Well years of dreaming and saving and almost a years worth of planning and preparation for a September 10-20 hunt with Yote Robertson on the moose john all went down the tubes yesterday 9/26 when Yote cancelled the hunt.
As it was shared with me Ernie Holland was in a plane crash (I was told he was not hurt thank god) about 2 weeks ago and everything was still on but somehow attorneys got involved and advised Ernie not to fulfill whatever he must do for Yote to guide us in his area. Do not understand it at all but trust it is all on the up and up.
I know this has got to have caused Yote a great deal of hardship too...I could hear it in his voice when I spoke to him. Yote has assured me and the other hunter he will make things right, which I trust him he will. He has always come across as a good and honorable man in all my dealing with him. He did offer, as an alternative, to hunt outside Anchorage somewhere this year or come back next year. My dream has been the Moose John hunt so I want to hold out for that hunt.
To do the hunt this year I had to commit to taking my wife to Italy next fall, which I had forgotten, so I am in a bit of a pickle. My wife is more upset about the cancellation than I am because she knows first hand what this hunt meant to me and all I have done to see it through. Or, maybe she know in the back of her mind the Italy trip is at risk LOL!
I am trying to salvage a CO Elk bow hunt this fall but with the majority of my gear sitting at the Bush Pilots office in McGrath, AK,and not being able to get a hold of him, that too may be out.
I was able to cancel all my flights with $ penalties and have to submit to AK Fish & Game Dept. with a good explanation for them to agree to refund my licenses...just shy of $1,000 tied up there.
It is weird when I look at all I went through to construct this hunt and here I am today trying dismantle it with the least financial pain.
To all you who are able to make your AK hunts this year, I am happy for you and envious of you!
Can't imagine what all you are feeling right now. Hope that CO ELk hunt pans out for you wiht a big bull to boot.
Man that stinks , hope it all works out for you!!
Hunt cancellations stink. My brother had his pronghorn hunt cancelled last year a couple days before the hunt by the CO DOW. He lost all his points and his license money because of the government shutdown. He eventually got his points back. But still lost all of his money which was a lot being a non resident.
QuoteOriginally posted by Big Ed:
Man that stinks , hope it all works out for you!!
X 2
:eek: Man, when it hits the fan, it hits the fan big time........to bad your plans got screwed up!
Steve: Sorry to hear about your hunt. I had an Alaska sheep hunt go bad a number of years ago. If I can help with the Colorado elk hunt let me know. I have lots of extra gear that I can loan to you. Jim
That sucks, I have had to cancel a couple before and it's never fun. It also has not been as painful as your either.
Good luck-Hap
Keith,
Are you reporting that a state agency (CO DOW) shut down because the feds shut down? Or was that hunt on federal lands and no one was allowed to hunt?
Either way it all stinks to high heaven. There are are federal employees still whining about being behind because of the shut-down!
If your gear gets to fairbanks holler. I can run it to the post off ups or fed ex!
Sorry that happened to you Steve. Hopefully Co. will work out and you will get your gear back in time for an elk hunt. I have a moose hunt scheduled in NFL next month. Just keeping my fingers crossed there are no snafoos on either end until then.
Steve...how unfortunate! I know how much you wanted to do this hunt, and I know how the thoughts of wilderness-lost can drive a guy crazy. Of course nobody can say the right words, but I encourage you to dive right into the plans for 2015 and make it happen.
Sorry man! I cant imagine:(
Man Steve, I'm sorry to hear this and can imagine how disappointed you are. This is a real kick in the teeth. You have been to my camp here in CO and are welcome to hunt here. As you know this is an over OTC unit.
Sorry to hear that man! Keep your chin up and go get yourself a big ole bull elk! Is Ernie the only pilot in Alaska?
Steve,if you make that trip to Italy send me a PM.
FELIX
Steve, I'm very sorry that your hunt fell through. If there's any way I can help going forward with planning your next one just let me know.
Sorry to hear this Steve. I know there is nothing I can say that will make you feel better but I hope it all works out!
Sorry to here this, Make the best of your elk hunt.
Hope it all works out for next year!
Kevin, the pain of this year has passed and I am totally focused on 2015...stuff happens in life and I am just going to look at it as the bulls will be just that much bigger next year.
Bill, if it were not so far to join you at your camp I would be there in a heart beat. I dream to hunt there again one day and I still remember fondly when my dad and I visited your camp and you put on one killer catfish fry.
Felix...I will for sure touch base with you before we head to Italy. It will more than likely be 2016 now.
John, appreciate your offer!
I am truly blessed to have a family of caring friends here on TradGang.
Here is an update. Had a great conversation with Yote today, he too is trying to pull the pieces together from the cancellation and minimize his loses...which are substantial. We are booked to do the same hunt next year but will be working together to adjust to avoid something like what happened this year. Yote has made it crystal clear he will make everything right even though what happened was out of his hands. I will tell you there are few people on this earth who would stand behind their word but Yote Robertson is one of them.
Got a call from the pilot and he is going to ship our gear back this Monday priority. While he has never met me in his life he is going to pick up the cost and let me know so I can send him a check...that is incredible this day and age! It is humbling! So, I will be hunting the last week of the CO Elk bow season. There is nothing like the Mountains in Elk season and I feel truly blessed to be able to make it work.
All in all, now that the reality of things have set in, I am totally OK with the Moose hunt in AK falling through...I am now focused 100% on 2015 which will be even better.
Great attitude Steve. I wish I had the time and money this year for a last minute Elk trip but it is not in the cards for me.
Sorry to hear that, I sure hope it works our for you.
When I was in the Army in AK, a friend had scheduled brown bear hunt . The day before he was supposed to leave on the hunt, President Nixon put all armed forces on alert. All leaves were cancelled. Too my knowledge he never did get to go on that hunt.
Sorry brother, things like that have happened to me to but mostly because of work. I think I would have still gone and just let that pilot pick a spot to drop me off and gone hunting in the middle of no where. Might have been more camping then hunting but.............
There's always next year.
CJ
Wow...that's awful
Steve which area do you plan on elk hunting ?
DGW
I will be in unit 6 in a town called Gould...in the Colorado State Forest. Arcehry is over the counter. Been going there for years and know the area really well. Pine kill is off the carts there but the Elk are still there.
Steve
I will be hunting cow moose in unit 17. If have early success might get a elk tag also. we will be south of Walden.
Although this is crushing to you and the others involved just maybe it has been for the better and God forbid something had happened along the way if the trip had gone down. When things happen to me I have to look at the britter side or I will get so discouraged I won't be able to stand myself.
Just a thought.Maybe when this comes back together you are lined up for a good bull or a better bull even? Never know which way life goes at times just have to stay straight.