Williamsburg, KY – Through a partnership with the Safari Club International Foundation, S3DA was able to reward one deserving youth archer with a New Mexico elk tag. Archers submitted an application to S3DA with some of their pertinent demographic information along with some essay questions regarding their hunting experience and why they should be chosen. The applications are then reviewed by a committee which ultimately decides the recipient, which this year was Blayne Hunt.
Blayne, his dad Nathan, and his stepmom Catie spent a week in New Mexico chasing elk for the very first time. This story is in Nathan’s words: “Soaking wet gear, boots that may never recover, tired legs and eyes. From the very first afternoon we were on elk. After two close calls on decent bulls, the hail and rain hit for two straight days. Finally, we caught a break in the weather and Blayne and I were able to call/sneak in on an absolute hammer of a bull who made it to exactly 43 yards, slightly quartering away.
He blew our hats off with his last growling bugle – staring right through Blayne and me as our ears rang. It was magnificent! Everything went as planned except for the shot. A deflection in the thick timber sent one just over him (luckily a clean miss and not an injury). And that was that. We both stood there in disbelief… dreams crushed… defeated.
Down, but not out. On the 1,000 ft climb back to camp, the heavens opened up yet again and we spent the remainder of the day and night in wet sleeping bags and a tent. Friday was our last chance.
We woke up to 20 mph winds, thick fog, bitter cold, and hoping just to hear one. Luckily, we did. The three of us climbed another mile or so trying to get in front of him, only to have him go silent. We started to slip out the general direction he was headed last, and he crested the hill quartering toward us. 50… 45… the wind switched just faintly, and he stopped in his tracks, turned, and eased just enough behind cover that Blayne couldn’t take an ethical shot before he vanished in the broken fir trees. It was over as fast as it started.
As they always do, the days blended and eventually came to quickly to an end. We’ll share these memories forever – 10-12 miles at 11k elevation – listening to bulls bugle all night under the stars – witnessing these majestic creatures do what they do, and as it was intended. I want to thank S3DA and Safari Club International Foundation for a once in a lifetime opportunity. Blayne never would have gotten the opportunity otherwise.”
Amanda Long, S3DA Program & Event Support Coordinator stated: “We’ve worked with the Safari Club International Foundation several times over the last few years to give youth archers opportunities to pursue wildlife that would otherwise be out of their reach. Some hunts have ended with a successful harvest while others returned empty handed. However, each hunt is unique and though some may be empty handed, they will all have memories to last a lifetime. The S3DA youth archers are learning the time-honored traditions of fair-chase and ethics that have been passed down from generation to generation while developing a passion for the outdoors.”
“It’s great to be a partner with S3DA to give young men and women an opportunity to hunt. At Safari Club International Foundation part of our mission is ensuring wildlife through hunting, so having over 45 youth apply by essay to want to hunt an elk is exciting and gratifying,” said Brook Minx, President of Safari Club International Foundation. “Passing on our hunting heritage and partnerships with S3DA helps instill proper conservation management in the next generation and we are pleased to be part of this.”
If you would like to see video coverage of this hunt, check out Palmated Outdoors YouTube channel here.
