Back from Elk Hunting

Chief Smallfire · October 30, 2001

Spent last week hunting elk in the White River National Forrest near Meeker, CO. What a good time. I'd never hunted out west before. Scouting and hunting at the same time is like taking an "Open Book" test that you hadn't studied for at all...spent a lota time in the table of contents and index looking for some answers. While the elk were there, I didn't get a shot at a legal bull.

What BIG country. I averaged 7 miles a day hiking in and out. Altitude and steepness weren't that big of a deal. I think hunting Potter Co, PA is more demanding on your legs and lungs. But the logging roads are brutal. When a road sign says "Primitive RD, 4wd recommended", it should read "Vertical and narrow, plenty of tank traps, kiss your doors goodbye".

Sorry Kansas Kid, but the worst part of the trip was...you guessed it...11 hrs of I-70 through Kansas. Cross wind from the N on the way out, from the S on the way back. And the scenery never changes.

Looking forward to going back (but not to the 30 hr ride). Might try to draw a muzzle loader tag, and hunt during the rut next time out.

LT · October 30, 2001

What a great trip! The scenery is spectacular and you are right about 70. We have a Son in Lawrence Kansas and other relitives in Co. so we have traveled it.

Kansas Kid · October 30, 2001

Quote from Chief Smallfire, posted on Oct. 30 2001,08:02

Sorry Kansas Kid, but the worst part of the trip was...you guessed it...11 hrs of I-70 through Kansas. Cross wind from the N on the way out, from the S on the way back. And the scenery never changes

No problem with that, almost everybody says the same thing. Eastern Colorado isn't that great either. LOL I-70 sure gives the impression that Kansas is all flat and looks the same, but its far from it. Most people would be really suprised if they could ever get to see something other then what they see from I-70. I've hunted alot of areas around here that would suprise people who think Kansas is flat. LOL

I have a good buddy whos dad hunts elk up in Montana almost every fall. He has been 6 times now, and has got one bull. Not huge, but any elk is a trophy from what I've heard. Hopefully someday when I get out of college I can start going after elk. If nothing else just to try it out once, see if I really like it or not. Of course I could always enter the draw for an elk permit here in Kansas, but my odds would be almost 0 of getting one.

Shaners · October 30, 2001

Did you drive the HD Chief?

My neighbor was out there too... He didn't get an Elk either and neither did any one else in their party. They did get a couple of Mule Deer though...

chevy4x4trucks · October 30, 2001

I'm not into hunting too much myself, but I guess it's like fishing, it's not whether or not you got anything, it's more about just getting out there and doing it. There will always be chances for a kill.

But, the way I see it for deer hunting, going out there with a gun is too easy, doesn't give them a chance. Now if you had to hunt them down w/ a knife and kill them w/ your bare hands, now there's a sport.

Chief Smallfire · October 30, 2001

Quote from Shaners, posted on Oct. 30 2001,3:18

Did you drive the HD Chief?

Confession time...No, we towed my travel trailer with my buddies Dodge. He's kinda funny, doesn't much care who makes the truck, so long as it's red. The HD hasn't been broken in properly yet. I was dying most of the trip wishing I wasn't such a ****, especially when we hit the Mtns west of Denver and slowed to 45 mph. Oh well, it'll haul butt next trip.

Weird thing happened on the way out. We had gotten off the interstate at Rifle, CO and begun up another incline. A lota trucks were passing us, and there were mule deer everywhere. I asked my buddy how he thought a brush guard would stand up to a collision with a deer. About that time a red Dodge, identical to the one we were in, passed us flyin. Within minutes we noticed smoke on the horizon (turned out to that guy's brakes). As we crested the hill we saw the deer he hit, and a 100 yrds later saw his truck. The brush guard was smashed back into his grill and hood. How's that for getting an answer to your question!

Frank S · October 30, 2001

Quote from chevy4x4trucks, posted on Oct. 30 2001,2:32

I'm not into hunting too much myself, but I guess it's like fishing, it's not whether or not you got anything, it's more about just getting out there and doing it. There will always be chances for a kill.

But, the way I see it for deer hunting, going out there with a gun is too easy, doesn't give them a chance. Now if you had to hunt them down w/ a knife and kill them w/ your bare hands, now there's a sport.

Hehehe

You've never tried to hunt in East Texas.

Around here,you're lucky to even see a deer,much less get a shot at one so anything you can use to your advantage had better be used.

Hogs on the other hand are about to over run the area.

Kansas Kid · October 31, 2001

I agree Frank, deer hunting with a rifle isn't always as easy as it looks. I have only hunted deer for 2 years (hunted birds for probably 7 years now) and have got 3 deer. The first year I got a small 6 point buck (had one broken off antler) on the last day of the season and 2 does last year. We have lots of deer where I hunt, and even getting a doe requires alot of effort, walking, and even more luck. Not to even mention trying to get a buck. The deer get really spooky after the first day of the season, and are hard very hard to find. There has been alot of days when the deer just plain outsmart us, they get away without us even seeing them. Sure is fun trying though.

chevy4x4trucks · October 31, 2001

not enough deer, you should hunt in WI, way too many deer.

LT · October 31, 2001

Quote from chevy4x4trucks, posted on Oct. 30 2001,7:55

not enough deer, you should hunt in WI, way too many deer.

No kidding. It's dangerous to drive. We're having a special season right no to get rid of some deer(harvest).

chevy4x4trucks · October 31, 2001

I'm not too concerned when I'm in the city, but when I hit those country roads with trees all around at night, you can bet that I'm going nice and slow. I don't need a deer to trash my truck. My uncle's dodge ram was mussed up because some guy hit it and the day he got it back from the shop he hit a deer. That sucked.