It's a hit! The big one!

DAYTON–The wife of an area hunter was selected for a prize bull elk tag; a chance to hunt the big one; something that is more unlikely than winning it big on the slot machines in Vegas. But it happened to Tri-Cities resident Brandy Sloot,.

"I'm still feeling completely and totally blessed to have harvested such an amazing creature," exclaimed Sloot. "People spend many years hoping to get drawn for this prestigious tag. I only had 11 points earned when I got the results of being selected. My husband has been putting in the same drawing for over 30 years, and still awaiting selection."

Sloot started to make her plan the moment she was notified she was selected, but the mountain fires slowed her process a bit. But if there is a will there is a way, and she had the will to gain access to as much information about the prime hunting area. "My homework pretty much started as soon as I found out I was selected, she said. "Fires in the area kept us from scouting as early as we would have liked, but that didn't stop me from networking through family and friends, and friends of friends to obtain additional information or access to maximize my chances of a successful hunt. I was blown away by the generosity of so many through the whole process, even making some new friends along the way. Coincidently, a perfect stranger was the sole reason I even had a chance at this guy."

The time came to fish or cut bait or is that hit the trail? Whatever saying you might use, Sloot found her perfect spot on the hillside across the canyon when she saw her prize, standing still and proud, and with the wind and rain concealing her movements she took aim and hit her glory, several times before he dropped to his knees.

"When I saw him across the canyon, all I could think of is that I didn't want to mess this one up," Sloot confessed. "He was a good one! I was looking at a near 520-yard shot, with rain and about 20 mph winds to contend with. It took a few shots to get him down, but he never took a step. He finally just dropped to his knees and feel down the canyon into a terrible spot. It took us about 16 hours to get him out of the deep canyon near Skyline Drive. The amount of work was unbelievable and so is the amount of gratitude I have for each person who helped me make it all happen."

Sloot now has fulfilled a dream so many hope and pray for, with the help of many, now has a story to be told for a lifetime.

"After all, I just filled my 2021 Quality Dayton Bull tag with a beautiful 8x7 Bull Elk. It's a memory that will last us all a lifetime and I couldn't have done it without everyone's help. I couldn't be any happier or more proud of how it all turned out, or who was by my side when it did!"