Tag along on our Colorado hunt / vacation! (Pictures are BACK!)

[monterey]

Hey!  I can see Oprah's house from there.  

[maineac]

It looks like you are having a grand adventure.  Good luck at getting one of the big boys close, but regardless, it seems like it has been worth the admission.

[Shan]

Beautiful. I was in Telluride ( To Hell You Ride) this last winter for skiing. There's a big herd of Elk that comes down into the valley near the town every winter.

[Izzy]

The man goes to lunch with a pretty lady and disappears! Come on my man Tim, you got me anticipating a hero shot of a velvet horned beast.  

[Tim]

Sorry Izzy .... I'm back, took a little detour to Utah      



Mark on the other hand had half a dozen big bucks come through at 59 yards, just too far.  He had one heck of a show and got an ok pic of one of them....unfortunately not the big one.  

[akaboomer]

I miss Telluride.  My father and I worked on one of the large buildings there in Mountain Village. We live in a condo at the base of lift #9 during the week while we worked on that job. That was in 1992. Thanks for sharing your adventure.

Chris

[Tim]

I'd like to say the highlight of the trip was when the big guy gave me a 20 yard shot but that just doesn't seem to be how things are playing out.  It's Friday morning 5:28 and Mark and I are pretty beat up and tired.  We both have a great spot for the morning sit that is as good a spot as any.  The bucks have really seemed to shut down the past few days and we are not sure why.  The does are as plentiful as ever....        

This will most likely be our last sit as we start to wrap things up.  I will say, and I'm sure Mark will agree, one of the highlights was Moab in Utah.  Moab is one very special place and I will surely be back with my kids.   The landscape in the Arches National Park are insane and I would recommend it for everyone's bucket list.  

I could go on and on but again, I'm headed out for one last crack at a buck.  We are both in provider mode so any buck with horns is going in the freezer, Mark could really use the meat.  

The next set of photos will blow you away.  Here's a couple teasers, please check back later for more.  This is my wife enjoying the best sunset of her life.  A view she will not soon forget.  

 

 

 

[Soonerlongbow]

Originally posted by Tim:
[
unfortunately not the big one.  

  [/QB]

That guy is big! If that's not "The Biggun"!I think he would given me a miocardial infarction!

[Tim]

Marks text message.....7:07.  Buck down!

[adudeuknow]

woo-hoo.....cant wait to see!

[Tim]

Ok.....I've got some free time to get caught up.   Mark does have a buck on the ground and a very unique one to say the least.  I'll get back to that shortly.

Yesterday we woke up in Moab to a wonderful breaks fast by our hosts a Castle Valley B&B.  We pulled out of there early and headed back to the Arches NP for a few hours of hiking.  

The first trail took us in a few miles to the Delicate Arch.   Incredible!  Period!  

Here's Cathy I showing just how small we are.  



Some very cool Ute artwork, or petroglyphs.



I could post pics all day but I'd like to get back to the hunt.  Here's a few more.   My advice....just go there yourself, you won't be disappointed.

[Tim]

As I said, this would be our last hunt.  We walked in together and setup only 100 yards from each other along the fence row where Mark saw the nice group of bucks a couple mornings back.  Not long after sunset we had 5 does started making their way from the green fields toward us.  500 yards behind them were the bucks....and what bucks they were.  Yes, the pic above was a small one!     :eek:    

The does walked right up to Mark as this guy headed my way.  I'm not sure what setting I used on my camera but this looks more like a painting than a photo!

 

 

[Tim]

Everything got kind of weird for the next 10 minutes or so.   All of a sudden the young buck perked up his ears and took a few steps back.  The does that were under Mark hopped down towards me and looked back at him.  A few seconds later all the deer took off back where they came from.          

My hopes faded as the large group of bucks keyed in on the activity and changed their direction.   Not a minute later a coyote came ripping across the field.  Another minute passed and two hunters walked out of the woods not 150 yards from me!             Talking about the highs and lows.   The two gents saw me waving and melted away. They were intent on looping the bachelor group of bucks that "were" headed my way.

   :(

[Whip]

Come on Tim, time to bring this story home!  Loving it!

[Tim]

In Ouray, CO having lunch.  I'll tie up the lose end later today!  And maybe catch a few trout tomorrow.

[A.S.]

Awesome stuff Tim! Can't wait to hear the rest of the story.

[Big Ed]

       

[Tim]

In Gunnison having dinner.  Tired but getting it done.  3 more hours of Tarmac.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Tim  The Pic of your wife at Moab Is AWESOME!

I took a  road trip through the southwest and spent time at Moab, Zion, Mesa Verde and the Arches.  That is an awesome Area for sure. Your pictures bring back memories.

I look forward to hearing how the rest of the hunt went.

[Cool Springer]

Dang Tim.  Wish I had known you were going to Gunnison.  I have a cousin living there who is a Biologist at The Black Canyon of the Gunnison.  Great guy who would have loved to share a beer with you.  I've been there a few times over the years.  Awesome area.  
Enjoy the rest of your time out there.