There is one fired up bowhunter in the Blanton household these days! The elk lottery has been WON! Now there will be a summer full of anticipation, daydreaming and shooting a bow in the backyard until the triceps can’t take it anymore.

No, it’s not me; it’s my oldest son Harman who turned 17 on March 16. How did this happen? We’ll get to that in a minute.

One of my responsibilities at Realtree is lining up hunts for all video crews. This is absolutely one of my favorite “things to do.” But it also eats up an enormous amount of time. For 365 days a year I’m pulling up little subconscious thoughts trying to find that “new” and “undisturbed” Milk River kind of place to hunt.

Part of this process involves my ongoing relationship with Eric Pawlek, who oversees Cabela’s T.A.G.S. program. Eric and I are constantly talking on the phone about different units to apply for and how can we can build up preference points for different species ranging from elk to sheep.

One day this past winter, I had a thought. If I started applying Harman now to some really, really “never will you draw this unit” hunts, he’ll build up valuable preference points and by the time he gets out of college (6-15 years from now) there’s a chance he could draw a really cool hunt.

Well, Jeff Smith of Seven J Outfitters, where we’ve whitetail hunted in early September for several years, and his head guide, Kenny Morga, have told us for years about the incredible elk living in the Black Hills of Wyoming where they’re located — Unit 116. The bulls are big for a reason, as there are very few tags issued in that unit.

YOU GUESSED IT! In his first year of applying, Harman drew the tag. I don’t know who is more pumped, actually its pretty clear I’m “out of control” excited. Well, Harman’s mom is pretty excited about him missing a week during the middle of September during his senior year of high school. (Not really!)

As you read this I am on my knees explaining to Ginger how “educational” this experience is going to be. We can visit colleges while we’re out there. Isn’t there a university in Sundance, Wyoming?

I’m betting that Ginger’s love for her son “wins out” over her disdain for skipping school. Especially if she could ever hear a big, slobbering bull bugle in her face at 10 yards.

More to come on this once the hunt takes place. Can't wait to tell more. The picture above is of Harman and a Georgia doe he took last fall.