Thanks!

I thought about flying, but there's a couple of hitches. One, if I tag out early I need to get back home. If I don't tag out early, I may have to stay a few extra days. Driving gives me a lot more flexibility. Also, bringing a cooler full of elk meat home on a plane is expensive, my longbow isn't a take-down, etc. If I had more time to plan, I probably would fly, but I'll just drive this time.

The fellow I'm going with doesn't think we'll have any problem getting into elk. This spot hasn't been hunted in 4-5 years, and they really aren't too spooky. He had a cow graze to within 15 yds. He's tried counting, but they move around too much. He's got to 60-something before loosing count, but estimates the herd to have 90-100+ in it. I'm not sure, but I think the tag I'm getting will only be good for this particular spot of private land, since it's a landowner issued tag.

The cost of the tag is just plain stupid ($778--that's what the state is charging me--the landowner isn't charging a thing), but the good part is pretty much any elk is a legal elk.

Since I've never killed one, only hunted them once before, and the closest I've been to one in the wild (that I could see anyway) was about 300 yds, I don't think I'm going to be too picky on this trip.

My best friend and hunting buddy has a saying: "Don't pass up a shot on the first day that you would take on the last day". I think I'll stick to that philosophy. If a big cow strolls by at 15 yds the first morning of the hunt, this 'ol boy is going to be eating cow elk!

I'm not sure about the rut yet, but the fellow I'm going with said the herd bull is already keeping the competition at a distance. It's looking really good! The herd bull isn't a monster (4x4), but I'm not going to worry about that. I don't have room in my shop for a big set of antlers anyhow! lol

Chad