Late season can be one of the finest times of year to hunt elk for the freezer. This month my 15-year-old daughter Cheyenne and I make a quick evening trip in search of elk. We found fresh tracks crossing the mountain road and—just like that—the hunt was on. It was a scenario that required quick decisions, but Cheyenne has extensive training and is an excellent rifle shot. Even though she couldn’t find a prone position, she settled into a sitting position with her back supported by a tree and her rifle supported atop my pack. She made a perfect 302-yard shot, and thirty minutes later we were cooking fresh backstrap on a stick over a smoky scrub-oak fire.
Video: Cheyenne’s Late-Season Cow Elk Hunt
A 15-year-old's fast hunt for fresh venison