Read Parts 1 and 3 to read all about Ron’s adventure.
Our second morning’s wake-up call here at Quinlan Ranch was the wind howling, blowing snow across the front porch. This was a foretaste of what we’d face today. We would soon leave out in near-blizzard conditions, hoping the elk would be on their feet.
The day starts early here, with the guides getting vehicles ready and sharing what they’d seen the day before and the kitchen staff preparing for the hungry hunters to come in from the morning hunt. As I watch these folks work, I come to understand it’s far more than just a job to them. It’s their passion; it’s what they were meant to do. They want their hunters to be successful in the field and comfortable in the lodge. Each one plays an integral part in making your stay at Quinlan a memorable experience.
My guide, Nevan Shippy, and I head far back into the ranch, glassing as we go. We spot a small herd in a draw and head around the back side of the ridge to get a better look.
As we ease along Nevan spots two bulls feeding in the edge of an aspen grove. At scarcely more than a hundred yards, I’m sure they’ll make us. But the wind is blowing hard from them toward us—just right!
A magnificent animal and an unforgettable hunt at New Mexico’s Quinlan Ranch.
As we slip out of the truck, range the bulls, and ready for the shot, I find in myself an unusual calm. As the trigger breaks, my hunt is over.
After a prayer of thanksgiving for this remarkable gift, we begin the work that follows the shot.
In the years to come, I’ll relive this morning over and over, remembering my first elk and all the wonderful folks here at Quinlan Ranch that helped make this hunt an experience of a lifetime.