Lexi Frazzini fulfills her promises, but sometimes the results can surprise even her.
Hunting is a family tradition for the 14-year-old, a student at Legacy High School where she also plays softball, and she started as soon as she became eligible for a youth license. A year ago, she took a spike-antlered elk and said she wouldn’t settle for anything less than a six-point bull this year.
On the opening morning of the recently concluded first elk season, Frazzini accompanied her grandparents, Steve and Karen Hein, and uncle, Ryan Hein, on a hunt near Evergreen. The group was driving past an area where Steve Hein had permission to hunt and happened to spot two bull elk standing in the open.
The elder Hein, who operates Steve’s Meat Market, called to confirm the permission to hunt, and the group began a stalk through the timber. The elk were moving into the trees but soon came into view.
“My grandma had the rifle, and I didn’t know if she was going to shoot or I was,” Frazzini said. “Then she smiled and said, ‘I’m going to let you shoot it’ and handed me the rifle.
“When the elk was about 80 yards away, I set up my shooting sticks and got ready. I get excited and I start shaking a little when I’m getting ready to shoot, but that stops when I’m ready to pull the trigger.”
One shot from the .338 rifle dropped the elk. The excitement, if not the shaking, soon returned. The bull had an impressive set of antlers. It was a six-pointer.
“It was all very exciting, and especially exciting to have my grandma, grandpa and uncle with me on this hunt,” Frazzini said.
Though she has no specific plans and has made no new promises, Frazzini plans to continue hunting.
“I really enjoy getting out and doing it, and I love eating elk meat,” she said.
Coyotes and bears.
The Wildland Awareness & Educational Institute, in cooperation with The Wildlife Experience, will begin a series of adult lectures and panel discussions Tuesday with a session on living with Colorado’s black bears and coyotes.
The program will feature experts from the Colorado Division of Wildlife and Colorado State University presenting the latest in research on an urban black bear ecology study in Aspen, black bear and coyote calls and their interpretation, tips on living with bears and coyotes, and what to do if a coyote or bear is encountered.
The free program will run 6-7:30 p.m. in The Wildlife Experience building, 10035 S. Peoria, in Lone Tree, off Lincoln Avenue about 1 1/2 miles east of Interstate 25. Call Lee Evans at 720-488-3344 for complete information and registration details.
