Ernest Wilkinson

[Mike Brown]

Just returned from Coloradon on vacation.  Day before yesterday we were traveling through Monte Vista on our way home.  I spied an old taxidermy shop that had a sign that advertised buckskin clothes.  That was enough to make me hook a U turn and stop in for a look.

I found an 85ish year old man using a crutch.  He had broken a hip and was just out of the hospital.  He told me he had also suffered a head injury a while back.  I was unfortunately several weeks too late as he was selling out and closing up shop.  Almost of his stuff had been sold.  Only a few odds and ends remained.  His wife had made the clothing and is now in a nursing home.  He showed me a scrap book full of pictures of the really neat items she had made.  Everything from buffalo robes,  mountain men hats and full leather outfits.

I saw pictures of a younger man and found out that they were him.  He had done it all.  He trapped bears for the state.  He had had mountain lions and bears for pets.  He worked with John Denver and other stars through the years.  He had authored 5 books and wrote a nature column for a newspaper.  

I spied some old bows, arrows and a nice bow rack.  While he was more than happy to allow me to look at the equipment but those were not for sale as he has some sons that he wants to give them to.   He killed 11 deer and 6 elk with trad equipment.  He explained that those new compounds were not real archery.  He had taken up bowhunting to make the hunt more challenging and those bows were not what he thought archery is about.

He told me that he had one lion and a couple of bears to mount before he quit but I do not know if he will be phyically about to do so.  He is in pretty bad shape.

I stayed there for about an hour and bought his lastest book "Colorado, Eighty Plus Years of Outdoor Living."  I visited with him for about an hour and had to go.  I wish I had happened across this man several years back when he was younger.  

Do any of you guys know anything about this man and was he as interesting as he appears to be?

[SKITCH]

This guy is the real deal...mountain man!  Last of a breed.

Here is a little something about that book..
    http://blog.outspire.com/2011/10/11/living-treasure-ernest-wilkinson/  

Backpacker mag:
  http://business.highbeam.com/435688/article-1G1-20537717/last-grizzly-slayer-ernest-wilkinson-good-his-job-and  

And here is one from the Chicago Tribune.  Someone needs to get a camera and interview this guy in his own area....not many like him left!!

   http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-08-25/features/9908250057_1_trapper-grizzly-coyotes  


Google him under Ernest Wilson Monte Vista....

[Mike Brown]

Thanks.  I will.  I just arrive home and it will be a while before I get to read the book.

You are very correct.  Someone needs to interview him before it is too late.

[Geezer]

I grew up near Monte Vista and Ernie was one guy we all looked up to as a link to the time when Colorado was still wild and not overgrown.  I distinctly remember that he used to have a float in the local Ski Hi Stampede parade and a couple times he had a full grown mountain lion in the front of the truck with him.  The cat was big and heavy and NOT on a leash!  When you're a kid that kind of image really sticks with you.  I'm not absolutely certain but I believe Ernie was involved in either producing, filming or starring in some earlier movies - much about the same time, and a lot like the movies that senior Eastman was doing at the time.  Ernie used to have an antler garden behind the shop with elk arches much like those you see in Jackson Hole.  I visited with Ernie about being a government trapper - I think a lot of kids did then.  He also had a hand, like a couple of old-time game wardens that I have fond memories of, in convincing me to become a game warden.  This, or course was in the mid-60's when things were a bit different in Colorado.  Its been awhile but I recall there was mention of his name in David Petersen's book, "Ghost Grizzlies", since he was reputed to have killed one of the last Colorado grizzlies.  And while I was in Adams State College in Alamosa he spoke at one of my botany classes - I swear that guy could live in the wilderness just on dust alone! In-my-opinion, while there were other notable traditional archers, Ernie Wilkinson has never received his due credit. You can turn on the Outdoor Channel and see 'wanna-be's' who think they're tough, but Ernie was the mold for tough and he walked the walk! I wish him well.

[wooddamon1]

Sounds like a very interesting guy, I wish I would have known about him when I hunted near there.

[njloco]

God bless him, he had the life many of us just dream about, and he is a Trad guy.

[JJB2]

Thanks for posting this.  I just went out to **** and bought a copy of the colorado wilderness book.

[sledge]

mike-

between this 1 and the pagosa springs post, i can only say that you are a man who knows how to travel.

"it's got to be the going, not the getting there, that's good." harry chapin

thanks.

joe

[SKITCH]

I'll repeat it...someone with the gear needs to get this guy on tape.  Just telling his stories and his life. Maybe go out in the woods with him and and have him just talk and remenisce.  It would be amazing with some of his old pics, old film clips, other similar folks cut in with it.  We're losing all the originals.  This would be great stuff for future generations.

[Gen273]

I am going to buy his book ASAP. Thanks for the post!

[Mike Brown]

Thanks guys,

Yep that U-turn on my way home was a great part of the trip. I always try to eat at mom and pops and shop at old stores and meet people on my trips.

After just a few minutes speaking to the old fellow I realized that he was the real deal. Not many of these guys left. Sure would have liked to stopped at his place when it was going strong.

I wanted to take pictures but my iPhone had a fishing accident a couple of days before.

take care.
Mike.