A bucket list hunt, NDR

Troy Fields

Troy Fields

Well-known member
One of my goals (dreams) has always been to go on a Merriam's hunt and last week that dream became a reality. A 32 hour drive from Maine to NE with a brief pit stop in Illinois to have breakfast with my daughter. The struggle was real to drive that far, but we made it.... For a life-long Mainer, the scenery was spectacular. I also had the pleasure of kneeling on a small cactus while setting up on a hot Merriam. We walked up onto 4 elk that were bedded down, saw a family of big horn sheep, sharp-tails, countless deer and yes a few Merriam too. We also did the touristy thing a couple days visiting Mt. Rushmore and some of the local winery and brewery establishments. Overall, a great and much needed trip. Hope you enjoy the pictorial.

The breakfast arrival in Ill.

View attachment neb1.jpg

Day one in SD.
View attachment neb2.jpg

Our young ram atop the hill.




View attachment neb3.jpg

Still snow while we were out in SD. This is where we walked up on the elk. Beautiful animals, just couldn't get my phone out quick enough. What a memory though.



View attachment neb4.jpg

Steep terrain on one side, wide open on the other.
View attachment neb5.jpg
 
Great trip Troy. I'm not much of a tourist but would like to see Rushmore, maybe when I retire. A bunch of nice photos, the hero shot with the two of you and the birds is special. I love cast and blast trips, but don't let your friends back home see those walleye. You'll be banished from Maine. [;)]
 
What a great trip Troy! Congratulations!!!!!!! The scenery was spectacular and the birds gorgeous!
 
Perfect trip, I love it and it really gets me going. Shame you had to take that old guy with you, but otherwise looks like a beyond awesome adventure!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for putting that together, I have some western turkey in my future and that is priming the pump nicely - THANKS.
 
laughing at Tod's comment about old guy along, said the old college prof.[;)]

As they say in Maine, "by geez, you look like a flat lander".

Looks like a fun trip, I really enjoyed my trip there a few months ago too.
 
Good morning, Troy. Your collection of photos tell a marvelous tale especially for a hunter from Maine who finally got away for a dream hunt. I'd say you did your homework. Now that you broke the ice, what is next on the list?

Thanks for that story and kudos on those two great looking toms.
Al
 
Thanks SJ,

The driving was a double edged sword, it consumed 3 days, but without driving we would have missed so much.

As for the walleye, I'm pretty sure they are a step below bass here in Maine, but they are delicious! A wonderful trip which totaled 13 days away from home (7 days in the woods or on the water and 3 days visiting my daughter), 5300 miles and just under $1300 in gas.
 
Thanks Dani.

Those sharp-tails were really cool....thoughts of you and Steve chasing them arose immediately. It was a fabulous trip.
 
Thanks Tod. "That old guy is always on my back" lol. It was a great trip indeed. I think we were a few days early for SD. We hunted the Blacks Hill National Forest land and the birds were seemingly still along side the farms and such. I did test the limits of ON "X" which was a life saver for this Mainer, who can go basically wherever the game is back home. Nebraska birds were a lot more cooperative, but I had private land access there. What I did learn of the SD tags are that a prairie tag may be more desirable but harder to get as they are a draw tag, the Black Hills tags are simply over the counter, but once in that area, it's hunt where you want.
 
Thanks Brad,

Not going to lie, there were points that I felt like a flat lander. A new appreciation for those western hunters!
 
Good morning Al,

Yes, a long way from home for us, and Pearl too. It was great to see my daughter, who is just outside Chicago. As for next adventures...I'm not sure.

Living in Maine, I'm pretty content with what is right outside my door for fish and game pursuits but I have always held a spot for elk, especially hearing one bugle. After seeing those four in the woods, simply beautiful animals. That will most likely be next on my bucket list.

I had some Antelope backstrap while out there which was very good. Ross actually prepared whitetail backstrap along with the antelope so we had a good comparison. I had heard some not so favorable comments about antelope, but that was unproven by what we had and I believe WY has over the counter tags?

Glad you enjoyed, hope all is well with you and Bev.
 
Troy, congratulations on a rewarding hunt and worthwhile trip that yielded some really nice pics! Just remember, all the allure of smallmouth bass disappears when you try to eat then! With walleyes, it is the reverse...catching is the least rewarding part of the experience. I admit, I am shifting to the dark side to become a walleye fisherman this spring-opener is a couple of days away.


i nearly moved out there, but just couldn't bring myself to leave the shore of the Great Lakes. Rapid City area offers a number of day trips into some really striking scenery: Devil's Tower (hike the trail around the backside to get away from the black top congregates). Custer State Park (very challenging terrain and some beautiful water). Mt. Rushmore, etc. Elk up close are quite a sight. We managed to get ourselves right in the path of a band of 18 cows that had spooked in Yellowstone. We each stepped behind some skinny lodgpole pines and starting taking pics as they trotted by a few feet away. When you can smell them as well as see them, they are close.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top