Just out of the Wind River Range, a couple days early, thanks to the blizzard conditions we encountered up in the high country. Thought I would add a quick note about an elk hunt that was designed more as a llama experiment to see if using llamas could benefit our efforts to hunt more remote areas when each year my body seems less willing/capable as our pile of production gear gets bigger/heavier.
Cameraman extraordinaire, Marcus, and I both drew tags for this unit. Rifle season opens on September 20th. If not for the kind invitation of Beau Baty at Wilderness Ridge Trail Llamas, I would not have applied here. The areas my research said would hold elk at this time of year were too far for us to haul all our production gear, food, camp, etc. and then retrieve an elk if we were so lucky.
Beau asked if I would let him come and demonstrate how his breeding line of pack llamas could handle a hunt like this. Having already been impressed when I saw his llamas last year, I accepted his offer to tag along and give us some more content on new ideas for backcountry elk hunting. Marcus and I applied with 1.5 point average and we drew. The planning then started, seeking the best areas, as close to the Wilderness Areas as possible, that would likely hold the best feed. My focus on feed is due to the peak rut period having bulls seeking cows, with cows seeking the prime feed. Find the prime feed and you find the cows, and at this time, you will find the bulls.
With the tags in hand and that plan in place, the film permit was acquired for this specific part of the Forest. Beau made arrangements to meet us in Pinedale two days before opening day. We used those two days to pack in and scout, hoping to have a plan in place by the time season opened.
Suffice to say, using these llamas was the most eye-opening thing I've encountered in quite a while. These are not your average llamas that are bred for wool. These are big stout dudes bred for the purpose of packing loads into the backcountry. For example, on our way out, the big old boy, Marshall, hauled two hind quarters and the skull cap. We weighed his total load as being 110#. He carried that for over seven miles though some really rough country and a heavy amount of wet and slippery snow. The rest of the llamas were all carrying 80-90# on the way out.
I wish the weather had not chased us out of the high country two days early. I think we would have taken another bull, filling both tags. But, with no break in our schedule I had to get home to dry gear, wash clothes, and take care of the necessary details of running the business part of this operation. Getting snowed in and losing a day is not option with the tight calendar we have.
The five days that included packing in, scouting, two days of hunting, and packing out, were enough to impress me to the point that you are going to see a lot more of Beau's llamas when we apply for tags in the coming seasons. Beau is one of the finest backcountry folks I've ever shared a camp with. His llamas are equally impressive.
When I get a break in between our next few trips I will add a few more details and a few more images. I hope the video does justice to how impressive these llamas are. I had hear so many stories of llamas being fickle, ornery, lame, etc. These llamas dispelled every myth I had ever heard about llamas and has me considering what ransom it would require to purchase four of them from Beaus' herd. I am told they are not for sale, only rent. I don't blame him.
Gotta run. A few images.
The pack in. Seven llamas, two hunters, one cameraguy, and in this picture, our llama wrangler, Beau Baty.
![20170918_172124[1].jpg](https://www.hunttalk.com/data/attachments/48/48765-8dff8c70638fdbc44d8a93cbb96932cb.jpg "20170918_172124[1].jpg")
I've always dreamed of hunting the Wind River Range. This view explains why. We camped about 1,000 yards from the Wilderness boundary and hunted even closer to that boundary. Marcus shot his opening morning bull just left of this image a few hundred yards, about 600 yards from the boundary. If not for llamas to haul our production gear, I would have never considered filming in this country.
![20170921_162808[1].jpg](https://www.hunttalk.com/data/attachments/48/48767-9e49ac89262f210b2ac6cf732d847d30.jpg "20170921_162808[1].jpg")
Sometimes the snow wins. It was coming down in big loads as we were packing and leaving, with a forecast for even more. Hard to film in whiteout conditions, so we loaded up and will return for the late cow season on the lower country, if I am in need of elk meat at that time.
![20170922_071836_001[1].jpg](https://www.hunttalk.com/data/attachments/48/48768-9285650b98b49820c7593d56ba9856f3.jpg "20170922_071836_001[1].jpg")
Packing out. Marshall and I are close pals after this trip.
![20170922_112507[1].jpg](https://www.hunttalk.com/data/attachments/48/48766-a1bcc4f06156137bc82a51f31e6700f0.jpg "20170922_112507[1].jpg")
Here is a link to Beau and Kirstin's website - http://wildernessridgetrailllamas.com/
If you rent some of these llamas, you will want some for your own. Trust me on that one. My backcountry hunting career just got extended by about 15 years.
Cameraman extraordinaire, Marcus, and I both drew tags for this unit. Rifle season opens on September 20th. If not for the kind invitation of Beau Baty at Wilderness Ridge Trail Llamas, I would not have applied here. The areas my research said would hold elk at this time of year were too far for us to haul all our production gear, food, camp, etc. and then retrieve an elk if we were so lucky.
Beau asked if I would let him come and demonstrate how his breeding line of pack llamas could handle a hunt like this. Having already been impressed when I saw his llamas last year, I accepted his offer to tag along and give us some more content on new ideas for backcountry elk hunting. Marcus and I applied with 1.5 point average and we drew. The planning then started, seeking the best areas, as close to the Wilderness Areas as possible, that would likely hold the best feed. My focus on feed is due to the peak rut period having bulls seeking cows, with cows seeking the prime feed. Find the prime feed and you find the cows, and at this time, you will find the bulls.
With the tags in hand and that plan in place, the film permit was acquired for this specific part of the Forest. Beau made arrangements to meet us in Pinedale two days before opening day. We used those two days to pack in and scout, hoping to have a plan in place by the time season opened.
Suffice to say, using these llamas was the most eye-opening thing I've encountered in quite a while. These are not your average llamas that are bred for wool. These are big stout dudes bred for the purpose of packing loads into the backcountry. For example, on our way out, the big old boy, Marshall, hauled two hind quarters and the skull cap. We weighed his total load as being 110#. He carried that for over seven miles though some really rough country and a heavy amount of wet and slippery snow. The rest of the llamas were all carrying 80-90# on the way out.
I wish the weather had not chased us out of the high country two days early. I think we would have taken another bull, filling both tags. But, with no break in our schedule I had to get home to dry gear, wash clothes, and take care of the necessary details of running the business part of this operation. Getting snowed in and losing a day is not option with the tight calendar we have.
The five days that included packing in, scouting, two days of hunting, and packing out, were enough to impress me to the point that you are going to see a lot more of Beau's llamas when we apply for tags in the coming seasons. Beau is one of the finest backcountry folks I've ever shared a camp with. His llamas are equally impressive.
When I get a break in between our next few trips I will add a few more details and a few more images. I hope the video does justice to how impressive these llamas are. I had hear so many stories of llamas being fickle, ornery, lame, etc. These llamas dispelled every myth I had ever heard about llamas and has me considering what ransom it would require to purchase four of them from Beaus' herd. I am told they are not for sale, only rent. I don't blame him.
Gotta run. A few images.
The pack in. Seven llamas, two hunters, one cameraguy, and in this picture, our llama wrangler, Beau Baty.
I've always dreamed of hunting the Wind River Range. This view explains why. We camped about 1,000 yards from the Wilderness boundary and hunted even closer to that boundary. Marcus shot his opening morning bull just left of this image a few hundred yards, about 600 yards from the boundary. If not for llamas to haul our production gear, I would have never considered filming in this country.
Sometimes the snow wins. It was coming down in big loads as we were packing and leaving, with a forecast for even more. Hard to film in whiteout conditions, so we loaded up and will return for the late cow season on the lower country, if I am in need of elk meat at that time.
Packing out. Marshall and I are close pals after this trip.
Here is a link to Beau and Kirstin's website - http://wildernessridgetrailllamas.com/
If you rent some of these llamas, you will want some for your own. Trust me on that one. My backcountry hunting career just got extended by about 15 years.
Look forward to the show!
