Thanks for all the comments guys. It was a great trip despite the rain. We learned a lot! for the next trip. #1 - Cut the weight of what we pack in. Our packs were way too heavy and it took its toll on the way in going up some very steep terrain.
We saw and heard elk, but no super close encounters.
I was pleased that my elk bugling was actually better than I thought. I called in 2 hunters thinking I was an elk and they both said I was pretty convincing.
Had a real neat encounter with a gentleman who was 71 years old (he was one of the hunters we called in) He spends the entire month bivied out on the mountain every year. He said he had been doing it the last 17 years. He was a wirey raw boned guy and you could tell tough as nails. He got talking to us and was asking how many times we had done a pack-in trip like this - we told him it was our first time. He looked at us in amazement and said "what the heck are you doing up here - all the years I've been coming here, this is the first time I've ever seen anyone venture to the top of the talus" He may have just been being nice, but he said he was impressed, and that we had our act together for the first time.
He gave us a ton of information on the mountain and gave contact information to the nearest rancher who could help us pack out with horses if we got one in real deep - just drop his name. He said he would really like to stay in touch with us and we exchanged email addresses. He was super kind and freely gave us info and direction where to go.
We think we may have been there just a touch too early, the bulls just started talking the last 1-2 days. We got some replies, but they were usually far on another ridge. Another part of our game plan we may adjust for next time.
It was neat to share the experience with my brother, and it was interesting how we both said we would do it again even though the weather and hunting was not exactly what one would hope for. It was a great adventure!
Topic: Another WET Colorado Elk Hunt Story (Read 1279 times)
