Wilder is on the threshold between being a kid and beginning to grow up, and he’s trying his best to figure out just what it means to join that grownup world. There’s a lot to learn, and he’s grateful to have rock-steady Gale to guide him. In The Elk Hunt, Wilder accompanies Gale into the mountains in search of his first elk. It’s a special day for Wilder in many ways: the biggest game he’s ever hunted, and the first chance to use his grandfather’s Winchester .270. He’s determined to succeed with high marks.