Elk hunting in the Rockies is the most beautiful quest with the constant fruit of being immersed in the wild and free nature of the Lord. And we thought the fruit was the elusive elk. I have had the uncompromised pleasure of seeing the vistas of the Rockies through the eyes of the hunter and through my own eyes for the first time. The land, the trees, the mountain and the fresh pure air have healed my body, soul and spirit. But watching the strategy of the hunter, as we ride the mountain one lane rocky roads looking for trails and meadows where the elk live and travel have stirred a deep purposeful understanding of the beauty of the Lord and what He created for us, and created us for.
The eloquence of the hunter and all the integrious decisions that are in play for the hunt create this adventurous dance. Taking care of the land, the animal and other hunters in the quest are considered first and foremost. My first indoctrination forced me to pay attention to so many details, one of which that amazed me is I never in our two months there, saw any trash, absolutely nothing. There is such a common high regard for the land that no one leaves any trace of being on the land except a footprint, well and maybe some leftover cut wood for fires.
Of course then the decisions of where to go and when have a few thousand inputs, the weather, the wind, feeding times, number of people on the mountain and so many more. Then there is the equipment, the clothes, the layers, the compass, the binoculars, the knives and of course the gun or the bow. The equipment includes what will be needed to take the elk off the mountain. So many calculations in the actual hunt are around the perfect shot to kill the elk before he can run, and your placement on the mountain so the elk falls in such a way that you can take the 600 pound animal to your vehicle.
Hunters are strategist, and one of my favorite quests in life is to step into foreign worlds and watch the beauty of genius. One of the hallmarks of the strategist is to be present to every detail in the moment. So I got immersed in that life for a while and realized the beauty of living in the moment brought healing to my soul. The joy of the completion of the hunt whether an elk was killed or not, is like completing a project. You executed all the plans and you observed what worked and what didn’t, and those calculations feed into the next hunt.
Then there is the physical conditioning and the mental preparation required. Physically climbing mountains in the Rockies at higher elevations requires conditioning. Plus the terrain is difficult, trees down, rocks, uneven ground. Mentally, being on the mountain, many times alone, and aware of your surroundings, watching for every step to ensure good footing requires strength of mind. Going out to hunt day after day incorporating the new information from the previous hunts requires an encouraging of the will to the purpose.
So the strategist knows the overarching big components and then places all the details into those components. Executing the hunt is a beauty to witness, especially if you can watch it over time. Time reveals the depth of the fortitude and gives a perspective that can be applied to all the next life experiences you might undergo. Like the strategist, plan and plan some more and the be present in the executing of all the details.
Of course the raw experience of being in the Rockies and living on the mountain for a period of time, watching sunrises and sunsets, breathing the mountain air, encountering the vistas everyday was a glory in and of itself. Seeing these beautiful, majestic animals in their habitat defies our senses. Having this massive bull elk run out right in front of us takes your breath away. Watching the hunter knowing they have done this for centuries to provide for the family is the noblest endeavor. Being privileged enough to experience the Birds Eye view of the hunter in the most majestic places on earth was such a gift.
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