2011 Elk hunt colorado area 43 third and 4th Season

Started out great, watched the weather report in making the decision to camp on high ground or low ground, forcast was for 4-6 inches of fresh snow opening weekend then sun for the rest of the week, sounded great so we set camp on high ground 10,200Ft.

Drying out the Cook tent



getting firewood for the week+



Cook tent and Sleep tent

Then It started snowing... and blowing... and snowing




We started hunting, elk tracks were still coming and going through the area, at times within 200 yards from the tents. Opening morning I located a group of 4 two cows and two calves in an area I had patterned them, I could have gotten above and shot one but since we were the only one on the hill I thought I would take more guys the next morning. To my dismay an energetic hunter hunting below found the track and followed them up and ended up shooting the lead cow that evening. He didn't get out of the woods till midnight, with one rear quarter. the next two days he hiked up my hill (I was thinking he was packing out the reset of the animal) come to find out when he got back to it the coyotes had chewed it up so he left all the rest. This caused all the birds and dogs to be there all day and night screwing up my hill. Never did figure out what he was doing while hiking with a pack if he never got any more meat???



After things settled down a little we found two calves, feeding on the hill looking at the carnage of there mother, with three feet of snow and no herd of elk for them to join with we thought we would do the humane thing and save them from the coyotes and weather and filled my cow third season cow tag and the sons third season cow tag.

"Dragging/Riding" down the hill.
[img:center]http://broncolope.com/2011_ELK_hunt/calf1.jpg[/img]
[img:center]http://broncolope.com/2011_ELK_hunt/calf2.jpg[/img]

We saw three bulls but were not ambitious enough to climb and pack them out so we just watched hoping they would come closer.
With weather and snow and work and to much alchohol some couldn't get there and some had to leave early so that was all that was tagged for third.

4th season... continued next post

Great tale and pics!

Where's Part 2?!

4th Season we wanted to move lower because of the snow but would be to much work. So we stuck it out. After getting news that two would not show we took down the cook tent and moved into the one tent My brother, My neighbor and I. We set up a little campfire where the cook tent was and put William's Venison on the grill


Venison (it was supposed to be frozen and you peal off the cooked as it cooks, I screwed up and thawed it out) but still was great.



Digging in.... Yum



Fighting for the last bite.....



Hunted up by camp followed some monster bull tracks (biggest I have ever seen) never got a look at them. Very few new tracks up by camp, so we decided the second day to look at a spot lower that I had been succesful at. on the way down we glassed from miles and saw a few elk. Hopes were up. Every day the winds would blow snow over our trail to camp and this was our ride from the road to the tent.



First afternoon in the low country we see a cow but she is out of range. We come back the next morning and 5 cows come down but don't go were I expect them to and run into a small stand of timber. We try to push them out but never see them. On the way back up the the top for the evening there they are walking right beside us. Two shots 7mm Mag behind the head of a big cow, and William tags a small one. Yeeee Haaaaw both my elk tags filled this year.
My Cow



Williams Decent Calf

[img:center]http://broncolope.com/2011_ELK_hunt/ELKdown1.jpg[/img]

Hanging to skin the elk
[img:center]http://broncolope.com/2011_ELK_hunt/Hanging_elk.jpg[/img]

With another storm coming in.. and my brother having to get back we left his tag unfilled and started packing up saturday morning, after holding the tent down all night with crazy winds. Good thing it was frozen in two feet of snow around the edges or it would have blown away. The dodge would not blast through the driveway this time had to shovel out.

[img:center]http://broncolope.com/2011_ELK_hunt/shoveling_out.jpg[/img]

Then we get down the road and the night winds had blown a tree in the road, had to unpack the chain saw (experience had it within easy reach)

[img:center]http://broncolope.com/2011_ELK_hunt/cutting_out.jpg[/img]

Both my tags filled, and memories till next year.
I am planning a trip to montana to hunt with my Dad and may be hitting ya'll up for some info for next year.

Good story! Congrats on the elk.

Thanks for the story and pictures.

Yeah, I got snowed in one time in Colorado, hunting Elk. Lots of fun and good times had by all. Need to do that again.

Good job toughing it out. Nice looking country in those pics when it was sunny!!

Looks like a fun hunt. Congrats on the elk and the adventure!

Looks like great memories! Thanks for sharing.


ddj

Congratulations.

Looks like the snow is getting to be a little much, but I suppose that is what is moving the elk down to you.

very nice

Wow, heck of a storm! Congratulations on your success, and thanks for sharing it with us.

Downloaded the Stepsons pics

Cooling off after climbing twin peaks 11,200ft 20 minutes before shooting two elk



Of course snow... snow



Hiking in snow.. snow... snow



after getting all that snow we decided to go home and get the snowmobile to help drag out any more animals, already had drug the two out.



Of course we shot the next two behind a locked gate and had to drag them too. Figures.

wow tough hunt good job !

Great to have taken the photos. What tires on the Dodge? Did you ever need chains?

The Loggers and Gas well guys plowed the main forest road when it snowed more than 6 inches or so but the road to camp we needed chains on most of the time(the wind would blow snow over our tracks almost everyday). I never go hunting without chains for all 4 tires, BF goodrich TA's worthless in 6 inches of snow without chains

WOW!!! Great story and pics - looks like a *great* hunt.

One word - SNOWSHOES !!!

They make life busting trail soooo much easier - post-holing sucks.