 I traveled to Alaska in September of 2005 to hunt Alaskan-Yukon moose with Terry Overly's Pioneer Outfitters. At 62, I live on Long Island at - 50 feet altitude and found myself hunting at - 4500 feet with my guide Charly Culbertson.
On September 26 th , we had been riding our horses for about 2 hours when Charly dismounted and climbed a small hill to scout for a bull.
He hissed. "Vic Get up here!"
I dismounted (fell off really). Tied my mount, got my rifle and the Level-Lok from the scabbard and began to ascend the hill in a hurry through a lot of pesky brush.
I was hit with Mountain Sickness (Altitude Sickness) about halfway up and could not get enough air. I couldn't feel my legs and they wouldn't work for me to the extent that I crawled the last 20 feet. Charly was quite unimpressed with my progress and was urgently insisting that I "hurry Up!" He had spotted a good bull with, as it turned out a broken Palm and another nearby.
When I tried to get into position, Charly spotted a third, my bull, to our right in thick brush and told me to "get over here!"
I crawled over to the right and rolled up into a sitting position, but was gasping for air. My chest was heaving so badly that I couldn't get the .388 WIN Mag up to position. Thoughts of a heart attack flickered through my head, but I really wanted that bull!
Charly grabbed the Level Lok, adjusted it for my position and stuck it over my shoulder. He even pulled a bush back from in front of me so I could see the bull.
I got the rifle on it and was relieved to find a good solid sight picture through the scope. I squeezed off a round and heard a good resounding hit!
The bull gave no sign of impact and strolled away about 20 feet, when I hit him again. He again showed no sign of impact and walked another 20 feet in the thick brush, so I was able to put a third round into his lung from above and behind.
I heard him fall and Charly began whacking me on the back.
I laid back on the muskeg and took about another 20 minutes to get my breath and ruminate on the culmination of a 50-year boyhood dream of a good bull moose.
Without the Level Lok, I could not have steadied the rifle for the shots and my physician later marveled that I was able to accomplish it on zero air. You can see my expression in the picture. I was really beat - but happy!
Thanks Level-Lok and I'll always have mine when I hunt in the future.
Victor I. Bellard, Ph. D.
Stony Brook, Long Island, NY |
I am writing to you to ask for your help in helping me get another hunting stick off you. Since you gave me this stick at the East Coast FNAWS convention it has traveled a fair way around the world with me. I left immediately for a Marco Polo hunt after the show and found it as you said invaluable. Actually the hunter I escorted was not the only one impressed so were the local guides. On these hunts you spend countless minutes glassing and this is where I found it so dam handy. I know you asked for some good photos in return with the hunting stick in them but on this occasion the sheep was wounded and when found the next day the wolves had eaten it and we were left with only the frame and horns.
During my last hunt it Kyrgystan again on Marco Polo we were lucky enough to get a really top class sheep for a Texan client. However it was very late and the client and I were riding to get around to where the sheep finally came to rest. However on the way around the client dropped his bino's and during the process of me retrieving them I some how knocked off me stick from the saddle and did not realize till we got to the sheep that it was gone. Again I missed out on getting you that photo of the sheep, the stick and me. Since then I am really put out with out it. The dam thing is now invaluable to me. I would appreciate very much should you be able to get me another. Next hunt I will rig up a special clip so this does not happen again and I will get you those photos you have asked for.
