Post by Aggie on Nov 1, 2003 8:29:57 GMT -5
WOOHOO!!!! Man oh man what a trip. My butt thinks my legs are cut off from all the driving but it was sure worth it. The weather left a bit to be desired at first, it was in the low 70's in the mountains even.
We drove up to my uncle's cabin last Friday and got settled in to rough it like all us hunters always do. Talk had been that they were still seein lots of elk but due to the pressure over the last 3 weeks they were very skiddish. Saturday morning we woke up to a very mild 40degree morning and went into the canyons where my uncle had seen some good herds the week before. The first turn and we spot a cow and calf that belonged to the New Mexico State Track team!!! They were movin on!!!
We drove on around and unc says,"Lets get ready and hike up this next draw, Ive always seen elk there." Talk about an understatement!! There was a herd of about 9 cows and 3 bulls. 2 spikes and a hoss of a 6X6. My first bulls I've seen in the wild and WOW what a sight they are. Made me wish I had drawn the bull tag cuz he stopped broad side for a brief second at about 100yds, then he too joined the track squad.
Sunday we woke to snow and 25 degrees and got to see more of the track team. Nothing presenting a shot worth taking really, at least not one I felt comfortable with anyway. We decided to move to a little "honey hole" one of the ranchers told us about on Monday. Tons of elk sign got my heart pumpin but we didnt see anything that morning. At lunch I decided to hike back up one more time and camp out for the afternoon. Not 15 minutes up the mountain after my uncle dropped me off, there she stood in the road. The wind blowing straight down the hill from her to me, she didnt have a clue!!! I even had time to sit down and get comfortable on the old loggin road and bam, she turns her butt to me.
I didnt have the stomach or nerve to take a "Texas Heart Shot" so I waited very impatiently, trying to catch my breath. The wind shifted and I just knew I was busted, she looked and raised her ole nose high in the air but lucky for me she turned to face me.
I took a deep breath and pulled the trigger, she literally fell off the loggin road on the down hill side. I could hear the timber crashin and I thought oh good grief, how did I miss!!.
My other uncle from Alaska was hunting with me and we went up to find blood, thank goodness, and the track was on. Let me tell ya, this short lil flatlander was havin a helluva time goin up and down that d**n draw til we spotted that big ole clump of elk just down the draw a bit to our left.
I was so relieved to find her but then thought about that hike down and how to get her out of there since she didnt fall right on the road like I had planned for months she would!! The jeep, a winch, and about 2 hours later we had elk hangin in camp!!!
We spent the remaining days trying to find my uncle his elk, I'll post that story soon, it was a great time and wild adventure even though we didnt get him one.
Will try and get the pics uploaded today so I can post those too.
Ok I lied, here's the pic!!! ;D
We drove up to my uncle's cabin last Friday and got settled in to rough it like all us hunters always do. Talk had been that they were still seein lots of elk but due to the pressure over the last 3 weeks they were very skiddish. Saturday morning we woke up to a very mild 40degree morning and went into the canyons where my uncle had seen some good herds the week before. The first turn and we spot a cow and calf that belonged to the New Mexico State Track team!!! They were movin on!!!
We drove on around and unc says,"Lets get ready and hike up this next draw, Ive always seen elk there." Talk about an understatement!! There was a herd of about 9 cows and 3 bulls. 2 spikes and a hoss of a 6X6. My first bulls I've seen in the wild and WOW what a sight they are. Made me wish I had drawn the bull tag cuz he stopped broad side for a brief second at about 100yds, then he too joined the track squad.
Sunday we woke to snow and 25 degrees and got to see more of the track team. Nothing presenting a shot worth taking really, at least not one I felt comfortable with anyway. We decided to move to a little "honey hole" one of the ranchers told us about on Monday. Tons of elk sign got my heart pumpin but we didnt see anything that morning. At lunch I decided to hike back up one more time and camp out for the afternoon. Not 15 minutes up the mountain after my uncle dropped me off, there she stood in the road. The wind blowing straight down the hill from her to me, she didnt have a clue!!! I even had time to sit down and get comfortable on the old loggin road and bam, she turns her butt to me.
I didnt have the stomach or nerve to take a "Texas Heart Shot" so I waited very impatiently, trying to catch my breath. The wind shifted and I just knew I was busted, she looked and raised her ole nose high in the air but lucky for me she turned to face me.
I took a deep breath and pulled the trigger, she literally fell off the loggin road on the down hill side. I could hear the timber crashin and I thought oh good grief, how did I miss!!.
My other uncle from Alaska was hunting with me and we went up to find blood, thank goodness, and the track was on. Let me tell ya, this short lil flatlander was havin a helluva time goin up and down that d**n draw til we spotted that big ole clump of elk just down the draw a bit to our left.
I was so relieved to find her but then thought about that hike down and how to get her out of there since she didnt fall right on the road like I had planned for months she would!! The jeep, a winch, and about 2 hours later we had elk hangin in camp!!!
We spent the remaining days trying to find my uncle his elk, I'll post that story soon, it was a great time and wild adventure even though we didnt get him one.
Will try and get the pics uploaded today so I can post those too.
Ok I lied, here's the pic!!! ;D
;D
