Well, I spent 7 days chasing elk in the CO wilderness with my brother and new friend. Had a great time and lots of memories and experiences were created.
Unfortunately the warm weather, early dates and full moon really limited daylight activity.
I did manage to shoot this fine grouse and caught some nice trout on my Tenkara rig. I can't complain too much, but how many other brothers had the elk get the best of them this year?
(http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr180/two4hooking/Colorado%202015/DSCN0078_zpsmenees6o.jpg) (http://s481.photobucket.com/user/two4hooking/media/Colorado%202015/DSCN0078_zpsmenees6o.jpg.html)
Commiserate with me. :campfire:
The first week we saw nothing where we scouted all summer and had our eye on them. Again full moon? Warm weather? Who knows? But that has proven itself to me over And over Last week they were back, we saw a lot of elk. And in a lot of different places, and at all times of the day. I'm thinking this will be a good upcoming week. Either way, glad to see you made some good memories. And got a nice grouse. I've been seeing quite a few of those suckers! And ptarmigan too!
I did not get to go after elk this year, but I have been 3 times, and never pulled a string back on an elk, so I know the feeling. I have had a great time on each if those hunts, but dang, I sure do want to kill an elk some day!!!
Bisch
Put me on that list!!
12 days and I only saw the rear end of one Elk, plus 2 bears(no license), 12 deer (again no license) and lots of grouse. I had a great camping spot and a great time. But ...
I have heard that you can no longer get over the counter license, for Co. is this true?
Tag soup for me this year. Didn't get to hunt much this year.
Not yet. Headed to the Trout Creek Mts. for a week of mule deer hunting on Sunday. When I get back I will still have a week to keep chasing elk.
One thing worse than an unfilled tag... That's no tag at all! Health issues kept me from my "annual' elk hunt. Real bummer!
Just being out there breathing that thin, Rocky Mountain air is worth it all.
Hope to go next year.
QuoteOriginally posted by ranger 3:
I have heard that you can no longer get over the counter license, for Co. is this true?
Not true for elk Ranger, plenty of over the counter tags. Deer on the other hand are all draw.
I am with Bisch on this one. Three trips and never pulled the string on an elk.
HEaded out tomorrow for the last two weeks of the season. Hope the cooler weather and the rut will have us in the elk.
Mike
Pulling out today and start the rest of the hunting party will be in camp Monday. Hopefully we'll start out elk hunt Monday evening!
This is the first time I'll be this late in the season. I'm hoping we don't get busted by too many smoke pole hunters!
You caught some trout, you shot grouse, spent time with family and friends....... What elk?
(http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t487/deerhunter_w/Mobile%20Uploads/DSCN0330_zps9p4yamhm.jpg) (http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/deerhunter_w/media/Mobile%20Uploads/DSCN0330_zps9p4yamhm.jpg.html) (http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t487/deerhunter_w/Mobile%20Uploads/DSCN0333_zps6kd4n00q.jpg) (http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/deerhunter_w/media/Mobile%20Uploads/DSCN0333_zps6kd4n00q.jpg.html) (http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t487/deerhunter_w/Mobile%20Uploads/DSCN0333_zps6kd4n00q.jpg) (http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/deerhunter_w/media/Mobile%20Uploads/DSCN0333_zps6kd4n00q.jpg.html) (http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t487/deerhunter_w/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_42571_zpstdyu89kh.jpg) (http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/deerhunter_w/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_42571_zpstdyu89kh.jpg.html) (http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t487/deerhunter_w/Mobile%20Uploads/20150829_110221_zpskt1dkq4e.jpg) (http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/deerhunter_w/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150829_110221_zpskt1dkq4e.jpg.html)
The same with us. We arrived a couple of days early to scout. We did find a few elk earky but most where not legal bulls. Im a meat hunter bull, or cows doesn't matter. After the season opens I didnt see another elk. One thing we had no shortage of was bear. We counted 15 different ones. Most where sows with cubs. We did see a few nice mule deer during the week, a few blue grouse.
Took my son this year, It was his first time.
Between the 30 hour drive, lack of oxygen and sleep he decided rather quick western hunting is not for him.
I need a new partner for next year.
T-minus 87 hours until I pull out of the driveway headed west. But who's counting? ;)
6 day countdown for me. Hunting Colorado last week of the season.
notta, day three hurt my back and missed rest of the season. trying to recover in time for my BC moose hunt / salmon fishing. Party only say one herd of twelve elk, two big bulls and cows, they were heading for the hills and passed several hundred meters by my brother in a tree stand. One was taking by unregulated rifle hunting within 200 meters of camp in the dark (scary situation).
Ranger3. We have lots of unlimited, over the counter elk tags!!!! :readit:
Nada so far but the fat lady has yet to sing!
I'll be leaving for Idaho on Monday for the last two weeks of season.
I struck out too as did my buddy. One night I had a small herd including a little 6 point bull feed out into the field but about 60 yds. Our mosquitoes were way worse than usual so that doesn't make it particularly fun. I've been mule deer hunting too and haven't had any good opportunities at that either. Got stung by a wasp on my bow hand and it swelled up like a sausage with fingers. Getting better now but I had to come home and regroup. I did get a shot at a cottontail and the little bugger jumped the string on me. Made a perfect shot but he was way gone when the arrow got there. Apparently he wasn't all that impressed with the speed of my Silvertip bow!!! Such is hunting...... :)
leaving sunday for fred echilers drop camp in co. with three friends, all trad hunters. Cant wait for the fun to begin!
I got to hunt 5 days and blew one shot on a cow. On the 6th day I was infected with a very nasty bacteria in my right eye. The wife and a friend had to come get me, couldn't see to drive. Luckily, the doc nailed the right drug or I would have lost the eye. As it is now, there is quite a bit of scar tissue and I'm having a problem with the skin over the scar re-attaching to the cornea. It's been attached for a couple days now and we think its gonna hold this time. Vision is coming back, from basically blind to 20/40, I am hoping 6 months or a year from now I'm 20/20 again. I'm heavily right handed, need to keep this baby.
I guess the season for me was different than everyone else, I called in 8 bulls by the second morning and ended up shooting a cow at 15 yds, spent the next 8 days in basecamp fishing reading napping etc. fellow from texas named Sam joined me this year and he killed a 5x5 bull, both elk were shot with bear takedowns and bear razorheads on the same mountain, probably rare these days. Ill leave Sams story on his bull to him when he gets home to texas.
I was very fortunate to have tagged out on day two on a nice 5x5 bull. Had 3 other hunters in my group and one got a shot but deflected on a twig clean miss.
Congrats DWT on your and Sams success!
Was in Colorado for the first week --- 7:00Am the first morning, a big bull comes down the mountain and was closing ... 60, 50, 40 and at 30 he is raking his antlers behind a tree ... two steps and I have the broadside shot at 25 yards ... but alas, the wind and my scent slowly rolls towards him and he jerks to a stop and turns 180....two more encounters at 15 yards with bulls and foiled by obstructions and the wind twice more.... decide to try a decoy and as I am setting it up in an Aspen park, I look up and see a cow at 40 yards. I had fun. Very wary critters at times.
(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff211/bonelake/IMG_0377_zpsiygjtbdr.jpg) (http://s237.photobucket.com/user/bonelake/media/IMG_0377_zpsiygjtbdr.jpg.html) l Shot this cow with in 3/4 mile from camp opening morning, couldn't pass up the easy pack out. Had not been in the woods for 45 minutes. We seen quite a few elk, wheelie guy in group got a 4 x 5 Sunday afternoon coming to wallow.
Congrats Bone
Great Cow, Bone!
Never even saw one, but did see some moose. My area is getting a bit crowded.
The two partners each had a close encounter or two but no elk were killed during our week in the woods.
ChuckC
So far but still have half the season left, almost got a shot ata sspike tonight, he just got plain lucky, he charged off the ridge straight at my decoys instead of the usual circle around to get the wind and got lucky and accidentally crossed my scent line. Would of been great, only quarter mile from the truck and about 50ft elevation change! Have to work three days then have the rest of the season off!
I'm not done yet, but 12 days produced a lot of worn boot leather and nice hikes in the mountains. I have come very close once in that time; had a cow broadside at 25 yards, but looking right at me. As I drew, I got to about 26 inches of my 28 inch draw before she bolted. She was one of the 5 total elk I saw in that time. Hot, dry, and very few elk where a month ago there were elk everywhere.
I'm heading back in a couple of days, but the weather forecast calls for more of the same. But, elk have to rut, so maybe the action will pick up.
I had a 20 yard shot on a very nice bull in Colorado... shot him up in the withers. What a sad day/rest of trip that was.
El Nino has been hard on the West, hot, dry, less water; not any good for Elk either. I would look for them on the dark side of the mountain in the cooler timber. They need water too.
Came up empty on 3 opportunities on bulls. All within 20 yds. 10ghosted on me after watching him tear up a 3 in aspen. The other 2 didn't meet the point restrictions. Both 3x3. Saw about 100 elk along with a bear. In my opinion I had a successful hunt.