For 9-year-old Caryssa Soliday, that idyllic afternoon in late September when she called up five wildly bugling bull elk was the best day of her young life.
Then things got better. Much better.
It first should be mentioned that young Soliday isn’t afraid of a challenge. Toward the end of Colorado’s archery season, Caryssa accepted the summons to call an elk close enough for her father, Brian, to shoot.
No pressure here. Just call a big bull to within 25 yards to climax the hunt she and her father had spent all those months planning and practicing for. First-ever elk hunt. Nothing to it.
Hunting on a North Park ranch south of Walden, the two maneuvered into position near a large herd of almost 150 elk. For more than 2 1/2 hours, Caryssa kept the elk entranced, making music on the call with which she had practiced all summer, a Wayne Carlton reed that imitates the keening call of a cow elk in estrus.
She attracted several cows within 16 yards, but the five separate bulls who responded never got quite close enough for a shot.
“We were surrounded by elk in rut, singing our favorite song,” Brian said. “When we got back to our cabin, Caryssa told her grandparents it was the best day of her life.”
Next morning, they found another group of elk, including a satellite five-point bull.
“I told Caryssa this was ‘our bull’ and she set up behind and to the side of me about 25 yards away,” Brian recalled. “At one point, the bull began trotting directly toward me, so I signaled Caryssa to call again and the bull changed directions toward her.”
When the elk turned broadside, Brian loosed his arrow. The animal sprinted off, then went down for good about 80 yards away.
It should be noted that elk hunting is not a casual thing for these Erie residents. Brian is the Colorado volunteer chairman for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and his three daughters have been involved in the outdoors almost since birth.
Oldest daughter Kylie, now 16, bagged her first elk four years ago. Another sibling, Kaitlin, 13, won an elk-calling competition two years ago and also took first prize in an RMEF national essay contest.
This year, Caryssa called in a Nebraska turkey gobbler, which Brian shot.
“I try to get them involved in a lot of things,” Brian said.
For Caryssa, that immersion came with a cow elk call.
“I practiced a lot and watched some movies,” said Caryssa, who also accompanied her dad for close-up observations at Rocky Mountain National Park.
So was she nervous when confronted with the real thing?
“Not really. Well, maybe just a little. I was thinking maybe they were going to see me or hear me moving.”
Father and daughter worked out a set of signals to assist the novice in getting the timing right.
“My dad would nod his head and I’d know when to call. If he turned his hand around and around, that meant to keep going. He’d hold up his hand if he wanted me to stop.”
As Brian told the story, he clearly was more excited about his daughter’s participation than his own.
“We spent a lot of time thinking and talking about the hunt. She’s really into this and it’s probably because I am. But that’s OK.
“I can’t stop smiling knowing what a positive impact hunting has made on Caryssa and the memories of this special time with her will always be with me.”
Two years ago, Brian shot a magnificent 8X7 bull elk with his bow, a remarkable event that he now considers just “an appetizer” for last week’s hunt with his daughter. The way he said it, you knew it was his best day, too.
Charlie Meyers can be reached at 303-954-1609 or cmeyers@denverpost.com.
