The leaves have turned top gold in the high country

[Eric Muff]

Satrurday Meg and I (daughter) thought we'd take advantage of a beatiful day and head out on the horses to do a little elk hunting.
She questioned me once we were on the trail about not bringing along a gun,I told her we could still "hunt" elk,despite the gun.
As we worked our way up along the ridgeline,weaving through the aspen,pine and fir we took the time to stop and look occassionaly.These were the times I was most interested in.
We would chat a bit.Chat about life,her job and carreer,my carreer,the dogs,the horses,alot of things,some that mattered some that didn't.
The horses were eager to step out and it made the ride easy to enjoy,they had put the miles on over the summer and so there were no kinks to workout,no worries,it was good.
We made good time covering the ground quickly,pausing here and there to look,to listen.Listen to the woods and to each other.Fatherhood felt great,like a gift,I didn't want the ride to end.
I thought about a fatherhood moment that has stuck with me for years.Clayton (my son) was 9 years old and as we walked the street one day following the girls from one shop to the next
we talked about "stuff" and he took my hand.We held hands for about 10 minutes or so and I lapped it up,savoured it,every second cause I knew this could be the last time,and it was.Big boys don't do that out here in this country.
This day was just like that day so many years before,I knew things may never be the same again and I wanted to hold on to it as long as possible.
We topped out on little rise and decided to sit for a bit and enjoy the view and each others company.
As we sat there a nice whitetail buck appeared from nowhere and slipped beneath our position,the wind was right so he had no idea we were there.It was awesome!
After the buck evaporated into the timber we talked it over and agreed that we had shared a beautiful opportunity together.
I told Meg to remember this day as a day we shared together and could never lose.
The ride back was a little somber for me,I didn't want to see it end.Meg suggested that I too remember this day as the day she "kicked my ass"and spurred her little bay into high gear!
She did kick some butt!What a great hunt!

[Mike Leonard]

Oh boy Eric! Awesome! that is the deal.

I am so happy for you. Man let me tell you there is nothing better.


I was literally sick today because i WAS BY MYSELF BUT i GOT TO ENJOY SO MANY SIGHTS TODAY BEING IN THE SADDLE FROM DAYLIGHT TILL 2 pm. i MEAN IT WAS RICH!

I am going to try to post some photos when this week is over but Buddy may have to help me. No we never caught a lion today but we trailed thru a place that is so special. An ancient ruin of Anasazi Culture over 1000 year old dwellings. I will try but I will back out there tomorrow looking again. The big cat is in there on the hunt and the deer have moved in and are all over. Special stuff and 8 digs mjy old gray horse and I had a heck of a day. I didn't see any roses but that old saying take time to stop and smell them came thru my minds. I rode up on them rimrocks looking off thousands of feet and said WOW!

[REB]

Eric, that was wonderful. Thanks for sharing. Fatherhood is grand, and if you haven't experienced it yet, wait till
your a grandfather it even gets better.

Mike, wish I could have been there with you. Love those old ruins, they have a special spirit.
Rick

[hunt14]

Reb I second you on those ruins having a different feeling about them. I stumbled on some following the dogs down on the Kaibab. I came around the top side of a knowl and walked on to a whole pile of broken bowls and pottery. I doubt anybody has been there since they were left there by there makers.... who knows? Anyhow it was a pretty cool experience. I cant imagine how it would be to be ol' Mr. Wilcox over there on his range creek ranch in central utah seeing all those ruins and human remains his whole life and he had enough respect for it to just keep it quiet.

[Brady Davis]

Eric....really cool story.

[Outlaw 3]

Just a few pictures of turning leaves on the side of the road. I like the leaves as much as the next guy but it is a pain in the butt
dealing with all the "leafers" and traffic jams when you are trying to catch the dogs.