HUGE Thanks to the Phantom16 Camp

[lamrith]

For those that do not know, our new forum owner is a darn good guy. He helps fellow elk hunters here and on other forums all the time, especially newer elkaddicts.

I am a newer Elk hunter, after 2 years I was 0-0 and had not even gotten into a single elk, I was at the point reading forums and books etc just were not answering my questions and I was getting frustrated. Over the winter he and I touched base on a local WA hunting forum. I asked questions about hunting, calling, what to look for in maps, etc, etc, he answered every time. Eventually he invited me over to learn elkspeak. (he probably just figured face to face would get the Spanish inquisition feeling onslaught of questions over with faster, oh little did he know...) Over the course of a couple hours going from calling to pizza to maps to calling to pizza and barley water I actually left there able to do basic cow calls and sporadic locator bugles.

We kept in constant contact (I harrassed him with more questions every few days, which lead to more questons...) over a few months and then one day he asked me about my plans for Elk in 2016. I really had none other than starting to look at maps and not having a clue where to start scouting. He talked it over with his campy partner and invited me to join him in Idaho for OTC Archery season. Of course then started the avalanche of gearing questions, as my elk hunting had all been day trips, so now I had to gear up for multi week base-camp hunting. Thru all of this he was nothing but patient and completely open sharing his knowledge and experience guiding me thru gearing questions so that I was as ready as possible for the hunt. We went to ID in July to do some scouting and give me a taste of the area. We got back home and I kicked up the physical training bigtime as I realized I was not prepared to be a Mtn goat.

Then suddenly I get an email asking if I wanted to help hunt WA with him. He drew one of the 5 tags for St Helens Mudflow and he wanted me to call for him. I had neglected my calling for a few months and had lost the touch. We met up to do some practicing one day and I just could not get it done, I sounded like a 3rd grade band; squeek, squak, chirp. I could tell it was a big setback, but he just said keep at it, it will come. So I went home and spent 2 more days trying, went out and bought a new set of the same calls that had worked in case they had just gotten to hot, worn, still no go. I then went out and grabbed one of every other reed in stock at sportsmans and went thru them one by one and found a new cow call and bull call that worked and got back to practicing and working out.

WA hunt came up and off we went, he went up a day early and I flew down the road early from work Friday. That was one of the most fun weeks I have ever had, bulls were talking and answering everywhere. There is just nothing like throwing a whiney cow call out and having a bull chuckle back at you from 80yrds and then come straight in on a string, beating the snot out of every bush on the way. Oh he took me down some rabbit holes for sure, 40* slope, alder thickets you have to crawl thru on your knees while bulls are 200yrds above you screaming. Even with the workouts I did, I was completely not ready for the physical side of the hunt, and it wiped me out daily, but Phantom kept me motivated and moving. This was HIS special permit hunt, but all day every day he was showing me things and teaching me about being an elk hunter. We did not get him a bull but that was the best week in the woods hunting I could ever imagine. We went to ID after a day in town for another week. The elk shut up on us over there which made hunting tough and we did not connect, but I again learned a ton and had a good time. Even thought they wore me out so I could hardly walk and crashed early while they were up talking about next days plan.

So now you all know Phantom is a darn good guy as is his Camp partner, they went out of their way to invite me to their camp and make me feel part of it. They included me in everything and did all they could to get me my 1st elk. They have planted that deep elknut seed in me for sure and I will be forever grateful to them both.

[WapitiTalk1]

Enjoyed having you along Larry. You did surprisingly well in what I believe were your first close quarter encounters with the screamers (no knee knocking at all). Now, if I can just figure out where that snoring badger under your cot has its burrow, I've got to "take it out"

[BrentLaBere]

RJ has helped a lot of people on this site, and I'm sure others, about elk hunting. He has helped my calling go to the next level. Well put, lamrith. Ill second you with RJ, the forum owner, is a "darn good guy".

Pretty special to go on a hunt like that. Something you wont soon forget.

[JKaboom]

Thanks for sharing, this is an unusual site with lots of helpful people - love it

[lamrith]

Enjoyed having you along Larry. You did surprisingly well in what I believe were your first close quarter encounters with the screamers (no knee knocking at all). Now, if I can just figure out where that snoring badger under your cot has its burrow, I've got to "take it out"

Thanks for the vote of confidence it was the 1st time I had been near elk, I just wish I had had a better view of Frank when he came in all hot n bothered.

[Swede]

I agree Larry. RJ would be more than welcome in my camp anytime, and If I could manage I would hunt with any of you here. I don't particularly want to hunt with someone with a big name or big ego. I just want to hunt. The folks on this forum fit my style perfectly.

[Tigger]

I plan on voting for him for President! Seriously, he helpled me a ton too and I am most appreciative. Which reminds me, I owe you a summary!

[lilshootergirl]

I agree phantom takes everyone under his wings to help! Answers you when I know he's running doing his stuff. Thanks for helping make my dream hunts come true! Glad I joined this site. Met some helpful nice people. Such a breath of fresh air

[WapitiTalk1]

I agree phantom takes everyone under his wings to help! Answers you when I know he's running doing his stuff. Thanks for helping make my dream hunts come true! Glad I joined this site. Met some helpful nice people. Such a breath of fresh air

Shucks ma'am, it weren't nothing . Thanks for the kind words, but, it is the members on this site that make it worth of our time. I agree, its a bit different than many of the other hunting forums.