2 minute read
GAME
Y E A R B O O K
By MD Johnson
Every now and again, as I wander down this literary career path I’ve somehow chosen for myself, I come across an individual and their story that makes me feel, well, good. You know, that “Hey! You’ve put the time in. You’ve worked hard. You’re humble, respectful and appreciative of the whole of the Great Outdoors. Oh, there was some luck involved in your accomplishment, but it was overshadowed by your effort, skill and determination.”
Yes, sir, a feel-good story, with a pictureperfect beginning, middle and end.
Meet Eric Johnson. Growing up in Snohomish, Washington, and now living not far to the north in Arlington, Johnson, 38, is a husband, family man – son, 9, and daughter, 6 – and a career firefighter serving currently with North County Fire & EMS out of Arlington and Stanwood. That’s just part of his story. Johnson’s resume, among other things, now also includes having harvested one of the biggest elk to be tagged in Washington by an archer. His 10th bull? Nope. Fifth? No, sir. His first; not his first bull, but his first elk. Huh? How? Best, I reckon, to let him tell it.
“I STARTED BOWHUNTING in 2008,” recalls Johnson. “I would have been, ah, 24 years old. Some guys at work were really into it. We started out duck hunting, and they told me I should come out and try some elk hunting with them.”
So he got himself a bow and began learning like most of us have, by trial and error.
“I was shooting from the hip, so to speak,” he admits, “and going by what (my buddies) were showing me. We were learning as we went.”
For those wondering – and most of you indeed are – the tag Johnson applied for and ultimately drew, and the one that was eventually wrapped around the antler of his incredible eight-by-seven, 369 inch (unofficial) bull was the Observatory Quality Elk Hunt, the season for which runs September 10-22 in Southcentral Washington’s Game Management Units 334, 340 and 342.
“My elk,” Johnson says, “was actually taken in GMU 340, which is the Manastash Unit. It’s a very popular unit, but there were only 13 archery tags given out for the
Observatory Hunt.”
Johnson’s special permit gave him the opportunity to harvest any bull, as opposed to the over-the-counter archery, muzzleloader or modern firearm licenses, which allow hunters to only take a spike or true spike bull (the exception is GMU 334, where there’s an early archery antlerless opportunity).
“I hadn’t (previously) been applying specifically for the Observatory tag,” Johnson explains. “I used to apply frequently for Peaches Ridge, but some of the guys said I should try the Observatory hunt. So I started applying for it, I think last year. I had, I think, 10 points or so (invested) toward these Quality Elk tags.”
ALTHOUGH JOHNSON’S BULL was actually harvested on September 18, his hunt – as many do – began well in advance of when the tag was notched. Here, day by day, is the young firefighter’s once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
September 8: Johnson and two buddies scouted GMU 342 in advance of his September 10 opening day. “We targeted a bull we heard bugling down there,” he says, “so that’s where we decided to start.”
September 10: Classic story of opening day success; well, kinda. “We got him to come in almost immediately,” Johnson remembers, “but he came in so hot and so fast, he saw me before I saw him.” The trio devoted another day and a half of hard hunting in GMU 342 before pulling up stakes and moving north to the Manastash Unit.