Excellent story....
Amen to using "God's Quads".
Elk Hunting just isn't the same without them, ESPECIALLY if you are making it a point to "get-back-in-there."

ATV's are illegal off of the graded roads in the areawe hunt, not even for game retrieval, and for that I am eternally grateful to the USFS. I have taken elk within just a few minutes following contact withother hunters on horseback. This includes bothriders coming through elk ambush sites (packing or hunting)AND having them coming up behind me or after they passed mewhile I was on the trail.... and still gotinto the elk within VERY short time frames.

On the other hand, they do provide an element of surprise, risk, and entertainment.... both good and bad. Glad your dad steered clear of that wreck. Other folks aren't so lucky, and come elk season, there are lots of folks are oblivious to "horse danger" even when it is right upon them with ample warning signs.

Ifone isnot an "currently seasoned cowboy" or just want to reduce risk a bit, then consider just usinga pack horse (we like draft horses.... real mellow) and lead them while you walkand let them do the "heavy lifting." Going on "empty legs" we have thrown our back packs into the panniers and thrown a Bosco/Arizona hitch on it and then simply carried our rifles and hunted our way into or out of the prime hunting "killzone"--- nice light cruising.... practically effortless.

A good outfitter with a good pack string and good tame reliable and trustworthy stock is a key aspect of what one should be paying for. Nothing worse than a sh!thead "bronc" that is little more "an accident looking for a place to happen."