By Guy M. Wells....
It all starts with one thing… a coveted Nevada, California Big Horn Sheep tag. Hopefully it ends with a quality trophy to be proud of. Everything in the middle is the adventure. My name is Guy Wells, and this is the story of my adventure.
I received the tag from NDOW on the spring of 2009 after applying just about every year since 1981 when I was 17 years old. Prior to the draw, I enlisted the help of a trusted friend, Bruce Hudson, of Silver Grand Outfitters to identify the best areas to apply for. Now most of my outdoor experience has been that the work starts after you pull the trigger. Not in this case. With the news of my tag traveling fast in a small circle, Bruce walked in my office to rejoice, shake hands, and let me know I needed to lose about 10 pounds before the beginning of the hunt. Being no stranger to the gym, I just laughed at him and told him to get himself ready. I quietly took heed and ramped up my workout regimen. This included increasing my treadmill work while carrying weights and loading a backpack to walk with. While I was in the relative comfort of the gym in mid-summer, the outside temperature was soaring around 105 degrees. Bruce and friends were up in the rugged desert hills of High Rock locating sheep. Finally it was time for me to join Bruce and two family friends, Les "Griz" Nesbit, and Bill "Doc"Smith in the High Rock Mountains of Northern Nevada for a sheep hunt of a life time.
The drive up past Pyramid Lake into the chaos of Burning Man, finally lead me to my camp two days prior to the opening of the season. I was eager to explore the lay of the land and hopefully see some sheep before the opening day of the hunt. Despite my efforts, I showed up to sheep camp five pounds lighter, not the ten pounds I'd hoped for. That would soon be rectified by the terrain. Silver Grand Outfitters made a very comfortable camp for the crew. I was ecstatic to get a hot shower, warm bed, and hot meal every night after a long tough day in the field. The first two days were spent behind my Leupold spotting scope and Ziess 10x binoculars. We spotted sheep both days but didn't see anything worth chasing on the opener.
Opening day was proceeded by restless sleep and anticipation of carrying my 30-378 Weatherby Magnum on my shoulder with a full backpack. The morning started like the others with 3:30 am coffee, a quick breakfast, and off to the mountains. Bruce and I sat atop what Bruce called a knoll, but I called a small mountain with a fair climb. As we sat and glassed the area as the sun came up, Bruce spotted sheep so far away I thought they were stumps from a long past fire. It seemed like hours and the stumps started getting up to move and the stalk was on. Four miles across hills and valleys we spied the sheep that were still moving. We made a stalk to get closer and get a better look at the Rams in the bunch. Swirling winds and the sun no longer in our favor made all movement a challenge. We dropped below a ridge for cover and made the final stalk within 250 yards of the sheep.
We tucked into a pile of rocks as Les, Bruce and I glassed the Rams. We sat, glassed, and scored the lead Ram. After serious consideration and it being the beginning of the season, I passed at my shot after having the Ram solid in my crosshairs. Sun now in the afternoon glow, we left the sheep without them ever knowing what fate had granted them that day. The four miles over hills and valleys back to the quad and back to camp awaited us. A juicy barbeque steak grilled to perfection, salad, and baked potato satisfied our hungry appetites as soon as we arrived back to camp. Off to bed I went.
One day didn't go by that we weren't into sheep. On the third day we decided to climb a mountain we had seen sheep on during scouting. Bill and Les sat this one out. At dawn, Bruce and I started up the mountain. By afternoon we summated and found a cave to cool off in and give our worn out legs time to recover. After 1 ˝ hours rest, we stayed in the shadows and went looking for my Ram. Half a mile through the rim rock, we made sheep once again. At 200 hundred yards we took a very close look. No shooters. We backed away without them ever knowing we were there. We had hunted, glassed, stalked, and walked the area extensively and decided it was time to move camp closer to the area we were now hunting to cut down the drive time from camp. Upon arrival into camp, it was time for a Chinese fire drill 6 days in camp, and all equipment needed to be gathered and loaded for the move. Everything flew from the ground into the pick ups, piled up like the Beverly Hillbilly's. We moved camp.
New camp was made on the eastside of High Rock. The first morning we found bigger mountains and fewer roads. The area my tag was in is a wilderness area, so vehicle travel was strictly limited. I can't explain how exelerating, satisfying and challenging it was to wake up in the morning and look upon huge rugged mountains. By noon we were looking down the tops of those same mountains, but now covered in sweat and dust after we hiked and clawed our way to the tops. With three days left, the 30-378 Weatherby Magnum now felt like a Volkswagen over my shoulder, and my pack was then stripped of all but the necessities for the day. Finally we made a good Ram. It was the best we've seen so far. It was time to get down to business. Now as we plotted our strategic plan, we found the sun dry, hot, and windy. The terrain was against us. Yes, we were just on the wrong mountain to be able to access that Ram, so back down the mountain sliding on our butts, skidding almost vertical down the mountain we went.
We climbed at mid day to the other side which was equally vertical, going straight up to the heavens. The body just isn't what it used to be. As we ascended the mountain to get above the Ram, my knee started to swell and give out. Determined to make this happen, and time running out on the hunt, I pressed on. Bruce and I got to the top mid afternoon so we could once again use the shadows to cover our presence in their world. We got above some Rim Rock as the Sheep started to move down to water. There was one gap in the Rim Rock so we positioned ourselves above the opening and waited. Now late afternoon, we sat in excited anticipation. First, a ewe walked into the opening, then a Ram. Then the big boy walked in front of the ewe. Knowing the power of the 30-378, I had to wait for the Ram to clear. In these precise moments of our being, we achieve that point of extreme accomplishment or excruciating humility. Bruce's voice rang in my ear, "He is clear. Take him." I started to gently squeeze the trigger and the report of the round rang in the canyon. I turned to look at Bruce, expecting a smile, and he said, "You missed". Excruciating humility was the order of that day. I was in a bad place. My knee was gone, I was out of time, but more than anything, the whole nine days had lead up to this one moment and that was not what was suppose to happen. I found a stick and silently struggled down the mountain, physically and internally battered.
The next day, we found other sheep. We hiked to a point to look, yet found no good Rams. I struggled with all the dark internal thoughts of the miss the day before, and now walked with a limp to mask the pain in my knee. We looked the final morning without success. It was time to go home. Eight hours to drive home and think. It didn't take long for me to know this was not how my hunt was going to end.
After tests and physical therapy for my knee, I contacted Bruce at Silver Grand Outfitters to see if he could squeeze me in for another assault on the mountains. He found six days at the end of the season to accommodate one more chance. I had to take it. After a few weeks of recovery at home, I went back to the High Rock Mountains.
The final challenge began with us in sheep right away. My buddies, Bill, Grizz, (with the addition of Shane Smith), and I all sat and looked at a band of about 40 sheep. The rut was in full swing now. Bruce and I got a closer look at the sheep about 350 yards. There was a good Ram in the bunch. We named him "Silver Dollar", due to a silver dollar sized chip out of h is horn that was glaring white compared to his other wise dark horns. Being the first day, we passed our shoot of Silver Dollar, believing if needed, we could come back. Boy, could those Rams cover ground during the rut looking for ewes that were in season. The more mountains we climbed, we found yet more sheep in different areas. Up we went. The fighting among the Rams was worth the trip back to watch. At one point, two rams cracked heads and we thought a rifle went off. Around the rocks came the two fighters. As we sat and glassed, we were in their world, among them. What an experience. We saw Rams chasing ewes, looking for a date and Rams fighting for the chance. It was about this time when Bill said,"Hey…look over there!" We all turned our attention to where Bill had spotted a band of Rams with one Good one in it. After close study, Bruce and I decided to try to close the 1 ˝ mile distance and hook our shoot. No sooner did we start to get ready to move and the ram and one of his buddies decided to look elsewhere and off they went over the mountain. We walked off the mountain and the next morning went to look for Silver Dollar. No luck. It appeared he too had moved on.
We drove around the mountain spotting sheep from time to time. We ended up on the backside of the mountain where we saw the Bruiser the day before, and up we went. Out of breath and on top, Bruce called over to me. Bruce and Shane had four Rams. We glassed and either they were smaller than we thought, or the big one fled. We followed the Rams to see where they took us. They crested into a draw. Bruce was hot on their trail at that point. Bruce and I had Shane and Les drive the quads back around the mountain. We were going to hunt over the top and down the mountain. As Shane and Les quietly departed, Bruce and I glassed the area for the Rams we followed. That is when it struck me. This was the same canyon that I'd missed the Ram in on the first hunt. Then, "crack", I looked down the canyon and there was sheep below us batting heads. Immediately my adrenaline jumped.
Daylight fading fast, we had to move if we were to get a better look before dark. We stayed high above all the activity in hopes we wouldn't get noticed. Then, Bruce stopped in his tracks. "There ", he said. "They have us." My heart sank. As I surveyed for the sheep, Bruce said,"see the antelope looking at us." We changed tactics so as not to spook the antelope, and lose the sheep. Down we went, careful not to get pinned down by the sheep or other wildlife. WE got down to where the sheep were, and they had moved down the canyon from where we had last seen them. Down we went.
In the late evening they were on the water. We snuck to the water hole. No big Rams in sight, only ewes and small Rams. We looked out to a flat on the mountain and there was a Ram trotting away from us. "Hey Bruce", I said. We glassed, and sure enough, it was Silver Dollar. So far, Silver Dollar was the best Ram we had seen closes enough to judge. I told Bruce that we should quietly leave and come back the text day. I was not looking forward to the steep climb down, or back up in the morning. Then, from no where, here came Dollar, back from the flat. We watched as he came underneath us and out of sight in some ledges 400 yards away. We were then running out of daylight. Out of no where, a young Ram jumps up on a rock down by the ledge where we last saw Dollar. Bruce turned to me and said, "Well, I said I'm here to hunt, not wait". When the sheep jumped down off the rock, we went straight for the rock.
Marching down hill, I felt I'd been there before, and I had. We didn't know what to expect, but the last light press was on. We closed 300 yards fast and quiet when Bruce turned to me and said, "There pointing below us less than 100 yards". I whispered back, "Is Silver Dollar?" I put the crosshairs on the target. Bruce whispered back, "That's, him!" It was then that I saw his tell- tale horn. Bang!! That's the feeling I longed for. He dropped in his tracks. It was a perfectly clean shot. As we walked up, I was in awe of this majestic, beautiful animal that I hunted and killed after 12 days in the field. The culmination of feelings was intense to say the least. My injury, the first missed shot, the mountains, the majesty, and the accomplishment. This was a trophy Ram by any standard. I floated off the mountain that night with my Ram on my back and my friends Bruce, Shane, and Les (Griz) floating behind me.
Provided By,
Guy M. Wells
Las Vegas, Nevada
From Donald N. Colvin....
During my many years of hunting, I have used several guides. My experiences with each hunt and guide have differed substantially. I have come to understand what makes an acceptable guide and I know what makes a great guide. Bruce Hudson is a great guide.
In 2007 I finally drew an antelope tag in Arizona. Since this tag was so precious, I wanted to make sure I was going to have a great hunt.
When I first spoke with Bruce on the phone, I quickly ascertained that I was dealing with a real hunter and a first rate guide. Bruce had already thoroughly scouted the area BEFORE we got there and was very familiar with the terrain and where the animals were. I was also thoroughly impressed to hear that Bruce used quality optics. When we got into camp he had three pairs of Swarovski binoculars (one of which he was kind enough to loan me), a range finder, and a Swarovski spotting scope (with three different mounts). Great guides scout and use top quality optics, Bruce had these areas thoroughly covered.
Bruce ran an excellent camp and worked well with the other guide. Bruce's equipment was all first rate and his hunting skills were superb. He was attentive to my needs as a hunter and client.
My hunt would have been a great hunt even if I hadn't taken a buck. However, a little luck and a lot of work on Bruce's part, produced a magnificent animal which will make Arizona book! I am told it was the biggest Antelope buck taken in that unit and one of the biggest in the state taken this year.
Bruce is a professional hunter and guide and it's obvious he takes great pride in it. At the conclusion of my hunt, I offered Bruce my personal and professional recommendation should he need it. I have never applied in Nevada, but now that I have found such a great guide I will be applying for all the Nevada hunts and look forward to using Bruce as my exclusive guide.
Therefore, it is with great pleasure that I recommend Bruce Hudson, of SilverGrand Outfitters.
Sincerely,
Donald N. Colvin
Newport Beach, CA.
From Bob Brigham....
I have had the good fortune to hunt several times with Mr. Hudson for both elk and javalina in Arizona. I consistently request Bruce when I set up a hunt and do so for several reasons.
1. Bruce prepares well for the hunts - scouting for the animals as well as looking for favorable campsites. He is knowledgeable about the areas we hunt and about the habits of the game we are pursuing. Each day he has a carefully thought out plan for the time and place to hunt throughout the day. At the end of each day Bruce uses the accumulated knowledge from the hunt to plan ahead for the next day. No one can guarantee a filled tag but Bruce insures the best chances possible and understands that a successful hunt can occur weather or not the tags get filled.
2. Bruce is professional both in his approach to the hunt and to the set up and operation of the camp. His campsites are extremely neat and clean. The food is well planned, prepared, and served. He has all the essential camping and safety equipment as well as some well designed comfort features such as his bathroom facilities. He is prepared for unexpected events and emergency situations. Bruce is very professional in his pre hunt correspondence and in his in-camp demeanor. He is extremely attentive to the needs of his hunters and goes out of his way to make the hunt a pleasant experience regardless of the weather, abundance of game, or unexpected complications such as impassible roads or incursions from other hunters.
3. Bruce can accommodate a wide range of hunter's needs and interests. As an example he has enabled me to get my now 96 year old uncle out into the field in search of elk and javalina. His last hunt was at age 92 and it took some extra planning and preparation to accommodate his limitations. Bruce did this well and with great supportive attitude towards the challenge.
4. Bruce adheres strictly to the ethical code of conduct for hunters and makes the game laws clear to those who hunt with him. He offers no exceptions to the fish and game regulations nor to the ethical standard of a fair chase hunt. He mandates and understanding and compliance with hunter safety standards and I always feel our hunts will be safe, legal, and ethically solid.
For these reasons I look forward to my Arizona and Nevada hunts and make sure I let Bruce know well ahead of time to make sure I have a good chance of getting on his schedule. I am happy to offer this recommendation and to answer any follow up questions.
Sincerely,
Bob Brigham
Jacksonville, FL.
From Paul H. English....
I have known Bruce Hudson since 1995. I have been on 3 hunts guided by Bruce; one early bull elk hunt (unsuccessful), one javelina hunt (successful) and one Merriam's turkey hunt (successful). All hunts were outstanding due to the fact that Bruce is extremely experienced in his trade. Even the elk hunt, which I elected not to shoot, Bruce provided me with 15 opportunities to harvest a quality bull. He knows how and where to hunt each species of game animal, making the hunting not only enjoyable, but successful. He is extremely well prepared for the areas we are hunting, including knowledge of the terrain we will be hunting and weather conditions we may encounter. Bruce provides outstanding accommodations in the field and his culinary skills are beyond reproach.
Mr. Hudson is a man of enormous character and sense of pride. He knows hunting regulations and his hunter ethics are impeccable. Bruce is always cognizant of what the hunter requires out of the hunt and has always delivered to my expectations. He strives for a total quality experience and I have never been disappointed. Bruce is more like hunting with a friend than a guide as he treats you like a person, not just a client. He is an easy person to talk to and answers any questions about the hunt I may have.
Few people I have ever known could compare with Bruce not only as a person, but as hunting guide.
Sincerely,
Paul H. English
Santa Fe Springs, CA.
Contact Information:
Bruce Hudson
SilverGrand Outfitters
1268 Seminole Lane
Henderson, NV. 89015
(702) 743-8389
azbiggamelv@hotmail.com
Licensed in "ALL" of Nevada and Arizona
with Special Use Permits in place.
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