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Persistence. It’s such an important trait in hunting. It’s cliché but true. Persistence can be in a single day, a long climb, a scouting adventure, day 3 of a season, or a last day. It can’t be overstated. Not to the exclusion of other elements in hunting like patience, skill, practice and planning, but staying with it under tough circumstances and working a plan I have learned may be most important. Drive, and what Paul Ivo calls in weightlifting and his life, “discipline”.
To put in a 10 mile day, or more, from before daylight, to dark, finish soaking wet, and get up the next day and jump on it again, long before first light, defines persistence. This is not ideal, but sometimes the late season elk hunt takes that path, especially in a rugged unit and trying weather. This was Paul’s hunt in 2019. And that is the way he hunted.
But the persistence and focus started long before that. Paul moved back east for 5 years, and then started his career in Oklahoma for a couple more. Through all of that time, he was persistent in putting in for permits, mostly for areas he knew he had no chance to draw, or bought bonus points. As he reached his goal and took a job back in Arizona, he brought a pile of bonus points with him. Now, where to put in? It’s a tough choice, but a good problem to have. People who know, pointed us to unit 23.
Some hunts are just easier than others. That’s just a fact. But some that fall toward the difficult side, somehow always seem sweeter to the memory, at least when they are over and the hardest work is done. And twists of fate or unforeseen events can change a hunt in a moment, suddenly making it harder, diverting the focus, or result in lost hunting time. Weather, broken equipment, exhaustion, or God forbid, an injury can play in big time and change a plan, method of hunting, create a new path, or even end a hunt.
Planning, dependable partners and friends, and the right equipment go a long way toward a more enjoyable hunt and ultimately toward success. As Fred Bear said, “a hunt can test the mettle of a man. Choose those you invite into your camp wisely. “
This was not my hunt. I was glad to be invited. And the few I asked to be part of Paul’s hunt, with his permission, were solid, experienced people. Dave Wolf and Craig Moody need only be invited, and left alone. They will show up with the right gear, skills, mind set, and attitude. People like them can, and do save your ass, or at least some hunting time when things go a bit south. I am grateful for them. I’m also amazed by a guy out of Phoenix that we had never met, Dave Bruns, who was willing to give up an entire day, drive to the unit, load us into his ATV and show us a bunch of the unit he knew so well. Gratitude also goes to Dave Hussey, who also took the long drive and a vertical hike in to give us other options. That is paying it forward.
Back to Paul and his serious attitude toward this hunt. Persistence. He blocked out many weekends to scout the unit. He met with people and studied map programs. He put in the miles and the focus, and the fuel in his tank. By hunt time, he had a plan.
Then the weather hit. The night before opening morning, the blasting rain began, and continued until we had silence in the tent. That was the snow. Many inches of it, and it would keep coming down through day one, with visibility almost zero. We drove, hiked, and hunted nevertheless. But the plan shifted to day two, a new plan. I would climb 1000 feet up to a “rock pile” in 6 inches of fresh snow while Paul would hike into canyons in front of me. We found elk, 2 good bulls, but they both walked out of range before any shooting could commence, if they ever were in range. Big country, big canyons, big elk. Paul continued to climb and pursue. Persistence. He hiked out on top of the mesa and began tracking elk, and tracked elk for miles. I don’t know how many miles he walked that day, but he pretty much walked all day among fresh beds and breaking through snow covered Manzanita jungles. We drove 20 miles around to pick him up, but upon radio contact, figured out he had continued to chase tracks back closer to the starting point in the lower country. Back out on the ATV, to the truck, and the 20 miles to the lower points. He walked out at last light, soaking wet, and dragging a pick up head of a 5 point, probably a lion kill.
A wall tent with a wood burner is a jewel to dry out gear and rest. Day 3 was coming, and with it a new plan. We needed to stay in that area for at least one more day as it had bulls, and other hunters were finding it. Paul developed a plan to hike in 2 miles from the top, before anyone else, and hoped to catch one feeding in the bowl above the canyons. We were up at 3:00 and on the ATV by 4 am in 18 degrees, then hiked in several miles in the dark and the snow by headlamp. This was perfect late season elk. Classic. I think it qualifies as persistence.
Reaching our point before sunrise we set up and glassed. Paul found a bull. At 800 plus, it was too far. He decided to try and cut the distance and took his gear and moved down the rim rock. Running out of rock, he set up and found him again. Now the bull was in the 700 yard range, feeding. The rifle ran out of drop reticles at 600 plus. I told him where to hold if he got a chance and was set up right. My second favorite words from the trip came through the radio. “I’m solid, going hot”. I had glass on the bull. The shot looked high in the snow but I couldn’t tell. But he didn’t move. Another shot, still little movement. But I could see he was hurt, struggling to walk or take steps, then bedded. He got back up and wandered into thick trees, a definite hit.
Paul and I regrouped and he took half an hour to get around the bowl. In short, he jumped the bull out and the tracking began. Nearly two miles and some time later, as I hiked out toward the vehicle, I heard a single shot. Then came the best words over the radio, “ Bull down”. Persistence. Now the snow was a blessing, and the hunting part was over. I’m convinced Paul would have followed that bull to Heber. A bull hard earned by any measure. After finding him and his fine trophy, celebrations, recounts, and photos followed. What a great moment for me. I again, got to do something this special with my son that my father never could with me. His dedication and focus paid off with a beautiful bull on a classic Arizona late season elk hunt, with all of the elements you hope for: bulls, weather, luck, challenge, reliable gear, an opportunity, and good shooting.
And again, there are those solid friends. Dave and Craig were waiting at the road with trucks, gear, packs, and their attitude. How can someone be pleased to work so hard and get so dirty for someone else? We hunters understand that ethic. In fact, we sometimes give up time and travel far to do it.
That evening was one of those successful evenings in camp. When you’ve been there, you know it. We were again exhausted in the best way. The next morning we finished the pack out and the last long trip into that area. After getting everything off the mountain, we ate big around our first and only campfire. Everyone has a different idea of a quality hunt. This was quality. I am grateful beyond words. In my mind, it was Arizona rifle elk hunting at it’s best, in big country with great people, and a bull hard earned by Paul Ivo who did his homework, boot work, and kept his focus under tough conditions. Persistence.
