Kieth's Hunts

MY name is Keith Hawkens I've been hunting in Tall Trees since before i could walk. Its how my family made its living. When i was 7 I went on my first solo hunt. Armed with a .22 rifle, a Bowie knife and my hunting dog Dixie I ventured into Tall Trees alone. I entered at 4 am and the woods was still dark. I moved from tree to tree my target was some Forrest Rabbit. From the times hunting with my dad I knew right where to go. Dixie lead the way and I approached the spot. It was a small clearing south of the Post. nothing had moved into the area yet, so i waited. The sun started to rise over the trees bringing light to the forrest. I could see better now and I caught a glimpse of my first rabbit. A little excited I try to steady my breathing with an old trick my papa taught me. I slowly raised my rifle and breathed in heavily but only allowed half of it to go out. The rabbits kill spot was in my iron sight and i squeezed the trigger. YEAH! I shouted my first rabbit by myself. I quickly rushed to claim my kill. But then Dixie started to bark violently. I was about to learn a verry important lesson of the woods. Protect your kill. Because after the rabbit had died and I skinned it, it reaked of dead meat drawing a hungry pack of wolves to my area. The wolves quickly surrounded me and Dixie. I was outnmbered and ill equiped to take down this wolf pack. With a single shot .22 I knew I could not possiblly shoot them all. Dixie groweled and attacked one that was running for me. Not taking the time to think about Dixie I turned quickly and shot one wolf in the head. Knowing I didnt have enough time reload my weapon I drew my Bowie knife. I sliced yet another wolf that charged me. There were only three left I counted. It was like a bad staring contest I looked at them and they looked back both sides not moving. Then like lightning the biggest tackled me. I wrestled the wolf on the ground for a good 5 minutes. Not being ablye to get a good stab in. The wplf bit my arm that was holding the knife causing me to drop it. With no other option I tried to get a death grip around the wolfs neck. With all the strength left in my body I rolled around and had the wolf in a headlock and choked it to death. I got up beaten and battle torn. No energy left in my body to hardly stand I was quivering in fear and fatigue... but there were two more. I let out a loud scream of dominance in attempt to scare them off. It worked the ran. Falling to my knees I tried regain my energy. But just then I remembered Dixie I searched for her called her name, but there was no answer. But then to my horror i seen a lifeless animal corpse behind some shrubs. There laying side by side was two dead wolves and Dixie my best friend was dead.

I slowly entered the snow covered forrest of Tall Trees hunting the legendary elk know to the locals only as Buggle Boy. Armed with my .30 Springfield rifle I crept slowly across the forrest floor. I knew I could only shoot when i seen him for it would scare everything away i tried to remain out of sight. I heard the buggle of a large elk echoing through the woods. Thats him i tought. Naking my way towards the sound i came across a small heard of elk. All female. I moved on trying to remain un noticed. The buggle sounded again i knew it was Buggle Boy. My heart started racing faster as i got closer. I seen i was approaching a meadow so i climbed upon a large boulder on the skirts of it. There in the middle of the meadow was Buggle Boy the absolute largest elf I've ever seen. I took aim. Waiting for him to move just a tad closer. Steady, steady, but just then a pack of wolves moved into the area spooking Buggle Boy away. I watched as the wolves singled out a young female and brought her to the ground. I waited for them to leave so i could perhaps try and pick up the tracks of buggle boy. After several hours the wolves left. I climbed off my rock and started scouting for any signs of Buggle's tracks. I found the largest elk track and followed them south-west. He had moved fast and I lost track of his foot prints after he had crossed a trail. It was getting late so I set up camp. Feeding myself with some rabbit stew I pondered on how stupid i was for waiting. I should have taken the shot I thought. The next morning i started the hunt early. The woods was still dark when I headed out. As i crept through the forrest floor I could tell the woods was still sleeping. Not knowing where to start i headed in the general direction west. I approached a common elk breeding ground and posted up under a tree. I waited for the sun to rise. I heard some movement coming into the area. Too dark to see much I waited for the creature to make a call. It didnt. I tried my damndest to make an elk call myself in hopes to determine what it was i was looking at. After i called it buggled back. And by the sound of its buggle i could tell it was in fact Buggle Boy. Not being able to see a clear kill shot i waited for day light. But day light was still a half hour away. But i waited and i waited and i..... zzzzzzzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzz..... I woke up only to see rabbits playing in front of me it seemed yet again Buggle Boy got away. But i quickly picked up his trail they were fresh too not even an hour old. I followed them to a large clearing where there was a huge heard of elk with Buggle Boy in center. Not wasting any time I drew my rifle and quickly found the kill shot. BANG! I fired my rifle and brought the Giant Elk down. upon approaching it i could not believe my eyes. It had two massive antlers with a third one growing in. Amazing.