Elk Hunter's Romance Jet Rover Style

By Clyde G. Schultz

Two people are married, perfect in every way; when one is stricken by cancer and eventual death. But the wonderful man wants his wife to be happy. An already strained marriage is tremendously hard on an actively sexual woman. In her sexual loneliness she turns to another man to fill the emptiness in her heart.

One day on Rover 1 she meets Jerry. She instantly likes what she sees, not knowing that Jerry had broken marriages; and was starved for a loving relationship. Destiny had brought these two together, and that night under the stars, they're both overcome by their lonely passion. In those three days some bonds are formed. By the time Jerry finds out that Max is married, it's too late; he already loves her. Max finally tells Jerry her wonderful husband Frank is dying of cancer. Jerry and Max have a lot in common, being hunters. Max invites Jerry on a hunt in Durango, Colorado, also offers him a job as a guide, because she wants to see him again. They exchange phone numbers, and their parting is quite sad. Although they communicate, the year goes by and Jerry goes on the hunt. The two have more sexual encounters; by now they are deeply in love, and within two months the husband dies. Jerry flies out to comfort her, not knowing Frank had a lawyer draw up a partnership for Jerry to be a 50% partner with Max and wanted them to marry. Both Max and Jerry were shocked he knew about the relationship.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 19, 2010
• ISBN: 9781440185472

Clyde G. Schultz

I inserted some of my own character into Jerry, and it became my pleasure to write the book, like in my dream Feb.17 09. I am 81 years old. I’ve been writing songs and stories since 1996. I have 400 songs 35 stories now. This is my 3rd book to be got published.

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Elk Hunter’s Romance

Jet Rover Style

Clyde G. Schultz

iUniverse, Inc.

New York Bloomington

Elk Hunter’s Romance Jet Rover Style

Copyright © 2009 Clyde G. Schultz

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-4401-8546-5 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-4401-8547-2 (ebk)

iUniverse rev. date: 12/22/2009

Contents

September 1, 1988:

First Meeting

Admitting I Was in Love

First Elk Hunt on Rover 2

The Killing

Going Home

Frank’s death

The Funeral

After the funeral

Homecoming Wedding

Cabin Building

Setting up Jerry’s Number One

The Final Hunt

Elk hunting romance, Jet Rover style

Written by Clyde G. Schultz

Introduction to characters

Starting date for the story: Sept. 1988

This story is told by Jerry P. Thompson: age 51, 5’10" tall, 170lbs, brown hair, blue eyes; private contractor.

Maxine Woodward: Age 35, brown hair, blue eyes, 145 lbs; strong built, mole on right check, tattoo on left buttocks, sexy; owns a guiding service in Durango, Colorado.

Frank Woodward: Age 53, 6’1", 175 lbs., dark blue eyes; has cancer, lower track.

Jake Woodward: Age 62, older brother of Frank, lives in Denver, Co., wife Anna, son Peter.

My companion Jack Wells: 5’9" tall, 165 lbs., blond hair, blue eyes.

James Thompson: age 63, 5’9" tall, 185 lbs., partly bald, very religious.

George Rangel: age 67, 6’2" tall, 240 lbs. James Thompson’s friend.

Hunting areas: Durango, Colorado; Dillon, Colorado; Del Morte, Colorado; Brush Creek. Meeting place Elided Ridge Colorado.

Hunters: Bill Jennings, age 38, 6 foot 2, 180 lb.

Joe Minder: age 36, 5 foot 8, 145 lb.

Other Characters:

Lawyer: Jed Barkley

Number one guide: Mel Vance

Number two guide: Barry Nelsen

The cook: Bernard Barker

Old man in the cabin: Ben

All-terrain vehicle: Jet Rover 1-2-3

Story origination: my dream February 17, 2009

CHAPTER 1

September 1, 1988:

I had this hunting trip planned in Colorado, for October 1 to October 17, 1988 for a combination of deer and elk hunting trip. I have had it planned since January. That year there would be three of us going on this hunting trip: Bill Jennings, Joe Minder, and I. I sent in for the licenses that March; for cow and doe permits. My crew would have one bull elk license, two cow licenses, one buck permit and two doe permits. We drew lots for the licenses. I drew a bull elk license and a doe permit, Bill drew a cow elk license and a doe license, Joe drew a cow license and a buck license.

I had everything purchased that was needed for the trip and it was packed up and ready to go. I bought a new 12’ by 18’ tent to sleep in that was big enough to cook in if the weather got to be bad, and a big heavy-duty trailer with sides on it. I had an 1800 watt generator that, if I ran about every three hours, would keep everything in my 4’ by 8’ freezer frozen enough for the trip out. I can't take everything up the mountain trail, so the plan was to park the freezer by my friend George’s garage near the road where we would have access to electrical power.

I wanted to set up base camp at the edge of the wilderness area 371. From there we would pack in about a mile and a half up Brush Creek Trail. I've been there many times. The weather report looks good for the next few days and we will be staying there for four days this time.

We left September 28; this way we would have an extra day to pack in. We drove nonstop, switching drivers and we made it in less than 30 hours. We had all of our supplies so that we didn't need to stop in Dillon. My field camp was close to the creek so we had plenty of drinking water. We would also use the creek for our refrigerator. We arrived there on Thursday, September 30. We plugged in my freezer, and left the trailer by my friend George’s place.

Brush Creek Trail was very slippery from the new snow fall up in the higher elevations, so we chained up the front of my truck, which made the steering easier. The drive up the trail takes a little over an hour with normal conditions, so we set up base camp by the truck. After the set up was done we put on our back packs and started up Gore Trail. We took Gore Trail for three quarters of a mile and then we walked west alongside Brush Creek which was at least another half a mile. I have hunted this area many times before. We had packed only what we had needed for the four days. We quickly set up field camp. I set up my new tent and hung a tarp over the cooking area. I brought with me one gas lantern and an extra quart of unleaded gas. This was the first time that two of my fellow hunters were on an elk hunt and they had never been on the pack trip, but they seemed strong enough.

They were about 10 years younger than I was, but I was a private contractor and in good condition and used to hard work. I sent Joe to get some water from the creek and also fill the plastic bottle of spring water for drinking and cooking. There wouldn't be any time left today to show them around the area, but we would have all day tomorrow before our season opens Saturday morning.

I had my same 30.06 rifle, one box of 180 grain shells, and my small 357 Magnum pistol. I told each one to bring their pistols along as well. We were in luck that no other hunters were there. While the greenhorns were off getting water, I had started a fire for supper. They had been gone for a while and I began to wonder what was taking them so long. As I awaited their return, I began drawing out maps to the location of my stands for each hunter. Stand one was just 75 yards to the southwest of camp, stand 2 was 200 yards southeast of camp and stand 3 was about 400 yards northeast. I had a few more stands to the north and farther west that we would rotate between us all. Tomorrow I would take them to each stand and fix them up. I use the natural debris that's there to build a blind that you can sit in comfortably. Trees that fall down don’t rot very fast in the mountains. Some of the stands that were built 15 years ago are still sound as a dollar. I told them that after the first day we would draw lots to see who gets stands 1, 2 and 3 for Saturday.

While I was fixing supper, I had the boys tie rope in the trees to hang my cooler up high so that the bears would not get to it. I would also need to hang the quarters of elk we got up high, so that the bears wouldn’t get those either. For supper tonight, I was grilling three big elk steaks, baked potatoes wrapped in tinfoil, carrots wrapped in tinfoil, and lots of fresh coffee. It was a fairly nice night, but sometimes the temperatures can change in just a few minutes, or a quick unforeseen snowstorm can come up very fast, so you have to be prepared for those emergencies. There was no need to get to bed early so we sat around the fire. I gave them instructions on what to do when they got an elk, and told a few stories from the past. I also told them some bear stories because I wanted them to realize the danger that is always present in the mountains. About 11 o’clock P.M. I shut the lantern off and we went to bed.

The next morning I was up at 7:30 A.M. I usually wake up early. However, on Saturday morning we will have to be up by 4:45 A.M. I made a good breakfast of eggs and small pieces of ham already mixed together in a jar and ready to fry along with precooked potatoes, and lots of coffee. After breakfast, I took the boys to stand 1 and we got that stand ready; then we went to stand 2 and then to stand 3. We fixed all the stands up and finished by 12:30 P.M. After we were finished we headed back to camp to have some dinner. After we ate I took them to the north to stands 4 and 5 and we fixed those stands as well. I know other people use these stands when I'm not here, so this year we got lucky with no one else here. Stand 1 is just a five-minute walk for me in the morning, and stand 2 is just a 12 minute walk, stand 3 is about a 20 minute walk. You want to be in your stand 15 minutes before daybreak. For the Saturday morning hunt I would be in stand 1, Joe in stand 2 and Bill in stand 3. Later that afternoon we had a few hours to check our daily packs. In my pack I carried a 12 pack of Old-Style beer which we could each have one apiece on each day. We had a small radio that was only to be played for the weather broadcast.

Friday was now coming to an end. There was one last minute thing that I had to tell them and that was to be sure to use the fox urine. The urine would mask their sent. I gave them each a bottle to put in their backpack and showed them how to use it. It's very important because elk have a very good sense of smell. I told them to spray just a few feet away in the down wind direction. There's no room for error when hunting, you might not get that second chance. Therefore, each man was assigned different jobs while in camp. Joe was the dishwasher and Bill was in charge of filling the water cans and gas lantern. They both were on firewood detail and I was in charge of cooking. I was also the boss of the crew.

The last thing I said to them was not to worry about the deer; elk is the name of the game. We could always hunt deer in the lower elevations, but if you see a real big buck, then take him. With the cows, you'll decide which one to shoot. I want a six by six or a six by five, which ever comes first. With that being said, we were all tucked in our sleeping bags and ready for the night. I turned out the battery light and before we knew it, it was 4:30 A.M. and the alarm rang loud and clear. I was up first and made breakfast which consisted of another jar of eggs, ham bits, bread and coffee. I had to get Bill up and on his way first because he had the most distance to walk. I told each one not to interrupt each other if you shoot an elk unless absolutely necessary. I told them all to take some water in their packs and I made Bill a cheese sandwich to take with him for lunch.

Then I told Joe to come in for lunch about noon and I would meet him; and sent them on their way. I didn't have to hurry because I only had a five-minute walk, so I took my time and cleaned up the breakfast cups and burned the plates. With there being no fresh meat yet, I didn’t have to worry about the bears while we were gone. For a surprise for supper that night, I had brought a chocolate cake. We had everything we needed. I brought some high-fiber cereal for some mornings as well as powdered milk, egg noodles, dried beans and canned tomatoes. These were easy to cook and easy to carry.

By now they should all be in their stands so I started out to mine, stand 1, slowly. By the time I reached my stand I had about 15 minutes before daylight which gave me plenty of time to get situated. I sat down in my small fold up chair that I had placed there. One elk runway comes from the north down to the creek, and another runway comes from the west. There is also another one that runs from the south downstream towards stand number 2. If any elk get past me on the south runway along the bank of the creek, they will head towards Joe in stand 2. About 100 yards west of the spring, there is a fork in the runway which is where Brush Creek starts. Farther up the mountains, the melting snow filters down through this creek.

At first daylight, I saw a few deer heading east along the creek towards Joe. He has a tag if there are any good bucks in the bunch. From where I was, I saw only one small buck. At 7:30 A.M., another group of deer came to drink water. I am not in a hurry to fill my tag. However, if there was to be a monster buck, I would take it. At 8 A.M. I had 2 cow elk walk real close to me, but I let them walk on by. About twenty minutes later I heard a shot from stand 2; must be Joe. I sat till dinnertime and walked back to camp. Joe came in all bloody. I knew he had a nice elk or deer. He had a big cow elk. She is very big, he said. I told him I would go with him to get her. We walked to his downed elk and I showed him how to gut the animal out. He was kind of slow at that job, but it was his first time. We heard a shot come from stand 3 and thought it was Bill, so I said to Joe, Just prop the belly open and I’ll sprinkle pepper over the elk, it keeps the birds, wolves and bears from going for the meat.

When we were finished, we walked the trail to stand 3. Bill had a nice cow down as well; however his was bigger than Joe’s. I said to Joe, Joe you go back to camp and get my tool kit and bring all the packs for carrying out the meat. We'll gut and quarter up this elk. I'll get rid of bone that we don't have to carry.

Joe headed back to camp and we started the cutting. If you cut along the bone of the hind quarter, you eliminate 30% of the weight on the leg. The back loin can be cut to eliminate the backbone, and the rib cage can be trimmed off for grinding. The neck can be trimmed as well, and all that can go for grinding up later. With the elk being cut up this way, the three of us could easily carry it out.

I had a lot of the elk cut up by the time Joe got back. I filled each one of their packs up with elk meat and sent them to the truck. I would take their rifles back to camp as well as my pack that was also filled with meat. I finished cutting the rest of the meat off the carcass and headed to camp. I unloaded the meat from my pack, grabbed my tool kit and headed back to Joe’s cow to begin cutting up that meat for packing. I started skinning out the hind quarters, the same process as before, and had enough meat ready to fill their packs for the second trip back. While they were taking the second trip back, I finished cutting up the rest of the cow. For identification of a cow in Colorado, all you need is part of the cow’s udder. I had one hour and 15 minutes before dark, so while the guys took the remaining meat to the truck and hung it up, I went to my stand. I didn't think I'd see anything, so I was surprised when an elk came very slowly into my view and stopped by the creek to drink some water. At that point I didn't know how big he really was. I let him come slow and easy. I was ready when he was only 50 yards from me. He was a nice young bull, 6 x 6, and very widespread. One well-placed shot and he was down just a-kicking.

By this time Joe and Bill just got back from the trip to the truck. I told them to bring back another 12 pack of Old-Style to celebrate their kills. I had my camera and was taking pictures when they both arrived on the spot. It was just about dark and they brought the lantern and the tool kit along. We took more pictures while I gutted the bull. I said, We can carry quarters of the bull to camp and hang it up for the night. After a round of congratulations and more picture taking, I quickly sawed off the hind quarters. The guys packed what I had cut and took it back to camp to be hung up. While they were gone, I started to cape out the front shoulders and neck of my bull so I could get it mounted later.

It takes me at least an hour and a half to do that because it is not an easy process. The guys had been gone for a while now. When they returned for the second trip, I had one front quarter ready to go. I asked them what took so long and Joe said, The reason we were late getting back was because we saw some deer down by the creek. One of them was a big buck so I shot him with my nine millimeter. We just gutted him out and hung him up in a tree and I put pepper on the buck like you told me to do with the elk, so he should be okay for the evening.

I heard a couple shots but I didn't think anything of it, I said. Bill and Joe took the front quarters to camp while I finished skinning out the neck. Believe me, that's quite a job, even during daylight. I had cut the legs off the front quarters and later I would trim the meat off. When I was finally done it took all three of us to carry the head of my bull to camp. It was 9:30 P.M. and we had the last of the meat hung up on ropes.

I think if I get that big head strapped to my backpack I'll be able to carry it out slowly to the truck tomorrow morning. I said.

Earlier that day I had laid some elk liver in the creek to cool, so I sent Joe to get it. We will fry some for supper along with potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil and placed in the coals of the fire with lots of onions. Good eating for the night. We had a few cans of beer and we celebrated. We had plenty to celebrate. We took more pictures of my bull’s horns. We stayed up until 1 A.M. which will make for a hard day tomorrow packing out my bull, and that buck. I said to the guys, While you take the first trip tomorrow morning, I'll cut more meat off so we don't have many bones to carry. Take your rifles with you on the first trip. I could have a lot of the meat cut by time you get back. Later we can cut and wrap the meat and place it in the big freezer to save space. I left the lantern burn all night. With all the blood by camp, the bears and wolves will surely smell it and come sniffing around. However, with a light burning, they will stay their distance. If I hear them I will fire a couple shots in the air to chase them away. We drank all but three cans of beer from our remaining 12 packs.

In the morning after we had some breakfast, we got started packing the meat in our packs for the trip to the truck. On the first trip in the morning, I'll take a load down with the truck with all that I can haul and fill the freezer with what will fit. The