DEC 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 12

SUPPORT THE OFFICER DOWN

SUPPORT THE OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE VIA THE 2022 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN HOW TO PLEDGE TO SUPPORT THE OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE: 1 2 3 Go to the CFC website (scan this QR code for quick access) Search for the Officer Down Memorial Page / CFC # 62937 Add us to your pledge basket – make sure to make your commitment before January 2023! to warm up, grab some lunch, and head back out. That afternoon it continued to snow, and we again didn’t see any movement and no fresh signs of any elk movement. Undiscouraged, we again went out the next morning, but I convinced Austin this time to wait until first light and still hunt to our stands. It was easy moving quietly in the fresh snow, but despite this advantage, we didn’t see any elk and again no fresh signs. We hunted hard all that day and covered a lot of ground looking for fresh tracks in the snow to guide us for the rest of our hunt. All day the snow continued to fall and now we were walking in sometimes knee-deep snow and despite covering more ground, no sign of any elk moving in the snowstorm. We gave it one more try the next day with the same result. So just like that, with one brutal snowstorm, my elk covered hunting grounds were eerily void of any animals, or at least it appeared. I don’t know if they were simply bedded down in the heavy dark timber or whether they truly moved down into lower elevations as we were hunting at almost 9,500 feet. Either way, our elk hunt did not end up the way we had hoped. While this year didn’t put any elk in the freezer, it did provide another great opportunity to experience the beauty of the Colorado mountains. Our land and the national forest that adjoins it, is a mix of mountainous terrain with creeks, ponds, and old growth aspen trees along with thick pockets of large fir and spruce trees that all together provide great food & cover for the deer, elk, moose, and black bear. Add several feet of snow and it makes for a beautiful escape for any hunter to experience, especially when he gets to do while creating memories with his son that will last a lifetime. November is still my favorite time of year, and I can’t wait until next year to try it again. The Officer Down Memorial Page is proud to announce our participation in OPM’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) program. If you are an employee of the Federal Government (including postal, military, and federal/ military retirees), your pledge though the CFC supports our mission to: • Honor and remember the nearly 26,000 law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty since our nation’s founding • Generate over 200,000 letters to parole boards across the country to help deny parole to hundreds of convicted cop killers • Provide funding for the creation, restoration, or repair of memorials and grave markers honoring officers who have died in the line of duty • Recognize the contributions and sacrifices of our loyal K9 companions that serve on the front lines of our law enforcement efforts • And so much more... Learn more at ODMP.org/cfc 122 The BLUES The BLUES 123