Story By: Justin Wells
After drawing New Mexico’s coveted elk and off-range oryx combo for the 2024 season and coming home empty handed on both DIY hunts, I knew I had my work cut out for me. Not only did I come home empty handed, but I’d missed out on time with my one-and-a-half-year-old son, my nine-year-old daughter, and my wife.
I reached out to Huntin’ Fool Advisor Matt White for help. I told him what happened with the hunts and the battle I was having being away from my family given that I work out of town most of the year. He said, “I have just the outfitter. They are professional, but they are also family-orientated.” So, I spoke to Layne Kellar over at Kellar’s Elite Outfitters and patiently waited for the New Mexico draw results.
They came. I drew off-range oryx for the second year in a row but was unsuccessful in elk. I talked to Layne about purchasing a landowner tag, and he was able to get me taken care of. August came around, and I was able to take an off-range oryx with Kellar’s Elite on the last day of the hunt. After hunting with these guys, I realized Matt was not kidding. These guys were great. I reached out to Layne and told them I wanted to bring my son and wife to elk camp. He said that it would not be a problem; they would be glad to have everyone.
October finally rolled around. I’d been patiently waiting for the opener of first muzzy. We showed up to elk camp, and—with such welcoming guides and cooks—we felt like family. My dad heart couldn’t have been happier.
The hunt began. We looked over fifty to sixty bulls over the course of five days, and on the morning of the last day, I was able to harvest a very respectable bull at 35 yards with my open-sight muzzleloader. Zander, my guide, looked at me as we celebrated and said, “Call your wife! Tell her to put on her make up.”
We headed back to camp to pick up my family. I was able to pack out my bull with both my wife and my now two-and-a-half-year-old son. The realization hit that I couldn’t have successfully killed New Mexico’s coveted double without the help of Huntin’ Fool Advisor Matt White and some great guys at Kellar’s Elite. I couldn’t be more excited or thankful to all parties involved. These are the hunts you live for. These are the hunts that you look back on and never forget. To bring it full circle, I’m hoping that Kellar’s Elite will be able to guide my son on his first bull hunt when he’s ready.
In 2025, my wife completed her West Texas hunting extravaganza, harvesting a very nice elk and a gorgeous velvet axis, and I was able to complete New Mexico’s coveted double, harvesting an off-range oryx and an elk. Hunting with family and getting my kiddos into the outdoors is the absolute best thing I can do as a parent. Happy hunting!