Local guy who also scores our deer got a tule elk in California this past July to make it animal #29 with a bow on the list to complete it. http://www.jsonline.com/sports/outdoors/101232779.html Heck of a nice guy and you should see his living room it is a museum in its self. T
Respect, and congrats to Gary! What an accomplishment! When he said, "The things that have driven me most are the experiences I've gained, the friends I've made and the conservation good that hunting does for wildlife," I know exactly how he feels. Ten bucks says he wouldn't trade anything he's done for the world.
Will I wouldn't take that bet for sure. I can tell you this if their were two people in this world who were on seperate hunts and ended up at the same place and time it would be you 2. You both are first class human beings and just seeing your accomplishments is something special. Thank you for sharing your life experiences. Tony
Thank you for the kind words Tony. I'll keep pluggin, and I hope inspiration is found by all those willing to "just keep swimming". It is truly an amazing place out there!
Gary seems like one of the good ones...good for him! Just to be able to walk/experience all the great landscapes these animals inhabit, and the camps/people along the way...I would sure enjoy sharing a campfire with this guy...I love a good hunting story.
Congrats to him. That is an amazing accomplishment yet he seems humbled by it. That's a great outlook. Out of curiosity, I wonder what that grand total of cost is to accomplish a Super Slam. I'd bet the total would be staggering. That is one hell of a commitment to hunting for those few that achieve it.
Bryan, The cost can be less than most people think, depending on when and where you hunt...and who you know. The sheep and big bears are perhaps the hardest to come by. If you're lucky enough to have someone in the second degree of kindship in Alaska, for example, you can hunt with that person for merely "non-resident" licenses fees. Brown bear, Griz, Mtn. Goat, and Dall sheep can be yours for next to nothing. In Canada, you can be hosted by a resident for a variety of species, like moose, deer, bear, et al. Again, you only pay the "non-resident alien" fees. Pretty much everything in the lower forty eight can be had via "do-it-yourself" providing you do your homework. There's a huge amount of public land accessible to everyone. It's there for the taking...Shiras moose, Roosevelt elk, Bighorn, you name it! Of all the 29, the two which I feel would be the hardest and most expensive to come by are the polar bear and the desert bighorn. These two will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $63,000 for just the opportunity. I believe Dennis Dunn completed the entire Slam with his bow and spent around $125,000. The slam is a dream of mine (I'm 19 animals into it), but until my kids have their college paid for, I doubt it will ever be a reality. I would suffice myself with a GREAT photo of each species in its native habitat. One thing I've learned a long time ago...."there's more than one way to skin a cat." If you believe, He will provide. You have got to want it, and you must go after it!
