line of blood to where he piled up. Walking up to that elk with Travis at my side was something special. Watching a new hunter experience their first close encounter with a harvest, the emotion, the respect, the effort it takes, it’s why I do this. It's what keeps me coming back. To me, that’s the heart of hunting, sharing the journey, respecting the animal, and passing on the tradition. That’s why I’m a proud Nockaholic. Thanks for giving us a platform to share these moments.