Who is going elk hunting this year?
Who is going elk hunting this year? Who is going early when the elk are up in the high mountains? Are you cutting pounds and beginning to exercise to get in shape? I'm going first rifle season in Colorado: October 15-19. I'm in my mid-fifties and have put some weight on over the winter. I plan to lose about 20 more LBS, hopefully by June 1. Meanwhile, I'm easing into the exercise program. Again, hopefully by June 1 I'll be moderately well tuned up and can dial up the intensity level. My daughter the other day told me about a "steep hill" behind her grade school that I'll want to check out. Here in North Central Texas there aren't a lot of real hills so you take what you can get.
This is my third elk hunt. My second hunt was successful, thanks largely to a good friend who provided help getting me in position to find some elk. My goals this season are modest -- take any elk, preferrably a cow. I'm in it for the fun and the experience of hunting first season near tree line and for the excellent, outstanding elk meat. I don't have the heads mounted, so I don't really have any reason to take a bull. Now, if a bull is presented and no cow is in sight, I'll take the bull. Another goal is to try to learn more about elk hunting and maybe scout out some new locations that elk frequent near my camp.
I think I can honestly say I can't think of anything better than being in a canvas wall tent at 11000' with a nice warm wood stove in the corner, eating some food, and remembering the hunt activities of the day and maybe sharing hunting tales with my hunting partners.