Doing The Best We Can With What We Have

Doing The Best We Can With What We Have

Mission Statement

With the expanded use of social media today, it is easy to look at others' lives and wish you were them. There are a handful of fortunate individuals who get to hunt and fish for a living. There are others who's circumstances allow them to spend more time in the outdoors than most. The truth is.. the majority of us are average people. Average men and women who do the best we can with what we have. For us, every hunt is public land. Every hunt is DIY. We will most likely never own a Yeti, our Igloos will have to do. Never look down range through the lens of a Swarovski or wear anything adorned with the Sitka logo. We will never have a hunting magazine, never be the stars of our own hunting show, become prostaff members, or receive free gear. We have a limited number of days off each year, and limited funds to spend. This does not however crush our spirit or curb our enthusiasm for the great outdoors. We will take every opportunity we get to enjoy the Streams, Lakes and Mountains.

We do not criticize those more fortunate than us. Our hope is to appeal to hunters just like us. Those with limited time, limited assets, limited resources, marginal gear, yet, 100% passion.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Mark J. Hadley Memorial 2012!!

Well.. I can't believe it's over! We wait all year for something and then it comes and goes... Good thing for us this year was as memorable as ever!

Things got started off right when we picked up Mike and he had is piping hot chili waiting for us. That, and the drive there would have been fun enough. But, little did we know, everybody had all kinds of things up their sleeves that night when we all got together at the hotel.

We got to Loa, did our usual spot lighting below chapel cheese and by the lot. Then got to the Aquarius where Emil and Lois were watching the Jazz game and awaiting our arrival. Bryce and Jerome pulled in just as we were tossin' mike vick around on the parcel. (thanks to nick and bronzen's efforts to restring him on the way over).

And, THAT'S when the craziness began...


Just the fact that Sheila surprised us with her famous Pumpkin Cookies would have been enough. But, We did do our traditional "get all our guns out and place them on the bed for a pic" picture. (there are actually less guns than last year I think. I know I only brought 3 this time). Anyway, it was at that moment that Nick decided to surprise us all with a new purchase. So. without further adieu, here it is:



Yep! Savage Lightweight Varminter in .204 Ruger!! If that doesn't look like a coyote killin' machine, I don't know what does....

So, that was pretty good right there right? Well, he also had purchased a little 20 Ga Pump as well.

THEN, all of the sudden, from out of no where, there were hats being handed out by Nick, so then, I decided you can't have a hat if you don't have a shirt to go with it.
 Shirts courtesy of Abe Dalebout and Intermountain T-Shirt Company, Ogden, Utah
http://www.intermountaintshirts.com/ THANK YOU ABE!

THEN... Bryce unveiled his competition 9mm pistol he acquired from his pops. From the looks of things, Bryce could almost participate IN a competition with it. He shoots it as well as his .22 rifle.

THEN...just when all the excitement was winding down and we thought we'd seen enough, there was one more gun that was hiding in the closet

Anyway, WHAT A NIGHT SO FAR.. and, we hadn't even been out hunting yet! (This was also about the time Bryce surprised us with his new SLAM Outdoors sweatshirt he had acquired)

First morning out, the Vice Pres. kept the momentum from the night before rolling! We weren't out a half hour when his new .204 rang out! Here's the results:



YEP!! Nick smoked his first yote with is new rifle It was literally the first shot fired since he had it sighted in right out of the box. How's that for a debut!? Great Job Nick!

Moving on now, please enjoy this onslaught of pictures and sideways videos:



Nick's Perch




 The Male Model member of our staff


Check out these next 2 pics....

Great pic of the Vice Pres!



 Bryce enjoying some much needed thinking time in the piece and quiet.
Liberal-filled pizza joint (above) one of our favorite stops on the trip. You're sure to see a prius with California plates in the parking lot. This year was no exception! Love seein' the looks on their faces as a bunch of camo-clad, heat packin' rednecks walk in. Priceless!!(notice Bryce's sweatshirt?)

Royal's Food Town!





RANGE TIME:


How about this little grand finale!?

Well, what can I say? This year was EPIC! We had a heck of a time. Next year is Definitely gonna be hard to top.The weather was great, Emil couldn't have been more hospitable, and the Boulder Mt. was as good as ever. This was the first year I can remember we didn't go to the Rocks or to the Ranch but we dedicated more time to coyote hunting, spent alot of time just chillin' as a staff mingled with the laid back country folk. We had a ton of laughs, some great conversation, and some good groceries. Well done guys. We pulled off another successful trip!

Great final pic of the Staff

In closing, the Vice Pres conducted a little survey upon our return home. Here are the results:

He posed these questions:
What was best food item that you consumed?
 
What day did you like better, Friday or Saturday?
 
Who was the best person that you saw or met? 
 
What was your favorite conversation topic?
 
What was your single most favorite event?
 
What was your funniest moment?
 
Who is your most favorite SLAM member and why?
 
Here is everyone's answers:
 
QUINN:
 What was best food item that you consumed?
  Probably the Pizza, I probably could have downed several more slices (and that's why I looked the way I did at the landfill road :)
 
What day did you like better, Friday or Saturday? 
Thursday Night! Friday was awesome and Saturday sucked when I learned I might not have a job when I got home
  
Who was the best person that you saw or met? 
That sweet old lady at the Sunglow that smiled at me like I was her grandson or  something. Good thing she couldn't hear, given her proximity to our table.
 
 What was your favorite conversation topic?
Swum, Swass, Swesticles, Swoob. Mike, Matt and I also had a pretty good convo on the way home.
 
 What was your single most favorite event?
  The Exploding Target and the Yote
 
 What was your funniest moment?
Mine was also Bryce's "fish rock"... the whole time we were backing up..."please be a fish, please be a fish, please be a fish"
 
Who is your most favorite SLAM member and why?
I always enjoy Mike's timely and subtle comments.
 
 
 NICK:
 What was best food item that you consumed?
I would have to go with the Boulder Mountain.  It filled me for almost 34 hours.
 
What day did you like better, Friday or Saturday?
Friday because of the bloodshed.
 
Who was the best person that you saw or met? 
That sugar daddy in the pizza joint that was rubberneckin the whole time.
 
What was your favorite conversation topic?
The funny sex convo at the sunglow.
 
What was your single most favorite event?
Killing SLAM's first Coyote!!
 
What was your funniest moment?
Bryce's fish
 
Who is your most favorite SLAM member and why?
 Jerome: I had an exceptionally great time with Jerome this year.  I could tell he was really trying to relax and make this year an adventure we would not forget.  His knowledge and private social media facts continued to put a smile on my face.  Thanks Rome
 
 
MATT:
What was best food item that you consumed?
Boulder mtn, pie, dr. pepper, hot cocoa
  
 What day did you like better, Friday or Saturday?
Friday: first coyote, new guns out in the field, first fish seen on that road, really good fried chicken, decent rabbit hunt. 

 Who was the best person that you saw or met? 
The gal at the market was nice and kinda nice to look at too. 
 
 What was your favorite conversation topic?
I liked how Bronzen didn't even bother to stick around for our conversation at the top of the hill while rabbit hunting. He was either really interested in finding more rabbits or he had already had enough after the first talk by the coyote.  
  
 What was your single most favorite event?
Thursday night, I may have shed a tear in the next room after receiving one of my bucket list items.
 
 What was your funniest moment?
Sunglow conversation
 
 Who is your most favorite SLAM member and why?
Bryce, because he chose me and I liked that
 
MIKE:
  What was best food item that you consumed?
  Always love the Turkey, Chili, Pizza, Sun Glow, Snack Bin Items.
 
What day did you like better, Friday or Saturday?
Both
 
Who was the best person that you saw or met?
I really liked the cashier at the market, she was helpful.

 What was your favorite conversation topic?
All convo was great.
 
What was your single most favorite event?
Coyote kill
 
What was your funniest moment?
I liked nick cause I slept with him. Not Quinn and Rome cause they were having a snoring war.
 
Who is your most favorite SLAM member and why?
That's not fair that's like saying who do I like better Kristi or Scarlett and I would answer I love them both the same, but differently.
 
  
BRYCE:
 What was best food item that you consumed?
Pumpkin cookies, I consumed at least a dozen.
 
What day did you like better, Friday or Saturday?
Friday, the only full day of fun.
 
Who was the best person that you saw or met?
The sweet old lady that thought she would have a non eventful breakfast at the sunglow. She soon realized that the table in the corner was having a conversation that would make Dr. Laura blush.
 
What was your favorite conversation topic?
Our Dixie days
 
What was your single most favorite event?
Thursday night, lots of man-love

 What was your funniest moment?
The look on all your faces when it really was a fish!
 
Who is your most favorite SLAM member and why?
Matt, he always has something nice to say
 
 JEROME:
What was best food item that you consumed?
 Fritos and CHedder CHeese Who would have thought.  Pizza was a close second.  Turkey was a Third.  What did you guys think about the Salsa?
 
What day did you like better, Friday or Saturday?
 Friday for the Kills, Saturday for the "chill"
 
Who was the best person that you saw or met? 
 That old couple at the Grocery Store that saw my outfit and said he looks like he's ready for Bed.
 
What was your favorite conversation topic?
 Sunglow talk was informative.  Me and Mikey had a good visit just before breakfast that morning as well.
 
What was your single most favorite event?
 When we were in the room and bam Nick pulled out the hats and then bam Quinn pulled out the shirts and double wham Quinn acts like there is a gun he forgot to pull out and hands Matt His new Rifle.
 
What was your funniest moment?
 When I heard the response about the guy being tickled with the feather in his ass.
 
Who is your most favorite SLAM member and why?
 I really would have to say Quinn.  He thinks and plans this trip out months in Advance.  He wants everyone to come and have the best time they can.  When he gave his brother the gun he knew how important it was to Matt.  And how important it was to make matt feel Apprieciated.
 
Great responses guys! It WAS an awesome trip and everybody contributed. Good Times!!

 


Until next year....


And now....... we wait for the Spring Fishing Trip. only a mere 5 months away...

6 comments:

  1. That was a great and well put together post. I appreciate the time and effort. And so will our grandkids!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I was just reviewing this post and I am a little worried that we haven't seen more comments from our fan base. This is a very well done post, I mean the quality pics and videos and commentary is great. Nice work Quinn.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I find myself feeling a bit envious of the great times you all have every time you get together. It's not very often that you find a group as tight-knit as you all are and are able to get together often throughout the year. Keep the posts coming! Quinn nice work putting this post together... Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I apologize for not commenting sooner. Believe me, it's not because I didn't want to, it's just hard to put into words how much this trip means to me. This trip is all about getting together with friends and family. We just happen to get lucky and shoot something once in a while. The MJH Loa trip is a perfect way to remember those who have meant so much to us, and to make memories with those who we will remember forever. Great job SLAM staff, especially Quinn.

    ReplyDelete
  5. At first I was not sure you were being serious. As I continued to read, I quickly realized these words were coming from the deepest part of your big heart. I now know that this trip is a huge part of your existance and you have an understanding of how important it is to continue to biuld upon relationships. Thank you Bryce

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well Josh, that's the Goal. Glad you like what we're trying to do here. Yes, we are a tight group and thanks for the recognigtion. I try to make my posts enjoyable for SLAM and non SLAM members alike..

    Bryce and Matt, I also thank you for those heart felt comments.

    ReplyDelete