Well folks, I'm a little less than a month away from 3rd rifle season, and I have about as sweet of a deer tag that you can draw for 2nd choice in Colorado. So, I figured, why the heck not start a live thread.
I really haven't done much to prepare yet, but with the weeks drawing closer I have some things in mind to do prior. So far this is all I've done to prepare:
1. Lose a couple pounds
2. Grow a beard
3. Scout OnX from my work computer while the boss isn't looking.
My main concern is that with the elevation of the unit mostly in the likes of 7500-10,500 feet, that it is going to be cold and snowy. Now, I have spent a considerable amount of time in the snow despite being from Texas (thanks to my brother living in Calgary for 6 years) but I can honestly say that I have never hunted nor camped in the stuff informally known as "White BS". So there is where my main concern is with preparing. I don't really own a whole lot of cold weather apparel, but I figured between some bargain hunting and the LL bean gift card that's been sitting in my sock drawer since Christmas, I can find something to make it work. I really have no idea what it is I should be looking for though, but figure it needs to be some kind of synthetic base layer, a waterproof outer shell, and layers of wool or anything warm that isn't cotton in between. (If anyone has some advise here please inform me)
Although I may lack the necessary clothing, I do have a good pair of boots, a large tipi tent with a wood burning stove, a zero degree bag and some leftover hand-warmers.
My next thing to prepare is probably going to have to be food. This is something I have experience with. Prep a few meals, vac seal em and freeze em. Then heat them up in camp. Also pack plenty of dry foods that don't need to be heated.
One thing that I can imagine that the cold will be good for is keeping stuff cold in my coolers. I'm wondering if I will need to fill them to the brim with frozen water jugs, or if just enough to keep the food cold for the 13 hour drive will be enough.
Now the biggest thing left to prepare for this hunt is probably getting ready mentally. I figure, the best way for success is going to require me to embrace "the suck" and get ready for what might possibly be a cold miserably hell. If I can do that, then it should make my chances of finding a legal buck much higher. And having been working my first mind numbing, soul draining, post-college corporate job for almost a year now, what a better way to get away from that than an adventure like this that only comes once a year. I will be going at it alone, setting up camp somewhere along a road near some of the spots I've marked on OnX, and hiking in from there with a plan to move camp if the first area isn't successful.
Anyways, I plan on leaving as soon as I can get off work on friday the 1st, driving as far as I can, then catching some sleep hopefully in the Texas panhandle somewhere, and then driving the rest of the way saturday morning so that I can set up camp and start glassing while there is still daylight. I have never hunted colorado before, but I sure am excited to go on this adventure!
Y'all stay tuned
I really haven't done much to prepare yet, but with the weeks drawing closer I have some things in mind to do prior. So far this is all I've done to prepare:
1. Lose a couple pounds
2. Grow a beard
3. Scout OnX from my work computer while the boss isn't looking.
My main concern is that with the elevation of the unit mostly in the likes of 7500-10,500 feet, that it is going to be cold and snowy. Now, I have spent a considerable amount of time in the snow despite being from Texas (thanks to my brother living in Calgary for 6 years) but I can honestly say that I have never hunted nor camped in the stuff informally known as "White BS". So there is where my main concern is with preparing. I don't really own a whole lot of cold weather apparel, but I figured between some bargain hunting and the LL bean gift card that's been sitting in my sock drawer since Christmas, I can find something to make it work. I really have no idea what it is I should be looking for though, but figure it needs to be some kind of synthetic base layer, a waterproof outer shell, and layers of wool or anything warm that isn't cotton in between. (If anyone has some advise here please inform me)
Although I may lack the necessary clothing, I do have a good pair of boots, a large tipi tent with a wood burning stove, a zero degree bag and some leftover hand-warmers.
My next thing to prepare is probably going to have to be food. This is something I have experience with. Prep a few meals, vac seal em and freeze em. Then heat them up in camp. Also pack plenty of dry foods that don't need to be heated.
One thing that I can imagine that the cold will be good for is keeping stuff cold in my coolers. I'm wondering if I will need to fill them to the brim with frozen water jugs, or if just enough to keep the food cold for the 13 hour drive will be enough.
Now the biggest thing left to prepare for this hunt is probably getting ready mentally. I figure, the best way for success is going to require me to embrace "the suck" and get ready for what might possibly be a cold miserably hell. If I can do that, then it should make my chances of finding a legal buck much higher. And having been working my first mind numbing, soul draining, post-college corporate job for almost a year now, what a better way to get away from that than an adventure like this that only comes once a year. I will be going at it alone, setting up camp somewhere along a road near some of the spots I've marked on OnX, and hiking in from there with a plan to move camp if the first area isn't successful.
Anyways, I plan on leaving as soon as I can get off work on friday the 1st, driving as far as I can, then catching some sleep hopefully in the Texas panhandle somewhere, and then driving the rest of the way saturday morning so that I can set up camp and start glassing while there is still daylight. I have never hunted colorado before, but I sure am excited to go on this adventure!
Y'all stay tuned
