2007 - New Mexico Elk Hunt

November 6, 2007 • Voyageur Press

Cromwell football player John Hedin, experiences a New Mexico elk hunt after being sidelined with a knee injury. Every kid dreams of their senior season in high school sports. In Cromwell the dream involves Friday nights under the lights on the football field. However, nowhere in that dream are you standing on the sidelines not in uniform.

This season one senior, John Hedin, was expected to be an integral part of a team. The all-conference player had just come off two tremendous seasons where Cromwell teams reached the Minnesota State High School Football tournament.

John’s dream would end abruptly, however, this summer at a passing camp. John suffered a second knee injury. The first came his sophomore year during the basketball season. He would recover to play both football and basketball the next year.

This time, the injury would get in the way of playing football—his senior season. John was devastated and many offered condolences. In Cromwell, fall is a time for football. Thankfully, it is also a time for hunting.

John’s outlook improved when he received an interesting invitation from one of his father’s friends, Tom Rolls. “He was up for the weekend,” said John, “and he asked me if I would like to go elk hunting.”

The answer was Yes. John’s trip to New Mexico was scheduled from October 12–18. His only conflict was missing a pair of football games. John was still the captain and an honorary coach this season.

Cromwell head football coach Jeff Gronner didn’t hesitate with giving him the okay. Coach Gronner may have felt worse than anybody about the injury. “John is one of the last kids this should happen to,” said Coach Gronner. “He is a great kid who loves football.”

The gesture from Tom was certainly unexpected. “I was really excited,” said John. “It is something I always wanted to do. I would have had to save a lot of money after high school to do it.”

John was joined by his father, Stacy. They arrived at the 13,000 acre ranch in New Mexico on October 12, and the group formed the game plan. “The first morning the plan was for me, my dad and Tom to go to the north side of the property,” said John. “We sat in the saddle of two huge knolls.”

That first morning Tom did some cow calling and managed to pique the interest of a bull. Unfortunately, the bull got to within 40 yards through the woods, but wised up and retreated.

That night the group changed locations. “We sat on a plateau looking over the meadows and ravines,” said John. “We had a high vantage point, and we spotted a big bull a mile away.” 

The bull was too far away, and darkness ended any chance for a shot. “The next morning was the start of the best day of the hunt,” said John. “We got out of the car and four different bulls were bugling within 300 yards. Seeing a big white tail is one thing. Try listening to four big bulls bugling.”

The elk were a bit cautious that morning, and a good opportunity to shoot an elk never presented itself.

In the afternoon John went back out and sat on another huge plateau. There the group spotted several cows headed to a water hole. Right behind them, a big bull. “We had to sneak up for about a half hour,” said John. “We had to freeze for minutes when the cows sensed we were there.”

Once in range, John took his first shot. “He just stood there, and I reloaded my gun and shot again. I missed. The third shot nicked his lungs and went out his back leg.”

“He ran and I reloaded again. I hit his lungs again. The fifth shot was a heart shot, and he dropped right there.”

John was awestruck approaching the large animal. “It was the most amazing thing,” he said. “When you get up close, you realize how big they are.”

When asked if it was as amazing as playing in the Prep Bowl, John hesitated and answered, “No, but almost as good. I would rather be playing football.”

John noted that prior to shooting the elk, one of his partners had ranged the elk at 140 yards. The next day the group went back to the same spot, and John’s father shot his first elk 500 to 600 yards away from the previous day’s kill.

While they were there, they re-ranged the distance on John’s previous kill. It turns out the distance was actually 220 yards. “That’s why I hit him in the leg.”

John didn’t get to play football this season, but he has a heck of an elk hunting story to tell. “I can’t thank Tom enough,” concluded John. “He is the reason I got the opportunity to shoot my first elk. It was an unforgettable experience.”

Very similar to playing football on a Friday night and making it to the Prep Bowl.