Summary: <br> Todays I want to share a story with you guys. This episode is a story about two brothers, who were connected through hunting and their love for the outdoors. Through social media and through the podcast I met Karl Blanchard. I’m not going to ruin the story but in a nut shell Karl’s brother Aaron always dreamed of being in a magazine and we are no Eastman’s Journal but if I can help share the story, you bet your ass I am going to help where I can. Karl is an awesome guy and I have so much respect for him and the family members who have lost loved ones in the service. My heart goes out to them all and I am so glad that Karl and others can find piece in hunting. This is the best hunting story we’ve ever had on the show for multiple reasons so I hope you guys enjoy.<br> <br> Show Notes:<br> <br> * Interview starts (4:00)<br> * Drawing a Washington branch bull tag (13:00)<br> * Killing a bull for Aaron (15:30)<br> * The freedom we have today (24:00)<br> * Karl’s tactic for his hunt (26:00)<br> * Nervous for the hunt (31:00)<br> * Reading a bulls attitude (36:30)<br> * A bittersweet moment (46:00)<br> * Why we hunt (55:30)<br> * Relating to Veterans through hunting (1:03:45)<br> * Catching up with Karl (1:13:45)<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Since the time we were little, playing hunting on the hill by our house, my big brother was always obsessed with big bull elk! I can’t tell you how many times I have been shot with a red ryder bb gun pretending to be a bugling 6pt! Cut outs from bugle magazines covered the walls of his room, and many hours of his young life were spent sifting through books and magazines learning the ways of the wapiti.<br> <br> <br> Aaron dreamed of one thing. He wanted to hunt loud mouth, fire breathing, stinky, muddy bull elk. With multiple combat tours, and never ending training, Aaron missed many hunting seasons. When he could make it home for some hunting, he chose to come back to Washington and hunt with family rather than pursue out of state adventures, despite my pleading to do so. His faithful dedication to applying for his quality bull permits year after year were met with never ending disappoint. While Aaron accomplished so many amazing things in his life, killing a mature bull elk was something he was never able to accomplish.<br> <br> <br> On the 23rd of April 2013 my brother, CPT Aaron Blanchard was killed in a rocket attack in Logar Province, Afghanistan. With two brothers serving combat roles in the global war on terror, you often think about the “what ifs”. However, nothing can prepare you for the knock on your door or that phone call from your mother. Aaron was my best friend. He was my hunting partner, hero, idol, mentor, and general guiding light in life. His sense of humor, intelligence, free thinking, and positive adventurous attitude towards life was infectious to all who knew him.<br> <br> <br> Fast forward three years and here we are. I am a bit obsessed with Mule deer. Elk hunting is something you do to fill the freezer and fill the few weekends between deer tags. Don’t get me wrong, archery hunting elk in the rut is one of my favorite things but deer are what really trips my trigger. I made a promise to myself after Aaron was killed that when I drew a bull tag again, I would give it everything I had and kill the bull of his dreams.<br> <br> <br> It may sound weird but I knew I was going to draw a controlled hunt tag this year. I literally had dreams at night about it. Enough that I had convinced myself that this was the year my name would be drawn. So when I checked my results and saw that beautiful “selected” by my quality bull entry I wasn’t surprised. It felt like a weight being lifted off of my shoulders.<br> <br> <br> As soon as I saw “selected” on my draw results prep began. My focus for this hunt was unlike anything I have experienced.
