By Carson

March 29, 2026

A few months ago, I experienced one of the most incredible moments of my life alongside two of my sons and my brother. My youngest got the opportunity to punch his first elk tag during a youth mentor hunt, and watching it all unfold was something I’ll never forget.

From packing his gear the night before, to spotting the elk, to finally pulling the trigger—it was an emotional ride from start to finish. The excitement was like nothing I’ve ever felt before. The only way I can describe it is like riding a bolt of lightning.

For six months leading up to the hunt, I had him training at the range, shooting 20–30 rounds a week through his .243. He put in the work, and it showed. The night before the hunt, though, my brother suggested we switch rifles to his .450 Bushmaster for more knockdown power—and it definitely had it. My son was hesitant about the bigger rifle, but after some reassurance, he agreed.

The morning of the hunt, we got him set up in the gun vise. I could see the excitement in him—honestly, it looked like he was vibrating. He’s only nine years old and hadn’t harvested a deer yet, so seeing a 500‑pound elk was a big moment.

When the opportunity came, he got the cow in his sights. I gave him the range, and he settled in. He squeezed the trigger.

One shot—and she dropped.

The rifle was loaded with a 250‑grain FTX, and everything came together exactly as it should. The rifle, the bullet, and most importantly, the shooter all did their job.

It’s a moment I’ll carry with me forever.