What a great 12 days in the high country. I have just returned and this well be a little slow.  I have not had to tell an elk hunting story more than a few days long in a while.  

I arived in camp on the 31st with my Dad and good friend Wayne.  Another hunting buddy would arrive the next day.  

I have to upload some more pics and meet up with a friend. I have lots to tell though.  It was a year of great experiance.  

I will leave you with this for now.
 

     

Tracy

 Gorgeous!

Wow!

That is a picture worth saving.

Thank you!

God bless,Mudd

Now we're getting there! Beautiful start!

Benjy

Randy, I drew a gator tag this year for SC!  

Dang Randy!  I'm getting the feeling your going to milk this one out, and I'm headed for the mountains in two days.  You wouldn't leave me hanging would ya'?          

Tap-tap-tap

                   

I'm heading back on the mountain tomorrow, Randy. Why don't you show me what a dead elk looks like??

Oh yeah.....this is going to be a good one!  

      I'm thinking this ought to be good!

Looking forward to the tale...! Heading back up to the High Country myself on Friday.

Opening day started with a short hunt. Right off the get go I was seeing elk and making a plan in my head for the evening and days to follow.  I found one big bull I thought I was close enough to make a stalk on and went to work. I got within 40 yards but that was all I could do.  I got a couple of Blues on the way back to camp and cooked them up while waiting for my Dad and Wayne to return and our friend to arrive.  


Once Kendel arrived we went to work putting together our home away from home.



This graces the trail out of camp

Wonder if the elk are getting tuned up.

Love the horseshoe Randy! And the camp picture make me nostalgic.

To make a long story short this was probably the most physically demanding year I have ever put in elk hunting the high country.  The elk were in big groups lots of eyes.  The winds were continually in the 30MPH range.  Anyone familiar with the high country knows that makes it hard to hunt and swirling winds tend to clue the elk in before you can close the gap.  
This big bull and his cows were 300 yards from the closest tree when I found them.  
 
 
There were big bulls a plenty though and I had managed to make many stalks into the less than 30 range.  I will tell you about a couple.



LESSON LEARNED
On the evening of the second I found a cow, calf and 300" six point in a small valley.   I had to make a huge loop to get the wind even close to in favor and closed the gap.  When I approached the area they were feeding I could find only the cow and calf.  It was nearly 30 mins before the bull showed himself I slowly narrowed the distance to 22 yards.  Remember that wind I told you about, it's about to teach me a lesson. He quartered away and I drew to anchor, the wind was blowing my bow arm around so bad I let down.  Again I drew held and again I had to let down unable to stay on target.   The third attempt I drew and let my frustration win. I rushed the shot during a lull in the wind and sailed my arrow over his back.   My lesson learned was to be patient wait for the moment and don't let the wind push you around so to speak.