Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Slow in the Stand

It's been a bit slow perched in a tree the past few days.  Plenty of does late in the evening, but antlers have been few and far between. Yesterday I noticed the beginnings of a scrape on the edge of the food plot, things should be ramping-up over the coming weeks, .




              This weeks Moultrie Trail Cam Pics

Friday, September 24, 2010

Ready to Go Back

Reflecting back on the trip, I have to admit the experience was extremely physically and mentally exhausting.  Camping at 12,000 feet wears you down because you cannot sleep and you get winded just walking a few yards.  I suppose that could be the reason we were the only hunters in the area.  Having numerous close encounters with elk, black bears, and mule deer was a dream come true!  The weather was perfect and the night sky was nothing short of amazing.  During the hike down, we ran into Andy and two of his hunting partners and spent some time swapping stories.  I was very honored when Andy praised my dedication and determination then invited me back next year.  Needless to say, I already have my tag application ready to submit next April.

   

Burned Socks

Finally Jared made it back to our spike camp from base camp after hauling meat & Bill down the range.  After returning from an evening hunt, I see Jared in camp stacking firewood and I notice he is alone, so I inquire as to the whereabouts of Bill.  Jared says, "Man, I put that dude in the hospital!", thinking he was exaggerating and that Bill must have been too fatigued to hike back, I laugh and then notice Jared is shaking his head and he says, "I ain't kidding, that dude is in the hospital with a blown knee!".  Apparently during the hike down, Bill tore his meniscus and could hardly walk.  Jared got him down the mountain and met Brad in Durango.  Brad took Bill to the ER where after examination, the prognosis was delivered.


Fresh bear track just outside camp.

I was happy to see Jared cause I was getting tired of talking to myself and I was out of food and had been eating grouse and elk steak for the past two days.  He had replenished our supply of oatmeal and ramon noodles.  So food was taken care of, but I was still in need of socks.  The night previous, during some alone time by the campfire, I had rigged a contraption to dry my socks near the fire.  Apparently at some point during the drying process, an ember popped from the fire and scorched a tennis ball sized hole in the calf of my cotton sock.  So at this point I was wearing burnt socks and was on day six with my underwear!  I hadn't packed much clothes to cut down on weight and the original plan was to return to base camp after three days.

View from spike camp
       

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Talking to Rocks

After a night of restless sleep replaying the events from the day before many times over, I struck out once again hoping for the good fortune of another encounter.  Things were quite this morning, as I was alone, since Jared and Bill had packed meat down the mountain and were replenishing supplies.  It was a weird feeling to be completely alone in such a remote area.  The more I thought about it, I realized I had gone nearly 30 hours without interaction with another human being (not easy for a socialite).  While down in the river bottom, I came across this waller:


I could tell the waller had recently been used and while inspecting the area, a monster bull elk jumped up which had been bedded down not 15 yards away.  I was completely caught by surprise and could do nothing but stand motionless as we had a stare down for what seemed like an eternity.  This elk looked like he had walked off the cover of Field & Stream, he was a massive 7x6 with a dark stained rack...easily a 360-370 class animal.  As quickly as it began, it was over...he turned and took-off through the timber like a bull dozer.  Talk about a rush!!!

Stopped down by the river and started a small fire and roasted a grouse and did some self photography.

            

All Alone

So Bill cashed in all of his luck for the year last night when he shot his elk.  He and Jared are engaged in the daunting task of packing 200+ pounds of meat down the mountain.  The two of them are doing the butchering and hauling and have left me alone to hunt.  This morning I hiked across the mountain before sunrise to hunt the  north facing aspect.  Shortly after sunrise, I was into some really fresh sign and before I realized it, I had managed to sneak into the middle of a small herd of elk moving down the mountain.  Still committed to shooting the first legal elk I could, I found myself ranging a cow at 31 yards from behind a tree.  While I was getting situated for a shot, the cow suddenly went on alert and looked downhill.  Peeking around the tree, I could see another animal charging uphill.  It didn't take long to realize this was a large bull elk, at first all I could see was a massive 6x6 rack advancing through the timber.  The bull bugled once directly below me then began to hook a tree.  At this point I did not have a clear shot at the bull, but before I could even stop shaking he bolted uphill and stopped exactly where I had just ranged the cow I originally intended to shoot.  There he hooked another tree and turned quartering towards me, presenting a decent shot.  I was shaking so bad I could not even get my release attached to the bowstring.  As I drew, the bull spotted me and froze quartering towards me at exactly 31 yards and I shot.  Hearing the noise from the shot the entire herd of animals (9-10) took-off down the mountain.  The bull bucked and surged forward 10-15 yards and stopped.  At this point, all I could see was his head and rack, he began licking his front quarter then disappeared below me.  This would be the last time I laid eyes on him.  After collecting myself and calming my nerves, I walked down to where the bull was standing when I shot.  I found my arrow about five yards beyond the spot.  My heart sank when I saw the arrow.  I had hit the bull and had decent blood and hair on the arrow, but only 7-8" of penetration.

A quiver of well used arrows!  Left arrow was shoulder shot on elk (note 7-8" of blood) .  The rest helped to reduce the grouse population.
        
After about 30-40 minutes, I started down the mountain and immediately picked up a blood trail.  Hoping for the best, but expecting the worse, I began to track the bull.  For the first half mile, things looked promising, the blood trail was steady with the occasional small pool.  Down the mountain, across the creek, through a swamp and along side a mountain park (sounds like Bears in the Night..eh dad!) I found decent blood.  After several hours and nearly a mile of tracking it just stopped!  The last spot was a half-dollar sized splash of  blood on a deadfall.  I made several casts in all directions praying to find more blood or the animal.  No luck!!!  As evening set in, it was at that moment, I realized my poor shot was going to haunt me for a long time.  I am guessing if the shot had been 4-5" to the right, this story would have a happy ending and horns on the wall.        

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Lotto Winner

You hear stories all the time about first-time hunters having sweet luck, well this is one of them:

After arriving at camp and setting gear it was about 6 PM and we starting hearing several bugles.  The three of us struck off in different directions to do an evening spot and stalk.  With the exception of a close encounter with an immature bull my evening was uneventful.  The last one to return to camp, as I approached, I could hear the excitement and full volume of voices.  Expecting to see an animal in camp, I was instead greeted with Bill's cell phone displaying a picture of his quiver and he asked. "What's wrong with this picture?".  The picture had 6 arrows, five looked brand new and one was trademark blood-red!  After elk hunting for a lifetime total of 2 hours, Bill smoked a 450 lb. cow elk with an amazing 61 yard downhill shot!! 

To fully appreciate this shot you have to see the location...61 yards down a steep hill, in-between two trees about 5 yards apart, double lung pass through!   

Up the Mountain

After freezing all night because we could not keep the fire lit in the stove, we starting packing our frame packs to head up the mountain for a few days at our remote camp.  Weather was cool, but sunny and very plesant.  

See Bill hike...see Bill hike some more...see Bill get a blister!


After about 3 1/2 minutes of hiking Bill wore blisters on his feet and we halted our mountain assault for some first-aid.  Jarod seized the opportunity to down a brew, strangely enough this 9am break was not his first beer of the morning.  

Nothing says good morning like Budweiser! 

On the move for about 3 hours, we finally made "Andy's Camp".  Andy (Jim Shockey's Brother) maintains a camp deep in the woods from about July until the snow runs him down.  The camp is pretty amazing and well stocked.  Upon arrival we were invited into camp and treated to a chili-dog lunch (not recommended when sharing a small tent!).  After a brief rest, some words of "woods wisdom" from Andy and some additional first-aid for Bill, we thanked Andy for the hospitality and continued on our way.  Now at 11,800 feet of elevation we are at the tree line and sucking wind.  Five more hours of trekking across a couple of passes along the tree line found us at our remote camp.

Remote camp and hunting outpost deep in the woods!  

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Day 1 & 2

After driving about 9 hours we finally made it to Durango, CO.  Just love the smells of Western Kansas feedlots in Dodge City & Garden City!

Scenic turn-out just outside Durango
Thursday night we met up with Brad Roach for BBQ dinner, Brad "Buddy Holly" was nice enough to let us crash at his cabin for the night.  Elevation of 9,890 is kicking my butt!

Brad's cabin....sweet!!!  He built the whole thing with his two hands!  

After a good nights sleep, it was goodbye to civilization (beds, toilets and showers).  We met up with Jarod and headed up the mountain.  The drive took forever, but provided some entertainment when we picked up some hitchhikers!

These two jokers were "hiking across America" pretty sure they were common hippies looking for hand-outs.  After a short ride up the mountain, we dumped them for fear they were pocketing our Snack Pack Puddings.

Finally after a long drive on a 4x4 jeep road we staked our claim and set-up base camp.  Our WWII edition canvas tent weighed 2-tons and was complete with antique wood burning stove!  


Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Go West Young Man

Just got word that Bill is on the road heading to Great Bend, KS from Omaha,NE.  We plan to meet-up around 7am tomorrow and chart a course to Durango,CO.  Word from our camp is encouraging!  There are several elk in the area and there has been a couple of monster bull sightings in the past couple of days.  The rut is heating-up and the bugles are becoming more frequent.

Just read this quote about the area we will be hunting:

"The San Juan Mountains, located in Southwestern Colorado, are reported to have some of the best elk hunting anywhere. It is estimated that Colorado's elk population is just under 300,000, and it is also estimated that Colorado has two times more elk than any other state. This makes San Juan Mountain elk hunting popular for those elk hunters looking to bag that record bull. However, since some of the peaks of the San Juan Mountains rise to 14,000 feet and there are many slopes and ridges, it is important for elk hunters to be in good physical condition before heading into the San Juan Mountains. Covering about 12,000 square miles in Colorado, much of the San Juan Mountains are very remote with some areas, approximately 40 square miles, having no paved roads. Much of the area is accessible only by jeep or by foot. The San Juan Mountains are located in Game Management Units 70 through 78."


I am ready to roll!

White pony loaded and Colorado bound!