Tag Drawn with WTA TAGS
Photographer: Ryan Hoeft (Find him on Instagram @crossroadswithryanhoeft)
This whole journey started with my love for hunting and traveling to different areas after various big game animals. I started researching areas where you could hunt wild, free-range bison. Being from Illinois, we mainly hunt deer, turkey, coyotes and mushrooms. I must travel to hunt western big game, but it’s worth the journey and it’s my absolute passion. I finally decided to contact WTA TAGS to help me choose my next big adventure. In doing so, I got in touch with Erik Schell. We discussed some options and decided to apply for a Wyoming bison permit, but to be honest, I never truly expected to draw the tag.
As time passed, I honestly had forgotten about my application, being so busy with day-to-day life. While on a trip to Alberta, Canada bear hunting in May, I received a very ecstatic call from Erik asking me to give him a call. Not being able to handle the suspense, I used some of my long-distance minutes to give him a call from the camp cell network. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. After several attempts, Erik answered and exclaimed, “You drew it man, you got the bison permit!”
I was in absolute shock. I had already had a great week and harvested my biggest black bear to date and now this. I was told to go buy a lottery ticket. However, I did not go buy one. I had already won. The odds were 1 of 14 permits applied for by 764 people. After drawing the permit, I decided to book with an outfitter recommended by WTA TAGS. The trip was set for the second week of November. It was only May and November could not come fast enough. Although I had a couple other hunts planned, I was really excited for this trip.
I headed out in November, by myself, for a nice 20-hour drive to Jackson Hole, Wyoming from Bethalto, Illinois. There I met up with my guide and wildlife photographer Ryan Hoeft. Ryan and I were picked-up bright and early on the first day of hunting. We were very excited about the day despite the snow and below zero temperatures. It was amazing – the scenery, atmosphere, and company could not have been any better. The snow-covered terrain, the variety of animals and, above all, hunting off horseback only added to the excitement of the whole trip. Horseback hunts are one of my favorite ways to hunt. You can cover a lot of ground and I enjoy riding a horse or a mule. As we rode horses all around and below the Teton Mountains, we saw a wide variety of animals: grizzly bears, elk, wolves, moose, mule deer, antelope and BISON! We were able to cover a lot of ground in just five days on horses. We located various herds of bison grazing where they could in the snow-covered country. Unfortunately, we were unable to find one that was in a legal area to harvest it. We did see some butchered carcasses left by other successful hunters. One in particular was especially memorable. As we rode to the top of a ridge overlooking a valley there were two grizzlies eating the bison carcass. We were sitting there in awe when two wolves showed up circling, waiting for a turn. It was truly amazing and that sight will be etched in my mind forever. Even after five days of hunting, we had not been successful, but it was still an amazing experience. I fell in love with Jackson Hole and hope to retire there some day.
On the drive home, I just couldn’t accept the fact that we saw so many bison and not one in a legal area. I stayed in contact with my outfitter and explored some other options. I still had a valid tag, I just needed to get back out there before the season ended and find a bison in a legal area.
I ended up taking another trip out in January, cutting it very close to the end of the season. Even more areas were now closed to hunting and the options even more limited. On January 23, 2019, my guide and I found a herd going over the boundaries to feed. We gained permission to hunt from the landowner. We hiked into the area where we had last seen them. We quickly glassed and found them feeding, just where we suspected they would be. I stalked in to about 100 yards and picked out what we thought was a good bull bison. I aimed my 300 ultra mag in the sweet spot and slowly squeezed the trigger. It looked to be a good shot, but I reloaded and shot a second time. Shortly after that, he went down. I thought I was dreaming; I could not believe it, I had actually harvested a bison.
Turns out the bull weighed right around 2000 lbs and, what I was told, would most likely be a Boone and Crockett scoring bison. I have not had it scored. It sure does taste great though and I was able to bring around 800 lbs of meat back to Illinois. This late season bison hunt made a beautiful mount, life altering memories, and not to mention a few new friends that I still stay in contact with.
To say the least, if Erik Schell with WTA TAGS had not helped me with this, it may have been something I never would have followed through on. I was overwhelmed with how my guides went the extra mile to ensure this was a successful hunt. My photographer, Ryan Hoeft also put in the work! This guy drove about the same distance as I did, from the opposite direction. He braved the cold and rode on an unfamiliar horse for days, all with camera in hand. He captured some of the most amazing photos I have ever seen. His photos really tell a story and I will have them forever. Special thanks to all those involved!
If you are considering looking into this, don’t waste time. Get started now and contact someone at WTA TAGS. The 2021 application deadline to apply for free-range bison in Wyoming in March 31st .
