Colorado Tradgang Elk Hunt Story

[buckster]

What a wonderful Trad Hunt this was to be a part of!  I inadvertently took the Wrong Trail, trekking 14 miles, with a 70# pack over some rugged & high terrain!  I've done marathons, 20-mile force marches, but nothing quite as hellish as this 9 1/2 hour endeavor!  Of course I could only blame myself and the dude naming the guys at camp all got some good comic relief as I told of my mishap.

I want to thank Doug for all the fine effort he put in to this endeavor to make it SO worthwhile.  Congratulations to him & my hunting buddy Wayne for taking their fine trophies.

I thoroughly enjoyed hunting and visiting with our entire group & couldn't have asked for a better bunch of folks to share the week with!  I'll try to follow with some more pics tomorrow.

[redant 60/65]

What awesom country    Thanks guy's for sharing your hunt.  

[fnshtr]

A few more pics...

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Doug... taking care of business!

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Breakfast after a mornings hunt.

[fnshtr]

One evening on the way back to camp after dark, I stopped and scanned the park between me and camp with my headlight.

Since I didn't see any moose eyes light up... I proceeded across the trail through the park. Then, while focusing on my gps... I came within a few feet of running into the hind end of one of the bull moose we had been seeing.

We both ran... thankfully in opposite directions!

[fnshtr]

We obviously took hundreds of pics... I'll finish mine up with these last two.



The sweet...

[rastaman]

Congratulations sir and awesome pictures!      

[fnshtr]

And the bitter...



I already miss september in the Rockies... the sights, smells and overall experience of a fall elk hunt.

Hopefully I'll make it back sometime... maybe with some of the same friends. Trad people are special.

Now let's hear from Brett, Darren and you others!

[BobinTN]

A couple of pictures:



Me standing and Tim.  I am holding the fish Tim caught.  They did taste good.



One of my bivy setups.



In the above meadow right after legal hunting light; I had a mountain lion coming across the meadow to investigate my cow calling.  Before the mountain lion got within 50 yards of me a bull elk came across the meadow within 30 yards of me.  He then began to bugle, demanding the cows come out of the forest into the meadow.  In all the bull excitment, I lost track of the mountain lion.  

It just does not get any better than that.

[Gerardo]

WOW Excellent Hunt to all,

thanks for the pictures and for taking us along,

Congrats on your success!!!!

[Gerardo]

WOW Excellent Hunt to all,

thanks for the pictures and for taking us along,

Congrats on your success!!!!

[Doug Treat]

What a great hunt with a great group of guys: Tim, Barry, Darren x 2, Bob, Bret, Wayne.  You guys are the best.  Hope to see you on the hunting trail again some time.  Doug

[widow sax]

Thanks Doug one of the best elk hunts and the best DIY hunt ever!!! I can not post pics on Tradgang no accounts Sorry. On the hike in I almost died and that is not far from the truth (to many lbs in pack) but once there it was worth it. On the first day Bret and myself were hunting together and I called in a real nice 6x6 to 40-45yrds he did not see anything so he walked off. Later that day we called in a cow and a calph they walked fast 30yds by me and walked right up to Bret but did not have a good angle and then brush was in the way when they stopped. Walking out one night we busted a group of elk and I started calling and a calph came running right up to me and stopped at about 8 yrds almost facing but I did not like or take the shot. The calph ran away and I looked up the mountian and standing there watching over his domain was a realy big 6x6 I tryed to call him or one of his herd but he would not have any parts of it. One other day Bret and me were still hunting up the mountian and sneeked up on a 4x4 or bigger and his cow and her baby but they would not get any closer then 40 or so yards. I heard bulls buggling every day and saw elk most every day. This sounds like and it was a greatest hunt but it was also the most demanding hunt I have ever been on and it will take a week to heal up from it an is the best pain I can think of having. I learned alot and am looking forward to next year I found for me a 40lb pack is perfect and will try to get down to that from my 55lb for next time. Congrats to Doug and Wayne for your success!! My memories will keep me going till next year.  Darren B

[The Night Stalker]

I was looking rough in the picture, I think we are learned what worked and what didn't. I will be working on getting my pack down to about 50lbs from 62.

[quackersnacker]

Fantastic stories from each of you and great pics to boot!  I'm planning on hunting CO next year w/ my brother so your experiences are making me more than a little envious.

[imhntn]

Great pics and stories guys.  Sounds like you all had a great time.