well I am back. I did not harvest an elk, but I was into them everyday. I had many close encounters, but couldn't seal the deal. It was awesome country. I hunted around the Mt. Sneffels wilderness. I heard a ton of bugling at night and then early mourning and late afternoon. but the bugling at night was really cool.....kind of hard to sleep though
had cows close a few different times but my attention was on a bull that I couldn't see but was around 200 yards away that was bugling his head off and it sounded like a truck coming through the woods as he broke braches as he moved! It was awesome to hear and see these animal......just a lil different than my usual ohio whitetail
I also made the mistake of bumping a bull who came in silent to my cow calls. I was cow calling trying to bring a bull over from the next ridge. I was calling for 15 min. or so and the bull I was calling to was moving farther away so i desided to take a break and eat something. I had a big rock behind me maybe 30-40 yards that looked like a good place to sit and eat. As i stood up to walk to the rock I had a decent 5x5 walking right at me and within 30 yards.....I have no idea how I didn't hear him coming, but he was very quiet. needless to say there was a 5 second standoff of neither the bull or I moving and then he took off for the next county. but all and all it was amazing and I can't wait to go back next year. oh and I saw a boat load of mule deer and a bunch of coyotes