Back from CO (pics)

What an awesome hunt. Beautiful rugged country that left me 158 pounds soaking wet. I'm sure glad I got into good shape, as the mountain did not win this particular battle.

We backpacked in over six miles 4 days early to scout and were met with some of the worst weather in years (according to locals). Rain, Lightning, hail, sleet, and yes......3" of snow! My hunting partner's (Fred) tent caved in from the hail, so opening morning we had to hike out for supplies! Not to worry, it was socked in with zero visibility. We got supplies and headed back in the next morning to clear skies. Sooooooo, our hunt finally started Sunday afternoon.

After several NICE bucks spotted in the week and a few blown stalks from too many deer in the area, my luck began to change....well, sort of. On Thursday, Fred and I hiked into a remote basin and saw 41 different bucks from the ridgeline. That's when disaster hit! My camera case (carrying my Panasonic FZ-20) came loose and rolled 100 yards down a cliff. When I finally managed to get to it the entire frame was cracked in half! I was heart-broke. Good thing Fred had a small 35mm camera as a back-up.

After recovering emotionallly from the camera, I found several good bucks bedded near the 12,600' level. I hiked above them and snuck to 31 yards of a beautiful 195" bedded typical in velvet. I sat there for 20 minutes trying to figure out how to get him to stand until the wind changed and he blew out. That's when a 27" main frame 3x3 with matching cheaters (6x6 counting eye-guards) came out of his napping tree and gave me a good opportunity. I sent an arrow through him and he went down rather quickly. He's an old buck (teeth worn bad) and probably down-hill. He should net enough to make P&Y as a 3-Point, even with deductions! He grosses around 158" with 24" main beams and inside spread.

The next day we were in the same basin packing out the rest of my meat, when I spotted a nice 24" typical with short mains in the bottom of a steep canyon. I gave Fred hand signals and got him right on the bedded buck. It was awesome to watch Fred send a perfect arrow through the lungs of a trophy buck. NOW the work REALLY began. We packed out both boned bucks, capes, and antlers to trailhead the next morning. The cool weather made it ideal to hang the boned meat in game bags overnight. This is Fred's best buck to date. With only 17" main beams, the buck still nets 163" P&Y. Had he had 24" main beams like mine, he'd be just shy of 180".

We saw elk, sheep, moose, coyote, marmots, pica, and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. We also both came home with some VERY hard earned bucks, which made my aching legs and feet feel much better. Hope you enjoy.

My Buck:

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Fred's Buck:

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Packing them out:

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