Well just got back from my New Mexico Elk hunt and I thought I would post a day by day summary with some pictures. I want to thank Keith White and the crew at Keith White Outfitting out of Hondo, Texas. Not only did we have alot of fun, but he was a great teacher of elk hunting strategies and has a vast knowledge of the elk herd in the area and elk habits in general. This was a great adventure and they worked hard to ensure it happened.
DAY ONE - ARRIVAL - We traveled 1765 miles non-stop from Erie, PA to my Aunt's house just north of Alburquerque, New Mexico. We spent the night and left around 7am the following morning to make our 5 hour drive to the Gila Wilderness. Our travels were slow going as we were hit with Flash Flood Warnings during heavy Thunderstorms. As we followed our directions we were informed that the roads we had to travel had 6-7ft of water flowing over them. We were ahead of our designated 1pm meeting time, but with the roads flooded I questioned whether or not we would make it. We were advised to turn around and try to enter the Wilderness from the West, which took us 200 miles and 3 hours to find out that too was not going to be had. At this point we had to back track that journey to hope that the waters had reduced their levels in order for us to pass. Let me say at this point my hunting partner and I were speechless and not sure what to do. We had no way to contact our guide as cell reception in the 900,000 acre Wilderness is non-existent. Our frustration sooned turned to disappointment which then turned to determination as we were not to be left out of elk camp. Needless to say we made the 70 plus mile drive into the Wilderness and with a little help from Mother Nature and some other hunters we made our final destination into camp around 9:30pm, well past our 1pm meeting time. Most important we made it safe and determined that nothing will keep me from elk hunting ! Dan the Man woke from his bed and warmed up some chili that was left over as from dinner. He heard of our adventure and knew that we were hungry and he was right.
Day 2 - We were awaked by the sound of breakfast and fresh coffee and the sound of the other hunters success stories and close calls. Terry had taken a nice 5x5 bull out of blind over looking a tank and his hunting partner had harvested a magnificant Pope & Young Black Bear. They had been here before and their stories only elevated my excitement for what awaited me for three years, my Gila Wilderness Hunt.
Unloading at Base Camp
Day 3 - Packing In - Keith and the crew inspected our contents and asked that we limit what we take in as the bare essentials. They went over what we needed and loaded the mules and horses for what was to be a 8-9 mile pack in that would take us a little over 3 hours. It started out a nice warm day to only give us some rain. If we made camp in time, we would have the last two hours to hunt...which is what I wanted to do....
Leading the Mules up some difficult terrain...this is what stops the others...
Day 3 - Evening Hunt - We arrived at the Spike Camp, unloaded our gear as Keith advised that if we settled in and could be ready soon we would make the evening hunt. That was easy for us, in 30 minutes we were on the trail. We traveled not far from camp and I heard my first bugle ! I was ready to go and asked Keith, "Did you hear that ?" and as he smiled he replied, "Lets leave that one alone for now, we have bigger bulls to check on." I followed every step as we moved up this draw and the bugle frenzy began. Keith advised that once he starts to call that we maintain a 50-70 yard distance in from of him. When the bull bugles advance if we can at least 10-20 yards. His first call had an immediate reply and within 15 minutes we had 5 bulls firing off at one another. Let me tell you that what happened over the next 45 minutes was vocalization that I have never experienced or witnessed on any hunting video. I could hear the bulls getting closer as to be determining who was the king of this ridge. The evening ended as my hunting partner, D. Cooper, had a visual on a 300 plus bull at 70 yards, but nothing closer as darkness was fast approaching. At this point Keith signaled to pull back and that we would return in the morning. As we moved down the hill in a "retreat" pace, Keith calling as to mimick the presence of cow elk moving to cover our noise, the bulls actually maintained a distance of 200-300 yards following us down the hill. What an exciting night, but that was just a sample of what was to come. It soon became a sleepless night.
Our home in the Gila Wilderness
Day 4- I was awake at 4:45, I arose to Keith standing outside of the tent with a warm cup of coffee. As I stood by him, I could hear bulls bugling in every direction. What an awesome sound. After a quick cup of coffee, we were off back where we ended as Keith felt the bigger bulls were still hanging in that area and that was confirmed by the growls and chuckles we heard. I will say this, we walked by at least 12 bulls to get to this ridge. As daylight crested we were set behind the herd not 150 yards and the UFC of elk hunting began all over again. Within this morning, our first set up had us on 6-7 bulls in this small drainage. As I moved on the closest bugle, I had my first elk of the season within 20 yards, a cow, making here way ahead of me towards what sounded like the King of the Hill. My heart was pounding !!! As I looked back at Keith in disbelief of all the frenzy that was taking place, I was reassured of doing the right thing by his smile and gesture of "Get in there".... As I moved up the drainage only a few steps from my right I heard this raking and breaking of branches, and here he comes, a majestic trophy for any elk hunter, which stopped in front of me a mere 60 yards behind some brush. He stood there for nearly 5 minutes answering the bull to my left out of sight, which he would soon race to chase out of his area. As I retreated back to Keith after things settled down, I asked, " That was a really big bull" and he thought it would of scored in the 340's. By the end of the day I had seen nearly 10 elk, 3 of which were bulls, one 340 plus bull and another that would score somewhere in the 320's....not a bad day
Do I look excited ??
