Skip's question about getting back into hunting
I went through a very busy time of life and then had several health issues back to back. I had cut my hunting time down to almost nothing because it just didn't seem worth it any more. I was trying to stay excited about hunting, but even my 26 year old son has been to busy to do too much. Just when I thought another year would just drift by in the hunting world.
A very good friend planned to take me to Colorado this year with his son and we did the DIY elk and mule deer rifle hunt. The adventure was all I needed to recapture why I always enjoyed hunting. I was going to be way back away from all the roads and other hunters that were into a much easier hunt. That brought back the challenge of a hard hunt and a new adventure.
We had to plan for weeks, the mule deer tags are purchased in the spring, the 4 wheelers had to be ready, tent camping at 9500 ft took some preparation! I was still in sad shape so running in the pool daily was my best hope of being able to cope with mountain air and climbs for the hunt. ( I was still way to out of shape! lol)
I loved getting my rifle ready! I found a load that shot well and was sure out to the 300 yards that I planned on being within. The Google earth program seemed to be on my computer all the time as I tried to memorize the trail and the terrain around our proposed campsite.
When the dream trip finally was happening, we had driven 2 days and loaded everything we needed for a week on the 4wheelers. I managed to tip my 4wheeler on its side and crack some ribs on our way up the mountain. The thoughts that maybe I was too old and soft for the challenge were beginning to creep into my mind, but within a few hours, I had my tent set up and our camp was ready for the first night. We had a couple of hours before dark so the plan was to show me a couple of morning stands and do some spotting from the top ridge. As I watched the sun setting and game moving several hundred yards below us, my ribs were the last thing on my mind!
To keep this story short, I'll just hit some highlights. My friend paid for most of my elk tag so that I would buy one and after his son shot a nice muley on the first morning, we decided to try for some elk that we had heard bugling below us in the morning. I am glad he convinced me to buy the tag! A very nice 5x5 came to my cow calls right before dark and I was able to calm nerves that had not been rattled for several years! That feeling of excitement and accomplishment was one of the reasons I enjoyed hunting! Did I mention the huge pack of coyotes howling for 5 minutes every time I cow called?
Did I mention that 21 mountain lions were killed in this unit this year alone? I did say that it was right at dark right? The pucker factor was a part of this hunt that I found quite strange how much I enjoyed the strange sensation of feeling real small out there!
We ended up with all 3 of us killing an elk and I got to pass a bunch of small mule deer. I got to help my friend when he shot his 4x4 muley and when they both shot their elk down over a very steep ridge. 5 out of 6 tags filled on a DIY hunt. My friends have learned a lot about hunting this area! I enjoyed being with them right after they had killed their game as much as my own and they were so happy that their newbie had scored on an elk his first trip!
To round out my list of exciting things that happened:
4wheeler wreck
Broken ribs
Stung by yellow jackets 5 times on neck and back = allergic reaction cured by 12 benedryls
Bad cut to arm as one of the elk started sliding down the hill while quartering
Watching elk roll another 100 feet downhill before we were done
14 inches of snow and zero % nights
First elk harvest
Great time with 2 great friends
Now how do I convince my wife that even though it was a hunt of a life time...I want to go again next year!
post edited by LOVETOSHOOT - 2011/11/13 21:44:53