On the brink of a new dawn, we rethink our preparations, the outcomes, the what ifs, and the big bucks that dance around in our heads. With just over three weeks before arrows can soar and fur can fly, now is the time to hold the line. Practice makes perfect, perfect in a deer hunting world doesn't happen very often though. Deer hunters have to be adaptive, mentally focused, persistent, and forever aware of their surroundings. What starts as a physical game will eventually turn into a mind battle with a mature whitetail.
So why to hunters engage into a challenge like this...? It's not like we really take deer as an enemy and find ourselves running up the steps of the art museum Rocky style. Or finding a local butchery to beat up on hanging sides of beef. The outdoors offer so much more than perfecting laid concrete steps. When you step into the woods, every step we take is different and the path to the top is forever changing. Watching the forest wake up in the morning and then slowly doze off to sleep in the evening. My local hunting spot does it like a train schedule.
The woods are deathly quiet, pitch dark. With the low hanging canopy of the juniper trees, star light is completely masked out. Only with a full moon overhead is my pathway pre-lit reminding you of movie theatre aisles. Each step taken slowly with the up most care as to not make a noise. Your minds spins in hopes of not cracking a freshly dropped branch. In such a case though, we take advantage of the action. Having your grunt tube at ready and quickly disguising yourself as a deer. A few soft, short grunts and then scratching your feet as if you were making a scrape. After a minute or so the trip continues into the darkness.
The arrival to 'spot' may warrant climbing a tree, slithering into a ground blind, or just sitting down on the forest floor. We lay back and wait for the show to begin. Mine starts with eastern slope becoming back lit with a glow from the rising sun. The first early movements of deer trickling back to their beds for the morning slowly begins. With light still on low, they tip toe through the almost silent vegetation and soft soils. Many of times, they have crept past me, only to find out later on my trail camera as proof.
Next come the squirrels. Down the trees, reporting to their work locations to find food and burying it. Then dig up previously found food and move to bury it once again. Then the crows crack the cool morning air with calls back and forth to one another. At this point, the feature presentation is about to arrive. The pones travel down hill after grazing on Mr McCann's grass and ornamental flowers all night. Then into the juniper forest, halfway to their bedding area with gazing eyes. Just a bit further to their cozy meadow deep in the ravine. With sleep on their mind, they have their nose on high alert.
The antlered kings may have half opened eyes, and ears that have listened to every sound in the night air but their nose never lies. That full belly can almost be laid to rest as they step across my view plane. As mentioned before, the pones or younger deer lead the way with mature doe closely behind. Then, providing the coast is clear, the mature antlered giants arrive. Sleep deprived both the hunter and the deer, the final chess match begins. Will the antlered giant cross my pathway, will he catch a smell of my morning bacon sandwich on my breath, or will he mosey around as if we were never there?
Well this is a perfect morning so far, having the antlers just show up within view is a start. Or to even have fur walk in our direction builds up our blood pressure to near boiling. The excitement fills the air, if only it covered our scent at the same time. Hopefully we have done our homework on this king of the chess game, scouting from afar, scent control in place, wind played in your favor, and your weapon shooting straight and true.
What seems like minutes and hours, ticks passed in only seconds. The crack of the air when the gun shoots or the arrow leaves your bow. Did my shot hit home?...or will the game of shadows continue. The wonder that quickly fills our minds and can flood out a perfect shoot into doubt. Will a painted red carpet be laid out for a prize at the end, we can only hope. Hunting drives us so hard to just lay our hands on our harvest. To some this is our proof of success, but we know it doesn't take antlers on a wall to do so.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Equipment - Check, Check 1,2
Can everyone here me in the back....yes. Okay. Well we aren't running full out video equipment this season but equipment checks are vital to your operation. Your hunting gear has to be up to par and then some. If it isn't then your wall could remain spacious and your freezer empty. Your wife might be happy about the wall but lack of fresh venison for your grill hurt your feelings more. Whether you are hunting with a bow or gun, you have to take care of them.
Guns are probably the lesser of two evils. Most folks wait until those famous turkey shoots in late November to put couple of punches on paper and call it good for the season. I did this one year, boy was I sorry. It was the last day of rifle season in western Pennsylvania. A colleague from work had allowed me to hunt his 80 acre plot just north of Pittsburgh. To my first dismay, my tree stand had been stolen which was very disheartening in follow hunters of the area. That's just wrong, I there just a few days prior with an awesome setup by the way. There was a small drainage creek from the corn fields just inside the wood line. Judging by the signs around and my previous experiences in the stand, it was a super highway for deer.
So going to my second best option since my seat in the tree was gone, I pulled out my trusty five gallon bucket and sat near a tree. An hour after sun up, here comes Joe Smoe, tramping through the woods...really dude. We traded stories from earlier in the season and planned to drive the woods toward me. Well that was certainly nice of him, as he disappeared into the snowy morning. Snowing...oh yes, it got even worse as the day went on. After a few hours, I decided to get up and stretch my legs. Using a deer trail, I followed down into the ravine. It wasn't long before I came across a nice 6 point buck. At least that's how many points were countable in the blizzard at this point.
The woods were thick, the snow was falling and the buck presented one shot just behind his neck. At less than 25 yards, the 3006 let out a roar. The deer ran away....the hunter stood there in more dismay. What happened, at that distance, the deer would have to be Houdini to dodge that bullet. Well, it was later evident that my scope mount rings had come loose. Think about how you treat your gun... Take out from a nice cozy lodge or car ride to your destination, than expose it to the elements. In my case a 40 degree difference. Repeat this for a week or so while at hunting camp.
It only took millimeters to miss that buck on my scope mount. A simple check of those little bolts during my sighting in would have done the trick. I took it step further to prevent this from happening again, some blue thread lock. Let's look at it another way though, what if you were traveling to Colorado. Did you pack a small tool kit to make such adjustments....you should. Also a laser bore sighter can save you time. After you sight in for the season, put your bore sighter in, and not where in your scope the dot appears. If it changes from your travels, then you need to correct it. And if it still in the same spot...go hunting.
Your weapon of choice is just one piece of the pie though, Your binoculars, range finder, knives (and sharper), and the list goes on. In fact, make a list to check through each piece of equipment, and take spare parts and tools to fix things on the fly. If I had known my scope was loose in the field, a piece of duck tape could have even solved the problem. Better to have than to have not. The more options you have then the more opportunities to succeed.
Guns are probably the lesser of two evils. Most folks wait until those famous turkey shoots in late November to put couple of punches on paper and call it good for the season. I did this one year, boy was I sorry. It was the last day of rifle season in western Pennsylvania. A colleague from work had allowed me to hunt his 80 acre plot just north of Pittsburgh. To my first dismay, my tree stand had been stolen which was very disheartening in follow hunters of the area. That's just wrong, I there just a few days prior with an awesome setup by the way. There was a small drainage creek from the corn fields just inside the wood line. Judging by the signs around and my previous experiences in the stand, it was a super highway for deer.
So going to my second best option since my seat in the tree was gone, I pulled out my trusty five gallon bucket and sat near a tree. An hour after sun up, here comes Joe Smoe, tramping through the woods...really dude. We traded stories from earlier in the season and planned to drive the woods toward me. Well that was certainly nice of him, as he disappeared into the snowy morning. Snowing...oh yes, it got even worse as the day went on. After a few hours, I decided to get up and stretch my legs. Using a deer trail, I followed down into the ravine. It wasn't long before I came across a nice 6 point buck. At least that's how many points were countable in the blizzard at this point.
The woods were thick, the snow was falling and the buck presented one shot just behind his neck. At less than 25 yards, the 3006 let out a roar. The deer ran away....the hunter stood there in more dismay. What happened, at that distance, the deer would have to be Houdini to dodge that bullet. Well, it was later evident that my scope mount rings had come loose. Think about how you treat your gun... Take out from a nice cozy lodge or car ride to your destination, than expose it to the elements. In my case a 40 degree difference. Repeat this for a week or so while at hunting camp.
It only took millimeters to miss that buck on my scope mount. A simple check of those little bolts during my sighting in would have done the trick. I took it step further to prevent this from happening again, some blue thread lock. Let's look at it another way though, what if you were traveling to Colorado. Did you pack a small tool kit to make such adjustments....you should. Also a laser bore sighter can save you time. After you sight in for the season, put your bore sighter in, and not where in your scope the dot appears. If it changes from your travels, then you need to correct it. And if it still in the same spot...go hunting.
Your weapon of choice is just one piece of the pie though, Your binoculars, range finder, knives (and sharper), and the list goes on. In fact, make a list to check through each piece of equipment, and take spare parts and tools to fix things on the fly. If I had known my scope was loose in the field, a piece of duck tape could have even solved the problem. Better to have than to have not. The more options you have then the more opportunities to succeed.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
No Longer Boy Scouting
50 some odd days away from the first hunting season and I can't contain my excitement. Fishing season is merely a way to pass time for my true passion. At one time though, fishing was everything to me. You couldn't pull me off the shoreline or the dock on the Chesapeake Bay. I even warranted the nickname "Caveman Kurt", being I could catch fish with anything I laid my hands on. That nickname just popped up after 20 or so years yesterday. A colleague new to the hunting season was discussing potential outing's to enjoy the outdoors and a way to do a team building exercises. It wasn't long before he realized I can make anything happen outdoors. The Caveman is back!!
I have several hunting trips lined up starting in September and lingering until the chilly month of January. From several spots in Pennsylvania (east and west), Maryland, Colorado, and potentially Arkansas or Kentucky (waiting to see which pans out). Tennessee was a potential candidate for a few weeks but it seems a future employer didn't find me as a real catch...their loss. Although Nashville would have been sweet. Anyway, with 50 days until the first arrow being drawn (legally), there is lots of work to be done. Finding a compound bow, scouting and more scouting, lining up babysitters, and potentially buying a long range rifle. Did I mention scouting...because that's the big one and most important.
Scouting, for hunting that is, not the organization of young boys, is the most important aspect of your hunting skills. It can tell you the story of an animals movement, habits, and sexual partners...okay maybe not the last one. The rut though does some crazy things to deer so you never know. Hunting an area because it looks promising is like wagering on a lottery ticket. You have the opportunity to beat the house odds here, but it means doing your homework. First thing, that little thing called the Internet, not the one Al Gore said he invented, pull up google earth and print off some topo photos of your area. Step two, laminate them, yes take the extra time to ensure they survive the season.
Next, hit the hunting grounds, but don't just run in guns blazing. Deer can remember you and your scent for quite a long time. You have to hone in your ninja like skills, perform your scent controls, and bring a few necessary items. Here is a good starting list:
Parking your vehicle at the lodge or far away from your hunting area. Then start walking. Take notes along the way, if you were truly hunting, how would I access an area so the deer don't hear or see me. Don't rush either, you are recording all animal signs along the way, tracks, feeding locations, trails, areas of cover (for you or the deer). Did I mention, you should do this during mid day hours. Yes, you certainly don't want to come eye to eye with a buck that is on his way to his bed or buffet line. You may get a kick out of seeing that big buck, but take a mental picture, because he will disappear like David Copperfield. Mature bucks are smarter than most humans, so if you edge up on a deer, kneel down (aka hide) or back out.
You brought a range finder and maybe even some bi-nocs. Use them and glass from afar. During morning and evening hours, bust out your spotting scope and watch the feeding areas. You want to understand the big picture, not just your little niche where your stand hangs. Back to your scouting at hand, take notice to those deer signs, like I said, really take notice. Identify the feeding areas and where they bed down. They are going to travel from A to B and back to A. So tracks and pathways should be your first focus. They check for buck signs...yup, scrapes, rubs, licking branches, and larger tracks in the dirt and mud. If you can't tell the difference in tracks then spend some time on google.
As you dwindle down areas to hunt, you have to think about how you actually get a shot or hang your stand, You don't always have to hang a stand in make a shot on an animal. If you have other means of cover than use it. Calculate your wind direction too. Put in your notes, this stand can only be hunted on a Southerly wind. The wind will also dictate how you access your hunting location, if they smell before you even get to your stand than you may have an uneventful sit. Once you think you have an absolute honey hole you have to prepare your hunting location. Do you need to clear pathways to ensure a quiet arrival to your spot, cut down any branches that could hinder your options or cause you a missed shot. Be anal during this time, I missed a huge eight point, because I never cleared a sapling in front me. My arrow was almost in arms reach from me when it stuck into the tree, and I swear it was mocking me until I cut the tree down to remove it.
I can't stress it enough, make sure your shooting lanes are open. It may require you to get up and down from your stand several times until you get it right. One branch can mean a wall hanger, or an empty freezer. So you found a hunting spot, great. Now keep scouting the area, find more options, because your about to play chess with brilliant animals. Only having one play in your book isn't going to cut it here. Work your way all around the area, you have to be able to know where these deer eat, sleep, poop, and their afternoon hobbies. Hang up some trail cameras along those trails or areas of congregation. We are all busy these days, let the camera do some work for you when you aren't there. With some many tools at your disposal these days, it would be stupid not to use them. The deer signs you found may only be from a small buck and not the big guy.
Hopefully I helped you out by giving some tips and best practices. Scout hard, so you aren't guessing or scratching lottery tickets from your stand location. You want to have informed decisions when hunting and be able to say it just wasn't luck. Chili dogs at 5am are never a good idea either, just saying.
I have several hunting trips lined up starting in September and lingering until the chilly month of January. From several spots in Pennsylvania (east and west), Maryland, Colorado, and potentially Arkansas or Kentucky (waiting to see which pans out). Tennessee was a potential candidate for a few weeks but it seems a future employer didn't find me as a real catch...their loss. Although Nashville would have been sweet. Anyway, with 50 days until the first arrow being drawn (legally), there is lots of work to be done. Finding a compound bow, scouting and more scouting, lining up babysitters, and potentially buying a long range rifle. Did I mention scouting...because that's the big one and most important.
Scouting, for hunting that is, not the organization of young boys, is the most important aspect of your hunting skills. It can tell you the story of an animals movement, habits, and sexual partners...okay maybe not the last one. The rut though does some crazy things to deer so you never know. Hunting an area because it looks promising is like wagering on a lottery ticket. You have the opportunity to beat the house odds here, but it means doing your homework. First thing, that little thing called the Internet, not the one Al Gore said he invented, pull up google earth and print off some topo photos of your area. Step two, laminate them, yes take the extra time to ensure they survive the season.
Next, hit the hunting grounds, but don't just run in guns blazing. Deer can remember you and your scent for quite a long time. You have to hone in your ninja like skills, perform your scent controls, and bring a few necessary items. Here is a good starting list:
- Your topo maps, a writing device and note pad (write in the books would be a great choice)
- Scent control, rubber boats, clothes treated with carbon or other chemicals, camo of course
- A range finder, brush/tree saw, trail markers, and gloves (you have real work to do)
- Of course your daily bread and drinks to stay energized and hydrated
- A fanny pack or small backpack to carry your gear as well
Parking your vehicle at the lodge or far away from your hunting area. Then start walking. Take notes along the way, if you were truly hunting, how would I access an area so the deer don't hear or see me. Don't rush either, you are recording all animal signs along the way, tracks, feeding locations, trails, areas of cover (for you or the deer). Did I mention, you should do this during mid day hours. Yes, you certainly don't want to come eye to eye with a buck that is on his way to his bed or buffet line. You may get a kick out of seeing that big buck, but take a mental picture, because he will disappear like David Copperfield. Mature bucks are smarter than most humans, so if you edge up on a deer, kneel down (aka hide) or back out.
You brought a range finder and maybe even some bi-nocs. Use them and glass from afar. During morning and evening hours, bust out your spotting scope and watch the feeding areas. You want to understand the big picture, not just your little niche where your stand hangs. Back to your scouting at hand, take notice to those deer signs, like I said, really take notice. Identify the feeding areas and where they bed down. They are going to travel from A to B and back to A. So tracks and pathways should be your first focus. They check for buck signs...yup, scrapes, rubs, licking branches, and larger tracks in the dirt and mud. If you can't tell the difference in tracks then spend some time on google.
As you dwindle down areas to hunt, you have to think about how you actually get a shot or hang your stand, You don't always have to hang a stand in make a shot on an animal. If you have other means of cover than use it. Calculate your wind direction too. Put in your notes, this stand can only be hunted on a Southerly wind. The wind will also dictate how you access your hunting location, if they smell before you even get to your stand than you may have an uneventful sit. Once you think you have an absolute honey hole you have to prepare your hunting location. Do you need to clear pathways to ensure a quiet arrival to your spot, cut down any branches that could hinder your options or cause you a missed shot. Be anal during this time, I missed a huge eight point, because I never cleared a sapling in front me. My arrow was almost in arms reach from me when it stuck into the tree, and I swear it was mocking me until I cut the tree down to remove it.
I can't stress it enough, make sure your shooting lanes are open. It may require you to get up and down from your stand several times until you get it right. One branch can mean a wall hanger, or an empty freezer. So you found a hunting spot, great. Now keep scouting the area, find more options, because your about to play chess with brilliant animals. Only having one play in your book isn't going to cut it here. Work your way all around the area, you have to be able to know where these deer eat, sleep, poop, and their afternoon hobbies. Hang up some trail cameras along those trails or areas of congregation. We are all busy these days, let the camera do some work for you when you aren't there. With some many tools at your disposal these days, it would be stupid not to use them. The deer signs you found may only be from a small buck and not the big guy.
Hopefully I helped you out by giving some tips and best practices. Scout hard, so you aren't guessing or scratching lottery tickets from your stand location. You want to have informed decisions when hunting and be able to say it just wasn't luck. Chili dogs at 5am are never a good idea either, just saying.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Cold Water Crankin II
The water had warmed significantly since the last cold water crankin effort. We elected to tryout the smaller lake at Penn Warner this time. Word around the campfire was that it was heating up. Temperature yes, fishing....still slow by my standards. If we had to fish that lake again, they better be jumping in the boat. Aside from the shallow water, the cold breeze off the chilly waters, and maneuvering around tree stumps, the trip was a partial success. Our goal was to catch some toothy fish like pickerel and pike before waters became too warm. The morning started out with a very brisk 37 degree air temp and strong winds from the west.
We tried to capitalize on the shallow lake in hopes the water would have been warmer and with that increased fish activity. The shallow stump filled lake was hard to navigate with cloudy water and strong winds. We covered a lot of area with three of us in the boat though. Each throwing different combinations of cranks and colors. After a few hours, it felt like we threw everything but the kitchen sink. But there was hope, the rookie we took fishing hooked up with a nice pickerel on a lipless watermelon colored crank bait. It wasn't long before we matched suit with similar combinations.
During the late spring and summer the lake is typically covered in lily pads which could be seen just starting to grow. A prime opportunity to drag a frog across the pads to invoke a bass to swallow like a garbage disposal. The early action on the other hand was mild at best. We had slammed them last year on the larger lake under the same conditions. This would be a learning experience for us and something to reflect upon. But another day fishing is better than any day at work.
Check out Rob below with his first pickerel he has every caught.
We tried to capitalize on the shallow lake in hopes the water would have been warmer and with that increased fish activity. The shallow stump filled lake was hard to navigate with cloudy water and strong winds. We covered a lot of area with three of us in the boat though. Each throwing different combinations of cranks and colors. After a few hours, it felt like we threw everything but the kitchen sink. But there was hope, the rookie we took fishing hooked up with a nice pickerel on a lipless watermelon colored crank bait. It wasn't long before we matched suit with similar combinations.
During the late spring and summer the lake is typically covered in lily pads which could be seen just starting to grow. A prime opportunity to drag a frog across the pads to invoke a bass to swallow like a garbage disposal. The early action on the other hand was mild at best. We had slammed them last year on the larger lake under the same conditions. This would be a learning experience for us and something to reflect upon. But another day fishing is better than any day at work.
Check out Rob below with his first pickerel he has every caught.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Cold Water Crankin
With frost on the gunnel and a bone chilling breeze, we had decided to give the lake a try for some ample toothed fish. That being pickerel and pike. The weather had given us a chance to catch a mild day in February. Last April we were able to capitalize on these species of fish with a good catch of a dozen or so and each of us catching a hefty size fish in the mix. Although the other anglers on the lake we anxious to bag large mouths, we were perfectly content with our toothy friends. The adventure started on point that comes out toward the center of the lake. It has a shallow section comprised of rocky ledges that step down deeper like a pair of stairs.
This was the first freshwater fishing trip for me in years, so catching a tree or two from overcasting may have occurred. We worked the shoreline with our crank baits and eventually got a few bites. We decided to make another pass but a bit further away from the shoreline. By doing so, our crank baits would come across the first rock ledge and then come right over the deeper ledge step. Bingo bango. We fished this for the better part of an hour pulling our pickerel right and left. Other boats would cruise by saying we only caught a few pikes, like it was a bad thing. We couldn't disagree more, the fish were following our baits clear up to the boat and striking. The splashes were hitting us in the face even though the water felt like ice.
When felt as though we had fished the spot out, we moved on to some deeper coves on the far side of the lake. Changing up to some deeper diving cranks and putting on some brighter colors. Again it wasn't long that we pulled in a few nice pikes. This was a treat for me, being that I never caught pike or pickerel before in my life. They would put up a great fight and struck our lures like freight trains.
We decided to try one more spot before returning to shore to boast our fun. It was a shallow shoreline covered with cat tails and broken off stumps. We switched back to lip less crank baits and gave it our best. My buddy was able to pull out a pike that what was a giant to us. It was awesome, it was an anglers dream to have such a day filled with strikes, bites, and pikes. Our trip today though was nothing of the sort. We beat shorelines with our baits, the rock ledges, and even our honey holes. The water temps were just too cold still to activate the fish. It still beats any day at work, even with some frozen snot on your face. Below are our catches from last April.
This was the first freshwater fishing trip for me in years, so catching a tree or two from overcasting may have occurred. We worked the shoreline with our crank baits and eventually got a few bites. We decided to make another pass but a bit further away from the shoreline. By doing so, our crank baits would come across the first rock ledge and then come right over the deeper ledge step. Bingo bango. We fished this for the better part of an hour pulling our pickerel right and left. Other boats would cruise by saying we only caught a few pikes, like it was a bad thing. We couldn't disagree more, the fish were following our baits clear up to the boat and striking. The splashes were hitting us in the face even though the water felt like ice.
When felt as though we had fished the spot out, we moved on to some deeper coves on the far side of the lake. Changing up to some deeper diving cranks and putting on some brighter colors. Again it wasn't long that we pulled in a few nice pikes. This was a treat for me, being that I never caught pike or pickerel before in my life. They would put up a great fight and struck our lures like freight trains.
We decided to try one more spot before returning to shore to boast our fun. It was a shallow shoreline covered with cat tails and broken off stumps. We switched back to lip less crank baits and gave it our best. My buddy was able to pull out a pike that what was a giant to us. It was awesome, it was an anglers dream to have such a day filled with strikes, bites, and pikes. Our trip today though was nothing of the sort. We beat shorelines with our baits, the rock ledges, and even our honey holes. The water temps were just too cold still to activate the fish. It still beats any day at work, even with some frozen snot on your face. Below are our catches from last April.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Big Brown Down
Well shots were fired and fur fell to the ground. It was like watching those hunting shows that you think are staged. "Its the last day, and the last hour of our trip, and wouldn't you know it, the elk stepped out and presented a shot". Yeah it was kind of like that but more surreal. Now came time to do some real work, recover my harvest which was across a valley. Seems simple right,.... nah Jack. The elk I shot weight 400-500 pounds, its not just as simple as "Hey Willie, go get your truck". This would truly define the hunt aspect of harvesting big game animals.
I started my trek down the mountain, as we were at 9,000+ feet in elevation, and then climb back up the other side to find the elk. This was easier said than done, just thinking about it now makes me wish I had hit the treadmill harder. Once I made it to the bottom of the valley the aspen forest masked the location of the downed elk. With a general location of the animal, the trek uphill began. Trudging through branches and ducking under downed limbs was normal. There were no clean vertical pathways as the elk used horizontal paths on the mountain side to travel. Once enough elevation had been gained, the game trails could be followed, but with the heavy cover it made finding the elk difficult even when only feet separated us. Finally I caught a big noseful of the downed animal, just like mature bucks, this elk stunk. I turned into the wind and followed it to the prize.
My eyes couldn't take in the view all at once. It was like looking at a horse laid on its side. The last animal I had harvested was a sika deer, which in comparison to an elk is about 1/10 the size. With my excitement flowing through my body, I took a seat on a nearby log and just starred in amazement. A spur of a moment trip with a friend that I never met, took shape into a completed bucket list item. My partner eventually made it up the hill and found me hanging out on the log. "It's time to get to work", he said. After a few photo opportunities of course.
I dove into my field pack and pulled out an arrangement of Gerber knives. We had to maneuver the elk into position and cut some branches out of the way for a makeshift butcher shop. Believe me, take the time to clear your area, that one tree branch will get cursed out the entire time for being the way and could lead to you sliding that knife into your hand. It wasn't long before the body cavity was opened and the elk lost about 100+ pounds, it was like an in field tummy tuck. Then working from the back forward, one person held the leg while the other skinned it back, deboned the leg at the knuckle, and separated it from the body. Each leg section was put into field dressing bags to keep it clear of debris. This is also a good time for some black pepper for preservation of the meat. Remember once the animal is done, time is critical. The colder it is, the slower the clock but dealing with a frozen animal of this size would seem impossible.
Our temperature situation was about 40 degrees, not too cold but a long enough window for use to field dress and travel back to the truck. We continued our assault with several knives and bagged and tagged the elk. Since this was a cow there was no need cape out the head. The hide could also be saved but during this trip it wasn't of interest. Again proper care has to be taken in order to preserve it. With all the meat and four appendages bagged we loaded up for a trip down the valley and all the way up the other side. My partner who was notably older than myself would be a stationed halfway up the other side and I would go from there to downed elk and back. This process was repeated over a three hour period until all the meat made it to the truck. Since the appendages and field dressing bags were so large, we choose to use my water proof dufflebag to store the meat. Once back at camp we could put some ice right into the dufflebag.
So it felt like Karate Kid, up the mountain, down the mountain, repeat. Except every 50 feet, catch your breath and curse for not being in better shape. Then repeat. Dressing in layers though is key, all the physical strain is going to make your body generate heat. Since the trek up and down was along the same path, it allowed me to shed clothing along the way to picked up on the last trip out. It also gave you trail markers or to highlight trip hazard to stay away from. Of course when it starts to snow, this means nothing. The temperature dropped quickly and near white conditions started. Luckily we were nearly done.
This entire process took about 5 hours. Two minutes to pull the trigger and 5 hours to field dress, field butcher, and trek the meat out of the valley. That 9000+ feet elevation isn't too forgiving either. I was in a little better acclimatization being in Denver for over a week prior to the hunt. Although once you add a physical load, say hauling 80 pounds of meat out up a mountain side, it's a new ball game Jack. This hunt tested our physical abilities the most and I urge anyone doing a similar hunt to prepare for it. In the end, it makes the harvest a lot sweeter, even if you have to stop every 50 feet to catch your breath. This concludes my first elk hunt, below are a few treats for your viewing pleasure.
I started my trek down the mountain, as we were at 9,000+ feet in elevation, and then climb back up the other side to find the elk. This was easier said than done, just thinking about it now makes me wish I had hit the treadmill harder. Once I made it to the bottom of the valley the aspen forest masked the location of the downed elk. With a general location of the animal, the trek uphill began. Trudging through branches and ducking under downed limbs was normal. There were no clean vertical pathways as the elk used horizontal paths on the mountain side to travel. Once enough elevation had been gained, the game trails could be followed, but with the heavy cover it made finding the elk difficult even when only feet separated us. Finally I caught a big noseful of the downed animal, just like mature bucks, this elk stunk. I turned into the wind and followed it to the prize.
My eyes couldn't take in the view all at once. It was like looking at a horse laid on its side. The last animal I had harvested was a sika deer, which in comparison to an elk is about 1/10 the size. With my excitement flowing through my body, I took a seat on a nearby log and just starred in amazement. A spur of a moment trip with a friend that I never met, took shape into a completed bucket list item. My partner eventually made it up the hill and found me hanging out on the log. "It's time to get to work", he said. After a few photo opportunities of course.
I dove into my field pack and pulled out an arrangement of Gerber knives. We had to maneuver the elk into position and cut some branches out of the way for a makeshift butcher shop. Believe me, take the time to clear your area, that one tree branch will get cursed out the entire time for being the way and could lead to you sliding that knife into your hand. It wasn't long before the body cavity was opened and the elk lost about 100+ pounds, it was like an in field tummy tuck. Then working from the back forward, one person held the leg while the other skinned it back, deboned the leg at the knuckle, and separated it from the body. Each leg section was put into field dressing bags to keep it clear of debris. This is also a good time for some black pepper for preservation of the meat. Remember once the animal is done, time is critical. The colder it is, the slower the clock but dealing with a frozen animal of this size would seem impossible.
Our temperature situation was about 40 degrees, not too cold but a long enough window for use to field dress and travel back to the truck. We continued our assault with several knives and bagged and tagged the elk. Since this was a cow there was no need cape out the head. The hide could also be saved but during this trip it wasn't of interest. Again proper care has to be taken in order to preserve it. With all the meat and four appendages bagged we loaded up for a trip down the valley and all the way up the other side. My partner who was notably older than myself would be a stationed halfway up the other side and I would go from there to downed elk and back. This process was repeated over a three hour period until all the meat made it to the truck. Since the appendages and field dressing bags were so large, we choose to use my water proof dufflebag to store the meat. Once back at camp we could put some ice right into the dufflebag.
So it felt like Karate Kid, up the mountain, down the mountain, repeat. Except every 50 feet, catch your breath and curse for not being in better shape. Then repeat. Dressing in layers though is key, all the physical strain is going to make your body generate heat. Since the trek up and down was along the same path, it allowed me to shed clothing along the way to picked up on the last trip out. It also gave you trail markers or to highlight trip hazard to stay away from. Of course when it starts to snow, this means nothing. The temperature dropped quickly and near white conditions started. Luckily we were nearly done.
This entire process took about 5 hours. Two minutes to pull the trigger and 5 hours to field dress, field butcher, and trek the meat out of the valley. That 9000+ feet elevation isn't too forgiving either. I was in a little better acclimatization being in Denver for over a week prior to the hunt. Although once you add a physical load, say hauling 80 pounds of meat out up a mountain side, it's a new ball game Jack. This hunt tested our physical abilities the most and I urge anyone doing a similar hunt to prepare for it. In the end, it makes the harvest a lot sweeter, even if you have to stop every 50 feet to catch your breath. This concludes my first elk hunt, below are a few treats for your viewing pleasure.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
A Quiet Western Front
Welcome back to the second installment of my first hunting trip west. The excitement to shoot my first elk was overwhelming. I had packed, prepared my equipment, and even tried to condition my body for the challenges of the hunt. There I sat, the sun was cresting its light upon the eastern skyline. A light breeze crossed my face as I started to glass the slope over the valley. My hunting partner was positioned to my right about 200 yards away. It wasn't long before I realized the light brown bodies moving through the aspens were elk. Having never seen an elk in person added to the thrill. Was it going to be the first morning of the hunt to get a shot at my first elk?
Then the elk started to move quicker than expected. They had been moving from right to left which meant the shooting distance was decreasing. It wouldn't take long that they would be within 300 yards. While glassing from across the valley, the elk's body language changed abruptly. The herd of 8-10 cows balled together and with a few head shakes they quickly headed over the ridge disappearing instantly. For a first hand experience it was a great encounter.We would spend the rest of the day exploring the ridge tops and glassing the valleys from afar.
Day two started much the same. Elk were spotted in the same spot and we in position for another encounter. Well what quickly felt like everything falling into place, fell apart like a sandcastle in a rainstorm. The range of these elk was just over 500 yards from where I was setup. My hunting partner though, was in the perfect spot. I radioed over and described the location of the elk. After several attempts, the message just wasn't being received or at least my hunting partner didn't have eagle eyes like myself. The elk had finally broken into the open at the top of the ridge, a cool 600 yards from me alone. With a hail Mary shot my partner took a chance. There was no reaction to an impact and certainly no hair went flying. We watched the 8 head of elk trot over the slope side and out of site.
It would later be determined that the wrong reticle was used to gauge the elk's distance in my partner's scope. No worries, it was day 2 and we have plenty of land to cover through the week. We rode through the landscape and made our way back to camp. While glassing at several it wasn't long before a huge sandwich was feeding my hunger. It was at this time that I was able to sight in my rifle. While several attempts were made to get this completed at home, it just never worked out. A stick and piece of cardboard later and my make shift target was up. It didn't take long before my shots were more than satisfactory on target. My hunting partner was gracious enough to lend me a rifle for the first morning sit. I wasn't entirely comfortable with shooting a rifle for the first time at an animal. If the shot wasn't on target it could lead to a non-fatal shot which could permanently injury it.
The third morning I was completely prepared. The Kimber 8400 30-06 was shouldered and ready for action. I selected the Winchester 168 gr. ballistic tip bullets with black oxide coating. This selection would prove to be very effective and cost worthy. While the view was spectacular no elk would be seen on day two. The day was spent glassing the landscape and interacting with other hunters to gain intel. Several hunters were on the prowl for mule deer. We were happy to share locations of bucks we had seen in our travels and aided two sets of hunters to their harvest. Since we had seen the same group of elk for two days, it made sense to start there again the next morning.
Before we could start day 4, my head began to pound. Apparently starring through binoculars all day can really mess with your head. It hit me so hard that I ended up tossing my cookies on the wood pile outside the camper and skipped dinner for an early bedtime. My hunting partner shuck me at 4am for wake up and ask if I was alright. I could have felt better and jumped out of bed to provide my daily breakfast dish (eggs in basket) for the morning ride out. He was amazed that my health had bounced back so fast, it had to because this was our last day.
We decided to sit next to each other so that we could maximize our chances in viewing the heavy aspen forest. With tripods, binocs, and little hope we settled in behind the sage landscape from our side of the valley. The decline in hope was evident on my hunting partner's face as every moment ticked by. It was in the back of my mind as well but he optimist that I am kept a good poker face showing. Then my eagle eyes inherited by my grandfather came through. Two lone elk moving slowly in the aspen thicket were shining like a silver dollar in a storm drain. Of course it took a few minutes for my buddy to see the elk I spotted. Since we choose to sit down low on the slope, the shooting distance was about 250 yards.
The shooting sequence felt like an eternity. Waiting for the broadside of either of the cows was comparable to sitting through the SATs. The gun was snuggled nicely in the tripod, my breathing was calm as could be in the given situation, and the scope's cross hairs were tracking the body movements of the elk. Finally a small clearing was chosen in which one the elk stood still in. With a quick GO message to my partner the trigger was squeezed. With a bit of distance between us in the elk the shot was able to seen when impacted on the elk. The body language screamed as direct hit and the heel kicked taking a few more steps forward. As it did, another opening in the aspens allowed a quick follow up shot like a rebounding puck in front of an empty hockey net. I took it. The elk dropped in it's tracks.
We did it! A self guided hunt in the Colorado mountains for elk. Truly a high end goal for me in my hunting career completed. The excitement inside me could help but vibrate out of body, a few fist pumps in the air and huge man hug to my hunting partner and friend. The next five hours would be spent hauling the meat out of the valley and that story worth reading as I get to lay hands on my big brown prize.
Here are some of the views from the where the shot was taken:
Then the elk started to move quicker than expected. They had been moving from right to left which meant the shooting distance was decreasing. It wouldn't take long that they would be within 300 yards. While glassing from across the valley, the elk's body language changed abruptly. The herd of 8-10 cows balled together and with a few head shakes they quickly headed over the ridge disappearing instantly. For a first hand experience it was a great encounter.We would spend the rest of the day exploring the ridge tops and glassing the valleys from afar.
Day two started much the same. Elk were spotted in the same spot and we in position for another encounter. Well what quickly felt like everything falling into place, fell apart like a sandcastle in a rainstorm. The range of these elk was just over 500 yards from where I was setup. My hunting partner though, was in the perfect spot. I radioed over and described the location of the elk. After several attempts, the message just wasn't being received or at least my hunting partner didn't have eagle eyes like myself. The elk had finally broken into the open at the top of the ridge, a cool 600 yards from me alone. With a hail Mary shot my partner took a chance. There was no reaction to an impact and certainly no hair went flying. We watched the 8 head of elk trot over the slope side and out of site.
It would later be determined that the wrong reticle was used to gauge the elk's distance in my partner's scope. No worries, it was day 2 and we have plenty of land to cover through the week. We rode through the landscape and made our way back to camp. While glassing at several it wasn't long before a huge sandwich was feeding my hunger. It was at this time that I was able to sight in my rifle. While several attempts were made to get this completed at home, it just never worked out. A stick and piece of cardboard later and my make shift target was up. It didn't take long before my shots were more than satisfactory on target. My hunting partner was gracious enough to lend me a rifle for the first morning sit. I wasn't entirely comfortable with shooting a rifle for the first time at an animal. If the shot wasn't on target it could lead to a non-fatal shot which could permanently injury it.
The third morning I was completely prepared. The Kimber 8400 30-06 was shouldered and ready for action. I selected the Winchester 168 gr. ballistic tip bullets with black oxide coating. This selection would prove to be very effective and cost worthy. While the view was spectacular no elk would be seen on day two. The day was spent glassing the landscape and interacting with other hunters to gain intel. Several hunters were on the prowl for mule deer. We were happy to share locations of bucks we had seen in our travels and aided two sets of hunters to their harvest. Since we had seen the same group of elk for two days, it made sense to start there again the next morning.
Before we could start day 4, my head began to pound. Apparently starring through binoculars all day can really mess with your head. It hit me so hard that I ended up tossing my cookies on the wood pile outside the camper and skipped dinner for an early bedtime. My hunting partner shuck me at 4am for wake up and ask if I was alright. I could have felt better and jumped out of bed to provide my daily breakfast dish (eggs in basket) for the morning ride out. He was amazed that my health had bounced back so fast, it had to because this was our last day.
We decided to sit next to each other so that we could maximize our chances in viewing the heavy aspen forest. With tripods, binocs, and little hope we settled in behind the sage landscape from our side of the valley. The decline in hope was evident on my hunting partner's face as every moment ticked by. It was in the back of my mind as well but he optimist that I am kept a good poker face showing. Then my eagle eyes inherited by my grandfather came through. Two lone elk moving slowly in the aspen thicket were shining like a silver dollar in a storm drain. Of course it took a few minutes for my buddy to see the elk I spotted. Since we choose to sit down low on the slope, the shooting distance was about 250 yards.
The shooting sequence felt like an eternity. Waiting for the broadside of either of the cows was comparable to sitting through the SATs. The gun was snuggled nicely in the tripod, my breathing was calm as could be in the given situation, and the scope's cross hairs were tracking the body movements of the elk. Finally a small clearing was chosen in which one the elk stood still in. With a quick GO message to my partner the trigger was squeezed. With a bit of distance between us in the elk the shot was able to seen when impacted on the elk. The body language screamed as direct hit and the heel kicked taking a few more steps forward. As it did, another opening in the aspens allowed a quick follow up shot like a rebounding puck in front of an empty hockey net. I took it. The elk dropped in it's tracks.
We did it! A self guided hunt in the Colorado mountains for elk. Truly a high end goal for me in my hunting career completed. The excitement inside me could help but vibrate out of body, a few fist pumps in the air and huge man hug to my hunting partner and friend. The next five hours would be spent hauling the meat out of the valley and that story worth reading as I get to lay hands on my big brown prize.
Here are some of the views from the where the shot was taken:
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