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GRANTSVILLE — While most grandmothers bake fresh bread or quilt, one Grantsville woman successfully hunted her first bull elk at the age of 82.

Margaret Elaine Lunt said she developed a love of hunting at a young age when she would tag along with her father on his deer hunts. She said she loved spending time with her family and being outdoors during the fall when Utah is especially scenic.

"I just love being out and seeing some of the most beautiful sights out hunting," she said. "Hiking a mountaintop with fresh fallen snow and the bushes and grass all sparkling with frost and red fallen leaves on the ground, it's just so beautiful."

Lunt said when she got married her husband enjoyed hunting too and when their son was old enough, they began taking him hunting as well. Lunt said had never applied for her own permit and she would just tag along with her family on their hunts.

"One time we were out hunting with my brother and his brother-in-law and my son, and David, my brother's brother-in-law said, 'Elaine, you like this so much. Why don't you get a gun and hunt?' So I did," Lunt said.

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Lunt purchased a rifle when she was 55 years old and has killed several mule deer and five cow elk on different hunts throughout the years. She drew out for the 2015 fall bull elk hunt on the Deseret Land and Livestock unit near Morgan. Her 86-year-old husband was unable to accompany her, but she said she was glad to have her son help her on her hunt.

"(My husband) knew he wouldn't be able to do the hiking and things," Lunt said. "Since I had spent so many years hunting with my son, it was just a joy to be able to share that together."

Lunt hunted with her guide and son all day Monday and most of Tuesday before she landed her 6x6 bull elk. It was 8 years old with a score of 336 and she said they hiked around 7 miles to find it.

"I was quite pleased that I can do that at my age," she said. "It was unbelievable to see him there and think, 'Oh, I did it. I got him.' And I really don't enjoy killing the animals. We hunt for the meat. We'll have meat for a couple of years."

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