Jade’s Once in a lifetime Elk
Contributors to this thread:Elk
From: No Mercy
09-Oct-22
A lot of you have been following my step son, Jade, who has survived two traumatic brain injuries. Last year he was lucky to walk out of the hospital after the repairs done to the AVM he had let loose and he rolled his truck after suffering a major aneurysm. The Outdoor Adventure foundation grants hunting and fishing wishes to kids affected by life threatening Illnesses. He was given a ND Elk hunt on a private ranch in the Badlands of western ND.
From: t-roy
09-Oct-22
Looking forward your and Jade’s story, Jason.
From: No Mercy
09-Oct-22
Last Friday was the rifle opener and it was insane! There were bulls bugling everywhere! The landowner and Jade sneaked in to a ridge above a corn plot well before light. I had to sit back and watch this from a further hillside as they got into position. He had a bead on this nice 6 x 6 but it walked over the ridge right before he could shoot.
From: No Mercy
09-Oct-22
The elk had been frequenting a corn food plot and they were making their way into position to see what was there after the initial bull encounter, and bumped a few more cows getting to the next ridge.
From: No Mercy
09-Oct-22
Fyi-this is NOT a high fence hunt. The family that hosts this hunt went through cancer with their teenage son and do this hunt every year to pay if forward. It’s a very special tract of land that very few get to hunt outside of the foundation.
From: No Mercy
09-Oct-22
As the sun crept up, more and more elk were visible in the field. 12 bulls and more than 40 cows. Watching from the hill and not being with Jade at this moment was killing me!!
From: No Mercy
09-Oct-22
The bulls were still chasing cows and each other and the bugles were deafening. I’ve never witnessed anything like this in my life! By this time, Logan and Jade had picked out the biggest bull in the herd, but it was next to impossible to get a shot as there were always other elk around him.
From: No Mercy
09-Oct-22
This “royal” bull was definitely the boss and ended up finally giving Jade the opportunity. Jade was shooting my 300 PRC and we had practiced for this very second many times. At 280 yards…he made the shot count!!
From: No Mercy
09-Oct-22
The bull walked about 10 steps and fell over. As I watched the event unfold, I was overcome with emotion. All the thoughts, prayers, rehab, and hard work came to fruition with Jade’s dream hunt. A truly once in a lifetime 7 x 7 bull elk! What a monster bull!
From: No Mercy
09-Oct-22
No Mercy's Link
What an incredible experience for all of us! The foundation actually films these hunts and has a show called Dream Makers on the Pursuit Channel. It will air next year sometime. Here’s a short clip of the shot.
From: No Mercy
09-Oct-22
Being an official measurer, I couldn’t help but put a tape to it after the butchering was done!
From: jmiller
09-Oct-22
What an experience! Congrats to everyone involved!
From: t-roy
09-Oct-22
What a great hunt for you both! Even better is, Jade seems to be doing great!
From: JohnMC
09-Oct-22
Wow great bull! Awesome thing to get to do. Glad your son's recover has gone well.
From: Grunt-N-Gobble
09-Oct-22
Congratulations to your son!
From: RT
09-Oct-22
Nice shot, heck of a bull!
From: Quinn @work
09-Oct-22
Great job Jade. What an awesome bull!
From: HUNT MAN
09-Oct-22
Way to go Jade
From: Willieboat
09-Oct-22
Stud bull congrats Jade
From: Glunt@work
09-Oct-22
Congrats! What a great story. Nice rack is icing on the cake.
From: Bake
09-Oct-22
That is AWESOME!!!
From: ND String Puller
09-Oct-22
Heck yeah! Way to go Jade!
From: Charlie Rehor
10-Oct-22
There are lots of really good people doing great things for others. Congrats to all involved.
From: DanaC
10-Oct-22
Great shooting, great story and great pix. Thanks for sharing!
(And ditto on the thanks to the folks who helped make it happen.)
From: midwest
10-Oct-22
Great bull...congrats Jade and dad!
From: standswittaknife
10-Oct-22
Amazing story thank you
From: hdaman
10-Oct-22
A great family experience, congrats!
From: BillyD
10-Oct-22
Congratulations to Jade on his recovery efforts and dandy bull. Happy for both of you. Just awesome Jason.
From: Bill in MI
10-Oct-22
Great story and so happy your son is doing better. HELL of a bull and so very symetrical. Congrats!
From: iceman
10-Oct-22
Congratulations! Great bull!
From: elkmtngear
10-Oct-22
Beautiful Bull, way to go, Jade!!
From: TGbow
10-Oct-22
Congratulations Jade...way to go
From: Supernaut
10-Oct-22
Congrats Jade, great job!
From: tobywon
10-Oct-22
Congrats to Jade and all involved!! Beautiful bull!!
From: Old School
10-Oct-22
Great story. Congrats to you, your son, and all those involved in making this hunt happen.
From: Inshart
10-Oct-22
As many have said -- congratulations to Jade. Also, can you let us know on how Jade is doing? Prayers to him and his family (including in-laws of course).
What a wonderful organization.
From: No Mercy
10-Oct-22
Thank you everyone! Jade lost half of the vision in his left eye. He also has a very limited short term memory. The doctor and the state felt it best to not let him have a driver's license, which was very upsetting to him. It was a tough day for all of us when that happened. He goes to occupational and cognitive therapy, which we do see achievements, but the surgeon doesn't expect much more of a recovery for him mentally. Physically he is doing great though. He gets tired fast and his brain needs to rest at least once daily. It's been a huge adjustment for him and all of us, but we are doing the best we can. I appreciate all of you for your thoughts for him, and our family.
From: No Mercy
10-Oct-22
No Mercy's Link
Here is more info on the Outdoor Adventure Foundation if anyone is interested. What an amazing group of people!
From: SBH
10-Oct-22
Great stuff. Glad to see it!
From: kota-man
10-Oct-22
Congrats again guys…What a great thing…
From: wisconsinteacher
10-Oct-22
Congrats to Jade and everyone involved. Seeing the generosity of other hunters is heartwarming.
From: Matt
10-Oct-22
Congrats to your son and also to the landowner for supporting such a noble cause.
From: Treeline
10-Oct-22
Wow! What an amazing hunt! Congratulations Jade!
What an awesome experience! The landowner is definitely to be commended for providing this kind of opportunity!
Hopefully Jade continues to improve!
From: No Mercy
11-Oct-22
Again-thank you everyone. My wife and I found out that Jade was going to be presented with this hunt about a week before the surprise presentation. We inconspicuously asked Jade what his dream hunt would be, just to see what the answer would be...he said I would like to shoot a big bull elk! We both had to hold back the tears to not ruin the surprise. I cannot tell you what this adventure did for this young man and his parents. The whole adventure was a God send to us all.
From: Jordan
11-Oct-22
NICE!
From: TMac
11-Oct-22
Outstanding work by all involved. Congrats Jade!
From: Medicinemann
11-Oct-22
"He also has a very limited short term memory." Somehow, I'm betting that he retains THIS adventure (and if not, there is always the video!!)
From: goelk
11-Oct-22
Praise the Lord ! Great Hunt Great Shot Great Parents Great Bull Great People and Best of all you still have Jade.
From: Rgiesey
11-Oct-22
Thanks and kudos to everyone involved. And thank god jade got the experience!
From: SteveB
11-Oct-22
Congratulations and kudos to everyone involved! Just awesome!
From: Shug
11-Oct-22
Congratulations
From: No Mercy
12-Oct-22
Jake you are correct! I think all of us have watched that video hundreds of times now. The Foundation films these hunts for their show, Dream Makers, on the Pursuit Channel. I will post more when we know the air date of the show so you all can relive it with us.
From: KHNC
12-Oct-22
Thats Awesome! Congrats to your son.
From: APauls
12-Oct-22
Congrats and what an incredible bull in just beautiful country!!!
From: Jason Stafford
12-Oct-22
Nice work Jade.
From: labxtreme1.
12-Oct-22
Congratulations to Jade! Hats off to all involved in providing and part of this opportunity
From: BULELK1
13-Oct-22
I luv these kind of threads
Congrats to ya both,
Robb
From: Ken
13-Oct-22
Congratulations to Jade. On both the bull elk and his recovery.
From: Beav
13-Oct-22
Congratulations to Jade!!!
From: Buffalo1
13-Oct-22
Congrats !! A beautiful trophy !!
From: BC173
13-Oct-22
That’s what I’m talking about, Jade. Congrats!
From: Ron Niziolek
13-Oct-22
Fantastic story Jason. Congrats to Jade and kudos to all who made this possible.
From: Brijake
13-Oct-22
Congrats to Jake and as others have said what a great gift from the landowner. Also, can’t imagine corn fed elk…delicious!!
From: No Mercy
14-Oct-22
Backstraps for days! Man-I don't know if I have ever seen this young man so happy! He and I have had some adventures, and he's shot whitetail, mule deer, antelope and black bear, but I don't know that this hunt can ever be topped.
From: No Mercy
01-Feb-23
No Mercy's Link
The TV show is now live on the foundations YouTube channel.
From: WV Mountaineer
01-Feb-23
I don’t know how I missed it the first time but, HECK YEAH!!!!!!! I love it!!!!! Congrats!!!
From: Jaquomo
01-Feb-23
Wow, how cool is that! Best of luck on his continued recovery!
From: BigOk
01-Feb-23
Awesome! Congrats to your son. Thank you for sharing.
From: drycreek
01-Feb-23
I must have been napping when this one came around. Belated congrats to Jade and kudos to everyone who helped make it happen ! What a bull !
From: ki-ke
01-Feb-23
I also missed this! Amazing, inspirational story. Good on you both…
From: IdyllwildArcher
01-Feb-23
What a great story and great bull. Grats!
From: JB
02-Feb-23
Great story! Congrats to Jade!! There are good people out there!!!
From: hdaman
02-Feb-23
That was excellent! Congratulations to Jade on a memorable adventure!
From: scentman
02-Feb-23
This for sure is the best thread I have visited on Bowsite in a long time... God bless you, Jade and family!
From: GhostBird
02-Feb-23
Missed this as well. CONGRATULATIONS... well done.
From: njbuck
02-Feb-23
Congrats to all involved on a hell of a bull!
From: Ironbow
02-Feb-23
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
From: Whocares
02-Feb-23
A happy story! Congrats!
From: TREESTANDWOLF
02-Feb-23
Great! Congrats
From: x-man
02-Feb-23
If you're trying to find a worthy foundation to donate your time and/or money to, this one is it.
From: No Mercy
19-Mar-23
Jade was presented with his mount last night at the foundation’s annual banquet. What a freaking cool mount! He is absolutely thrilled-and his mom let him put it in the corner of the living room!
From: TODDY
19-Mar-23
Congrats to you both! I love seeing the follow ups as much as the initial story! Beautiful mount! TODDY
From: kota-man
19-Mar-23
Awesome…Beautiful mount.
From: scentman
19-Mar-23
That mount looks perfect, thanks for the follow up!
From: Charlie Rehor
20-Mar-23
Fantastic, glad for you guys.
From: tobywon
20-Mar-23
Beautiful bull and mount. Congrats not just for Jade but to all of you. Props to Mom as well on the spot in the living room!!
From: No Mercy
24-May-23
The Foundation field producer wrote an article about the hunt and Eastman's published it in their annual elk issue!! Jade is elated about it!!
From: No Mercy
24-May-23
From: maxracx
24-May-23
Not sure how I missed this the first time but congrats to Jade!!! What a great story. Best of luck in your future hunts.
