I just returned from an epic trip to Montana with my dad, Uncle Cory, and Grandpa. We stayed in the Highwoods area of Central Montana, in a recently remodeled cabin, where I snagged the top bunk every night. My only critique is that the water was stinky, but it was a fair trade for missing five days of school and getting to spend quality time with my main men!

In fact, it was a dream: Every day started with hunting and ended with playing cards. Plus, we didn’t come close to starving because Grandma sent us with delicious pre-made meals, and our Microwave Chef Grandpa was a pro at hitting just the right buttons to satisfy our bellies.

Of course, we worked hard for those meals! Besides hiking on foot here and there and everywhere, we also put a ton of miles on the side-by-side—12 miles one way just to get to the hunting area. I was the designated driver most of the time, while Dad got stuck being the gate opener. We experienced peaceful landscapes, witnessed a real cattle drive, and even saw hundreds of elk in one majestic spot!

The second full day was definitely the highlight, however, because right at daylight, we spotted a mule deer about 1,000 yards away. After a long stalk, we got within 50 yards, and I watched as Dad dropped him right on the spot. Well done, sir! And just as I was about to proclaim victory on the walkie talkie, we found out Uncle Cory had harvested a mule deer too! (Though it took him five shots to get the job done, but ya know, it happens to the best of us, and besides, that’s just a minor detail that doesn’t need to be publicly documented in our hunting chronicles).

After all of that excitement early on in the trip, we stuck around for a couple days to hunt a cow elk, but no luck there. But who needs luck!? Between the double header, laughter, bottomless plates of nachos, and even earplugs to block out a bunch of snoring bears, it was definitely a trip for the hunting books!