Last month we had the opportunity to spend time in the field with 16 year old Anthony from Shelton, Washington.

Anthony is currently battling osteosarcoma that has metastasized to his lungs. On July 16th he underwent a full leg amputation and is now back in chemotherapy as doctors work to shrink the cancer. Like so many of our kids, he’s fighting a battle no kid should ever have to face.

But you would never know it spending time with him.

Our first trip out with Anthony was one none of us will forget, even though we came home without an elk. From the minute daylight broke, bulls were screaming. We heard 4 or 5 different bulls within 300 yards and over 50 bugles throughout the morning mixed with nonstop cow talk. I could keep them bugling, but I could not get them to come into the open for a shot. For mid December, it was surreal. Not to mention, Anthony had never heard a bull bugle before. Watching his reaction, seeing his smile every time another one lit off, that alone made the day special. It was one of those magical mornings you wish you could bottle up.

What stuck with me more than anything though was Anthony’s toughness. He was in a lot of pain during that hunt. Just two days prior, doctors had surgically recut his amputation stump to promote better healing. Sitting for long periods and trying to stay comfortable in the wheelchair was extremely difficult because of how fresh the procedure was, not to mention he had to carry around a mini vacuum to keep suction on the wound at all times. But he never complained once. Not a word. He just wanted to hunt.

We got close that trip and saw lots of elk, but couldn’t make it happen. Shooting prone wasn’t an option and trying to line up an opportunity from the wheelchair even with the RRS tripod made it tough to execute ethically.

On the drive out, we all agreed on something. No matter what happened with his elk hunt, Anthony was going to Montana next year for deer. He has always dreamed of taking a big whitetail or mule deer buck, and after hearing him talk about it, we knew we had to make that happen. The excitement on his face when we told him said everything.

Anthony promised he would be back after his next round of treatment. And last Saturday, he made good on that promise.

Luckily we caught a brief weather window with no rain, but heavy winds. The elk were on a property that ended up being perfect for wheelchair access, but the closest we could get was 470 yards.

This time Anthony was able to get prone. We got him settled behind the Outdoor Dreams .300 Win Mag and once he was locked in, he felt rock solid. The wind was directly in our face which helped tremendously with predicting bullet impact.

When the moment came, Anthony executed. Three perfect shots on video.

The first shot would have easily done the job, but we always want to ensure the animal suffers as little as possible, and Anthony stayed composed and followed through exactly how he was coached.

After the elk went down, we were able to get Anthony and his family right up to it, something that meant a lot given the physical challenges he faces. Anthony and his parents were incredibly thankful for the animal and were looking forward to processing the meat together at home, a family tradition. 

Spending time with Anthony, a few things stood out immediately. He is one of the kindest kids you will ever meet, constantly thankful just to be there and experience the hunt. Despite everything he is going through physically, he never complained once. Not about the pain, not about the weather, not about the wait. He was simply happy to be in the field doing what he loves. His attitude, his toughness, and his genuine love for hunting left a lasting impression on all of us who had the privilege of sharing the experience with him.

We want to give a huge thank you to guide/Vice President Tino Villaluz, guide/volunteer Jeff Kunkel, and Founder and President Conlan McConnell for making this hunt possible.

We are also incredibly grateful to the Robinson family for allowing us access to their property and to WDFW for continuing to create opportunities like this for our kids.

Anthony has a tough road ahead with treatments, and we ask that you keep him in your prayers as he continues this fight.

We’re already looking forward to the day we see him in Montana, smiling behind his first whitetail or mule deer buck. More memories to come for this young man.