First-year hunter Naples Marqus Banning had more than the luck of using his late uncle’s gun when he took an elk and whitetail deer this fall.

The 12-year-old believes his uncle, Sean Ellis was there in spirit.

“I think in some ways he was with me,” Marqus said.

While hunting with his grandfather, Barry Forell of Naples on a frigid Oct. 11, Marqus spotted a cow elk, and the pair heard a nearby bull bugle.

Forell attempted to call in the animal, and twin bulls came running up the road. Marqus shot a 3-by-4 using a .270 that belonged to his uncle, who at age 23 was killed in a car accident five years ago.

“He always used that gun,” said Vickie Forell, who was Ellis’ mother. “It was his pride and joy.”

Then, on Nov. 8, as Marqus carried the same gun while hunting with his grandfather, he bagged a 1-by-3-point buck near Highland Flats. He initially spotted the deer bedded down.

“He jumped and ran off,” said Marqus, who took the deer from 100 yards with one shot.

Vickie Forell believes her last son could’ve been with Marqus when he took his elk and deer.

“I’m sure if Sean could’ve helped him get an animal, he would’ve been right there with him and he would’ve helped him pack it out,” she said.

“I felt like something on my shoulder when I shot that elk,” Marqus added.