bmt99
Active member
Does anyone else get a little jealous with everyone posting their harvest successes? Just me?...I am ok with that.
For those of you that may be like me, here is my 2018 elk hunt (elk hiking as my wife likes to call it).
We hunted for 6 days the second week of September in Colorado in a unit that had a minimum of 4 points or 5" brow tine required (important to remember). The temps were hot! High every day above 75 and WINDY. Swirling, changing direction, stinky wind. The first day, a small rain storm came through at 3 pm and 3 bulls bugled starting shortly after 4. Crazy steep area. Either way, got into them with some side hill action but never inside 100 yards.
Next morning, hunting partner reminded me of the minimum requirements on a bull. Shortly after, called in 2 spikes. 1 at 20 yards and 1 at 30. The one at 20 yards had his head behind a tree so I could move, do whatever I wanted without getting busted. Thinking to myself, real bulls don't do that. Also learned that I underestimate how good hearing can be helpful in finding animals in that weather.
Those 18 hours of excitement drove me the next 4.5 days. I piled on the miles on my boots, went to plans A, B, C etc. We split up and went to different areas previously scouted, no luck. From 8600 ft to treeline. Did not seem to matter. But had a lot of interesting thoughts when by myself all that time.
Deep thoughts:
- Bad Wind is to elk hunters what Trump is to CNN. I hate wind.
- Fresh bear sign is exciting when you are seeing very little even if it means elk leave. Odd thought but at least I understood
- Bull elk don't really exist. Fake hunts (news)
- What poops in the woods? Very proudly I think to myself "bears and me!"
- when it is 80 degrees, 25-30 mph winds, sometimes digging a hole next to big tree and taking a nap is amazing. Waking up with bugs all over you, not caring and going back to a nap should be a sign to get up and try harder.
- laziness with LNT (leave no trace) because you are frustrated and tired is not a good idea in bear country
- tag soup will not taste good, but it may be better than PB, honey and tortillas on an 80 degree day
- reminder to self: just because someone else trespasses or does some other idiotic thing, doesn't mean that you confronting them is going to change them and fix idiot. This is more true when there are 3 of them.
- does elk hunting count as a weight loss program?
Serious note though, I started late to elk hunting in my late 30's and am scared to think about the off season hours of study, podcasts, reading, videos I have spent. This is my 3rd season. First season, called in a calf/cow to partner at end of day. Found it the next day shortly after grizz did in Montana. We decided to be nice and let her have it. 2nd season...quiet bulls coming in and busting you is exciting but no luck. Hopefully next year (4th time's a charm) I may finally at least draw my bow at a cow or bull. Learning from scratch on your own is good and bad and hard. Good thing I am stubborn and my wife isn't on me about my $700ish elk tags that don't taste great.
For those of you that may be like me, here is my 2018 elk hunt (elk hiking as my wife likes to call it).
We hunted for 6 days the second week of September in Colorado in a unit that had a minimum of 4 points or 5" brow tine required (important to remember). The temps were hot! High every day above 75 and WINDY. Swirling, changing direction, stinky wind. The first day, a small rain storm came through at 3 pm and 3 bulls bugled starting shortly after 4. Crazy steep area. Either way, got into them with some side hill action but never inside 100 yards.
Next morning, hunting partner reminded me of the minimum requirements on a bull. Shortly after, called in 2 spikes. 1 at 20 yards and 1 at 30. The one at 20 yards had his head behind a tree so I could move, do whatever I wanted without getting busted. Thinking to myself, real bulls don't do that. Also learned that I underestimate how good hearing can be helpful in finding animals in that weather.
Those 18 hours of excitement drove me the next 4.5 days. I piled on the miles on my boots, went to plans A, B, C etc. We split up and went to different areas previously scouted, no luck. From 8600 ft to treeline. Did not seem to matter. But had a lot of interesting thoughts when by myself all that time.
Deep thoughts:
- Bad Wind is to elk hunters what Trump is to CNN. I hate wind.
- Fresh bear sign is exciting when you are seeing very little even if it means elk leave. Odd thought but at least I understood
- Bull elk don't really exist. Fake hunts (news)
- What poops in the woods? Very proudly I think to myself "bears and me!"
- when it is 80 degrees, 25-30 mph winds, sometimes digging a hole next to big tree and taking a nap is amazing. Waking up with bugs all over you, not caring and going back to a nap should be a sign to get up and try harder.
- laziness with LNT (leave no trace) because you are frustrated and tired is not a good idea in bear country
- tag soup will not taste good, but it may be better than PB, honey and tortillas on an 80 degree day
- reminder to self: just because someone else trespasses or does some other idiotic thing, doesn't mean that you confronting them is going to change them and fix idiot. This is more true when there are 3 of them.
- does elk hunting count as a weight loss program?
Serious note though, I started late to elk hunting in my late 30's and am scared to think about the off season hours of study, podcasts, reading, videos I have spent. This is my 3rd season. First season, called in a calf/cow to partner at end of day. Found it the next day shortly after grizz did in Montana. We decided to be nice and let her have it. 2nd season...quiet bulls coming in and busting you is exciting but no luck. Hopefully next year (4th time's a charm) I may finally at least draw my bow at a cow or bull. Learning from scratch on your own is good and bad and hard. Good thing I am stubborn and my wife isn't on me about my $700ish elk tags that don't taste great.
