THE GREATEST GUIDE IN THE WORLD

I have never been on a guided hunt. Well, I should say I never had been on a guided hunt - until last weekend. Micah told me to meet him by the bridge at a quarter after six last Saturday morning. He picked me up and we headed up Indian Creek. We hadn't quite made it to the parking spot when we noticed we had a flat tire. After an incredibly ridiculous tire-changing experience, we were about 45 minutes late. The sun was already up by the time we left the truck. Now in a normal situation, I would be a little worried about that, but it didn't even faze my guide. He just marched me up the mountain for a couple miles and then eased us into the timber. He said "OK brother, now you take the lead. Go really slow. Work your way down the mountain about 30 yards and stop about every ten steps or so. Watch as far out in the timber as you can see for movement - like ears flicking." So I did exactly what he told me. We had been side-hilling slowly through the timber for about 10 minutes when he taps me on the shoulder and whispers, "You need to move down hill about 20 more yards. Keep going slowly and watch for movement." The only elk tracks we had seen to that point were all heading out of the country, so I was starting to have my doubts, but decided I had better do what I was told. So I did. We had moved down hill about 20 yards and Micah said, "Hey, there is an elk." Wouldn't you know it. Sure enough, there was a cow and a spike moving down through the timber below us. I couldn't get a clear view of the spike so I didn't get a shot off. When I couldn't see them anymore I thought we would take off after them, but the greatest guide in the world just whispered, "Lets just hang out here for a second and see what happens." Not two seconds later we saw another cow walking along through the timber about 80 yards below us. Behind her was another cow. Then a small six point bull. Now some of you may not know this about me, but I have a small day-dreaming problem. So when that bull walked by I pretended I was over in the Big Belts. I found a nice opening in the timber and was about ready to 'fake' squeeze off my shot when I came back to reality to Micah's voice saying, "There is a spike." Sure enough, the next elk was a spike. He walked right into that opening I had picked out earlier - it was like a gift from heaven. I still can't believe it. That brother of mine has to be the greatest guide ever. Maybe not the greatest guide - he made me help pack the elk out of there. That was brutal.

I (Micah) spent September 15th and 16th in the Gravellys hunting elk with my good friend Brian Staley. At about 3:30 pm on the 15th we called in a five point bull but couldn' t get a shot. However, our calling set off a different bull that was hanging out in the draw below us. We moved toward him and Brian gave a bugle. The bull's answer was immediate and very close. Brian backed up behind me about 30 yards and gave a few cow calls. The bull, a five point, appeared behind some deadfall and began working his way up the hill toward us. I didn't have time to pull out my rangefinder, but I guessed the distance from me to the end of the deadfall to be about 40 yards. As he approached the end of the dead timber, I drew my bow. He stepped out below me, and I gave a short cow call. He stopped, and I zeroed in with my 40 yard pin. I released the arrow and watched it hit. I knew immediately that the shot was good. I watched the bull run down hill about 100 yards and then stop. I could tell that he was struggling, and it took less than a minute for him to topple over. I recorded our walk down to the elk after I shot him.

We spent the remainder of the afternoon getting him cut up. It's grizzly country, so we hung the meat from a tree for the evening and packed it out the next day. The hunt was one that we will not soon forget.

So I was out in the woods last Friday when....

Hey everyone,
I made kind of a cool little find last friday morning. I was up hunting at Bull Creek and I was walking along the ridge at the top of the mountain when I looked down and there amid all of the pale tanish/brownish/yellowish looking stones was this dark grey one, so I bent down and picked it up. I think it is a spear point or an atl-atl point or something, ... maybe a scraper or a knife? Anyhow it's kind of a cool old Native American artifact. Probably made by a Jaredite or something.
Loveya
Russ Lay

I'm the nerdy kid that want's in the club.

This may be a bit premature, but I was wondering if anyone had a summer kickoff in mind. Yes I know I've never actually been to a Christensen family summer kickoff, but I WANT TO, and I promise to try to be cool enough that you'll let me tag along. Just print this map throw a dart at it and that's where we'll go. I'm starting to get spring fever pretty bad. I went out and dug in my garden just to see if the ground is still frozen..... and it is still frozen about 6" below the surface. Oh well give it another couple of weeks.

Craig Fishing Anyone?

Hey everyone, I haven't been fishing in many many moons, and I've been thinking that it's about time I got out and embarrased myself again watching you guys catch all of the fish. I was thinking about maybe sometime in the next month before my license expires. Ifn's there's any interest out there let me know, and we'll get something set up.

Russ Lay

When you taking me?

It seems like Aaron gets some pretty nice fish. Has he been visiting Cabela's showcase?

7 x 9 Muley

Our outdoor blog would not be complete without a picture of Andrew's 7 x 9 muley that he took with his bow at 68 yards. This particular Muley would have been quite a monster had he lived a little longer. He certainly had good genes. Andrew shot this animal with a PSE Nova that shot about 235 feet per second. That is quite a shot for a lighter, smaller bow. He has really moved up with his new Mathew's DXT, as you will note in the picture of him on the couch.

Andrew is busy!

Andrew had quite a hunting season this year. He ended up working with Kelly Flynn guiding on the Hidden Hollow Ranch. He averaged over half of the successful guiding that took place and enjoyed that beautiful country through the archery and rifle seasons. In his spare time, he managed to guide Becky Moudree into her first kill, a whitetail doe. He shot a nice 4x5 elk with his bow and a beautiful 5x5 mule deer with his bow. He also shot a doe during the rifle season and a cow elk. Both of the latter were over-the-counter tags. He is now hunting a much more valuable prey. Serving a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he is spending his first several weeks at the MTC, (Mission Training Center) in Provo, Utah. The prey he is seeking now are his brothers and sisters throughout Mexico City. He will be preaching the Gospel and helping to save souls in that beautiful area. We need to take advantage of his absence and try to get caught up on the game slaying. He is currently way ahead of us in the Archery area.
We wish Andrew the best and will anxiously be awaiting his return to our beautiful Montana.

I have had exciting days in my existence of 62 years but one of the high lights had to be the day that I shot this beautiful 6x6 bull. (September 15, 2007) I couldn't believe that I had actually scored on one of the kings and the feelings I felt were very unexpected. I was overcome with delight but at the same time felt panges of guilt for taking the life of such a magnificient animal. I guess the word I would use to describe the experience was AWE. I was awe struck. After watching the animal tip over and expire, I remained on my knees for 10 - 15 minutes in that state of mind. It has been a supreme goal for me to be able to shoot a 6x6 bull with a bow and arrow. Now that this has been accomplished, I can really begin enjoying the special sport of archery.

Elk of a Lifetime ... so far....

Well I got this guy up by Lincoln this fall. I spotted him from about a mile away and snuck down the ridge, off the face of the hill, and made about a 200 or 300 yard shot (three of them actually) with my dads 270. Then several of my personal heros came the next morning and helped me pack him out. Fortunately the grizzly bear who's tracks we had been stepping in all week didn't find him durring the night.

Russ Lay

I love to shoot 5 points!

I caught up to this guy on November 12th in the Gravelly Mountains. I was hunting with Brian Staley and Brett Romney when we cut his tracks early in the morning. I decided to follow him, and 20 minutes later I was taking this photo. Good times!

Boy am I excited to have a place to brag! (humbly of course)

Here are a few photos from my late fall fishing adventures. That is what happens when you haven't lived in the state long enough to get residency before bow season. To be honest with you, I am glad it happened to me!

Now that it is too cold to have the drift boat in the water, I just go out to the garage, hop in the oarsman's seat, and dream of white caddis emerging from the cool Missouri River and monster trout rising to my fly. I can't wait 'til next fall.

Welcome to the Christensen Family Outdoor Blog.
I'm just getting things set up so I'm sure things will get more refined and professional looking as time goes on. But for now at least this is a good start on sharing some family experiences, and stories, as well as serving as a forum for our family to plan camping and/or fishing and/or hunting trips together. We also might want to look into making this blog accessible only by password once we get things rolling. Lots of love, and may you all live long and enjoy God's creations here in the last best place... Montana! (and anywhere else we may happen to be)
Russ Lay,
um.. er... Carmen Christensen's husband that is.