Our year in Photos - DVD coming soon!

Our last hunt of the year just wrapped up as my 13 year old niece took her first elk! And as I sit here at 1:00am, slightly overwhelmed with footage and editing yet to do, eyes burning from staring at a computer for far too long, and the periodic thoughts of burn out...I'm more consumed in realizing the blessings we've been a part of in 2011, and remain excited for our 3rd and best DVD yet! So before I hit the hay tonight, I wanted to reflect on the year and share it with you through photos. You can look forward to seeing each of these hunts on this year's film, coming out by February.

We started the year with our annual trek south after gobblers, and ended up taking 3 great birds on film...one pictured here...




And as you'll see as you scroll, we had a great bear season! The spring was tough...wet and late...and we only connected on one bear. John's little brother, Matt, was home from Afghanistan, and took this bear with Dad and brother alongside...



In August, fall bear fun began, and started off with John and John Sr finding this bear on a weekday evening jaunt...



The very next night, "Davey Boy", often times behind the camera, stepped into the screen to take his first bear!



In mid August, I headed out with John and Dave on a bear hunt we'll never forget. We connected on 3 bears in less than 24 hours! Mine was taken the first evening of our hunt...



John took this cinnamon tipped bear the next morning...



And that same afternoon, Dave passed on this bear with a rifle, but John fulfilled his long time dream of taking an Oregon Black Bear with a bow, spot and stalk style...



Later in August, Davey Boy and I were STOKED to once again tag along on one of Oregon's most coveted adventures, a bighorn sheep hunt in SE Oregon with our new friend, Scott. He took a beautiful ram in gorgeous country with family and friends there to enjoy it all...



Meanwhile, John was over east, readying his bow for another hunt, and connected on his largest archery elk to date...



Also part of our Faith in the Field crew, Andrew and friends filmed his brother taking a fine 4 point mule deer in the rolling sage...



A highlight of the year was our hunt with 18 year old Jessica from South Carolina, who'd battled 2 forms of cancer for 4 years of her life. Now in remission, she chose an Oregon Elk hunt as her "Dream Hunt," made possible by the Outdoor Dream Foundation, Stimson Lumber and RMEF...and her dream came true while our camera's were rolling...



In his third attempt with me as his guide, my cousin Jake FINALLY connected on his very first buck! Opening day of western Oregon rifle deer season...gotta love it!



And on our last hunt of the year, my dad, brother and niece headed out on her youth cow hunt here in the Northwest, where she took her very first elk!!!


It was a fun year...and I can't thank everyone who was involved enough! We enjoy notching tags, but the most satisfying part of what we do is spending time with friends, new and old, and enjoying everything the diversity of Oregon has to offer...from the beauty of a sunset to the meaningful conversations we share in the company of the wilderness. 

Bed time for me now...barring any computer glitches, the DVD should be ready by the end of January! I'll make sure you all know when we begin taking pre-orders. HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS!!!

In closing, I'll leave you with a quote from Primal Dreams...if you haven't seen it, watch it...

"Hunting is much more than killing, it's about human beings being absorbed by God's Creation...share it with those who may never know the truth." 

...and my favorite shots of the year...perhaps a dvd cover...