Tag Soup.
WinMag
9/11/10 10:00am
Returned home from Colorado empty handed. Still had a great time for the most part.[im
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/ae88/iahunter62/Hunting%20Photos/GrambrelGarage58.jpg " alt="" />g][/img] This is the mountain drainage I hunted. By the time I got back up in there I was 8 miles from the trailhead and totally spent! Opening morning I had a 3X4 and a nice looking 4X4 that would go around 170 feed up under me at 100yds. I would have taken either if given a chance but being early in the morning the winds eventually gave me away and they headed off in another direction. One thing I noticed about this place is that no matter what time of day or which direction I was facing the wind always seemed to be at my back.[im
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/ae88/iahunter62/Hunting%20Photos/GrambrelGarage70.jpg " alt="" />g][/img]
This is my camp. Worked quite well. Just a few steps and I could slip through a couple spruce trees and have a great view of the valley below. The second day I spotted the same two bucks straight across the valley. I eventually lost track of them in the dark timber.[i
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/ae88/iahunter62/Hunting%20Photos/GrambrelGarage73.jpg " alt="" />mg][/img]
That evening This bull blundered his cows right into my camp. That was total chaos when they figured out their mistake! I was wishing I had an elk tag because the bull gave me several opportunities to take him. His cows bolted down the side of the mountain into the basin I was hunting but he wanted to go back over to the other side. Which he eventually did leaving his cows. I went back to glassing and spotted the two bucks again in the same general area so I had high hopes for the next day.
The next morning I spotted a herd of about 50 elk across from me just below the opposite peak. I also noticed a large herd of beef cows moving up the valley below me.[i
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/ae88/iahunter62/Hunting%20Photos/GrambrelGarage106.jpg " alt="" />mg][/img]
The cows kept moving up the valley and eventually took over the whole valley as they kept coming in. The elk I was watching eventually topped the other peak and left that basin. From then on I had nothing but cattle to watch. That evening turned up nothing but cattle.
After glassing the next morning and seeing no deer or elk I decided to check out the basin on the other side of the mountain. I spotted a young 5X5 bull below me, but nothing else. There was way too much timber on that side and glassing would not be good so I decided if the next morning didn't turn up anything that I would break camp and head back to regroup.
Nothing but cattle again, so I packed up camp and headed back. I only had 2 days food left so I would have to go back to the pickup to restock my supply. I had to take cover several times because of wind and hail. There were branches and whole trees snapping off. I made it to the pass above the trailhead in the early afternoon and decided to camp there for the night and look around there that evening. That turned up nothing. So the next morning I packed up and headed for the trailhead 4 miles away.[i
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/ae88/iahunter62/Hunting%20Photos/GrambrelGarage131.jpg " alt="" />mg][/img]
I reached the traihead late morning, tired and sore. My knees and ankles were killing me. Instead of the welcome sight of my pickup I noticed one of my wipers sticking straight up. Then I noticed a mirror gone. Then both.[i
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/ae88/iahunter62/Hunting%20Photos/GrambrelGarage148.jpg " alt="" />mg][/img]
Seems a bear tried to get into my pickup while I was gone and ripped both mirrors off and left scratches all around the pickup. I'm just glad he didn't get inside!!! Being tired and sore and now depressed about my pickup and the hunting prospects not looking that great I decided to end my hunt there. Damn cows and bears!!! I think my next hunt should be a bear hunt with T-bone steaks on the grill every night.
This is my camp. Worked quite well. Just a few steps and I could slip through a couple spruce trees and have a great view of the valley below. The second day I spotted the same two bucks straight across the valley. I eventually lost track of them in the dark timber.[i
That evening This bull blundered his cows right into my camp. That was total chaos when they figured out their mistake! I was wishing I had an elk tag because the bull gave me several opportunities to take him. His cows bolted down the side of the mountain into the basin I was hunting but he wanted to go back over to the other side. Which he eventually did leaving his cows. I went back to glassing and spotted the two bucks again in the same general area so I had high hopes for the next day.
The next morning I spotted a herd of about 50 elk across from me just below the opposite peak. I also noticed a large herd of beef cows moving up the valley below me.[i
The cows kept moving up the valley and eventually took over the whole valley as they kept coming in. The elk I was watching eventually topped the other peak and left that basin. From then on I had nothing but cattle to watch. That evening turned up nothing but cattle.
After glassing the next morning and seeing no deer or elk I decided to check out the basin on the other side of the mountain. I spotted a young 5X5 bull below me, but nothing else. There was way too much timber on that side and glassing would not be good so I decided if the next morning didn't turn up anything that I would break camp and head back to regroup.
Nothing but cattle again, so I packed up camp and headed back. I only had 2 days food left so I would have to go back to the pickup to restock my supply. I had to take cover several times because of wind and hail. There were branches and whole trees snapping off. I made it to the pass above the trailhead in the early afternoon and decided to camp there for the night and look around there that evening. That turned up nothing. So the next morning I packed up and headed for the trailhead 4 miles away.[i
I reached the traihead late morning, tired and sore. My knees and ankles were killing me. Instead of the welcome sight of my pickup I noticed one of my wipers sticking straight up. Then I noticed a mirror gone. Then both.[i
Seems a bear tried to get into my pickup while I was gone and ripped both mirrors off and left scratches all around the pickup. I'm just glad he didn't get inside!!! Being tired and sore and now depressed about my pickup and the hunting prospects not looking that great I decided to end my hunt there. Damn cows and bears!!! I think my next hunt should be a bear hunt with T-bone steaks on the grill every night.
3,864
I was planning on spending tomorrow on the mountain hunting the opener but life has intervened once again.
Too bad about your truck that just plain sucks. You'll never forget that trip that's for sure.