Frozen elk tag soup, that's what. Oh, it started out so promising; a bit of tracking snow, and cool weather that had been sadly missing in the earlier season. I had a few days, and I was encouraged.
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/fefc1061-70db-4bdc-9f9a-e4e053dc5557_zpseeecc22f.jpg) (http://s886.photobucket.com/user/peastes/media/fefc1061-70db-4bdc-9f9a-e4e053dc5557_zpseeecc22f.jpg.html)
No elk, but some fresh sign got me fired up, so I set out early, with a light snow in the air; a couple hours in, the snow started to get halfway serious.. I did have two mule deer bucks at 6 feet during the snowstorm; they looked really surprised when I yelled at them.
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/IMG_0458_zpsf5641f00.jpg) (http://s886.photobucket.com/user/peastes/media/IMG_0458_zpsf5641f00.jpg.html)
A the storm got a little more intense, it looked like time to head to camp...
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/IMG_2295_zpsd84489a6.jpg) (http://s886.photobucket.com/user/peastes/media/IMG_2295_zpsd84489a6.jpg.html)
Suffice it to say that it dumped over a foot overnight, and there was no way to hunt in this wet stuff, at least for this old guy. Had I killed an elk, getting one out would have been a worst case scenario.
Camp was frosty...
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/IMG_2278_zps34f954f7.jpg) (http://s886.photobucket.com/user/peastes/media/IMG_2278_zps34f954f7.jpg.html)
And, we were back on an unimproved (read nasty) road that was a couple of miles to a decent dirt road. The wife, beagle and I waited for the snow to abate a couple of days, and then pushed our way out to the road. The trailer will have to wait a while for the road to dry out before we can get it out.
Looks like the elk win again, but this year I could have killed several if I was using a gun, not a stick and string. I am used to it, and whitetails and turkeys await. Life is good, but it would be better with some nice elk steaks in the freezer. Alas, another elkless year.
The perils of the western high country, still pretty neat to have the deer so close. Thanks for taking us along.
You are luckly sir. I'll take the wilderness and no dead elk over being at my subdivision home sitting around the fire cooking deerbearhog ( yes that's a word) sausages planning my next wilderness hunt.
I just ate some venison/pork hot Italian sausage sandwiches. Can't wait for my elk season to open. Three weeks to go!
Sorry no elk. At least you can feast your eyes on the beauty of those snow covered mountains... really nice pics. Good luck on the whitetails!!
I actually fixed a pot of that up tonight myself, came out kind of thin and watery though!
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/wachatz/elk%202013/IMG_20130928_212737_zpsfdb0088e.jpg)
Regardless of loosing an arrow, Life is GOOD as you got to hunt and the Family with you and ENJOY a part of life that goes deeper than game in the pot. Just a little bit more work when weather clears a bit. Thanks for sharing and living the good life. Sharing a table with loved ones and friends regardless of the fair is living the good life.
Some stunning photos.
Sorry you didnt stuff an elk in your freezer but at least you had a bunch of hunting in some fine country. Good luck with the deer, not a bad consolation prize.
I had the elk tag soup last weekend. Yesterday I found a package of elk in the freezer. Today is elk stew. Mmmmmm.
homebru
yup.. elk, bear and turkey tag soup in our house.
Joe
but mule deer in the freezer.
Tag soups sucks....but next time I have eat it I hope the ingredients is the same kind of adventure you had.
Great pics too.
Stunning photography! You're probably lucky to get out of there safely. The Bighorns are definitely beautiful!
Good luck with the rest of the critters.
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Some beautiful country you have to hunt there, great photos!
I'm not giving up yet but its looking pretty bleak for me as well. The road to our honeyhole is all but impassable. If we do get a couple of days of dry weather this week... just maybe this weekend we'll get it done.
Jeff
PS its raining out as I type....... :(
Widower, I'm going up to get my trailer tomorrow. It is supposed to get nasty again on Thursday here, so no doubt you are in for it, too. I'm glad my whitetail/turkey hunting is 5 minutes from my house.
beautiful country up there man. can it be September 1 again already?
September in the mountains can't be beat..
Thanks for taking us along.