Silver and Gold
Many travel to Vegas seeking fortune, but when James Weingardner from Roofers Local 4 arrived in the Silver State for the trophy elk hunt he won through a Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) sweepstakes, he never expected to bring home pure gold.
Anxious to get in the woods and out of the city, he quickly got situated during the four hour drive from Vegas to Nevada’s Schell Creek and Snake Range areas with the help of Bill Stanley, director of organizing for the International Union of Elevator Constuctors (IUEC).
Crucial in making the Nevada Trophy Elk Hunt Sweepstakes a reality, Stanley and the IUEC helped secure the $18,000 prize pack, which was used as a fundraiser for the USA’s conservation program and included a guided pack-train hunt and a highly coveted Nevada landowner elk permit and licenses.
“I don’t know whose idea it was to start a program like this for the average worker, but they’re doing a hell of a job,” Weingardner declared. “Bill Stanley and the USA made this trip so easy for me, and I’d really love to do it again.”
With a couple hundred miles on the tires, they pulled into camp to an ominous cloud cover that concerned even a seasoned guide like Shad Leeder of Leeder Hunting. But as the sun rose, so did their hopes. Engulfed by clear skies, the hunting party mounted their mules for the hour long ride up the back of the mountain.
A veteran hunter of nearly 40 years and a New Jersey native, Weingardner had never hunted game bigger than whitetail deer, nor had he ridden a mule.
Flanked by two spotters and Leeder, a weary Weingardner sank his trust into his sure-footed mule as it meticulously navigated the barley 16 inch wide mountain path. “They don’t want to fall any more than you do,” he said. “You’ve just got to trust the fact that the mules and the guides do this all the time, and go.”
As one of the spotters reached the top of the mountain, Weingardner could hear a bustle of excitement and activity ahead. By the time he reached the top and tied off his mule, they’d pinpointed the location of a shooter bull just 425 yards away.
Taking a quick inventory of the mountain, the hunting party spotted three smaller elk and another possible shooter about 1,000 yards away. Deciding the original find was the one, they snuck up another 100 yards—lining up a 311 yard shot.
“I shot once and he fell,” said Weingardner. “When I shot, I didn’t know if we’d have to chase him or go looking for him but those split seconds were probably the most exciting part of the hunt—just a matter of minutes, and it was all over.” 
But Weingardner was wrong. The hunt wasn’t over. Leeder’s father, Charlie, was guiding another client on an adjacent mountain. With the news of a second shooter bull in sight, the two parties agreed to join forces. “During the three to four hours it took them to come over by mule, I got to watch and stalk all the other elk on the mountain—never letting the shooter out of my sight,” Weingardner said.
When the second group arrived, the spotters went up and actually pushed the elk down a little bit into range. When the second client finally shot, she too took home her elk—making it the third time this year Leeder Hunting has doubled up on the same day. “As I watched her take down the elk through my scope, I couldn’t help but think this is what it must be like to watch a hunting TV show live” laughed Weingardner.
When he finally got down the mountain to inspect his bull, Weingardner was awed by the majestic, 7x6, which would have easily fallen into the 360 class if it weren’t for a broken, post-rut rack. “You just don’t realize how big an elk is compared to a whitetail until you’re next to one,” he said. “It was like I was sitting on a horse. Makes you wonder how big a moose is since they’re supposed to be the biggest.”
With minimal phone reception on the mountain, Weingardner had only been able to get a simple photo text out to his wife documenting his hunting success. 
“My wife knew exactly what to do with the photo,” he said with a laugh. “She got it out to my brothers and friends almost instantaneously but they had no clue how fast the hunt was until I got back and filled them in. Of course, after hearing the whole story, they all agreed that clearly the elk had been tied to a tree to ensure my success.”
Back in Jersey with the hunt behind him, Weingardner is anxiously awaiting the arrival of his trophy. It turns out his line of work may come in handy for his plans to mount the chest or at least the antlers. “Charlie Leeder asked me what I did for a living,” he said. When I told him, he decided it was a good thing because I’d probably have to alter my roof to get this bull mount in.”
The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s Nevada Trophy Elk Hunt Sweepstakes was made possible by the generous support of the International Union of Elevator Constructors. All funds raised will support the USA’s Boots on the Ground program, which connects skilled union volunteers with projects that improve and enhance hunting and fishing access, wildlife habitat and outdoor recreational opportunities across North America.
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