Showing posts with label fall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fall. Show all posts

Sunday, October 9, 2011

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

Monday, October 3, 2011

Fall Photos

Lucky Bunny  Photo: Cory Arola


Canoeing at Jefferson Lake  Photo: Cory Arola


Photo: Cory Arola
Jefferson Creek campground Photo: Cory Arola


Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

Friday, September 9, 2011

Fall Turkey Hunt

Friday September 2nd I drove away from work at about 4 p.m., stopped to fuel my truck up for the 3.5 hour drive to the Spanish Peaks State Wildlife Area (SWA). The drive was bitter sweet, while being stuck in rush hour traffic in Colorado Spring was no fun, as I got to the south of Pueblo I got to enjoy the wonderful view of a gorgeous sunset to the west accompanied by a lightning storm and double rainbow to the east.
Sorry there are no photos, driving and shooting is dangerous. After I arrived at the SWA I got up with a few hunting buddies I haven't seen from the spring season and set up camp.
Photo: Cory Arola
I spent all day Saturday and Sunday sitting and watching open areas or hiking around looking for sign.
Photo: Cory Arola

Retro function on the camera   Photo: Cory Arola
Marlin .22 Mag Photo: Cory Arola
Monday morning was spent the same way but I needed to make the drive back to Denver so I only hunted half the day. In 2.5 days no one saw a single turkey, or even fresh sign. All I saw myself was a couple of does and a horny toad.
Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola
Lucky Bunny! Photo: Cory Arola
Actually two days prior to the season Jim saw birds cross the field, which were nowhere to be found once Sept 1 hit.
After packing up Monday midday, I began my drive home, leaving my camera on the passenger seat. Which turned out to be fortunate. I saw three groups of bird, a group of 20, 8 and 12. The group of 20 allowed me to park, get out of my truck, sneak towards them and take photos. That would have never happened while hunting.
Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola
My plan is to head back down there this weekend and see if the nomadic Merriam's turkeys have now moved onto the SWA.