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.