king' s outdoor world - Index

king' s outdoor world - Best of 2007 Feb-March 2008 - Index

by Darrell SneDeger
60
HUNTING ILLUSTRATED.com
THE HUNT
THAT ALMOST WASN’T
There is an old cliché that says, “Good things come to
he who waits.” I must admit that there were times
in my life that I thought the wait was actually going
to kill me! There were even times when I wondered if I
would even put in for the next year’s draw because I had
put in ever since I could remember and, even with thirteen
points, could still not draw a limited-entry elk permit.
Luckily as the years passed, so did my
discouragement. The hope of drawing a big bull tag
brought excitement and determination - this could be my
year! As January was approaching, I began to think that
maybe I needed a change of strategy. I had always been
determined to hunt Monroe Mountain. I have lived at
the base of this beautiful mountain most of my life and
had dreamed of harvesting a big bull there. I submitted
my application for Monroe Mountain; but, in the days that
followed, I made the decision to change my application to
hunt on Boulder Mountain.
April came and the draw results were posted. The
thrill I experienced when I received my e-mail with the
words, “Darrell Snedeger - “SUCCESSFUL”” matched
everything I ever imagined. September sounded like