This fall I hunted less than I ever have since I was 11 years old due to starting a business, but the time I did spend hunting was extremely memorable and because of the new hunting partners joining me, it was also extremely gratifying. We probably killed more trophy's this year than we ever have before Jeffrey killing a whitetail in the mid 160's and another dandy, Z and I killing Muleys in the 160's and Dustin, Dennis and Jesse all taking nice Muley bucks out in Eastern Montana, but its the time shared in between the killing that will be remembered the longest. I have been planning and dreaming about this hunt for a long, long time; the idea of getting some of my favorite people together in game rich country enjoying one of our favorite pastimes seemed like heaven on earth to me and just like any dream I have ever had you gotta make it happen, not sit around and hope for it. Last fall I got everyone to apply as a group for Muley tags in MT when we knew we all drew kill tags I started to do my homework on a good place where we would find plenty of nice bucks and a place for us all to stay. Flights were booked and we all showed up the saturday night before our hunt was to start on sunday, the majority of the group thought it was a good idea to party hard the night before in the bar and were dissapointed I called it a night early, but the next day when they were hiking around with headeaches and in bed by 6pm the next night I think they understood better.... ha ha I had too much invested in this hunt to potentially jepordize anything due to a hangover. The first day was my favorite as I was with my Uncle Dennis when he killed his first muley, I wanted to make sure he got his deer first as he was one of the main people that got me hooked on hunting, that meant the world to me to see him get to experience a hunt he never had before. I had a distant relative that had a terrible farm accident this summer and almost lost his life tell me how easy it is to lose touch with your family and friend's being so busy as we are these days and that we Ziegler's tend to work way too much and I needed to take my family hunting and get away and do those things before its too late because life is very short if you really think about it, very short. I thought that was great advice and I was willing to sacrifice a day of my hunt to be there with Dennis on his, I was right next to him as he shot his buck and when it was done he just shook my hand and said "thanks Nick" I pretty much knew then he was enjoying himself and it was worth all the lost time at work and money to get out here and do this sort of thing, it wasn't as big of a buck as he would have liked, but maybe there was a reason for that, now he has to go back. Dennis told me it was the first time in a long time he forgot about the stress of the farm, or the pain of his body and just enjoyed himself, I knew it was going to be great for Dennis to spend some time with his sons away from work and with two of his nephews and Goddaughters husband and our good buddy Tony Zeman. Dennis always told me when it comes to $/money "you cannot take it with you", well you also cannot replace these memories we just made. My brother in law got to know the crazy family he married into a little better as well. It was unfortunate that Jeffrey and Tom had to be the ones to come home empty handed, but I guess its like anything in life nothing is ever perfect. Our guide gave us a discounted, self - guided hunt and told me he didn't think we would be able to kill anything and he was complaining to me as we kept knocking down bucks each day that his other clients would pay him three times as much for a fully guided hunt to take the bucks we were taking off of his lease. It became clear to me he thought we were going to be like taking candy from baby's when it came to taking our money and expecting us not to kill anything; I guess he didn't realize we probably knew how to hunt a little better than the average guy and in the end the joke was on him as we left with 5 of 7 guys taking home Muley bucks. I didn't feel bad at all for that guy.My only regret was not being there with Jesse to celebrate and help pack out his buck and for not being able to help get Jeffrey and Tommy there trophy's, hopefully they will give me another chance and our family will be together again in one of the beautiful western states chasing trophy animals.
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