Back from Colorado

[T Sunstone]

What a trip, almost killed this old dude.  First day made a loop about 2 1/2 to 3 miles to a wallow.  Standing at the wallow I see elk coming in behind my partner. Told him to knock an arrow and he thought I was kidding.  He said he was going to shoot any legal animal cow or bull.  Five cows spooked and ran off.  He went down wind and circled around and 10 minutes later returned saying he shot a cow.  Yea right show me you quiver and I see he's missing an arrow.  He said he smoked her and no need to wait.  Picked up the trail and hadn't gone 20 yards we see a bear stand up run off another 30 and stand again.  I said he's on your kill and sure enough he was.  Twenty minutes after the shot the bear was on her.  This area is loaded with bear we saw a lot.  
   
Brain was using Big Jim buffalo bow 55# with 200 VPA single blade.  

This is the part that killed me and Brain.  It was a little before 12 when he killed the cow and it took til 3 to bone her out and hang the 2 remaining bags.  We tried to find a trail more direct to camp but with no success.  We ran out of water by 4 pm and almost to the top Brain was cramping.  I ended up taking his bigger pack with a full rear quarter and he took my lighter pack with front shoulder and straps.  It was dark by the time we hit the top where the trail was to camp but couldn't find it.  If you weren't on the trail it was too thick to move especially in the dark.  It was a 1 1/2 miles down from there to camp and 1100 foot elevation drop.  Should have been better prepared but that's another story.  All I had was a long sleeve T that was soaking wet but I had a first lite mid grade and an uninsulated predator jacket and Kuiu attack pants.  Started a fire and just waited for day light.  About 2 am the tee was dry and I put that on also.  Temps were somewhere in the 40's with a 10 to 20 MPH wind.  Was one miserable night.  Had a space blanket in my other pack.  Never without it again.  
At first light we heading down drank and ate something.  I slept 1 hour and headed back up and over.  Thought I would never make it, 1 1/2 mile to the top 1100 foot incline then a steep 7th mile down the other side.  I was better coming back with the load.  Well that first 2 days put us in shape for the next 2 weeks.  Only chance I had at a bull was a real nice big 5x5 at 27 yards but was looking straight at me.
Was gone 18 days counting driving and had a great time.  Bulls weren't fired up just starting bugle the last day.  

Had this sow with 3 cubs at 13 yards sitting on a wallow.  
 

Big boy on the cow carcass.


Brain on the last day.
 

[ChuckC]

Good hunt dude. Nice pix.  Colorado is a great place, I go often, but not this year.

Is your friend's name Brain or Brian ?

ChuckC

[Boomerang]

Very cool! Nice adventure. Thanks for sharing.  

[T Sunstone]

Well he's no brain so I guess Brian.  I just call him Jr.

[stykbow67]

Sounds like he was smart enough to be in the right place at the right time!!! Great story and tell him congrats!!

Steve

[Biathlonman]

Smart enough to make you fall for the old "my legs are cramping you take the heavy pack" trick...  

[Tim]

Congrats on a great hunt.   Agreed, that is one big bear!!!    

[Marshallrobinson]

Congrats on that Cow. Obviously a great trip and those are some very nice photo's. Good deal  

[huntnmuleys]

great hunt.  sounds like if ya go back next year ya need a bear tag.

[Sockrsblur]

Great hunt! Thanks for sharing! That's a big bear too!!

[RIng]

Nice . Sounds like a great hunt .

May life's simplest things bring you the greatest pleasures !!

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

that 1st day sounds like torture!! that is one hell of a black bear on the elk carcass!

[ron w]

 Great hunt!

[RedShaft]

Great story.
One question how do you deal with the bear/bears? Didn't defend the kill? You was able to scare it off with no problems?

[joe ashton]

What an amazing adventure

[Colotrad]

Glad you had a good time here in Colorado and thanks for sharing. I'll be heading to Maryland for whitetails in about 5 weeks.

[KentuckyTJ]

Great hunt and elk! Congrats!

[kadbow]

Congrats guys!

[Jayrod]

Awesome hunt thxs for sharing!

[RIVERWOLF]

......Great hunt , pics and cow to to ice the trip  

Man , wasn't bear season in ;?)

Congratulations on what must have been a awesome adventure !