Drew Derouen
December 18, 2019
Last year, 2018, I was fortunate enough to go on the trip of a lifetime! I have always heard about how great this trip and people are. It did not take me long to figure that one out. On the first day of the hunt, it pretty much played out exactly the way Clay described it. The only difference was that I had never judged a 200” deer that weighted 300+ lbs ……. I never reached for my rifle. I'm still wishing I could go back to that day. It's not only Clay that's a great guide and host but his other guides, friends, and family are so very involved and welcoming as well. It’s a treat to be out there and watch how he and his family all participate in the trip! Like myself, Clay is a father of three daughters and we both love being outdoors with them. On that fist hunt, in 2018, he invited me back with my 13-year-old daughter for a bear trip in the spring. When I got home, I mentioned it to my daughter and words can’t begin to explain the look on her face that day. We arrived in early May. My daughter can be somewhat shy or quiet sometimes, but not that day. She quickly warmed up and felt at home there in the lodge. Day 1: My daughter, myself and Clay set out on the QUAD. Once we arrived, we moved onto a ridge and set up a ground blind. Let me tell you something, Clay knows how to brush a ground blind in! He also has a very positive way of making people feel at home. It really showed when my daughter was out there helping like she's been knowing Clay and had done this with him many times. Clay had already had a ladder stand set up for me to sit and view and record the hunt. That evening sit is another whole testimony in itself, but that evening made me very proud to be her father! Long story short, she drew back close to 20 times in that hunt. Clay realized the whisker biscuit on her bow was making a noise on each draw. Clay simply made an adjustment on her bow and on that last pull all I remember was a luminox flying out of the tent blind and a bear running under my stand. The next thing was her & him coming out of that ground blind high-fiving each other. I literally couldn’t climb down the tree fast enough to give her a hug and tell her how proud I was. A few days later, Clay said,” come on bro I want to put her on another bear." That evening hunt was an experience we will never forget as we had bear EVERYWHERE. Some were climbing trees. Some big bores were fighting. Literally, just bear everywhere. On that hunt she got the opportunity to shoot a real 'once in a lifetime' bear. She took a shot at a huge black bear from 22 yards, unfortunately, while only pulling 35 lbs. She shot inches left and high shouldered the bear. The arrow didn’t pass the blade and the bear ran off. That hunt and the drive back told me more about Clay than on the first day when she harvested her first bear. While this bear would be a true trophy for any grown man, Clay took his time with her and talked her though the hunt, the draw and the shot. Over the next few days, she was down on herself and decided to allow me and Clay to make a few solo hunts. Every day, she would come outside of the lodge with her bow and practice shooting at the target. Clay realized there was an issue with the bow. He made an adjustment and tightened her groups better than ever. Keep in mind all the while he has a lodge with 6 other hunters. On our last day there, Clay said to her that morning, "Well, today is the day that we are going to try and get you that colored bear you been talking about." Again, words cannot describe the look on her face. Last hunt went picture perfect with another GREAT memory that I don’t think any of us will ever forget! Not only did SHE harvest her colored Bear, but Dad (that's me) also managed to harvest my first bear in the same hunt! I know this is a long testimonial, but it shows the quality of person that Clay is and the services that he and his family provide. My daughter also went horseback riding, ran around with Anna and truly felt at HOME on the trip! Clay, Crystal, Kaili, Amy, Anna Bean- you all make the trip feel like home! As you can tell, I have been back four times in the last year AND MY DAUGHTER KEEPS ASKING WHEN CAN WE GO BACK? Merry Christmas to a great family! If you are on the fence about booking a trip with Take-Em Outfitters- just do it! BOOK IT! You'll thank me later! Drew
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