Got back Sat night from nine glorious days in the mountains. We set up our hunting camp in the Tarryall Range at about 10,000 ft. We all had buck tags and I had a bull tag. We hunted all over that range for the first two days and saw nothing, plenty of sign. Noon on the third day we were sitting in camp for lunch and heard a bugle behind camp. They asked if my pan was primed, and as I creeped over to my rifle, a bull and at least two cows came crashing out of the woods. By the time I was able to get my rifle and try to get a clear shot.. phffft they were gone up the slope. We were between them and their water. Elk are impressive animals. About every other night they bugled all around us. I tried to establish their pattern. I was never able to really find them but each morning there was plenty of fresh sign. I guess they were a little more woods wise then I was LOL LOL. Kathleen got a shot off at a real nice buck. She had a clean miss, but she did real good considering that was only the second time in her life that she shot at a live animal. And it was her very first time shooting at a big game animal with a BP rifle. She handled herself like a veteran. And she was the only one that got a shot. Saw one huge bull crossing the road in front off us and a small herd of cows on a slope about 1500 yrds as the crow flies. About 4 miles by terrain and just so that it was impossible to stalk them even if there was a bull with them. I did shoot a grouse(in season)with a nice head shot. Only took one seeing as how I have never tasted one.
I'm telling you what, we trekked and trekked all over that range. I walked some cliff faces that made me weak of heart. At 12,000 ft on a precipe it was like you were on the top of the world. The spectacular veiws alone, made the trip worth it. Nine days of no traffic, phones or real life nonsense made it hard to come back. I'm 52 this year and I humped all over those mountains with a 25 lb backpack and a ten lb rifle with the only ill effects was that I was dead tired at the end of the day. I have to thank God that I manage to stay in decent enough shape to be able to play up there. I would have liked to have been able to share this trip with many of you folks.
I'm telling you what, we trekked and trekked all over that range. I walked some cliff faces that made me weak of heart. At 12,000 ft on a precipe it was like you were on the top of the world. The spectacular veiws alone, made the trip worth it. Nine days of no traffic, phones or real life nonsense made it hard to come back. I'm 52 this year and I humped all over those mountains with a 25 lb backpack and a ten lb rifle with the only ill effects was that I was dead tired at the end of the day. I have to thank God that I manage to stay in decent enough shape to be able to play up there. I would have liked to have been able to share this trip with many of you folks.
