Elk Hunt Cancelled!!

[Whip]

I just learned at the very last minute that my planned Colorado elk hunt is not going to happen.  

We were scheduled to arrive in camp on Saturday for the last week of archery season.  It seems that the drought conditions have pretty much eliminated elk from the landscape on the ranch we were to hunt.  It is a 7,000 acres private ranch, and the water holes and grasses have pretty much dried up.  A friend of mine has been there for the past week and has seen one cow the entire time.    

The rancher is a great guy though, and was good enough to offer us the option to cancel our trip this year and put the deposit toward 2013.  The way things sound, that seems to be the prudent thing to do. He has run this property his entire life and says he has never seen anything like it.  

September in the Rockies is my elixer in life.  This is going to hurt.  When I had lunch today I thought I was 48 hours away from a lunch in the mountains.  Now it's looking like it might be closer to 367 days....

As those who know me are aware, I'm not lacking for hunting opportunites, so I'll be fine, and I am more than thankful for what I have still on the schedule.  My hunting partner will miss it more though.  He wasn't able to do an out of state trip last year, and was really looking forward to this.  He is already talking about looking for last minute cancellation hunts, so who knows, we will see what develops.

[maineac]

Sorry to hear.  I always enjoy going along on your hunts,after the fact.  Good luck at finding an alternative trips.

[Keith Zimmerman]

A week seeing nothing in the mountains is better than work:)

[charles suttles]

Whip, hate to hear that, maybe next year will be the "big un"

[rraming]

Bummer, maybe the wait will really pay off somehow!

[Hot Hap]

Ouch! Hope the rest of the year makes up for this.

Hap

[Mudd]

Sounds to me like you made the best possible choice under the circumstances.

Sometimes when one window closes generally another will open... watch for it even if it's not for elk.

God bless,Mudd

[Sean B]

Wow, What a disapointment!!  It'll make next year that much more special.

[awbowman]

Sorry to hear it Joe, but it sounds like the right choice.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

its scary dry out west. Last month in Wyoming I had never seen anything like it. I can't see how anything will survive if they have another year like this past

[Bernie B.]

That's a tough one Joe.  Preparation is almost half the fun of going on a hunt.  It sounds like you've made the right decision though.  Good luck with your hunting this fall.

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

[FerretWYO]

That is hard to put down right there.  I hope we have a better year next coming.  Between the fires and lack of grass the elk are moving a lot in search of food.  

Very sorry to hear that Joe.

Y'all are kinda scaring me! I leave tomorrow to go to CO for my elk hunt. The outfitter has said nothing of conditions that would be that bad. I know it is dry and all but I sure hope we can find a few elk to chase after.

Sorry you are going to miss out on this one Whip.

Bisch

[njloco]

That really sucks, but with all the forest fires they have had this year it doesn't surprise me, I was hoping to go on a first time elk hunt this year but it was not to be, maybe next year we'll both be a little luckier.

Good luck in whatever you end up doing.

[NoCams]

Hate to hear that Whip, what a bummer. Maybe something else will pop up and be a unexpected blessing ?  

[wapiti]

I understand MAN! Smoke is thick as fog here. It has NOT been a good start to the fall hunting season. Glad you were offered the option for next year.

[Scott Teaschner]

I think Montana has left over tags yet. Might be a possibilty? I can point you in a derection if you like grizzlies ! Its good hunting though!

[Ragin Bull]

I am sorry to hear that Joe.  :(  
I also feel your pain.
After the hunt of a lifetime in South Africa ( hopefully stories to be posted over the weekend )
I also had to return a limited draw tag to the Colorado dow the day before archery season started.
It hurts bout enough to bring a grown man to tears.
I'm really missing it.

[Bill Kissner]

Sorry you are missing out this year Joe. I don't know if I could handle that after all these years. I hunt an over the counter unit and it is very tough but at least I am able to go every year. I will put up with less animals and smaller bulls just to be assured of getting to hunt.

[L. Harris]

Really sorry to hear about your elk hunt, but glad to know you have several other avenues!