Archery Elk 2013 Live Hunt Photo Summary

  I spent just over a month chasing elk around this year. It was by far my best hunting season, I was in animals every single day. Although I did not harvest I had many chances, and a fantastic experience. All photos are shot by myself with a phone.

Making The Best Of It

With the lack of snow we have had this year in Colorado we decided to pursue snow elsewhere. Fortunately for me this post is called "Off The Grid", so Paul and I went off the grid to find some snow.

Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

Jan 2, 2012 we met up in Georgetown and headed up to Mt. Trelease. We carried up out boards in ski mode until we got to enough snow to skin. After skinning up partway I had trouble with the skin on my right ski not sticking anymore...

Photo: Paul Bourdon

Photo: Cory Arola

Paul continued up to the top of the run, I changed over and had to hike about 100 yards to the top of the line. We hydrated and got ready to drop. It was pretty awesome riding a wind crust over 14 inches of facets, almost like a pow day after riding in resorts all season.

Photo: Paul Bourdon

Photo: Cory Arola

At the bottom of the line we changed back over to tour mode, luckily my skins adhered this time. Tip: keep them warm in your coat so the glue works. Motoring back up an already set skin tract we gain the top of the line again and ate a lunch.

Photo: Paul Bourdon

Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

Changing over we dropped in for a second run....

Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Paul Bourdon

We road as far as the snow would allow then hiked the rest of the way back to the truck.

Photo: Cory Arola

Of course the Lucky Bunny    Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Paul Bourdon

It was a great way to start the year off!

A look at our turns   Photo: Cory Arola

Winter is Coming!

We are finally getting some snow in the high country. You would think I would have been on my board this weekend but no. My schedule was full, on Saturday I went to the range to sight in my rifle for deer season then replaced my shocks on my truck that afternoon.

From here the plan was to drive to Como, CO and sleep on some public land near there, hunt rabbit/scout for deer and elk terrain then go to Fairplay, CO and do some engagement photos for a friend.

Engagement photos were cancelled due to illness, so I had to scout and hunt the whole day..... Big loss!

Hahaha enjoy!

Photo: Cory Arola

I drove in at about the 10 p.m. and parked. Climbing in the back of my truck, I got into my sleeping bag and went to sleep. Apparently it got cold that night, when I woke up, everything was frozen, even my contacts in their case.

After defrosting I went hunting.

Snow had fallen the day before.  Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

I didn't see a single rabbit, lots of tracks though. Needless to say this is the only one I shot.

Lucky Bunny.  Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

After hunting I decided to get a few more "field position" shots under my belt to practice for upcoming deer season. With it being October and Halloween approaching a pumpkin was the perfect target...

Photo: Cory Arola

Entrance whole.  Photo: Cory Arola

Exit.  Photo: Cory Arola

And now for some perspective of how controlled expansion bullets perform.

Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

After my carefully aimed shot off shooting sticks, I moved it forward to 50 yards to shoot like a man.

Upright on my feet holding the rifle, know as offhand or standing. I took two rapid fire shots, being a lever action rapid just means two in a row. Exploding a pumpkin was fun!

Two more shots at 50 yards, second shot sent it airborne off the post.  Photo: Cory Arola

Parting view.  Photo: Cory Arola