Elk Hunt Round 2 and High Country Mulies

Saturday morning started like any other day for me in my Lakewood home, except that it began about 2.5 hours earlier than normal. The plan was to meet Brett and Jaime in Georgetown at 5:30. I woke at 4:00 shower, dressed and ate and was on my way by a quarter of 5.
Arriving in Georgetown it was much colder than I had expected, and planned for. We left and made a short rainy drive to the top of a nearby pass, dropping a vehicle at a lower trailhead in the process. As we ascended the pass Jaime's Tundra read 33 degrees. It was snowing heavily and the wind was intense. Hopping out of the truck we quickly added layers and geared up. Brett with his bow and either sex elk tag, Jaime with a muzzleloader buck tag and myself with my camera and the ability to shoot all I please.
We began our hike off the grid by climbing a local 13ner in order to gain a vantage into a remote basin, wear Brett and I had an encounter with elk earlier that season. We climbed with heavy snowfall and blistering wind. At times it was hard to remain standing on the ridgeline. At one point Brett and I joked that this wasn't hunting anymore, we were training for the Ridge at Loveland Ski Area. Jaime made the comment that what we were doing was "life training."

Photo: Cory Arola



Photo: Cory Arola

 We eventually gained the position we had in mind and began glassing. Immediately two deer were located then lost. We saw elk galore! Three separate groups, one consisting of 4 bulls. It was brutally cold as we glassed, it reached a point that even though we were not ready to stalk anything we needed to hike to warm up and see shelter from the wind. Later when I was home I looked at a windchill table, we were sitting in 0-10 degree exposed at about 12,800.


Photo: Cory Arola



Photo: Cory Arola

As we descended we saw a buck and doe in the distance Jaime and watched an area hoping to see them again. Brett called back and forth with a bull for a shortwhile.

Brett had a short day since he had evening plans in Fort Collins, so he headed out about 12:30. In the process of him leaving and us traveling, we bumped the buck and does. Jaime and I attempted to sneak in a cirlce an hopefully catch them looking back for us. We never found them again. On Brett's way out he had elk within 40 yards of him but never presenting a shooting opportunity. Jaime and I ended out hunt mid afternoon because we were tired of being rained and snowed on while sitting in the wind. Overall we put in about 6.5 miles that day, ending at my truck lower down and taking it back up to Jaime's on the pass.

While driving down the pass we saw three deer in a slide path, hopping out of our trucks thinking we could only be so lucky. It was three does.... It did however add more excitement back in our day.

I went back down to my home in Lakewood that night to get some chores done because I wanted to hunt Sunday with Jaime again. Same plan, meet in Georgetown at 5:30 and go to the trailhead. We chose to hunt a different area where Jaime had see a couple "magazine bucks", bucks that make it on magazine covers.

Starting up the trail in the dark we climbed until we hit the base of a slide path, climbing the slide path was strenous. We eventually gained the ridge giving us a great view into the basin. We hunkered down in some trees to break the fridgid wind. As the sun rose the warm rays were welcomed.

Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

At least 4 groups of deer were picked out through our binoculars. Six bucks in total, one great specimen. We kept tabs on all of them especially the big guy. Eventually they bedded down. The stalk was on, we decided to climb up and around behind him and descend onto him and his two does. Part of our route was crossing and exposed scree field. After getting above him we snuck through the tree picking out other deer as we steathly crept forward.

Photo: Cory Arola

Photo: Cory Arola

The wind was perfect. We had made it right to where they were bedded, it would be an easy shot for Jaime with his .50 cal muzzleloader.

However that group was no where to be found. In the process of sneaking in on the big guy, we bumped the other groups of deer with the smaller bucks in them. No more back up plan. I think our demise was crossing the screefield. Although we were 6oo yards away, the bedded buck had a clear view of us travelling. I feel he waited until we were out of site then got up and relocated. It was exciting none the less, a great day in the field and exciting season for Jaime even though there was no harvest made. There was certainly a lot of "life training" this season with many miles put in for a wilderness hunt.



NOTE: Just got a voicemail from Brett, he arrowed a bull Wednesday Sept. 21, 2011. Just dropping it off at the game processor last night. I have no details yet and can't wait to hear his story.

Wilderness Hunting

I am all packed and ready to head out tomorrow after work. Scouting has revealed many animals. It appears that they are in pre-rut right now. The elk are still separated by sex, with rut approaching find where cows are hanging out and there will be bulls around. Wilderness hunting like we have planned for this weekend takes some special skills.

Photo: Cory Arola

Athlete: To effectively hunt the wilderness, you must be able to carry all of your camping and hunting supplies up and down ridges as you chase elk. If you are lucky enough to harvest an animal you must be prepare to carry out a few hundred pounds of meat, in numerous trips.



Biologist: Hunting any animal in their own habitat, it is necessary to understand how they live and what they need. This allows the hunter to key in on areas where animals will frequent.



Marksman: This really needn’t be said, the hunter must be practiced with their method of take to humanely and ethically make a killing shot in every field situation. This is out of respect for hunting and the animal one chooses to harvest.



Butcher: After the animal is harvested, a wilderness hunter must reduce their game to manageable bags of meet to be packed out. Not only must they cut the meat but it must remain cool and clean so when it becomes table fare it is delicious.



Story Teller: This is likely the most vital skill a wilderness hunter should possess. Regardless of luck with game and weather, the recount of each outing to family and friends is some of the most fun you will enjoy season.