Just wondering if anyone elk hunted with TBarM Outfitters during their second week of bowhunting?  I am just curious how the hunting was that week.

Richie

Ritchie,

One of the other guys on our hunt talked with Mike last week, and apparently no bulls were killed this season.

Hope you are well and had a good Christmas.

Barry

Good to hear from you Barry.  I haven't heard anything about this year's harvest until now.  Are you going on that trad hunt next year or back with Mike?

Barry...You haven't had any nightmares about that steep red rock decent we made after that bull have you?

Richie -- These past two years have really sucked for elk here in SW CO. It's a combo of the 2002 wildfires -- 110 square miles burned to cinder and now rebirthing beautifully in aspen, oak and other prime elk foods -- global warming and other forces. Even so, the early seasons have been far better than rifle seasons, which have been zippo due to late snow and the elk staying way high until ... well, just now, as here at 8000' feet we only started getting the down migration about Christmas day, a month late. Anyhow, the downturn in Murphy's recent success mirrors what most other public lands and fair chase outfitters have experienced, and even local old-timer hunters like me. If you want to return to this same area again, I'd say your best choices are either to go with Mike again, as he and most of his guides are the only outfit I know of in this area who truly know and cater to trad bowhunting. Another Excellent outfitter is Pete Turner, CO Mtn. Expeditions, but he's not a bowhunter ... OR, do it yourself and move your hunt to Missionary Ridge or above Vallecito or Lemon reservoirs, high as you can get in the burnt area (without ATVs please, as they are killing true hunting here). And by all means do NOT come during the black powder season, which usually starts around the 10th for 9 days ... every year they screw it up worse for us and for the elk (a long story which I'm telling to the DOW and CWCm, involving big groups of hunters, way too many ATVs and stupid aggressive "video" hunting with nonstop bugling): Get black powder out of the best week of the rut!). This year in my area we had more BP hunters than in all 4 regular rifles seasons combined ... and most of them on ATVs with brazen trespassing. For a "primitive" season this is insane. Next year, local motrized trespassers will have a have a big surprise awaiting them here! In sum, we still have plenty of elk, though the extra cow tags for archery should be stopped (I'm talking to DOW about that as well). What can we logically expect beyond an either-sex season for a full month? Geeze, the greed of some "modern" hunters today! If you do a hunt on your own, I'd advise coming the week before BP opens ... or the very last week of the season. That is what I will do when I'm finally forced to move away from here. Sorry for the long monologue, but this is close to home and heart. dave

Thanks for the information Dave.  On my hunt with Danny this year we encountered a lot of bugling bulls. Very good bulls.  One day I missed one Danny said was a 320 bull.  I could have killed four of five with BP. Two of those were bow range. And there were plenty more there we never could see.  We heard them and gazed in their direction from 1/2 mile away every day but could not see them.  We could not see them because we did not hunt them.  I still am confused about that.  They were there everyday in the general area but we never went to them.  Maybe I shouldn't second guess Danny but I am still bumfuzzled about why we didn't hunt harder.  My point is the bulls, good older bulls, are definetly there for the taking if they are hunted aggressively not pasively.

Richie

Richie, yea this flatlander is still having nightmares about that decent buddy. I am glad that my insurance was paid up! ; )

As you well know, I also thought it was curious as to why we weren't going after these extremely active bulls, especially during the first 3-4 days of the hunt & before they shut down?  But what do I know? I am a complete elk hunting rookie.

Ron called me last week and we discussed the idea of trying to do a drop-in camp with Mike or another reputable guide that can provide logistical support.  Since most of us can't afford the cost of the fully guided deal again, this or a DIY may be the ticket? I think that this would be my choice versus the other hunt.

Also Dave's comments are point on, thanks much Dave!

Barry