December 2024 - 35

Ty Dulmas, left, was the first youth hunter to harvest a big game animal with Bryan's gun. He was guided by Heath Hayes, right,
Eddie Githens, middle and Ron Hayes, not pictured.
another connection point between the two of us.
During one such off-duty conversation, Bryan
and I discussed rifles. I told him I had a .270 Winchester
short mag I was thinking of getting rid of
as my kids would be hunting soon, and I wanted
a rifle more suited to hunting with smaller-framed
humans. Bryan had a Browning .243. The rifle was
in pristine condition and was topped with a Leupold
scope that far exceeded the value of the box store
kit scope on the .270. A bargain was struck which
involved a rifle swap and me parting with a bit of
cash - and an era began.
Bryan graduated, but we continued to work
together occasionally. From time to time he
stopped to visit with my kids. Bryan was a community-minded
man. As an officer, he carried that
same mentality, specifically as it pertained to kids.
He often talked about his nieces and nephews.
Family was important to him.
As he advanced in his career and later transitioned
to the Converse County Sheriff's Office as
a deputy, Bryan became a K9 officer and made sure
the kids met his partner. When off duty, Bryan spent
time with Jake Mann, an officer with the police
department. Bryan also met the woman who would
become his wife, a coach at Chadron State, Amy
Spruiell. After Amy and Bryan were married, they
seemed destined for a fairy-tale life together, his
heart was healed and his grin seemed permanent.
Our outdoor connection was solidified as I took
on a solo bull elk south of Glenrock. I lost my ability
to purify water and while using my pack as a pillow
in my solo ruck hut, I managed to squeeze what
water I had out of the water bladder and onto the
frozen, mountain ground. I was dehydrated by the
time the bull was field dressed and I needed help. I
made a couple of calls, and Bryan, Jake and a few
others packed in water and Gatorade to my location
and assisted in packing the bull out. I was a walking
cramp and without the generosity of these men, I
am not sure I'd have successfully gotten that bull
off the mountain without losing meat.
Wyoming Wildlife | 35

December 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2024

December 2024 - 1
December 2024 - 2
December 2024 - 3
December 2024 - 4
December 2024 - 5
December 2024 - 6
December 2024 - 7
December 2024 - 8
December 2024 - 9
December 2024 - 10
December 2024 - 11
December 2024 - 12
December 2024 - 13
December 2024 - 14
December 2024 - 15
December 2024 - 16
December 2024 - 17
December 2024 - 18
December 2024 - 19
December 2024 - 20
December 2024 - 21
December 2024 - 22
December 2024 - 23
December 2024 - 24
December 2024 - 25
December 2024 - 26
December 2024 - 27
December 2024 - 28
December 2024 - 29
December 2024 - 30
December 2024 - 31
December 2024 - 32
December 2024 - 33
December 2024 - 34
December 2024 - 35
December 2024 - 36
December 2024 - 37
December 2024 - 38
December 2024 - 39
December 2024 - 40
December 2024 - 41
December 2024 - 42
December 2024 - 43
December 2024 - 44
December 2024 - 45
December 2024 - 46
December 2024 - 47
December 2024 - 48
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