Junior hunters: First elk hunt
By Chase Karvanek, Anthem

I went on my first elk hunt last year at the age of 12. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.

My dad (Randy) and I hunted up near Mormon Lake. On opening day, we went out in the morning but only saw four cows, running hard.

We headed back out in the afternoon and heard some bugles. It sounded like they were getting closer, so I kept moving to get into position. We soon saw about 40 elk together, including two big bulls and some little ones. Finally, I had a good look at a big cow and took the shot at 150 yards. I used my dad’s .30-06 that’s 18 years old and made the shot count.

I was lucky, because we were able to drive up close to the elk. We took it to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation/Arizona Game and Fish Department camp at the Mormon Lake Lodge. We checked the meat in, and I joined the Elk Foundation and was given a new knife.

I developed my interest in hunting through my dad, who has always been an avid hunter and skeet shooter. I always wanted to do the same and asked him to take me hunting with him some day. I not only ended up taking the hunter safety class, but also joined the Scholastic Clay Target Program, competing on the Ben Avery Clay Crushers team. My squad won first place at the 2006 Commissioners’ Cup state trap championships, and we represented Arizona at the national SCTP championships.

This hunt was such a great experience. I hope some day to harvest a big bull, but I’ll always have special memories of my first elk hunt.