Local hunter bags big elk

A first elk hunt for Samantha Cates of Anna turned out to be a hunt to remember.

Cates, hunting over the recent Labor Day weekend with her parents Jeff and Kim Cates and both of her grandfathers, Ron Garner and Ed Cates brought in a trophy elk.

It was described as a 7x7 bull elk that scored 350 and weighed 1,000 pounds.

The young hunter said, “It was a very exciting time and was an awesome hunt, having my mom, dad and two Papas with me. It was an unforgettable experience.”

She noted that both grandmothers, Janice Garner and Carolyn Cates, “waited anxiously in our cabin awaiting the news.”

Samantha has been an avid hunter since the age of  8, like her father and grandfathers.

She has been on several hunts in the past, such as bear, buffalo, deer, squirrel and raccoon. She is now hoping to go on another bear hunt next year.

The hunt took place at High Adventure Ranch in Cook Station, Mo.