So, here it is. The long awaited trip to Colorado in search of a giant elk has finally happened. Here are some details and thoughts on that experience.
First off, a huge "thank you" to my father-in-law who took me on this hunt. It was great to share that hunt and experience, and you couldn't have asked for a better more scenic location to be.
We arrived on Tuesday afternoon and got settled into the ranch (
Smith Rancho in Hayden, CO). We stayed in a bunkhouse attached to a garage-like space with lunging area, freezer room, and such in it. It actually doubled as a wintertime cleaning station! Next door to that bunkhouse was a nicer, smaller cabin for 2 or 3 people to sleep in.
It wasn't too bad at all, and the main ranch house where all the cooking and common area for watching TV and relaxing was had some real sweet mounts in it.
First day and a half, we hunted hard in the morning and had many shot opportunities on 4x4 and small 5x5 bulls. Several times we were completely surrounded by elk, and the bugling was absolutely insane. They were loud and it was truly exciting to be in the middle of it. More than a few times were we within 20 yards of bulls or cows. On the second evening, we watched over a valley with a creek running through the middle in hopes of catching some big bulls coming down for an evening drink.
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| Part of the the valley (elk was shot WAYYYY left of this location) |
We watched from a trail road for an hour and a half and saw a herd of elk enter a plateau at the top of the mountain across the valley in front of us. We could hear heavy bugling, so we decided to cross the valley and try to catch them coming down in hopes of getting on a bull that was managing that herd. As we were making our stalk across the valley, I spotted 2 black bears that were heading right for us, but hadn't picked up our scent! They got within 30 yards before bolting. We made it to a head of trees below the plateau when we heard an elk bugle behind us! We figured a bull had already run to the creek down the valley. So, we started to position ourselves to take that elk when it returned back up to the plateau. All of a sudden, another bull bugled above us! [Now things were happening fast]. Our guide, named Tad, and I quickly hatched a plan to attempt a double. I would shoot the bull that was herding the cows down the valley, and dad would take my gun and get the bull that was at the creek as it ran back up. In less than 30 seconds, all of that unfolded and it was a success! It was a rush I will never forget!
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| My 6x6 Bull Elk |
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| Dad and I with my elk |
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| Dads 6x6 bull elk |
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