1st Elk hunt...I am back 9/11/13 (see pg. 4)

Tim · September 12, 2013, 07:05:00 PM

Come on Michael.....keep it coming! :(

Mike Bolin · September 12, 2013, 07:59:00 PM

By noon, neither of us had seen anymore game. A trailcam place on this waterhole had shown not only Elk, but several Black Bear, including a sow with triplets! As it was noon, we were expecting Dick to be back anytime. A thunderstorm moved in and we hung my poncho between 4 trees and waited the storm out.

2:45 and Dick had not shown up at the waterhole. Under normal circumstances I would not have been concerned, but during one of our last phone conversations, Dick was telling me about his latest scouting trip and then casually mentioned he had gotten a heart stint put in a week or so ago! Well, I am not a doctor, but Scott is a nurse and we were starting to get a bit concerned. As it turned out, Dick had hit some fresh Elk sign not too long after he had left us. It seems that while following the fresh sign, he became a bit "bewildered"......not lost mind you!! At around 4:00 he showed back up and we decided to head back down toward camp. Starting down the mountain, I soon realized I was going to have some "issues"!!

36 years of heavy construction and several years of sports have taken their toll on my knees. As soon as we started our descent, the pain began. While climbing, I had no issues with knee pain. Out of breath for sure, but no pain issues. Every step toward camp was painful. No ACL and not much cartilage in either knee was really taking the fun out of this. I should have dropped off somewhere on the way up and worked into this more gradually, but it was a bit late to worry about it now. Whenever we came to a place where there was a log crossing the trail (and there were several), I actually had to turn around backwards, bend until my hands touched the ground and lower myself to the ground on the downhill side of the log. As much as my knees hurt, my pride hurt even more!

Doc Nock · September 13, 2013, 10:03:00 AM

After that level of exertion, Mike, I wonder if the long sit and then rain might have played into your discomfort...?

Amazing how some of us were born without a fuel gauge! We do not know when we're running on fumes and keep pushing till we clog the injectors!

Sorry it was a trial, but what an experience, eh?

groundhawg · September 13, 2013, 10:31:00 AM

Mike's a good guy to hunt with, I'm already making plans for Mike and Groundhawg episode 2.

John Scifres · September 13, 2013, 11:53:00 AM

Yep the downhills hurt a hell of a lot more than the uphills for me. I was 31 on my first elk hunt and did about what you did. After 3 days I was shot but suffered through 3 more days. It was still a great hunt. I hope yours was too.

Mike Bolin · September 13, 2013, 03:39:00 PM

Yes it was a grand experience and I am planning for "part 2". We had a lot of high daytime temps with a shower in the the afternoon or evening most everyday. Starting on Monday, the rain was pretty much a constant. Most of the trails we were traveling on were becoming nearly impossible to travel on. Paul, Dick's nephew fell several times on the way down the mountain on Monday afternoon. Tuesday morning was cloudy with the promise of more rain, so we decided to pack up and head on back to Indiana/Ohio.

We seemed to get into Mule Deer everyday. I had a doe bed down just 3 yards in front of me for about 45 minutes....she never had any idea I was hidden there among the pine boughs. Seemed that if we hunted behind camp, we would glass Elk on the next mountain to the east. If we hunted the mountain east of camp, we would glass Elk behind camp!

Still, it was great experience and both Scott and I made some new friends. Dick, his brothers Dean and John and his nephew Paul all treated us like family and I look forward to making the trip west again as soon as I can.
Mike

P.J. Petiniot · September 13, 2013, 04:14:00 PM

Did anybody else pick up on the fact that Mike's poncho is big enough to string between 4 trees?

Glad you have a good time Mike. Chatted with Scott the other night, he filled me in on your adventure, but failed to mention your giant poncho--

Mike Bolin · September 13, 2013, 04:27:00 PM

PJ, those trees were only 8' apart! :rolleyes:

NancyVTAS · September 13, 2013, 05:22:00 PM

Mike -Glad you and Scott didn't drag me thru the coals to bad! Hope you 2 can get back and we will do it again,,, Your new pal .. Dick

NancyVTAS · September 13, 2013, 08:32:00 PM

PJ have you seen scott??? it would take a LARGE poncho,,,,, Great guys to spend a week with,, lots of laughs,, plus Scott can COOK!!! Dick

groundhawg · October 27, 2013, 09:45:00 AM

Says our "bewildered" guide.
Eat my food, drink my espresso and talk bad about me in public. Already adjusting plans for the next trip.