Elk season 8 months out

[Brian Krebs]

I walk outside- I hear them mewing at each other.

 In the day; they lay across the road from my place; and I can see them on the ridge behind me; and to my south and north.

 When I drive to the store I have to stop for them; or at least slow down; today there were about 175 in one group next to the road.
 
 I can see where I had my elk & deer blind from my bedroom; and I saw elk feeding all around where it sat.
 
 Its 14 below; and the snow squeaks when I walk on it; and that sets off mews in the distance; and this morning I heard two wolves howling from a ridge to my north.

 Although I have seen coyotes there with the help of my binoculars- I could not spot them. I have a wolf tag in my pocket.
 
  Today I also drove to a neighbors to the south of me; and 75 elk were feeding on a ridge right above his shop. The elk are getting into his alfalfa at night.

  Used to be that my neighbors ducks would quack at night; which lent a little summer noise into my ears- see the Salmon river is frozen over- so the wild ducks are not here now.
  But my neighbors ducks fell to two marauding bobcats - 6 in one night. I figure its two males figuring out their territories; as the remaining 3 ducks are silent- and the bobcats have not returned.

  The river is alive under the ice and snow; and it makes whining noises like whales singing as the temperature drops.
 
  I shoot my longbow and realize I have 6 months before I can take a shot at an elk or deer; but there is some solace in the fact bear season starts ....when the spring sun melts the road to my hunting spot.

  I never get tired of looking at the elk. Most people just drive by; some stop and take pictures; but most don't think about elk much at all.

 I do.

 I see the one long tine spike bull and wonder how it will branch out in spring and summer.
 
  And in the silence as I type; I again hear the elk mewing.....
 
    Its like bouncing a bird wing in front of a pointer puppy.

 I think elk all year around........
         in surround sound.

[Whip]

Beautiful prose Brian!    
Apparently, even when you live among them it appears there is no cure for the fever....

[Bonecracker]

Thank you Brian! The truth is powerful!
Living in Georgia my once a year forage out west is a driving force that only a few can understand! Come May I start to train seriously and not only does that have it benefits but I feel a hell of a alot better anyway!  At 50 I allways give my body a few months off to recuperate and then start the whole process over again!

[rappstar]

I've been thinking about it/working on it since I got home last year.  I've been researching another unit pretty hard, working on my setup and I've started P90X.

[twitchstick]

Last year my elk hunt was not for myself. My friend ferg had drawn a limited entry glory tag. Now becuase of this wonderful economy he had to move out of the area. Knowing how hard these hunts can be I had no problem offering my services(which are not that great) to scout hard for him. Here in Utah we have some very fine bulls but the chance to hunt them is slim,most units are spike/cow units with a few anybull units. This year the hunt was early and the bulls never really got into the rut which made things tough. Everyday he would tell me to go kill one for myself. Now I had had some opportunity on a couple of cows and spikes but I think that it is rud to kill one out of a herd  which his big bull was in. I don't think he understud the passion I have to dog a herd of elk. I was having so much fun. Just the opportunity to chase elk and learn from all that blood,sweat and tears is worth it alone. I think about elk almost every day Rehashing all the shoulda woulda coulda's. I'm always looking for new areas and rethinking old areas but I can't help myself it's and addiction. Is it bad to take the spotting scope out on the ice while fishing to watch elk? It's never to early to think about elk it keeps the fire lit.  

[rkmnt2]

Brian,
   Have ya got an extra room? I think I'm pretty sick too....need LOT'S of medicine!!!
    Don

[Michael Peschek]

I can't wait to get up in some beautiful country and hunt elk this year. Been at it the last 2 years and this year I am going to put in the work to hopefully see more animals and get close to make it all come together. Good luck everyone!

[Kid's Pastor]

I missed last year on the account of work, but I am not missing this year!!!

[buxntoms]

Heck I've been planning 2010's elk hunt while I was chasing elk during the archery season in 2009!  Elk hunting is all I think about anymore.

[PAPA BEAR]

hi....my name is larry and i'm an elkaholic   :D        :D

[buxntoms]

Hi Larry! I'm an elkoholic too!  

[Shinken]

2010 is here and I am *patiently* waiting for the spring thaw to kick in.  Got leads on 2 new areas and I am excited about doing some serious scouting in preparation for this year's elk archery season.

New bow, new arras, and new knives are waiting to be bloodied!

:~)

Shoot straight, Shinken

[Bonecracker]

I'm an elkoholic!! Have been for the last 10 years. I stumbled upon a ladys ranch/place near Rangley Co and have been in elk heaven! When you consider the long drive 30 hours from Georgia, you just cannot beat over the Co counter tags, cheap hunt prices and daily elk encounters!! I am there come September!

[Firstarrow]

My wife thinks that I would rather elk hunt than breath. She might be right, The only thing that gets in the way of a good elk hunt is......


Grouse!!!(when we are lucky enough to have a season on at the same time.)

[joe ashton]

It is not too early to start obsessing about Elk season it is now 7 months and 1 week.  I will spend tomorrow scouting... withsnow shoes for sure.

[LongbowGuy83]

Any of you elkaholics want to take a young fella under your wing and teach him the elkaholic ways? We don't have any here in NC so I know I would have to travel. All I have to offer is a strong back for helping you pack your elk out and ..yea.. thats about it.  Or at least tell me which state has the cheapest non resident tags?

[Shinken]

BRING IT ON BABY!

OH YEA!

Shoot straight, Shinken

[Gehrke145]

Come on SEPTEMBER!  Lucky I like chasing a few other critters to help me get by.

[wapitimike1]

I gotta say I'm looken foward to those screams breaking the morning silence.

[wapiti792]

Our deer season ended today but I have been tagged out sice Jan 1. I have been shooting my bow like crazy and worked up my elk arrow for next year. My wife says I am nuts to be so driven by those beasts! I am doing a half marathon and 3 triathlons this summer for the sole purpose of having my legs and lungs ready for the high country...come on SEPTEMBER I need ya!