I had been dreaming of elk hunting for many years and hoped someday it would happen. After researching and making phone calls, I decided to apply for a unit 34 elk tag in New Mexico with San Juan River Outfitters. After being unsuccessful in 2019, I decided to stick to my plan and try again in 2020. My dream was to have three of my best friends go along with me if we could ever get a tag. John Jaquez from San Juan River Outfitters discouraged us from applying as a group, but he said the decision was ours. Sticking to our plan of either we are all in or none, we decided to apply for a muzzleloader tag for unit 34 again, despite very low draw adds.
April 22nd started like any other day at work. I was busy at my desk getting things going and wasn’t thinking about New Mexico draw results coming out. An email popped up on my phone from the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish, and I clicked on it, still not thinking about draw results, and saw the word “Congratulations!” After calling all my buddies and John and confirming it was for real, the excitement set in and the planning began.
October finally arrived, and we found ourselves making the trip to New Mexico. We arrived in camp on October 16th and were impressed with everything we saw. The feeling of letting the stresses of life go and enjoying God’s creations for a few days with the closest of friends is a wonderful feeling. John had decided to get his good friend, Reyne Roman from Elkguyd’s Big Game Hunting Service, to help with two of us hunters. We decided that my uncle, Nevin Good, and I would hunt with Reyne. Uncle Nevin would be first up to shoot, and I would be behind the muzzleloader Monday morning. Saturday and Sunday, we saw elk, but no elk were harvested.
Sunday evening, with excitement and anticipation high for Monday morning, I crawled into my tent to sleep, wondering what the day would be like. After little sleep, Monday morning finally arrived. We met Reyne at his location, and he introduced us to a guide he had brought along, Ernie Nevarez. I instantly knew I was in good hands listening to Ernie and Reyne discuss the plans for the day.
As we were listening for elk bugles, we got to enjoy one of the most beautiful sunrises I had ever seen. It wasn’t but a few minutes into the hunt when Ernie said, “There is a good bull on the next ridge.” We quickly moved into position to try to get a shot, but at 240 yards, I never felt confident with the shot opportunity I had. We made another move, hoping to cut him off, only to watch him disappear over a ridge onto private ground. I’ll never forget that sickening feeling of wondering if I blew my one chance at a bull elk.
Ernie and Reyne quickly formed a plan and said we should see if we could get after another bull we had heard bugling but never saw. After Reyne bugled at him and we listened to him respond, Ernie looked at me and said, “Let’s go. Follow me.” Reyne and Uncle Nevin stayed back and continued to call to him while I followed Ernie as we tried to locate exactly where he was. After a few minutes, we realized he was not coming to us. We would have to find him. I was utterly amazed as I watched Ernie plan every move as we began to sneak closer to where we thought he was located. We finally concluded that he was at the end of the next ridge over in a little bowl. Again, I was impressed watching Ernie constantly checking the wind and taking the path of most cover as we snuck from our ridge to where we thought the bull was.
Reyne bugled again, and my bull answered. We realized we were very close. We moved a few more yards and saw the tips of his antlers in the brush about 150 yards away. Ernie had carried his Bog Death Grip tripod along, and we quickly set up, hoping for an opportunity. I could see glimpses of him every once in a while. Ernie said to just wait it out as he thought he would move. After what seemed like a very long time but in reality was probably only 10 minutes or so, I saw an elk moving through the brush headed toward an opening. I told Ernie there was an elk to the left, and as he stepped out, we realized that one was a spike. As we saw more elk headed toward that opening, Ernie quickly grabbed the tripod. We moved about 10 yards to get a clearer view of the opening. The next elk out was another spike and then we saw the bull we were after. He came out with a cow. As soon as he was in the clear, Ernie stopped him with a cow call. He swung and looked at us as I settled my crosshairs on him. Thinking to myself not to mess this up, I squeezed the trigger. Ernie ran up the hill a little bit and said, “Reload!” As I dug for the bullets and powder, he said, “Come here!” I ran to him just as I saw my bull going down.
After high fives, hugs, and waiting on my uncle and Reyne to meet up with us, we started walking to the bull. At this moment, a lot of emotion started to set in as I realized everything I had hoped for had made a complete circle. I stood in awe of the magnificent bull and realized I am so blessed to be able to enjoy hunting and have a wife and children back home who support me.
Ernie and Reyne went to work, and in short time, we had the bull quartered and ready to pack out. Thankfully, we were very fortunate and the bull died 150 yards from a road, so the pack out was pretty easy.
I am first of all thankful to God for giving me good health, a plan of salvation, and the opportunity to enjoy His creation. I would like to thank John from San Juan River Outfitters for running a very good operation. Also, thanks to Ernie and Reyne for all the work they put into it. Those two guys as a team would be very hard to beat. I would have never been able to get that bull without the wisdom of Ernie. I will forever cherish the memories.
My other three friends all tagged out as well. Going home with every bull tag punched was icing on the cake. To all who feel it’s not worth trying to get those tags, apply anyway. You never know when you will be the lucky tag holder. Someone will get the tags.
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