A Gold Star Son Learns the Hunting Lessons His Father Left Behind

The solar was sinking towards the mesa after I pulled into the ranch. I parked the rental SUV, already lined in thick Colorado mud, simply as Alex Nehl was gearing as much as re-check the zero on his scope. 

Alex, a 14-year-old freshman from Washington, settles on his stomach behind a basic Remington 700. I study later that the gun was his late father’s looking rifle. Alex shuffles into place, and I instantly see he’s snug behind it. I say as a lot, and Alex’s uncle, Daryl Thies, confirms my suspicions. 

“He’s been taking pictures since he was 5,” Thies says. “He began on a Crimson Ryder BB gun. He had to make use of three fingers to tug the set off.”

Alex’s father, James, re-barreled the Remington for 7mm WSM earlier than he died in fight in Afghanistan. Alex is the one individual to ever hunt with it, and he’s used it to drop mule deer from over 400 yards. 

“He doesn’t prefer to sneak,” says Thies, who served alongside Alex’s dad as an Military Ranger. “He likes to take lengthy pictures.”

When Alex’s first shot hits the goal fewer than two inches proper of heart at 200 yards with a light crosswind, I consider it. Why sneak when you may make pictures like that?

Eric Schlukebir, an skilled information and co-owner of our internet hosting clothes shop, Whitaker Brothers Hunting Company, will get excited by the goal. 

“Tomorrow goes to be enjoyable,” Schlukebir says. “He’s going to make my job rather a lot simpler. That is essentially the most assured I’ve been earlier than a hunt.”

A Gold Star Household

A Gold Star designation signifies that a household has misplaced an instantaneous member of the family who died whereas serving in a battle. The time period originated throughout World Warfare I, when households displayed service flags with a blue star for every member of the family combating within the armed forces. If a member of the family was killed in fight, the household would substitute the blue star with a gold one.

In October looking model Kuiu, in partnership with the Three Rangers Foundation, sponsored an antelope hunt in Trinidad, Colorado, to honor a Gold Star household. Josh and Jason Whitaker, together with their long-time enterprise companion and looking buddy Eric Schlukebir, had been the unique donors for Kuiu’s first Gold Star household hunt in 2020. They’ve graciously donated a hunt yearly since. 

The hunt’s dwelling base can be the remoted Hidden Lakes Ranch, which lies 13 miles east of Trinidad on the foot of Horseshoe Mesa. 

Alex, Thies, the guides, and I all traveled to Colorado to honor a hunter who’s now not with us: Military Capt. James D. Nehl, who was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, sixteenth Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Fight Workforce, 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley, Kansas. He died Nov. 9, 2012, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, from wounds sustained from small arms hearth whereas on patrol throughout fight operations. It was his first deployment to Afghanistan, though he had beforehand been deployed to Iraq. He was 37 and left behind a spouse and a 2-year-old son — Alex. 

A Google search of James Nehl’s title brings up pages of outcomes, principally hyperlinks to information tales about his dying. All of them present the identical fundamental details about his rank, age, and explanation for dying. 

One element that’s lacking from most of those tales is that Nehl was hit when he bumped into enemy hearth to pull wounded Sgt. Michael Maki to security. Maki had taken a bullet to the chest that broke 4 ribs and hit his left lung. Maki made it dwelling. Nehl didn’t. 

Nehl was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star medal for his heroic service in fight. 

When you click on on any of the information tales, you will note strings of feedback. Many are random messages from grateful residents thanking Nehl for his service, wishing his soul peaceable relaxation, and providing prayers for his household. 

Others are from individuals who knew him — pals, lecturers, and males who served with him. The feedback paint an image of a quiet, form, typically humorous younger man.

“He was in all probability one of many nicest children within the class. He was form to everybody. I keep in mind he helped me with math,” wrote Tammi Cruise, the president of Nehl’s graduating class. 

“Quiet man, honest, not a typical teenager, very disciplined,” one in every of Nehl’s high-school lecturers told the Oregonian. “I believe he was residing his dream and sadly died his dream. He needed to be an Military Ranger.”

Daryl Thies met Nehl after they had been children. On the time, Thies was courting Nehl’s older sister, Charlene, who later grew to become his spouse.

“Once I’d already been within the Military, and he was graduating highschool, [Nehl] known as me and requested me for some recommendation about what he ought to be doing after college. It’s a dialog I’ll always remember as a result of it was a type of I might suppose again and marvel if I had completed one thing completely different, possibly life can be a lot, a lot completely different now,” Thies says. “I gave him a particular ‘sure,’ [about joining the Army] and satisfied him to return do what I used to be doing.”

Thies and Nehl had been household in additional methods than one. Not solely did Ties marry Nehl’s sister, making them household within the eyes of the legislation, however additionally they served collectively within the Military, making them brothers in arms. 

Assembly Alex 

Alex could also be expert with a rifle, however he’s removed from cocky. Throughout the hunt he was quiet, possibly a bit of melancholy, and did an entire lot extra listening than speaking. 

He ultimately tells me he’s a ninth grader at Olympia Excessive Faculty in Washington. He retains his solutions to my questions brief, normally just one or two phrases punctuated by shrugs. He performs soccer and rides filth bikes. Once I ask about his favourite topic at school, he jokingly solutions “sleep,” with only a trace of a smile at one nook of his mouth. 

He brushes off the joke shortly and modifications his reply to math. 

“He’s depraved good,” Thies interjects. “He makes nice grades. Performs 4 devices.”

At his uncle’s bragging, Alex simply geese his head.

Chasing Pronghorns

The morning of Alex’s hunt, Jason Whitaker pulls as much as the ranch bunkhouse and informs us that he has excellent news and unhealthy information. He’s noticed a slug of a buck tending a harem of does, and they’re all holed up in a creekbed simply on the opposite facet of the highway. 

Schlukebir tells us that Jason is darn close to inconceivable to impress, so this buck have to be an actual monster. 

As a result of he’s within the creek backside, there shall be loads of cowl, which is nice when attempting to stalk in shut sufficient to make a great shot. The unhealthy information is, he’s in there with a bunch of mule deer and that backside can also be stuffed with crunchy useless leaves. 

“Attempting to stroll by means of there quietly shall be like attempting to tiptoe by means of cornflakes,” Schlukebir says. 

Jason is fearful about spooking the mule deer, who will begin their little foot-stomping and blow out the antelope.

“You bust one, and the jig’s up,” Jason says. He and Schlukebir make the powerful resolution to ship solely Alex in there with Jason. Which means the remainder of us, together with Uncle Daryl and I, will wait on this facet of the highway.  

As soon as there’s a plan in place, Alex begins suiting up within the required blaze orange vest and hat. Thies begins lobbing suggestions at him whereas he’s preparing.  

“Take your time. Gradual is easy; easy is quick. Don’t take the shot until you’re positive of it.”

Alex simply nods as he fumbles together with his vest after which masses his dad’s rifle. 

“We’re going to quietly slip up this backside,” Jason tells Alex. “The wind is coming in gently out of the west, which is cash.”

As Alex and Jason cross the highway, Thies jumps up on {an electrical} field so he can watch them disappear into the cottonwoods. 

“It’s that massive expanse of the unknown that will get to me,” Thies says from his perch. He’s attempting to maintain Alex’s blaze orange in sight so long as attainable.  “But when I wasn’t assured together with his potential, this is able to be a lot more durable.”

As soon as they’re out of sight, there’s nothing left to do however wait. 

Looking Buddies

“James is simple to characterize however arduous to speak about for lots of various causes,” Thies tells me later. He had cautioned me that Alex’s dad is a uncooked topic for {the teenager} to debate. I had seen: Once I requested Alex about his dad’s rifle, he clammed up instantly. However I ponder if it’s nonetheless a uncooked topic for Thies, too.

Alex was solely a toddler when his father was killed in motion. He solely is aware of James Nehl by means of tales and pictures. Thies has informed loads of these tales. 

Thies and Nehl had been Military buddies, looking buddies, and simply buddies on the whole.

“Once we had been each stationed at Fort Lewis, we spent lots of time within the woods collectively looking and fishing and simply screwing off,” Thies says.

Thies was recent from a deployment to Afghanistan when Nehl was killed. He had solely been stateside a couple of days earlier than heading to Judith Hole, Montana, to hunt elk and mule deer. He had been in Montana for simply three hours when he obtained the decision from his mother-in-law informing him that his greatest good friend was gone. 

“Something associated to looking with that boy brings up recollections of his dad,” Thies says. “Looking with Alex makes me miss him extra.”

“People will say that lots of issues are realized habits, however I’m telling you, Alex is the spitting picture of his father. His appears to be like, his mannerisms, and his demeanor are a lot James, it’s virtually eerie.” 

Massive Buck Down

Quickly after Alex and Jason disappear into the creek mattress, a practice comes rumbling throughout the prairie. We will really feel it vibrating the bottom, and it makes loads of noise to drown out any sound the pair is perhaps making as they transfer by means of these crunchy leaves. 

Simply as everybody again on the bunkhouse is getting antsy, Schlukebir will get a textual content from Jason: “Received him in our sights. Too many cattle within the background.”

So long as the antelope don’t spook, Jason plans to attend it out, hoping the cattle will graze out from between them and the pronghorns foraging alongside the creek. 

After about one other half an hour, one other incoming textual content says they’ll attempt to transfer to get a greater taking pictures angle, taking the large cows out of the equation. 

A couple of minutes later, we hear a single shot.

Schlukebir will get the decision from Jason that the large buck is down. They’re ready for Thies to return out earlier than they stroll up on him. Alex desires his uncle there when he first places his arms on his antelope. 

Schlukebir, Thies, and I pile into the side-by-side and head throughout the creek. We spot Alex’s orange vest first, shifting up the underside towards a bunch of black cows. Then we see the buck, mendacity simply on the other facet of the stream, white stomach shining in opposition to the golden brown prairie grass. He’s surrounded by a herd of cattle. Two of them virtually stand on the physique, staring down as we strategy. They mosey off slowly as we get nearer. 

The ambiance turns electrical as quickly as we hop out of the side-by-side. It’s full of fist bumps and hefty pats on the again. The boys are as excited as Alex, possibly extra. It’s arduous to inform simply how a lot pleasure is effervescent below his sometimes quiet demeanor. The one factor that breaks his calm exterior is a touch of a crooked grin that slowly spreads throughout his face as he grips the buck’s horns. It’s a giant buck with horns measuring not less than 14 inches. 

Alex tells us how he belly-crawled by means of the cottonwoods, scooting his dad’s rifle forward of him inch-by-inch, attempting to not crackle an excessive amount of by means of the fallen leaves.

“One doe noticed us and simply checked out us for like 5 minutes,” Alex says. “She was giving us a severe mother stare.”

The shot Alex made was excellent. 

“When you drew an ideal image of the place to shoot an antelope, this is able to be it,” Schlukebir tells Alex as he wipes blood from the buck’s flank.

Jason asks Schlukebir for a rangefinder, they usually vary the shot at 160 yards. The buck had gone solely about 10 yards from the place he was standing.

Alex asks his uncle to run again to the truck to get his fortunate hat. It’s the primary kill he’s made with out it, and he desires it for an image. 

“Why is it your fortunate hat?”

Alex shrugs. “I don’t know. I used to be simply carrying it, and I killed a deer. I figured it was fortunate, so I simply saved carrying it.”

“Perhaps it’s not the hat,” Schlukebir says. “Perhaps the hat is like, ‘I’m on my fortunate hunter right this moment.’”

Photos are snapped from each angle, with and with out Alex’s fortunate hat. Then, whereas the guides make fast work of quartering the animal, Alex Facetimes his grandmother. 

“She’s Alex’s greatest fan,” Thies says. “She’s the one he calls first after each profitable hunt. Her lounge is jam-packed with looking pictures of Alex hanging beside looking pictures of James.” 

Caping the Buck

After the hunt, we’re all again on the bunkhouse, killing time earlier than lunch. Alex is antsy. He’s having a tough time sitting nonetheless and is working out and in of the home, looking for one thing to do. He isn’t like most children his age. I by no means as soon as noticed his nostril buried in a cellphone display. 

“Come on, Alex. Let’s go cape this buck,” Thies says to his nephew, they usually head out the ranch home door and out to the shed. 

Schlukebir tells him to not fear about it, that the guides will deal with the caping. He’s fearful a few wayward blade nicking the cover and ruining Alex’s first antelope. 

However Thies desires the child to discover ways to cape his personal animals. In his thoughts, the lesson is price a possible mistake. So within the shed, Thies walks Alex by means of the method, explaining as he goes, slicing alongside the horn base, detaching the ear, and eradicating the eyelids. 

Then he arms Alex the knife so he can do the opposite facet. 

“Gradual is easy. Clean is quick,” Thies reminds him. Thies talks him by means of eradicating the ear. 

“Me and your dad had an settlement. I might bone, and he would cape,” Thies tells Alex. “He was actually good at it. That’s your objective, buddy.”

When Alex will get to the attention, he hesitates earlier than handing the knife again to his uncle. Eyelids are delicate work, and the boy isn’t fairly prepared for the duty but.

Later, I ask Thies about what it’s like for him to hunt with Alex now, after so a few years of looking together with his father. It takes him a minute to reply, like he’s sorting by means of outdated recollections. He clears his throat earlier than he speaks. 

“I assume you simply discover your area of interest when you may have a looking buddy that you simply do rather a lot with,” Thies says. “James all the time caped, and I all the time deboned. We had been extra environment friendly that means.”

However Thies is fast to elucidate that he’s simply attempting to mentor Alex and train him the talents essential to be a great hunter.

“I’m much less involved about looking after I’m out with Alex.” Thies says. “It’s extra about handing down the traditions and instructing him the issues that his dad would need him to know. My objective is to point out him what his dad can be exhibiting him if he had been right here.”

Learn Subsequent: Want to Honor Our Military Veterans? Take Them Hunting

Over dinner that evening, we retell tales of the hunt and drum up recollections of previous hunts, sharing them with one another. There’s loads of laughter. Even Alex is smiling, joking,  telling tales. The hunt appears to have helped break by means of that quiet exterior. 

“One of many issues that we do once we hunt, particularly once we’re profitable, is we go go to his dad within the cemetery,” Thies tells me. “We simply go and inform him a narrative in regards to the hunt.”