Departing to Unit 61 Elk

[Zim]

Update: Got so sick on the 9th day had to abandon all my gear in the field and drive to Urgent Care Montrose. I near passed out several times. The doc armed my with Codeine, antibiotics, altitude pills and more. Had to go to Grand Junction as all hotels in Montrose were booked. Told me to stay in town and take meds 3/4 days. I improved Saturday and more Sunday. All symptoms are diminishing. Going to Urgent Care was a good move, and they were even in my insurance network. Will rest one more day and see if cough is rubbed out, plus have belt tensioner replaced on the 4Runner. Also taking advantage to refine my OnX e-scouting.

BTW - Had no problem on my first two ebike trail rides. These were both pretty rocky single track trails. That's no concern at all. Rubbing out my virus from hell is my only problem.

 

[woods89]

Hope your health is on the mend! I'm currently sitting at home getting over my second round with Covid. I've definitely thought about what it would be like to fight something similar off on a hunting trip. Not fun!

 

[Zim]

Energy is back. The last symptom remaining is the relentless hacking cough. Perfect for elk hunting.

 

[elkduds]

Energy is back. The last symptom remaining is the relentless hacking cough. Perfect for elk hunting.

Sounds like those west slope businesses who depend on NR $ are having their way w you. Good luck on recovering and getting back to hunting. You can still locate and pattern them w your cough.

 

[Zim]

Walmart sold out of 3/6 Ricola flavors. Virus is all over Montrose now.

Avoid humans at all cost these days, or risk pissing away your entire elk season.

 

[Phaseolus]

Just go hunt in 61, I helped my nephew with his packout in 61 last week. I hadn’t heard about the virus infestation and I live here.

 

[Zim]

Just go hunt in 61, I helped my nephew with his packout in 61 last week. I hadn’t heard about the virus infestation and I live here.View attachment 239946

Lol!!! Just drop by the Montrose Urgent Care Clinic or even Denny’s! They will fill you in.

I’m currently on day #24 with the hacking cough finally letting up a bit yesterday enough for me to sit a tank but still coughed 10-15 times while sucking on Ricola's for 5 hours. It has sucked. "Just go hunt".......you just don't get it. There is no way in hell your nephew could have gotten in bow range with the relentless hacking cough I had. Chance = ZERO. Prolly not even muzzleloader range. Who incidentally pushed all the bulls out of my first canyon. Are you also one of those parents who think it's a great idea to drag your sick kids into family restaurants too? With the "Just go eat" philosophy?

Finally was healthy enough for a 4 mile hike and first stalk on a herd featuring an incredible 380” class stud. Two of the 7 satellites were a 320” & 340” 7x7. Passed on 3 including the 320”. Got iPhone video of that encounter. Got within bow range of the big one three times, but obstructed by branches.

 

[Zim]

Also had this guy visiting my #1 megawallow but played musical chairs. Would have scored at this tank and been home long ago had I not lost all 6 of my scouting days to the GOH virus. But simply nothing I could do.

 

[Phaseolus]

Call if you need help packing one out. 970-462-2564

 

[Zim]

Call if you need help packing one out. 970-462-2564

Thanks but I strained my right knee badly last week so I got the names of 4 area ranchers to get one out with horses just in case. I am barely in good enough condition just to haul my gear in & out. My stalks have been old man slow. I really missed the boat losing out of prime wallow season, where I could have used my LW climbers and rested my knee.

 

[hardwoods]

Hopefully you have entire archery season to hunt

 

[Zim]

Hopefully you have entire archery season to hunt

Yes I do have the full 29 days and I will stay for them all if necessary. I have the herds patterned quite well as far as moving into/out of the bedding areas. Lots of bulls. But the issue now is my age 63 and injuries limiting my stalking speed. I have passed on many <300 bulls and today told my wife I’m siding on gambling to the end, and eating the tag rather than taking a small bull. We’ll see. I have passed on <300” bulls nearly every day here.

Only coughed 18 times my last sit. Slowly healing. Got a quick project for work so came to town to do laundry as well. Got soaked yesterday.

This is a great hunt worth the points if a guy is healthy.

 

[Zim]

Reports kind of dried up because I mostly updated on MM thread. Not enthusiastic because I lost my elk meat for the first time in 25 years. Made a good shot at the wallow but no pass thru so arrow plugged both holes. Zero blood trail. He ran West then double backed and dropped in a blow down East of me. Still should have found him.

Not one of the 340/350 class bulls visiting in early Sept. but an excellent unit. I’d highly recommend burning points here if you have them. Just make sure to get your flu shot and stay away from humans, especially kids.

 

[HighDesertSage]

I love 61. I wish I spent more time in there when I lived in Montrose. Congrats!

 

[bucdoego]

Zim, very sorry to learn of your rough COVID experience (it sounded like COVID symptoms, although you didn't call it out specifically). From the bottles in the picture, you were close to the Zelenko protocol. It looked like you were missing the Zinc, though. I hope you've fully recovered!

Many use the Zelenko protocol as a prophylactic.

 

[Zim]

Zim, very sorry to learn of your rough COVID experience (it sounded like COVID symptoms, although you didn't call it out specifically). From the bottles in the picture, you were close to the Zelenko protocol. It looked like you were missing the Zinc, though. I hope you've fully recovered!

Many use the Zelenko protocol as a prophylactic.

The Covid test at Urgent Care Montrose was negative. I already knew it wasn't based on my full blown Covid November 2020 symptoms. Unfortunately, this virus was far worse. Covid shut down my energy for 10 days. This virus was double that. Covid was dry, no congestion nor coughing at all. This virus left me with 5 1/2 weeks of hacking cough every 30 seconds. Lungs and nose chock full of phlegm & mucus. Perfect for archery hunting.

Got home after 7 hours of delays (fatal accident in I-70 tunnel) and first thing I did was get flu shot to protect my deer season from more BS. I want no contact with humans nor doorknobs for the next two months.