Hatchie Dawg
Well-known member
I harvested my second elk and first bull in 2015. The hunt was my fourth altogether and truthfully almost a religious experience. The hunt was solo and the details are recorded on this site, but generally at that time, my mindset was such that I was going to throw myself against the task of harvesting a bull until it happened. I really had no particular ability other than a willingness to go and go I did. Truthfully, I pushed a bit too hard, didn't have stock that year and needed help from new friends for extraction of the meat and antlers. The Seek Outside guys rallied a crew to get me and the elk off the mountain in good shape. They didn't know me from Adam. Looking back, their help and friendship has been one of the best parts of the whole experience.
I needed help that year primarily because of the ground I choose to hunt. I look for country with elk that will weed out competition and in CO that generally means steep wilderness. My first hunt out west was a third season hunt in CO and orange was everywhere. I swore never again. Honestly I kinda looked for the worst spot on the map where concentration areas and migration corridors overlap. It is only about 4.5 miles in, but Angie with Seek Outside described it as "4.5 miles straight up". That's not exactly accurate but you get the idea. The area reminds me of a bad girlfriend, the kind that is smoking hot but half crazy and maybe even a little mean. If you get close to her you are going to pay for all that beauty.
I was so proud after 2015 I said I was done and it really took a while but slowly my mind began to change. The fall of 2017 started looking like an option for another elk hunt and I really only knew one area. I could rent llamas as I had done on two of the three trips previous and return solo. The crazy hot girlfriend was calling, but unlike 2015 I was not burning with desire. The willingness to throw myself against the task just wasn't there. I needed a change, a partner.
My good friend and neighbor Pat who made two of the previous four trips with me out west would not be able to go as he was taking a new job in WV. The list of additional DIY elk hunters that I know in West TN is pretty short, zero really. So I was at a bit of an impasse. Then I remembered Lovie.
Lovie was about 15 when I met him. His mom worked at the same hospital as I did and learned how much I liked to hunt and fish. She said she had a son that liked the outdoors and that I needed to meet him. She brought him to work one day and I liked him immediately. He looked me right in the eye, shook my hand firmly and called me Mr Jeff. His manners were old school, something that is often missing in youth these days. To say Lovie liked the outdoors captured nothing of the case. He was more like consumed by the outdoors. He loved hunting, fishing and horses. We started doing a few things together and just went from there. Lovie killed his first deer and duck with me and caught his first trout on a trip to AR with me and Pat. It was cool to see him grow into a young man and to see his love of the outdoors continue to flower. Twenty three now, Lovie was living in Kansas training horses while his wife served in the military when I called him. Excited doesn't really describe his response. I had my partner and a much needed injection of energy for 2017, the young mans way.
Here is a pic of Lovie's first deer....one I've never topped by the way.
and a few trout with Pat
I went through my standard prep routine starting in February after the duck season ended, again making use of group fitness classes at Gold's gym. Lovie was hiking the Flint Hills of KS under a pack and time passed. The only real hick up was a new Tikka Superlite I purchased for the trip that I couldn't get to shoot as well as I wanted. I finally gave up on the gun for this season and switched back to my dead reliable Browning A Bolt in .280 and a beautiful Model 70 Featherweight in 6.5 Swedish. They both shoot lights out and have never let me down. I sent Lovie resources to study including maps and links to Randy's site. I told him to read anything he could find on backpack elk hunting by Newberg, Warren, and Simmons as to me those guys are the most legit. Time passed slowly, then really fast at the end. Come Sept the guns were dialed in, equipment was ready and plans were set. But I felt I was not in the same shape I had been. The programing at Gold's had changed and I was not getting the same level of workout. With five weeks to go I looked for other options.
That Saturday I dropped in the local Crossfit Gym. I knew the discipline had a reputation for injury and even have a cousin who was in the business for a while but closed down his boxes because he could not control his members. He advised to stay within myself if I tried it. The local box requires a four hour orientation before you start so I did that and gave it a try. The coaches are great and keep a close eye on the members. The work outs are intense but the coaches stepped in more than once to modify my workouts when my form broke down. They did so for others too. So with the month remaining I did Crossfit five to six days a week. These people made me better. Here is a pic. I'm the tall skinny guy in the middle. The guy kneeling and the girl to my right are the owners. The fellow on the right of the pic probably helped me the most. I appreciate what they did for me. They have that hard mother kind of love and encouragement but you can feel it.
Untitled by jeff lansdale, on Flickr
Lovie's wife was transferred to Savannah just before we left so he made the nine hour drive to West Tn a couple of days before our departure. I finished up at work, reviewed gear, packed and we left 4am Weds 10/11 headed to CO for First Rifle. We would again pick up llamas from Antero in Salida. To say Lovie was stoked doesn't quite describe it. He was providing that enthusiasm I needed in large helpings, but I could tell he didn't quite appreciate what we were about to get into. Oh well there was time to learn.
Everything went well til we got to the trailhead Thursday noon. We had Tippy and Oblama from Antero. Oblama skinned his ankle on the way out on two exposed screw heads in the trailer that nobody noticed before we left Salida. We were stuck in town for the night until Antero could get us another llama.
Untitled by jeff lansdale, on Flickr
Ate at a local brewery. Our bartender was going out second rifle with her boyfriend for her first elk hunt. She said she was pretty good with her .308.
Untitled by jeff
lansdale, on Flickr
Antero got us a replacement that night and we prepared to go up first thing am. It would be Tippy and Juniper.
Untitled by jeff lansdale, on Flickr
Untitled by jeff lansdale, on Flickr
Ascent went well. Lovie soon learned what he was up against. A mile in he was asking how much further and two miles in he was out of water. I shared my water and we kept on plugging. I made a mistake in following a side trail to water and didn't realize it. A 3-4 hour trip ended up taking 5 hours. A dumb mistake.
Untitled by jeff lansdale, on Flickr
Forgive me for the blur.
Untitled by jeff lansdale, on Flickr
My Paradox the original Seek Outside pack.
Untitled by jeff lansdale, on Flickr
Eventually made the top and to camp in the usual spot. We were exhausted but got water and glassed for opening day. There was a lot of bear sign and a little elk sign, but we saw no animals. I had Lovie a couple of spots near camp as he needed to recover a bit. I made plans for the meadow where I killed my first bull, about a mile away and over a ridge from the trail. We were set and ready to go.
I needed help that year primarily because of the ground I choose to hunt. I look for country with elk that will weed out competition and in CO that generally means steep wilderness. My first hunt out west was a third season hunt in CO and orange was everywhere. I swore never again. Honestly I kinda looked for the worst spot on the map where concentration areas and migration corridors overlap. It is only about 4.5 miles in, but Angie with Seek Outside described it as "4.5 miles straight up". That's not exactly accurate but you get the idea. The area reminds me of a bad girlfriend, the kind that is smoking hot but half crazy and maybe even a little mean. If you get close to her you are going to pay for all that beauty.
I was so proud after 2015 I said I was done and it really took a while but slowly my mind began to change. The fall of 2017 started looking like an option for another elk hunt and I really only knew one area. I could rent llamas as I had done on two of the three trips previous and return solo. The crazy hot girlfriend was calling, but unlike 2015 I was not burning with desire. The willingness to throw myself against the task just wasn't there. I needed a change, a partner.
My good friend and neighbor Pat who made two of the previous four trips with me out west would not be able to go as he was taking a new job in WV. The list of additional DIY elk hunters that I know in West TN is pretty short, zero really. So I was at a bit of an impasse. Then I remembered Lovie.
Lovie was about 15 when I met him. His mom worked at the same hospital as I did and learned how much I liked to hunt and fish. She said she had a son that liked the outdoors and that I needed to meet him. She brought him to work one day and I liked him immediately. He looked me right in the eye, shook my hand firmly and called me Mr Jeff. His manners were old school, something that is often missing in youth these days. To say Lovie liked the outdoors captured nothing of the case. He was more like consumed by the outdoors. He loved hunting, fishing and horses. We started doing a few things together and just went from there. Lovie killed his first deer and duck with me and caught his first trout on a trip to AR with me and Pat. It was cool to see him grow into a young man and to see his love of the outdoors continue to flower. Twenty three now, Lovie was living in Kansas training horses while his wife served in the military when I called him. Excited doesn't really describe his response. I had my partner and a much needed injection of energy for 2017, the young mans way.
Here is a pic of Lovie's first deer....one I've never topped by the way.
and a few trout with Pat
I went through my standard prep routine starting in February after the duck season ended, again making use of group fitness classes at Gold's gym. Lovie was hiking the Flint Hills of KS under a pack and time passed. The only real hick up was a new Tikka Superlite I purchased for the trip that I couldn't get to shoot as well as I wanted. I finally gave up on the gun for this season and switched back to my dead reliable Browning A Bolt in .280 and a beautiful Model 70 Featherweight in 6.5 Swedish. They both shoot lights out and have never let me down. I sent Lovie resources to study including maps and links to Randy's site. I told him to read anything he could find on backpack elk hunting by Newberg, Warren, and Simmons as to me those guys are the most legit. Time passed slowly, then really fast at the end. Come Sept the guns were dialed in, equipment was ready and plans were set. But I felt I was not in the same shape I had been. The programing at Gold's had changed and I was not getting the same level of workout. With five weeks to go I looked for other options.
That Saturday I dropped in the local Crossfit Gym. I knew the discipline had a reputation for injury and even have a cousin who was in the business for a while but closed down his boxes because he could not control his members. He advised to stay within myself if I tried it. The local box requires a four hour orientation before you start so I did that and gave it a try. The coaches are great and keep a close eye on the members. The work outs are intense but the coaches stepped in more than once to modify my workouts when my form broke down. They did so for others too. So with the month remaining I did Crossfit five to six days a week. These people made me better. Here is a pic. I'm the tall skinny guy in the middle. The guy kneeling and the girl to my right are the owners. The fellow on the right of the pic probably helped me the most. I appreciate what they did for me. They have that hard mother kind of love and encouragement but you can feel it.
Untitled by jeff lansdale, on FlickrLovie's wife was transferred to Savannah just before we left so he made the nine hour drive to West Tn a couple of days before our departure. I finished up at work, reviewed gear, packed and we left 4am Weds 10/11 headed to CO for First Rifle. We would again pick up llamas from Antero in Salida. To say Lovie was stoked doesn't quite describe it. He was providing that enthusiasm I needed in large helpings, but I could tell he didn't quite appreciate what we were about to get into. Oh well there was time to learn.
Everything went well til we got to the trailhead Thursday noon. We had Tippy and Oblama from Antero. Oblama skinned his ankle on the way out on two exposed screw heads in the trailer that nobody noticed before we left Salida. We were stuck in town for the night until Antero could get us another llama.
Untitled by jeff lansdale, on FlickrAte at a local brewery. Our bartender was going out second rifle with her boyfriend for her first elk hunt. She said she was pretty good with her .308.
Untitled by jeff lansdale, on Flickr
Antero got us a replacement that night and we prepared to go up first thing am. It would be Tippy and Juniper.
Untitled by jeff lansdale, on FlickrUntitled by jeff lansdale, on FlickrAscent went well. Lovie soon learned what he was up against. A mile in he was asking how much further and two miles in he was out of water. I shared my water and we kept on plugging. I made a mistake in following a side trail to water and didn't realize it. A 3-4 hour trip ended up taking 5 hours. A dumb mistake.
Untitled by jeff lansdale, on FlickrForgive me for the blur.
Untitled by jeff lansdale, on FlickrMy Paradox the original Seek Outside pack.
Untitled by jeff lansdale, on FlickrEventually made the top and to camp in the usual spot. We were exhausted but got water and glassed for opening day. There was a lot of bear sign and a little elk sign, but we saw no animals. I had Lovie a couple of spots near camp as he needed to recover a bit. I made plans for the meadow where I killed my first bull, about a mile away and over a ridge from the trail. We were set and ready to go.
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