The Elk Hunt 2011

I'm sure everyone has heard how the elk hunt went. A big bust and an expensive one at that. The elk came out the winners this year, as for the first time in recent memory the Johnson's got skunked.

Here is some real bad news to go along with an already dismal hunt and a lost quad and trailer. And you think things couldn't get any worse; I broke my camera. Now what am I going to do when we all get together and I want to get that family photo? This is a sad state of affairs. Actually, it even gets worse than that. I was called to be the scoutmaster of the ward we are going to be living in. If that isn't an incentive to find a house in another ward, I don't know what is. What a year...

This is as close to getting an elk as we came. We actually found 4 different antlers. I wonder how they might taste cooked in a little grease and some salt and pepper?  This one ended up in Josh Stuarts front yard. I found one that is proudly displayed over Natalie and Jacobs home. Cade found the rack of a very nice 2 point which I'm sure is over the mantle of his fireplace by now. Haven't seen pictures yet. Not sure what happened to the little mini that was found.

Can you guess what this is? And no it is not a cat scan of anyone's brain.

Here is a look at the area we were hunting from one of the rock quarys. Mt Floyd and Round Mountain in the background.

On the last day Josh Stuart and I drove to the heart of the hunting area looking for elk. Although it does not look like it there was a road we were following. This was the last day. No wonders we didn't get anything, it would have to run over the top of you. We were hoping to exploit the white truck syndrome. If it worked the elk were froze in their tracks behind trees and were out of our view.

This was actually taken after the hunt out on the Indian Reservation. It looked cooler in real life. He was standing on a ridge, but it doesn't show to well in the picture.

Tanner's First Day behind the Cash Register at DI

I know everyone is anxious to see what Tanner was required to ware to work at the cash register at DI. They expect you to look like a professional. Doesn't he though? I'm sure you are wondering where he bought those fancy duds. DI of course, you don't think they pay him enough to shop anywhere else do you.

Many have inquired about the new hair look. He has been very protective of it and made sure his mother does not get close to his head with the clippers, which she is really itching to do. His grandmothers are pretty concerned about it also. This picture is about a month old and like Sampson no razor has touched his head since. I tell everyone to leave him alone, in 5 years they won't have to worry about it, because it will mostly be gone and if it still looks like the picture below, it will be a great comb over job.

As a side note, you may want to call Tanner and congratulate him on his new church calling. He is in the singles ward and has been called as a member of the mix and mingle committee. I'm sure you can find that calling in the hand book somewhere. Anyway, I'm confident he will do a great job.

The Round-Up

This is a few weeks old, but I was a major participant in the Johnson and Johnson Cattle round-up. It was pretty exciting. Herding cow's, loading into trailers and bringing them to the ranch (Grandma Johnson's house) for branding, worming, ear marking, de-horning, and making bull's into steers which appeared from my standpoint a very uncomfortable process. I am sure that after having a hot branding iron pressed on your front shoulder until all the hair was burnt off and a nice back to back J and J was scorched into your hide, maybe placing a rubber band on some of your private parts would be hardly noticeable. Unfortunately I did not get pictures of the two procedures so you could cast your vote as to which looked the most painful. After we were all done I realized how glad I was not a cow. That picture of cow's doing nothing but grazing out in pastures with endless amounts of food, sleeping as long as desired, and walking around smelling each others hind end (well I'm not sure that is really that glamorous) does come with a price.

You are probably asking yourself, what is this picture and what does it have to do with the round-up. Not sure other than it was taken sometime between the beginning and end of the round up. Probably wanted to show the quality of the feed the cow's have to eat or a picture taken with out my knowing it.

 Cowboy's vs Cows

As the following two pictures show, the cows lost. This little guy was really enjoying this event. I guess that may be why he was winking.... Oh if he only knew what was coming this little bull wouldn't be joking around so much. Obviously he couldn't see the blood on the panels behind him.

This little exercise is what is called "sawing the horn off a cow." The result was a little messy and the cow didn't seem to enjoy it to much. In defense of my brother who was inflicting the pain, the horn was growing into the side of the head of the cow, so in the long run it was in the cow's best interest.