JF Ranch
Well-known member
Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting FlyingS when he and his family stopped by my place to show me his Grandpa's fantastic mule deer and rifle. My eyes popped as he walked in the door with those antlers and I knew right then that we needed to get pictures of them. I was equally amazed when he uncased that beautiful gun.
Once I was able to control my shaking hands, I got him situated and started snapping pictures. Oblivious of the background clutter which I should have moved aside, I made the joke that I should get my elk in the photos somehow! I actually wasn't even aware that the lower portion of the mount showed up in one of the pictures.
Anyway, after sending the pictures to him by email, he put them up on this forum and I am pleased with the nice response to them. This deer is truly a beautiful trophy and the rifle is a priceless heirloom. FlyingS is fortunate to have possession of these keepsakes from his Grandfather.
FlyingS and spouse have two cute little children. A year old son and a three year old daughter who took a special liking to our old Black Lab, Jenny who you can see in the first photo. This wonderful dog is still doing OK at 13 years of age. She used to run with us all day, wherever we would ride but now she prefers a warm spot in the house. It was fun having this lively little girl in our home. It's been long enough since our sons were that age that I'd forgotten how much commotion those little kids can cause! I loved it.
From the replies he got from his deer and rifle, I noticed some interest in seeing the rest of my elk. Since I'm not calving yet and practically snowed in, I took some pictures yesterday. Here he is:
This elk was taken on September 20, 1997 in the Teton Wilderness near the south east corner of Yellowstone Park. For those of you who do not know this, it is illegal to take any motorized or mechanical equipment in Wilderness Areas. Therefore only hoof or foot traffic is allowed. Since no chainsaws are allowed either, we took axes and an old two-man hand saw in for our logging needs.
I was invited to go hunting with college friends who live at Riverton, WY and was lucky enough to draw a tag the first time I tried, spotted and shot this nice bull by 8:00 am on the opening day of that season.
This was a "do it yourself", 9 day hunt that required a 4 hour pack trip to the camp site which was roughly 15 miles from the trail head at Turpin Meadows. Each of us seven in all, rode our own horses. The string included 14 pack mules to haul our supplies, tents, bedding and equipment. We had a very well supplied and equiped camp!
Although I never had him officially scored, my friends measured him at 321 inches. He is as heavy as most any I've seen but lacks the width and tine length that the better bulls have.
The picture hanging on the wall to the left of the mount has two snapshots of the bull where he was killed, my license, tag, two shell casings, the bull's ivories and the mushroomed slug the meat processor saved for me.
As a busy rancher, I am interested in all kinds of hunting but rarely take the time to pursue it. This was the only time I have ever been hunting like this. Over the years my sons and I have taken antelope on our ranch and have had two of them mounted.
Has anyone ever heard of Two Ocean Pass? Or Enos Lake? Unless you have been up in that Wilderness area or heard about it from old trapper's jounals, probably not. We camped between these two landmarks. We fished for trout at Enos Lake and visited Two Ocean Pass after my hunt was complete. Two Ocean Pass is a unique natural place where Two Ocean Creek spills out of the mountains, exactly on the Continental Divide where it splits into Pacific Creek and Atlantic Creek. This is the "parting of the waters" where each creek proceeds to their respective ocean, never to meet again. I found this to be a truly inspirational place.
On another day, we rode to Hawk's Rest along the Yellowstone River Valley. Hawk's Rest is a mountain peak just a mile and a half from the Yellowstone Park boundary, that has been referred to as the most remote point in the lower 48 states. I have always regretted that we did not go a little farther to see Bridger Lake which lies less than a mile from the boundary.
Soapweed spent time packing for an outfitter in this area after we graduated from high school, back in 1970. Some of you might remember his writing about that experience on this board. While up in those mountains, I couldn't help but think of him as I traveled the same trails he used on a daily basis.
This bull is a heavy 6x6 but had a broken abnormal 7th point on his left antler. Had he not grown this extra point, I believe that the shorter 6th point on that side might have matched the longer one on the other side.
Since this trip, I have not hunted elk again myself, although I have "tagged along" with these friends on two other occasions. I guess I don't have the need to shoot another one for myself but just being in these mountains with good friends is an unforgetable experience for a Sandhiller like me.
After returning home from this hunt, I wrote a story about it that I may post separately. I had taken a video camera with me for this trip. Therefore I have a 2 hour video of this once in a lifetime experience. Anyone wishing to watch it is welcome to stop by for an evening anytime!
Once I was able to control my shaking hands, I got him situated and started snapping pictures. Oblivious of the background clutter which I should have moved aside, I made the joke that I should get my elk in the photos somehow! I actually wasn't even aware that the lower portion of the mount showed up in one of the pictures.
Anyway, after sending the pictures to him by email, he put them up on this forum and I am pleased with the nice response to them. This deer is truly a beautiful trophy and the rifle is a priceless heirloom. FlyingS is fortunate to have possession of these keepsakes from his Grandfather.
FlyingS and spouse have two cute little children. A year old son and a three year old daughter who took a special liking to our old Black Lab, Jenny who you can see in the first photo. This wonderful dog is still doing OK at 13 years of age. She used to run with us all day, wherever we would ride but now she prefers a warm spot in the house. It was fun having this lively little girl in our home. It's been long enough since our sons were that age that I'd forgotten how much commotion those little kids can cause! I loved it.
From the replies he got from his deer and rifle, I noticed some interest in seeing the rest of my elk. Since I'm not calving yet and practically snowed in, I took some pictures yesterday. Here he is:
This elk was taken on September 20, 1997 in the Teton Wilderness near the south east corner of Yellowstone Park. For those of you who do not know this, it is illegal to take any motorized or mechanical equipment in Wilderness Areas. Therefore only hoof or foot traffic is allowed. Since no chainsaws are allowed either, we took axes and an old two-man hand saw in for our logging needs.
I was invited to go hunting with college friends who live at Riverton, WY and was lucky enough to draw a tag the first time I tried, spotted and shot this nice bull by 8:00 am on the opening day of that season.
This was a "do it yourself", 9 day hunt that required a 4 hour pack trip to the camp site which was roughly 15 miles from the trail head at Turpin Meadows. Each of us seven in all, rode our own horses. The string included 14 pack mules to haul our supplies, tents, bedding and equipment. We had a very well supplied and equiped camp!
Although I never had him officially scored, my friends measured him at 321 inches. He is as heavy as most any I've seen but lacks the width and tine length that the better bulls have.
The picture hanging on the wall to the left of the mount has two snapshots of the bull where he was killed, my license, tag, two shell casings, the bull's ivories and the mushroomed slug the meat processor saved for me.
As a busy rancher, I am interested in all kinds of hunting but rarely take the time to pursue it. This was the only time I have ever been hunting like this. Over the years my sons and I have taken antelope on our ranch and have had two of them mounted.
Has anyone ever heard of Two Ocean Pass? Or Enos Lake? Unless you have been up in that Wilderness area or heard about it from old trapper's jounals, probably not. We camped between these two landmarks. We fished for trout at Enos Lake and visited Two Ocean Pass after my hunt was complete. Two Ocean Pass is a unique natural place where Two Ocean Creek spills out of the mountains, exactly on the Continental Divide where it splits into Pacific Creek and Atlantic Creek. This is the "parting of the waters" where each creek proceeds to their respective ocean, never to meet again. I found this to be a truly inspirational place.
On another day, we rode to Hawk's Rest along the Yellowstone River Valley. Hawk's Rest is a mountain peak just a mile and a half from the Yellowstone Park boundary, that has been referred to as the most remote point in the lower 48 states. I have always regretted that we did not go a little farther to see Bridger Lake which lies less than a mile from the boundary.
Soapweed spent time packing for an outfitter in this area after we graduated from high school, back in 1970. Some of you might remember his writing about that experience on this board. While up in those mountains, I couldn't help but think of him as I traveled the same trails he used on a daily basis.
This bull is a heavy 6x6 but had a broken abnormal 7th point on his left antler. Had he not grown this extra point, I believe that the shorter 6th point on that side might have matched the longer one on the other side.
Since this trip, I have not hunted elk again myself, although I have "tagged along" with these friends on two other occasions. I guess I don't have the need to shoot another one for myself but just being in these mountains with good friends is an unforgetable experience for a Sandhiller like me.
After returning home from this hunt, I wrote a story about it that I may post separately. I had taken a video camera with me for this trip. Therefore I have a 2 hour video of this once in a lifetime experience. Anyone wishing to watch it is welcome to stop by for an evening anytime!
