Trad Gang
Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: Shaun on September 14, 2008, 12:13:00 PM
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"I spend two weeks doing this and 50 weeks preparing to do it again," John told me.
I am in two states of mind as penning of this tale begins...
-the first is a profound sense of gratitude for the invite to participate in another grand adventure and memories that were added to my retirement fund.
-the second is a new understanding of the word tired. I have done my best to keep up with a pair of 50ish mountain men in steep country, ridden horses for 30 miles and camped at the altitude that airliners descend to when they loose cabin pressure.
What a week! The short version is three flat landers hunt CO public ground (8% archery success), one shot and meat in the cooler. The fact that the shot was taken with a training bow is mitigated by the 8 yard range, mechanical malfunction that put the arrow a full foot from the intended mark, a shaft guided by the Great Spirit and most of all a new convert to traditional archery as a result.
I have chores to do and maybe some rest but for now I will leave you with the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega. I will return to fill in the whole tale with lots of pictures and I am sure that my new blood brothers John and Eric will chime in as they catch up.
Starting up from the trail head
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08004.jpg)
Last morning in "Happy Valley"
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08128.jpg)
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Love that last pic!!
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Awesome!
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Dang, Shaun, cannot wait for the inbetween! :campfire: :coffee:
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what a great "teaser"
Can wait for the story, Shaun
:campfire:
Kevin
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That last pic is amazing!!!!!!
I am definatly looking forward to the rest!!!!!
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glade you guys got back safe!
by the sounds you had a great time wish i could have been there with you.
looking forward to the stories and more pics
:thumbsup: :campfire:
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That sure looks like a 6x6 rack in the lower left corner of the picture. This is going to be a great story.
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WOW, WOW that is all I can say what beauty. Look forward to the rest of the story. Flint
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Great pic's,,,can not wait to hear the rest of the story.
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:campfire: :coffee: :coffee:
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Shaun,
You can't be doing anything outside...I pulled in there at 2am Friday to set some stands and it has been pouring rain since then...let's see more pics!
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Hey Gang, I'm back.
I was the weak link in camp this trip and is was humbling to teeter on the edge of cardiac seizure with gasping breath while John and Eric calmly chatted and waited for me to recover enough to climb another 20 yards of 45 degree hillside. But I got used to it and got better as the week progressed. I do have a skill that I could lend and it is butchering. Well, I volunteered to handle the meat and am pleased to report that it only took 5 hours to process, vacuum seal and label the prime cuts and trim all the grindings. Our bounty is now in the freezer awaiting distribution.
Back to the story for a bit till the tiredness overcomes the caffeine.
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Shaun ,can't wait !! Type faster,I leave soon for hopefully some of the same!!
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I managed to keep my journal in a timely fashion so this can go in more or less chronological order.
The pregame story is that the Sherpa attended the Texas Sweat last winter and we met. I was pleasantly surprised in April to get an offer to join his annual pilgrimage to elk country when one of his regular partners canceled. Took me about 15 seconds to respond in the affirmative.
A couple visits to John's mini ranch in the Des Moines area to ride a bit - a good idea if you don't have much time in the saddle - and to plan the trip laid the groundwork. It was decided that I would drive out John's car and meet him at the trail head when he came down from week one spent with his son Jacob. Jacob would then drive the car home and get back to school leaving me to ride back with the truck and horses after the hunt.
Friday Sept 5th.
Long but uneventful drive to Denver and a night in a motel. The clouds prevented me seeing the looming Rockies that usually emerge from western horizon on the last leg of the trip.
Saturday Sept 6th.
Swing by DIA to pick up Eric Neilson from his early flight up from Austin. Eric is a neighbor and long time hunting partner of John's who has recently moved to Texas.
Finally turning west again the first view of the Continental Divide is for me always a rush, with just a hint of white on the highest peaks and a visible tree line that marks the limit of anything like spring and summer weather.
Eric knew the way to the town and trial head so he drove and I got to sight see up through the passes west to elk country. A note that one condition of joining the hunt was that good elk spots are like good places to pick morel mushrooms. Though the land we hunted is public, I was asked to keep the exact location of our adventure private. Fair warning, names used for landmarks in this tale will all be fictitious.
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John called to report he and Jacob had come down Friday night to clean up and get a bed and served meal. They would meet us at the horses.
We arrived at the nearest town and bought over the counter archery elk tags and misc small game and fishing permits. All legal and squared away we proceeded to the trial head parking lot.
Lamas, mules and back to horses, John has a passion for training stock and it culminates in elk camp pack trips. He had brought a string of seven quarter horses and they were dressed and ready for work soon after we parked.
The first week report was lots of action with no shots taken. Jacob's first week of elk hunting had included a less than 10 yard encounter with a bull that locked eye-to-eye and froze him in place unable draw. John described the bull as "the biggest bull in Colorado." They both seemed entirely pleased with their week of hunting and we had high hopes for the week to come.
John in his element getting the pack string set up as Eric watches
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08001.jpg)
Son Jacob helping out and hanging around till we are set up and on the trail
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08002.jpg)
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We saddled up and made it a few hundred yards before Fritz had a minor blow up with resulting rodeo to get the cobwebs cleared and remind us that riding horses is not like driving a car. With some delay to tighten straps and untangle the pack string we were off again and it was smooth sailing the rest of the way to camp.
The trail starts off civilized (see first photo) and becomes more remote, narrower and sometimes switch back steep as we climbed towards camp. I was riding right to left when I took this picture of John headed back left to right on a steep section
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08012.jpg)
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Too cool! :thumbsup:
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If you live in Iowa and hunt out west, you scout with maps. John had shown me the topo's he used and the spot he planned to camp when I visited his home. No amount of squiggly lined paper maps or even Google Earth fly bys can prepare one for the first glimpse of the special valley he had chosen for base.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08015.jpg)
And what a treat to hop off my horse (OK, belly flop on the saddle and ease to the ground to stand in place feeling like I was about to take my first baby step again after almost 60 years) and see camp all set up and the promise of a place to sleep later.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08035.jpg)
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We unpacked the horses, stacked saddles, turned the stock loose to graze, stowed our kits and unpacked the bows. With a few hours of daylight left we headed afield. Our first evening of elk hunting we worked the left edge of this valley paralleling Lightning Bolt Creek through the timber and stopping to set up and call every few hundred yards. They had had elk encounters right here in the valley last week and we were too done in to climb anyway.
Here's the method. Eric and I would move out 50 yards ahead and spread out on point. John would then call several quiet estrus cow whines, wait a few minutes and then make one non challenging high bugle, then another wait and a few more more plaintive cow calls. If nothing happened after another few minutes, we move forward.
We worked this slope for a couple hours and returned to camp for the first of our nightly meals in the pyramid tent where the Sherpa chefed and slept and then off to bed early. My field notes read, "Short hunt along the creek bottom then to bed real tired." HAH! I was to learn that you can get a lot more tired than that!
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We were up in the dark and headed up the west wall at first shooting light. Less than 100 yards of up and I was dying. There is only a hint of oxygen at this altitude and my sedentary summer of driving and working on the computer for employment was all too evident. No one argued when John said this was as high was we went for the morning hunt and we mirrored the evening hunt on this other side valley and part way up.
Back to camp for a hardy feed mid morning and plans for the evening attack. John and Jacob had found a couple shelf formations with wallows half way up this west slope last week with lots of sign and the big bull encounter. He said he wished they could hunt it later but the stock needed attention well before dark and they had always come down early.
It was another picture perfect weather day and the rocky east wall of the canyon reflected ambient light through the valley floor long before the sun peaked over. Our camp was well placed against this east side protected by the spruce and pines.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08038.jpg)
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That is some BEAUTIFUL country!
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I generously offered to hang near camp and take care of the horses to allow John and Eric to try the high shelf hunt later into the day (read: I was weak as an infant and perfectly happy to stay down low to allow my aching body to try to get in tune with the altitude). So the mountain men strode up an elk path that literally went straight up the mountain. John said that he had made it to this shelf in 38 minutes. Try this: go to the gym and get on the stair stepper. Set it to the highest setting and go for 38 minutes. Oh yeah, hold your breath while you do it to simulate the altitude of 10,000 feet.
Off they went and I had the valley to myself. Well fed and rested my eye drifted to the creek as I put together my flyrod.
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The undisturbed elk live where its hard for people to go, so do the undisturbed fish. This small crystal clear brook looked like Cutthroat heaven to me and John said they had seen lots of fish but could not get them to cooperate last week.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08039.jpg)
Light weight flyrod, fresh tippet and a bead head nymph and I was ready. A quick scout found the motherload and the game was on.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08045.jpg)
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I worked this hole then found a couple singles in other holes and put together breakfast for tomorrow. Oh yeah, come to Pappa... not bow hunting but a part of the high county experience and about as traditional as it gets.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08036.jpg)
After cleaning my catch I was feeling pretty recovered and spent the rest of the afternoon hunting and scouting the low valley walls and melting the rest of the way into the ecosystem and hunter mode. Ah, I live for this stuff!
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SWEET :thumbsup:
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Horses. No way to do this and get your elk out without stock and John's horses are fine ones. Tank, Sylvester, Fritz, Blue, Cowboy, Peppe, and my special friend and mount for the week Smoke. I let them off the high line mid afternoon and easily caught them and hooked em up towards dusk. They were in heaven too with belly deep grass, fresh running water and mountains for a corral.
Summer is very short up here with snow likely until July 4th and due again any time now in early September. There are some special wildflowers in the high meadows and I took some time to stop and smell the roses.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08048.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08050.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08049.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08053.jpg)
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You are bringing back some wonderful and some painful memories of my trips to Colorado! This is almost as good as being there. Thanks and keep it coming. I have to live vicariously now and your story is stimulating my imagination.
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Great pics and story. Thanks for sharing.
Rob
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Meanwhile Eric and John sat some active wallows 900 feet above me and used their cow calls sparingly throughout the afternoon. Mid afternoon Eric had a bull respond and come to a higher rock shelf 50 feet up and 90 yards away from his hide out. The bull eyed Eric's pop up photo decoy that was being blasted about by high mountain winds and was not convinced. He faded away without ever approaching bow range.
They met at about 5 PM and went on up to the top another 900 feet. On the way they got a bull to respond from his bedding area but he gathered his cows and moved away. They were unable to catch up enough to force him to challenge and they watched him drift over the next saddle to safety around 6:30. A straight down hill march brought them back to camp an hour later and we ate and turned in soon after the moon lit the peaks.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08057.jpg)
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Great read and pictures lets hear some more!!! :thumbsup:
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You are fulfilling my expectations so far. Great pics and great story telling.
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Great photos,it's a wonderful place you guys chose to hunt.
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Monday Sept 8th
We slept in. That is I was out till 7 which is late for me and Eric staggered out a couple hours later. I felt a little less pain seeing the other two moving a little stiffer this morning after their climb.
We headed up around 10 and made it to the half way wallows around 11. "There are two steep sections on the way up" said John. I thought I had already seen steep, but I was wrong. We're talking the kind of steep where you go twenty steps and then rest, just make it to that flat rock, or to that next tree.
I sat the wallow till 5 where the giant bull had stared down Jacob, but he did not return, though some elk had muddied the waters and moved some indicator sticks John had placed.
We met at the predetermined 5PM and John and Eric headed on up top while I sat the second wallow where Eric had seen the bull the afternoon before on the rock ledge in the background here
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08058.jpg)
A closer look at the feedlot elk prints around this seep.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08063.jpg)
All the company I had was the ever present chatterboxes that would roust me from my sun soaked lounging if we had company.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08064.jpg)
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The mountain men returned around 7 reporting no new elk sign on top and lots of 200 pound rocks pried up and for ant licking by a bruin that had left a scat pile of impressive proportion.
Back to the bottom and our discussion (around supper since going down is still hard work) came to the consensus that the elk had moved and we needed to let this area cool off for a couple days. Out came the maps and John showed us "plan B". One point nine miles as the crow (raven up here) flies away was a high mountain lake and some likely elk country. To get there we would have to ride a mile back the trail and take a fork to Pumpkin Lake. The next half mile takes two miles of switch back trail to climb to this plateau. We're talking steep again with a marginal trail and plenty of obstacles like downed trees that require going around off the trail, rock faces where the horses slip and cascading small streams to cross. Good thing John trains his horses for these challenges.
Tuesday Sept 9th.
I can really sleep when the tired is on me and the next thing I knew some maniac was pounding a spoon against a pan in the tent next door and my watch said O dark hundred.
Its not all climb till you drop and hunt elk hard. There was a herd of camp deer hanging around. Colorado started managing the mule deer better and if you want a tag you have to apply early. This has reduced the pressure and some of them are acting like pre firearm specimens. These would cruise that camp and look for scraps or clean up the sweet feed we set for the horses. Here's one of those hold the camera at arm's length and take your own photo shots with a doe at about 30 feet.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08029.jpg)
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This is amazing!!! Great storytelling and awesome pics!! I am bookmarking this thread and vowing to see the rockies again next year!! Absolutely fantastic, thanks for taking us along.
Nathan
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Back to climb till you drop and hunt elk.
After some hot breakfast we saddled up the riding stock, Sylvester for John, Cowboy for Eric and my pal Smoke for me. A day off and a horse was looking like a good idea again, especially with the trip to Pumpkin Lake plateau ahead. The weather was changing and our valley was in the clouds.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08074.jpg)
It did not look like a lot of topographic lines to cross, but each one represents 200 feet of elevation. We had a couple or three down and a half dozen up to get to the new spot. Its kinda hard work riding a horse, but faster and easier by far than walking. And what a spot we found at the new area! John can really read a lot into those maps.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08071.jpg)
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We set ambush spots around this clearing in the hopes that a bull would get hot and bothered tending his bedded herd and come cool off mid afternoon. No luck but the time passed until the evening elk moving time and we set off again to explore.
On the map there was a small saddle not far away and then a stream cut of a few hundred feet deep and another likely plateau on the other side of this. When we got to the saddle we found what looked like a giant set of cricket wickets beat by a mad batter. There were three four inch thick pines a foot apart and some bull had freshly raked them to warn that this was his cross roads.
We inspected the stream cut and it looked steep and also like a possible cool north slope for bedding. We started around the long way staying on the same elevation but stopped to rest and enjoy the virgin pine timber stand. As we rested and talked we decided to hang in place till 5 and then go back to the saddle and call from there. We wanted to stay fairly close to the horses and plan our evening to head down in a timely fashion to avoid the treacherous trail in the dark. And, there was just something special feeling about that saddle and the three pine rub, a mojo if you will.
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Oooops, review of field notes and I have to back up to this morning. After breakfast we hunted down the valley stream - not up as before. We were back out along the main trail and not long after we started moving and setting up there was an answering bugle! It did not sound real mad, but within moments I caught a glimpse of the bull charging in! He angled well ahead of me and towards Eric. Off to my side I heard more elk moving and I hurried into position to be ready for these.
I saw two cows go by - just flashes between the trees. I'm no trophy hunter and cow was on my list. There! 25 yards and peaking around a thin twig bush. As the bow came up I caught a hint of more than ears on top. Freezing I studied the elk. I tried to make the eight inch spike antlers go away, but they stayed there. Cows are legal, calves are legal, bulls with at least one four point antler or a five inch brow tine are legal, but in this Colorado zone - no spike bulls. He looked me over with a dumb as a box of rocks look. Your lucky day Mr Spike.
Meanwhile the herd bull had managed to get down wind without showing enough to shoot at and Eric and John followed a ways but to no avail. He moved away down valley bugling his anger back at them. We were between him and his cows as they had headed up stream past me. We set ambush for most of an hour to see if he'd double back to try to rejoin the herd but no.
Now its back to the saddle horses, up to Pumpkin Lake and back to the special mojo saddle for the evening hunt.
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We quietly moved back to the saddle. Eric faded over towards the creek cut and John and I spread out on the wallow slope side of the saddle. At the appointed hour John let go a long sweet bugle call. Nothing. "Lets wait a half hour and try it again", he said.
5:30 slowly came around and he let go another high note. Almost immediately there was a clattering of elk hooves on loose rock coming up toward John and I. We put tension on the string and peered to the south towards the sounds. Eric let out a plaintive cow call to keep things moving and was rewarded with a huge angry snarling challenge bugle from his side. It was the kind that makes your neck hair stand on end. This bull was mad and someone was about to get a good thrashing!
The hoof noise on our side retreated and I could hear clattering of the approaching bull up Eric's slope. John moved a few steps that way and set to draw his bow. His target appeared 30 yards (in his range) and his Shrew string started back with a heavy carbon arrow pushing a sharp Stos broad head... There was no need to count horn points, this was a brute! Where was Eric?
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great story, Makes me wish I didn't have to pay for a new mortage, otherwise I wouldn't have to work in Asia and completly miss the archery season> Somehow the rockies look so much better than Asia rite now!!!!!!
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A little over a week ago I was at my local sport shop shooting the indoor range with my newly made take down yew bow. A special bow made just for this western hunt and made to pack in a hard tube for horse back transport. The new archery tech kid from the nearby counter had come back to shoot his wheely thing and he was very interested in my bow. After admiring my bow profusely and admitting I was shooting well enough to kill any deer at the 20 yard range he asked if I would try his compound. He was so polite and seemed like a likely convert some day, so I obliged. It had been two or three years since I'd set one of these things off and I was impressed with the improvement they've made since my 1979 Jennings round wheel was produced. I was easily able to put each arrow into the five spot target, though I could not cut the X's as he did. Standing on carpet with my feet spread and my eye to the peep I could shoot a little more accurately than with my 60# long bow, but... I had to be very careful, slow and deliberate, the arrow delicately balanced on a device that raised it towards the end of the draw and dropped away as I pulled the hair trigger release. No way I'd want that with a mad bull charging me on a steep slope from an unknown angle at point blank range.
Well, Eric had done everything right. He'd moved when he heard the bull scream. He placed himself with a solid back drop of brush to break up his outline (and blocking him from John's view), drawn his complex wheely arrow launcher before the bull came over the rise, unlike Jacob a the week before who had waited till he saw antlers coming and was caught too late. Now he stood at full draw with just eight yards separating him from an angry bull that had stopped to look for his rival. Too close, all the pins were on the chest. He tried to pick a spot just off center of the sternum and let fly.
I'm not at all sure I would take this frontal "gusher" shot with a bow, but he and John were prepared to take it and do what had to be done afterward. He's not sure what happened, what went wrong with this much too complicated device. Did the arrow fall off the delicate elevating prongs? Did the bull duck his head to turn out of the limited peep sight view? Whatever it was he missed by a foot at eight yards!
He was greatly dejected to see the arrow protruding from the bull's neck just below the head. Six inches of plastic vained carbon light weight arrow waving as the bull turned and ran. I did not see it or hear the shot, but I heard the unmistakable high speed retreat of hooves. A mad rush back down the creek drainage and no crash of downed game after the first burst, but an ongoing clattering off into the distance.
John hurried that way and called for me to join them.
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Shaun,,,awesome story and great pic's. Keep it coming. :campfire: :archer: :coffee:
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Eric has put in eight seasons of this mountain hunting without taking an elk. He told me of a release failure that spooked a slam dunk shot, of failing to take into account the forward motion of a walking bull on a long shot, something we do intuitively with a stick bow when we can see the whole picture instead of a sight picture through a peep. I could tell at once this was the last straw. I asked him, "could you have made that shot with a stick bow?" "Yes", he said.
But wait! There is blood. Not a little, not a muscle bleed, but bright arterial blood! Did the archery goddess Dianna smile on this hard hunting man? Yes! A jugular hit. And look a little farther down the blood trail - frothy blood. Did the arrow make it into the lungs, at least one lung? Yes it did.
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Moderators I hope you bear with me. This is not a totally trad bow story at this point, but I'll bet dollars to donuts that Eric will be shooting a stick the next time I see him. Why do we shoot traditional bows? Its not just the challenge, the mystique, the sense of history, the feel of our fingers on the string, the muscles of our backs at full draw and the joy of the arching arrow. Sometimes, this time, a real bow it the right tool.
Sometimes there is no right answer of what to do next. Here is an elk fatally hit, but not heart or double lung hit, not going down quickly. He will run a few hundred yards and lay down. We will find him there tomorrow morning. "When in doubt, back out." But remember that cloud shrouded valley this morning? Now its starting to rain, there is thunder in the nearby peaks. Tomorrow the bright heavy blood trail could be a memory, no path to the elk. How far will he go if pushed? Half a mile? How far is that with darkness falling and some of the toughest terrain in the US between us and him?
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John and Eric quickly decide to follow the trail. I try to keep up for a while, but I am holding them back. I tell them I will follow as I can but it soon becomes clear to me that I won't be there in time to help if they find him. I leave a note and go back to the horses. I build a small warming fire as rain and darkness descend. I comfort and calm the horses and wait for the hunters. Around 8 they return. They found him in a wallow, fading but still alive. Another arrow and he thankfully jumped out of the wallow and made it only another 30 yards before expiring. John works hard to quarter and hang the meat then they make their way back through the now very dark timber.
It seemed like a very long ride down the scary slope and back up to camp. I could see sparks from the steel horse shoes on the rocks as Smoke and I followed John on his Sylvester. We arrived around 10 and were almost too tired to eat - almost - before falling into our bags.
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Caffeine running out, tomorrow morning for the rest of the story.
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awesome stuff great story Shaun! Wow that place is amazing.
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Shaun, this is just great! Thanks so much for sharing with us!
RayMO
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Morning all. Good story thus far Shaun, thank you for all the photos and text. I couldn't tell it any better. I did not take many pictures this year but do have a few to add sometime later. I have been busier than a one armed paper hanger catching up after being gone for two weeks. I have to put out fires at work today and have a wake and internment to attend the next two days. I will try to make some additions later in the week after I edit and resize some photos.
I do have a couple ready now.
This is a steaming pile of fresh bear scat we came across above camp.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/100_0689.jpg)
I don't want to get too far ahead of you but this is a picture of Eric caping the head back at camp. Perfect 6x6 bull.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/ericboning.jpg)
Picture of Shaun in the camp barcalounger.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/barcalounger.jpg)
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Great stuff guys! Thanks so much for taking us along.
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One of the best stories I have ever read, and it came with new wallpaper, too! Shaun, you were born for the keyboard, your photography is splendid, and this adventure is being snarfed up like hors d'oeuvres by a starving Wall Street victim. This has all the elements of a Killdeer dream, and I never want to wake up.
Thank you!
Killdeer :notworthy:
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I started to read this but I think I'll wait till after chores tonight so I can read it all in one sitting. Great stuff so far though!
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Wednesday Sept 10th
Meat day. The elk was down and quartered but still a long way from in hand.
When I awoke, I lay there telling myself that there was work to be done. Jimmeny Cricket on one shoulder telling me to get up and get going, the little Devil on the other telling me it's not your problem, go back to sleep. Common sense finally overcame self pity and I was up.
We ate and planned the retrieve on the map. It looked like there was a chance we could get a couple pack horses through the timber to a point down hill from the elk. This was only a theory since even with Eric's GPS mark there was no way to be sure because of scale just where the elk was on the map. Plus a map does not tell the conditions on the ground, there could be boulder fields, dead falls, and many other impassible barriers.
We saddled up our steeds again and took Tank and Blue along for packers. The trail up to Pumpkin Lake was becoming familiar now. We planned to ride up the clearing in the previous picture and leave the riding horses, then see how close we could get the packers on lead and tie them while we retrieved the meat. Good plan.
All went well up to the point of departure from the pack horses. We managed to get them in as far as a point near the creek but still a steep climb down to the water and then we headed down and up to look for the elk. There were no pictures taken today, we were in pure work mode - more photo's later.
Up the other side we went, and up, and up. We were approaching from a different direction since the wounded elk had taken a torturous route the night before. The good news is we scouted some great country. The bad news is we did not get to the elk. We climbed until even John and Eric were done in completely. We were so tired that we were teetering on cranky and unreasonable. But we persevered. Too tired to go much further we stopped and talked it over. The elk was either down and up one small valley to the north or back between us and the horses. Reason said on north, the GPS said back. We only had energy to do one and we chose the GPS.
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Absolutely glorious pictures! Thank you for sharing the photographs and the story!
Claudia
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It was still a tough route, but what a relief to come on the tiny hanging valley wherein lay the prize undisturbed and waiting. It took a couple hours to recover from our search and to finish boning the quarters and collecting the trophy head. We packed up loads and followed the little stream down from the valley. This was the little cut that we had hoped to find and follow to the elk earlier but it turned out we had just missed it where we descended to larger creek valley on our way in.
When we arrived at the bottom it looked like maybe the horses could be brought around to this point and an uphill meat carry could be avoided per our original plan. I collapsed and waited while John and Eric went to find the packers and see if they could be brought back to this point. We were running late again and even if the horses could be brought around it looked like another night ride down. Another great relief when I heard the horses whinny to the approaching wranglers and they made it back to the stream bed with our helpers.
I was rested and we all made one more trip up the hill and back with the final load of elk. We transferred meat to the horses and found our way back to the riding horses with a few minutes of daylight left.
Horses can be fussy about blood and it took quite a while to find a equitable string set up for easy decent. John's mount Sylvester wanted to do a parade side prance to keep an eye on the meat behind him. This would be humorous on a wide trail with flat ground, but not so funny on a dangerous switchback mountain trail. It was a circus for about half way down, but we got it sorted out and made the bottom half of the decent in the dark again. At the bottom we left the head which was hard to keep properly rigged and we were afraid the rodeo antics might lead to breakage. Sans the head the last mile went smoothly and we made it back to camp at 9. Now I finally knew what tired really was!
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Thursday Sept 11th
You could guess it was a slow morning today. After a nice breakfast John and Eric mounted up to head back the mile and pick up the antlers. Eric rode Peppe who was too small for John or I and they took Fritz who was well rested. It turns out that Fritz is oblivious to the smell of elk blood and he was perfectly happy to be the trophy horse.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08079.jpg)
Pleased as I'd been to get back to Smoke the evening before and get a ride down the mountain, I was just as pleased to give him and myself a day off from riding, so I did not go. It was not that long before a very pleased Eric came into view with his trophy.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08085.jpg)
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We planned to lounge and hunt a little today and head out tomorrow. This was a day early but we had meat and we had a sense of completion. Tranquility rested on Happy Valley as we rested and watched out friends the camp deer. A fuzzy fork horn buck had joined the does and he was just as fearless.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08105.jpg)
The stock was tired too and they grazed in peaceful harmony with the visiting deer.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08107.jpg)
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Eric worked on his trophy and John fixed us canned ravioli for lunch. Hunger is the best cook and this simple meal really hit the spot.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08116.jpg)
John has said he thought this was 300 inch bull. Nice even six point and moderate mass. He broke out a tape and called the numbers out for me to write in my notebook. Very unofficial green score was 310.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08121.jpg)
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I took my flyrod afield again and caught a couple more slightly larger cutthroat trout but not wanting to deplete the resource and having no need for more food, they went back right after pictures. Cutthroat can be distinguished by more spots near the tail and a red orange slash of color at the throat.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08119.jpg)
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Shaun, Just a Great Read! See if you can keep this one going as long as the Bear Quest.
John, you are certainly one impressive wrangler...I already know you're one impressive hunter. Finally, Congrats to Eric...Doc
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Elk and Cuts....the Rockies at their finest
Great story, Shaun :thumbsup: :campfire:
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Some of the local valley elk had returned and one had bugled all night on the west slope. We planned a casual hunt that evening and headed up to give it one more try. I took out a special arrow with Woody (Knife River) Blackwell head for luck. It had a nice walk in the woods but no elk and we headed in before dark as it started to rain again.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08122.jpg)
It was a long night of rain and when it sounded like it finally stopped it had only turned to snow. Good for the meat keeping but heck on the pack up the next morning.
Friday Sept 12th
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08125.jpg)
It took much longer to pack wet and heavy gear and to make the ride out to the trail head than it would have dry. The last leg we were pelted with pea sized hail but we finally made it down and loaded the truck.
I often work on the road and motels no longer hold much charm for me, but I was so very glad to check in and take a long hot shower. We went out for supper and tried to eat too much, but could not. We slept well and in beds!
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Love your arrows, Shaun!
Are automatic fly reels traditional? :confused: :knothead:
Killdeer :biglaugh:
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The next morning we had a nice breakfast out and fed and watered the horses. We took Eric to the airport and headed down the interstate. The trip home was smooth and we made a stop that I had wanted to make for many years. No not Cabelas, I've been there, but an iconic hunters spot
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08133.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08139.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/elk08143.jpg)
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Made it back with the meat still cold from our dry ice picked up the night before. Crashed at Chez Berger and early drive the last little bit Saturday morning.
Thanks so much John and Eric
finis
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So where is the Big Game Bar? Looks like a real landmark....
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That's Ole's somewhere in Nebraska along I-80, the are old time bill boards for miles on each approach, its been there forever. He was an avid hunter and traveled the world. There are mounts of everything you ever heard of and more.
Killy, its the same winding real, just flipped over. Thanks so much for your praise, from a wordsmith like yourself it means a lot. You and Charlie and others on this site have set the bar so high it pushes me to try harder.
If you ever get a chance to hunt with the Sherpa just remember its not a casual nick name. I lost 10 pounds in 6 days and had all I could eat during the trip. He really knows his elk and I hope to half return the favor some day.
Oh yeah, you know that first quote from John at the beginning of the story? John and Eric were scheming away about next time before the truck was a mile down the road from the trail head.
Now there are in-town deer to get after - opened on the 13th. Time to shoulder my civic duty. General deer season here in two weeks, gotta get busy.
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Great story and pics Shaun! Thanks! :clapper:
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Shaun thanks for the story it was Great!!! :archer: :clapper:
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Great hunt and story.
Shaun: how about a little more detail about that bow? Is that a sleeve-type takedown yew selfbow?
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Bob, I posted some about this bow on the Bowyers Bench forum
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=000001;p=1
and more pictures on the PA site under the bow's name - Yew Tube.
It held up well and shoots great. The take down sleeve system seems to be holding up well too. Still goes together smoothly and is solid. It is the first yew bow I've made that I am satisfied with its performance and shootability. Its unbacked and really should have rawhide to protect the soft sapwood back, but I like it plane and simple.
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Excellent! The writing and photos are more than worthy of the pages of any hunting magazine! Thank you for sharing! Mike
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Great job Shaun. I am halfway caught up and will try to add a little this evening after the wake.
Ole's Big Game Bar is in Paxton, Nebraska and has been there since at least the early 50's. Nice watering hole and they serve great burgers and steaks.
More later.
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Thanks Shaun for sharing, made me think of our last elk hunt together when you killed that nice bull at 8 steps. Your story telling is getting even better , see you in Iowa soon Happy huting.
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Outstanding story and pics!!!! Thanks for sharing them with us!!!
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Great story, great pictures
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After having my elk trip canceled this year, thanks for taking me along on your's.
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Fantastic story and photos. I am going to start getting in shape for a "maybe" elk hunt next year!
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Looks like you guys had a great time. Congrats on the elk as that is icing on the cake. Thanks for sharing.
Rob
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Most excellent, Sir!!
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A-1 story telling Shaun....and great photos. :thumbsup:
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Good job Shaun ! Kept me interested all the way. Ben
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:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
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Outstanding Shaun!!
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Gifted story teller, great story to tell, and a great read was had by me! Makes me want to drop about a hundred pounds so I can go...and maybe survive.
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Back from the funeral visitation now so to add a few details and pictures to this tale.
Last year I made three hunting trips from Iowa to the Rocky Mountains and didn't want to spend that much time behind the windshield or that much on gas this year, so I planned this year to be a two week affair, one trip for elk only. I had a long time partner back out for a trip to Hawaii with his spouse, and my younger brother took a new job and was not going to be able to go this year either. My son and other reliable partner Eric Nielsen would be coming but that left some capacity in camp and I offered the opportunity to hunt to a couple of fellows including Shaun Webb. Shaun was able to come so plans were made for an early September horseback wilderness hunt.
My number one passion for a hobby is training horses. Number two is fabricating new equipment and preparing my gear for pack trips and number three is bowhunting elk in the remote wilderness. All of these activities are intermingled and related to each other resulting in a common goal.
My son and I drove all night from Iowa to Colorado as soon as I got off of work on Friday afternoon. 14 hours later we were on the west side of the divide having breakfast and getting our tags. We were exhausted but mustered enough energy to get the horses packed and started down the trail by mid afternoon Saturday. Saturday of Labor Day weekend is not the best day to be packing in with a long string of horses. There were over 100 cars at the trailhead, most people had 2 dogs and or a baby stroller or old people shuffling along the trail for their labor day outing. It was like the Iowa State fair for people watching. Seems like most of them had never seen a horse before and didn't know to get out of our way, as we had the right of way with a loaded packstring. Nevertheless we made our way past most of them. I was shocked at the amount of traffic on the trail but that was actually a good thing because I think all that human activity serves to drive the elk farther into the high country where I like to go.
My son, Jacob and I had a good week working elk 2-3 times a day. Jacob had three very close calls with elk including a spike at 20 yards that wouldn't leave, a lead cow at 15 yards that stared him down from behind a big spruce tree that covered her vitals and a huge bull at 12 yards that busted him and left him a trembling bowl of jello unable to move. The most frustrating thing was the constantly blowing wind that blew every direction within 10 minutes time all day long. Jacob was toting a compound bow but he has confided to me that he knows he should have killed that bull if he would have been able to get off a quick shot and hadn't been fumbling with his release and peepsite while the bull was coming in. He is ready to take up the longbow as soon as deer season is over. First wheel bow conversion of the week.
I also taught him how to handle a fly rod and he was getting the hang of it pretty well, only the fish were not biting the day we took time to fish one afternoon. The week passed by quickly. I decided to go spend Friday night in town at the Motel instead of packing Jacob out on Saturday Morning. It was 7.5 miles back to the trailhead and a 15 mile round trip back to camp up that steep trail was a lot to ask of my horses. We grained them at the truck, watered them in the creek and went to town for a hot shower, sit down supper at the steakhouse and sleep in a soft bed. I had a flat tire on the way to the trailhead on our way in the first night but that small town did not have a 10 or 14 ply tire to fit my trailer so I crossed my fingers in hopes that my second spare would be sufficient if needed at all.
We met Shaun and Eric around noon and made the 7.5 mile trip back to camp in about three hours. Really good pace considering the elevation gain.
Shaun has give a very good detailed account of his week with me and I have little to add. I did skin out the bull using the St. Judes Doug Campbell Mammoth tooth Damascus skinning knife I had with me. It is a beautiful piece of work but in the future I will keep my Helle knife handy for any butchering chores. Darkness was upon on us and the rain was falling as I started to skin the bull. He had been trying to get some relief in a nearby wallow about 30 yards away and he was pretty rank. I was in a hurry and cut myself sharpening the skinning knife. It will heal but will leave a mark.
I had a great time with my Jacob, Shaun and Eric the past two weeks. I am closing in on 52 years old and don't know how many more elk hunting expeditions I will have in me so I give 100% to get the most out of each one. Getting up and down the mountain is mainly a matter of proper motivation, passion, desire and some appropriate conditioning. I am living testament that a fat old man can successfully hunt elk in the nastiest country in the USA. I have been to Idaho hunting in the Lochsa, Clearwater and Selway drainages which are quite steep. Even so I assure you there isn't any tougher country than parts of Colorado above 10,000 ft. Thats where I find the best elk hunting and I crave the remote Wilderness experience that comes with the territory. Enough said about all that, I have a few pictures to add.
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Great story and pictures!! Loved it..
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My son, Jacob. We took an afternoon to scout a promising looking high basin with a big park leading into it. No elk sign of any kind, no droppings, no rubs, no tracks, no wallows, no elk, grass was ungrazed. I was perplexed (and disappointed) as to why there were not any elk here.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/jacob.jpg)
Jacob learning the ways of the ultralite flyrod.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/flyrodder.jpg)
Here is my Remuda for this trip, highlined near my tents. In general these horses did a great job for us and I am quite proud of them. Pepe, the little golden palomino doesn't have the stamina to keep up every day and he will not be making any more mountain trips with me. He is the best handling horse I have, good for the most inexperienced rider but not quite cut out for this high country. Tank, the big blue roan on the far end is a great pack horse, and an outstanding cow horse but a little hard to catch and tough on the farrier. He will be replaced this winter with a smaller size good trail horse that can pack. Shaun got to ride Smoke, the Grulla third from the left. Tough little horse, only three years old but acts like an old hand, a real keeper for me.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/highlined.jpg)
I turn the horses loose for about 6 hours of grazing every day. They hang around camp and do not stray off which is a good trait for a mountain hunting horse to have. These horse know me as their supreme leader and stick around wherever I am. Comes with lots of use, attention and a little sweet feed daily leading up to these hunts.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/grazing.jpg)
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This is the bow tree with my snakebit super shrews and Shaun's yew takedown. I applied the limbskinz a few days before making this trip. Easy to apply, and I think look good. I hunted exclusively with the copperhead backed bow this trip and it was pretty banged up by the end of two weeks. Its going to need a new set of limb covers soon.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/bowtree.jpg)
One of my fabrication projects. This is a coat made out of Swiss army blankets. A little on the heavy side compared to US issue blankets but makes a nice heavy long wool jacket. I used elk antler for the buttons on the front and sleeves. Belt buckle and cowhide belt from the leather factory.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/blanketcoat.jpg)
Another fabrication project. I make these stirrups. I wear a size 12 boot. A hunting boot of that size does not fit into a regular riding stirrup without a high risk of hanging up if you can even get your foot into it. I made these stirrups out of 5/8 inch cold rolled steel and put a 1" ball bearing on the end so it would not dig into the horses side. They are open on one side so your foot can not get hung up. They are wide enough for a size 12 boot with an inch to spare on each side. I wrapped them in 3/8 braided nylon cord and spray painted with several coats of Rustoleum to seal them up. These stirrups swivel at the attachment to the fender and thus the fender does not ever have any twist in it. Real comfortable and safe stirrup for what I use it for. I have 4 riding saddles and they all have these stirrups.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/stirrup.jpg)
St. Jude's Doug Campbell knife draws blood, mine! Should have taken my time and been more careful. That's going to leave a mark.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/fingerslice.jpg)
Another view of the no elk high meadow park.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/noelk.jpg)
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Snow hangs on year round when you are approching 12000 ft.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/snowpatch.jpg)
Awe inspiring view across the canyon from around 11000 ft elevation.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/highcountry.jpg)
This wallow was unused when we found it. We had a bull come down the slope on the first day we sat here. He smelled us and ran up and down the mountain several times snorting and stamping like a whitetail buck before he left for good.
This is the same waterhole where Jacob had his encouter with the 360 inch class bull a couple days later. I carefully placed the sticks in the wallow in a crossed pattern on Thursday afternoon. When Eric and I returned on
Sunday morning the sticks were no where to be found and the water was thick and turbid from recent wallowing activity. Very encouraging sign. We let Shaun sit this wallow one afternoon but the elk were watering and wallowing elsewhere that day.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/wallowstick.jpg)
This was a major wallow. Jacob and Eric both had bulls come in to this wallow while they were sitting here in the afternoon, but never got close enough for a shot. This wallow has a big dry strip through the middle of it that is ground up to a powder and reeks of elk scent. They also use the mud wallow too. Interesting place at around 11000ft, and a quarter of a mile from the water hole where the big bull came in.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/11000ftwallow.jpg)
This is a big rub, again they were every where on the top third of lightning bolt mountain. It can take a big bull to make such an impact, and we have seen him. Maybe next year we can get another shot at him.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/rub.jpg)
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Here is another typical wallow at 11,500 ft. elevation. There were more wallows than I could keep track of, literally dozens of them just like this. There have to be a lot of elk to keep up with all of the rubs and wallows on this mountain top.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/smallwallow.jpg)
Taking a break by the creek. This creek seeps out of the top of the mountain just below an unnamed lake. Nearly got a blue grouse near here this evening, but he was a lucky one and flew off before I could loose an arrow.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/grousefalls.jpg)
Typical high mountain bench habitat frequented by lots of elk.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/highbench.jpg)
Near the top of lightening bolt mountain and the unnamed lake. Lots of good elk country all the way to the top.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/mtntop.jpg)
Returning to the trailhead at the end of two weeks, wet, cold and tired. What a load of fun. Wrangling and packing with horses is a dying art/skill unless you are an outfitter. It gives me a high level of satisfaction to be able to go anywhere I want, whenever I want. When the elk have been pushed off the mountain where we were hunting and action slowed we were able to saddle up, ride 3 or 4 miles and get right back into them the next day. I put in over 60 miles in the saddle in two weeks and that doesn't bother me any more than sitting at the kitchen table. Much better than trying to walk an extra 60 miles in a week on top of my regular hunting for sure.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/trailheadreturn.jpg)
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Just wondering how you are packing your bows while riding the horses. I can't stand carrying my one piece recurve while riding a horse.
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Very good story guys. Shaun, you just added another notch to the bar. I'm here watching.
:thumbsup:
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Wow. Just wow :D
Half of me wishes I could've been there with you, the other half is telling the first half to lose a lot of weight & get fit before it thinks things like that! :D :D
It looks like one of those times where getting an elk really wouldn't be that important in comparison with the rest of the journey, although I'm happy for Eric that he did ;)
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Outstanding! Glad y'all had such a great hunt.
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Nice pictures John! Do you have one of the elk on the ground or are those on Eric's camera?
Jacob, the bows were in PVC tubes broken down except for the wheelie that was in a scabbard. John carried his Shrew in his hand some of the time on short rides. I need two hands to ride so mine went back in a tube.
Thanks Charlie. Can't wait to read about the demise of your antelope and to share campfire tales again this fall.
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Congrats to you all! A fantastic trip! Loved all the pictures and a great story. Memories of a lifetime.
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Shaun,
This is the only picture I have and it suffers from some shakes on my part.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/bull.jpg)
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Lord!
Killdeer
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Thanks for the story. The country is so breath takingly beautiful. It would be a worthwhile experience just to visit it. You did a wonderful job with the story and the pictures.
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Great story guys!! Looks like a great experience with great friends.
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Awesome story and pics...This one is a classic!!
David
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Really top shelf story and photo's!!! Thanks for sharing this adventure with us!!! :thumbsup:
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Thanks for sharing, guys!
Todd
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Awe inspiring!
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Wonderful! Thanks for a GREAT read!!!
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Fun read. Beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing.
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What a fantastic hunt guys, thanks for taking us with you. :thumbsup:
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Great thread.
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I've been saving this one since I returned from my own hunt so that I could sit and savor it. Partway through now, and the rest is going to go down great with a cup of coffee in the morning! :coffee:
Great story!
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Like yours, Joe, worth reading twice! Happy Vally is my wallpaper now!
Killdeer :goldtooth:
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I read it twice myself. Great adventure fer sure!! I especially like the little Brookies or Brown trout. I'm not sure which species they were but I can taste them from here in Texas.
I'm headed out for Elk camp tomorrow morning but I'm a little afraid I won't see any elk from where I'll be-in the streams. Thanks for sharing the story Shaun. Your writing is getting really good! CK
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Thanks for sharing what might be a dream come true for me some day. Awesome.
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Wow!!! Great story and pictures guys! :thumbsup: That was well worth waiting for and is certainly one of those trips that will live on in your memories for the rest of your lives.
Horses are made for elk hunting in the Rockies, and I think make for the absolute ultimate hunting trip anywhere in the world. You are all fortunate indeed to experience it.
Thanks for bringing us along! :notworthy: :notworthy:
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Nice job on the story Shaun and John. It was a great week in the wilderness with a couple of guys that shared my passion for the outdoors. I thought I would add a couple of pictures but this is my first time on the site and I can't figure out how to insert pictures into this reply. Suggestions welcome.
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Welcome aboard Eric! This is a great site. There is a post at the top of the Pow Wow list that is stickied in place on how to post pictures. Basically you open a free Photobucket (or other) photo server account, load some photos and then paste the link here.
You earned that elk fair and square, put in the time and sent the arrow. Kudos!
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What can I say other then thank you for the trip!
Mountains, horses, elk and stickbows... dosn't get any better then that!
I like the look of that Blue/grey horse, always had a soft spot for greys and there smell too.
One of these days I'll get my act together for a hunt like this one.
AK.
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Shaun,
I am thrilled that you got to do this hunt. But I am even happier that you shared it. It was very well written and the photos are stunning. I got back from my Idaho trip last night about midnight. I have lots to share but little time to process it all. I'll try to do it as well as you have. Thank you for the inspiration.
John
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A few more pictures from Eric
Very Happy hunter!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/Happy_Hunter.jpg)
Eric and the Sherpa
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/Missouri_Sherpa_and_Eric.jpg)
How to carry an elk head
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/Packing_Out.jpg)
Me on my trusty mount Smoke
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/Shaun_and_Smoke.jpg)