You have read on here about the United Wildlife Cooperative organization, www.unitedwildlifecooperative.org, and them pulling all the stops out to give 8 lucky kids a chance at bagging a turkey.  Providing a guided hunt on private property etc.

Last night I was invited to a meeting at the property and was informed of some of the items that needed to be done to make this all happen.  I met a couple of the guides and some of the R&K Outfitters who are also sponsoring this event.

I am impressed!  Impressed is probably not the right word for this.  These guys are really pumped up to give these kids the show of their life and hopefully a chance at bagging a turkey.

We discussed a lot of things and made some decisions that we think will fit into the kids and their parents plans as well.  I can’t tell you everything, but I can tell you there won’t be any time for “lally-gagging” at this event.  They have it planned beyond planned!  Trust me on that.

After the jaw jackin, we went for a ride into the hills on part of the ranch where this event is to be held.  We were looking for turkeys getting ready to roost up.  I was with Mr. Dunkin, a gentleman about my age, who is with the R&K group.  We went to his home and loaded up his Polaris Ranger for our ride.  I don’t have a clue how many miles we covered in that little powerhouse of a side by side, but we covered a lot of ground.  Glassing meadow after meadow.  Looking for turkey sign where ever we thought there might be turkey sign.  That property is over 35,000 acres in size and covers from the valley floor to the top of the peak.  Snow still has the upper third covered and the lower portions are showing the new spring growth of the grasses.  The planted agricultural lands have yet to begin their growth.  The place is absolutely gorgeous.

Wildlife abounds in every direction.  Mr. Dunkin and I saw mostly elk and deer on our side of the mountain.  We arrived back at the meeting place about 9:30.  It was very much dark when we arrived.  In the parking lot were some of the other and they had seen a lot of game themselves, including turkeys!  These kids are in for a real treat!

I wish I could take this story with me for the next few days, but I won’t be able to.  I’ll just have to give you a blow by blow when I get back.  I’m leaving in the morning and won’t be back until sometime Sunday.  I can tell you this however, there are 4 lucky kids out there who are scheduled to come up tomorrow to begin their hunt and they are going to find a very special place, with some very special people pouring their hearts out to help them have a hunt of a dream.

And again, there isn’t scheduled much “dream time” in what I saw last night.

Bears Butt

May 3, 2012

P.S.

This just in.  Wapiti has volunteered to help the UWC with this event and the two of us have our assignments!  YES!