Bonding in the Wild | Savage Journeys

Marcus Gores embarks on an emotional journey when his father, Sean Gores joins him on a once-in-a-lifetime hunt for Shiras Moose in Utah. Together they reflect on past hunts together and their plans for the future. This isn't just a hunt; BONDING IN THE WILD is a shared experience, a moment where generations come together to celebrate a passion for the great outdoors.

Traditions and being in the outdoors go hand in hand. A lot of outdoorsmen and women have a generational influence on hunting and how they were raised by parents who introduced them to the outdoors. My story is not much different, but my father’s is. 

My father, Sean, is an immigrant and moved to America when he was 8 years old. Moving from the Middle East, my father and his family ended up in St. Helens, Oregon. My grandfather was not a hunter, nor did he own rifles to introduce any of his children to firearms/hunting. My father grew up enjoying outdoor activities through the boy scouts. He eventually became an eagle scout, but one major event happened that got him hooked on hunting. As a young boy, he had a neighbor who took my grandfather and my father deer hunting in Eastern Oregon when my father was 10 years old. This first big game hunt was the beginning of a passion that my father possesses to this current day. On that hunt, my grandfather was lucky enough to harvest a nice 4x4 mule deer and my dad couldn’t get enough of it. 

My father Sean didn’t get to hunt much with his father. He only has two memories hunting with his father, and they happened in the same year. One deer hunt (as mentioned above) and an elk hunt but his friends from school and their fathers were nice enough to let my dad tag along to continue to pique his interest in the outdoors. 

My father’s growing love for the outdoors sparked his brother’s interest and it then became a brother’s bond. They became hunting partners and even better friends as they took on archery hunting, many different big game species, and learning new ways to hunt such as spot and stalk and tree stand hunting. 

As far back as I can remember I was with my dad in the woods. My earliest memories are with him and my uncle Hanree archery elk hunting and deer hunting once I was old enough to follow them around in the woods. I remember being more excited for rifle deer than I was for basketball season as a young boy. Getting to skip out on football games I was supposed to play in to tag along with my dad and my uncle on archery elk hunts was exciting for me. 

My first big game hunting was in Africa with my father and looking back on it I didn’t understand just how important it was to have him there to teach me right from wrong, ethics, and respect for the outdoors and animals. 

There is something special about a child learning from their parent. There is something even more special about the bond that is created when the passion and responsibilities that come with hunting are shared with your parents/children. Knowing that my father took countless Fridays off work to take me hunting only to complain about being cold or when he would wake up early to get me all dressed and outfitted for hunting to ensure I could last as long as possible as a 10-year-old never meant anything to me at the time but are now memories I cherish. 

My dad introducing me to hunting is his way of giving me responsibility. It is also his way of saying “I love you” and “I am proud of you” when success or failure takes place on hunts. I cannot thank him enough for it and hope someday I will have the opportunity to do the same for a child, friend, or spouse. 

My father supports all of my dreams and goals. One of my most recent goals is to complete the Super Slam, harvesting all 29 big game species in North America. I have been really lucky and successful on more than half of the species and one of the coolest things to note about me going after the Super Slam is that my father has been with me on more than half of the hunts I have been successful on that go towards my Super Slam. 

There is a saying my friends and family have when it comes to me being lucky; It always works out for Marcus. This is true when it comes to my most recent Shiras Moose Hunt. Shiras Moose is one of the 3 Moose subspecies, and they are located in the Lower 48. I have been applying for a few years to draw a Shiras Moose tag and 2023 was my lucky year. I drew the Moose tag in Utah which only allows 102 tags to be given out with less than 10 of them being nonresident tags. It seemed to work out for me when I drew one of the “less than 10” tags available. Not only is this a very low odds of drawing tag, but it’s also a once in a lifetime tag meaning I will never be able to apply for moose again in Utah. 

When I drew the tag, I knew instantly that I wanted to share this very special hunt with my father. He was my first call and we started planning right away. I hired an outfitter to get us private land access and we started preparing our gear. Having my father with me on that hunt was just like old times. Getting to spend time with him away from work or family and strictly focus on what we both love which is hunting. The hunt only lasted 3 days though they are filled with so many great memories. Another hunt, another story, and getting to spend time with my father that someday I will not be able to do. 

It’s very bittersweet getting to have these opportunities with my father. Some people never get the chance to have a father in their life. Others don’t know the outdoors or hunt as a hobby. For me, the bittersweet is knowing that one day I will no longer get that opportunity to have my father with me in the mountains. The realization I’ve been having when I get to hunt with my dad as of lately is something that shifts my goals slightly. I am less focused on an award, less focused on the score of an animal, or even being successful while hunting. My shift in focus is now bonding in the wild and making those memories that mean more to me and those I make them with than any award ever could. 

If you liked Bonding in the Wild, check out Completing GSCO Super Ten when Marcus harvested a bison and other Savage Journeys episodes.