What are your priorities?
 

Sorry: I do not know how to post a proper " Poll"

When it comes to hunting Big game, What are your priorities?

1. Harvesting a " Trophy"

2. Filling your tag...simply being successful, bringing home the meat.

3. Comraderie.

4. Just being out in creation and soaking it all in.

5. Other/Any combination of the above.

..and why?, if you don' t mind.

Just curious,

Beans

RE: What are your priorities?
 

Being out in creation and soaking it all in. No cell phones, semi' s, slot machines. Just me and the animals and the open country, can' t get any better than that.

RE: What are your priorities?
 

Right On, CB!

RE: What are your priorities?
 

I' d have to say a combination of it all.

Being out there by myself soaking it all in. Being able to see millions of stars at night; smelling the cool, crisp, pine scented mountain air; hearing the elk bugeling and smelling them when they walk by up wind of you but you still don' t see them; the aspen leaves turning vibrant gold, orange and red.

The comraderie. Coming back to camp at night t tell the same hunting stories that you have told every year and remembering the successes and failures. Sitting around the camp fire with your chest and legs burning up and your back and neck cold as ever just staring at it like it was some mystical ghost. Wanting to strangle my father and another hunting buddy of ours because they always fall asleep before I do and keep me up with their excessive snoring.

Of course filling my tags so that I can enjoy the delicious meat that that elk provided me and if it is a " trophy" it just makes it that much sweeter.

RE: What are your priorities?
 

Pronounced like a TRUE (and experienced) Colorado Elk Hunter, BB.

RE: What are your priorities?
 

I' ll go with #5 then reverse the order you have and thats what I look for. And maybe I like to throw in to actually see game after that the kill is secondary.

RE: What are your priorities?
 

Good question! I' ll enjoy reading everyone' s answer.

For me, it would have to be primarily just soaking it all in, and secondarily bringing home the meat. None of my friends around here really hunt, so I' m going it alone usually, so comraderie is out (unfortunately). Not interested in trophies - I' ve met too many folks that get so hopped up on horns that they go to any illegal means necessary to get them. Since I absolutely will not do that, I figure that the playing field isn' t level, so I don' t even bother.

There is simply nothing quite as fulfilling as a crisp fall morning in the woods. :)

RE: What are your priorities?
 

4,3,2,1.

It would be hard to improve on bigbulls narrative, including the snoring (well written). Others touched on most the little details that make elk hunting special. I would just add watching my boys grow up elk hunting has been very rewarding, especially the day 75 elk stampeded through their stands.

EKM

RE: What are your priorities?
 

I like the mornins' . Gettin' up 2 hours afor the sun, drinkin' boiled, gritty coffee from a cold tin cup, eatin' so much grease you gotta go squirt the bushes 3 times a day, saddlin' horses by flashlight with froze fingers, changin' horse pickets with froze ropes, packin' meat. On second thort, why is it we do this?

RE: What are your priorities?
 

I have to say as I get older the love of being outside,walking the hills,feeling the crisp cold clean air in my lungs and freezing my ears.I love the thrill of the hunt taking on natures elite by my own self and reaching my goals.

RE: What are your priorities?
 

Waaaaay too much information BeaverJack!

RE: What are your priorities?
 

I gotta say that just be' in out there in all of that open and vast land is a slice of heaven on earth:)
Can you feel that cold crisp air??? Come on.........Take a deep breath.... You know you can feel it............It' s just a short time away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH YEH!!!! I forgot taking an animal DUH!@#$%.!!!!!

Good Hunting!!!!!!!!:):)

RE: What are your priorities?
 

I got to say 4,3,2,1 also. Its great sharing all that with family and friends and if i kill something thats a bonus and if its a trophy thats another added bonus.

RE: What are your priorities?
 

This is a little weird, but I love packing out meat. Cow or bull it does' nt matter. You push your body harder than you ever thought possible. You climb the hills, and sweat buckets. Then when you reach camp and unload the quarter you turn around and go to do it again. You have an empty pack board, and you feel like you could fly up the hill. Then you do it all over again. If its your own critter, you spend the next day sleeping in, and hopefully get to do it again for a buddy. Packing meat thats what seperates the wimps from the warriors. Secondly comes the feeling you get when you did everything right, and were successful. Maybe you let him go or counted coup on a smaller bull. What matters is you had the chance, you done good. Fresh air, fried food, knowing you don' t have to watch what you eat for a week, because you will still lose 10lbs. Eat that pound of bacon, and 3 eggs, and pancakes it feels sooo good. After a couple days of elk hunting, I feel like I could wrestle a bear, or tie a cougars tail in knots. Then you get home and smell your BO and reality checks back in.

RE: What are your priorities?
 

You got that right. My dogs don' t even want to play with me after almost two weeks in camp.[:o]:D

RE: What are your priorities?
 

Combo of all the above. I agree getting out in nature is one of the best parts in hunting. Also the days events relived around the campfire are worth every second. But nobody can deny the satisfaction of harvesting and being able to reap the benefits in meat, pictures and mounts.

On a personal level I like to chase trophy' s it is what lights my fire sort to speak, but the time spent in the creation and with a good group of fellas is what keeps me coming back for more. They all sort of go hand in hand to me with hunting!

RE: What are your priorities?
 

:Dhave to say no. 5
i really enjoy being outdoors , and i definitely do want to be succesful , and i do want a trophy but , i also want the meat. it' s one of those wanting it all syndrome and trying to get as close to it as you can cases :D

RE: What are your priorities?
 

3-4-5-2-1
I' ve grew upa meat hunter and have always enjoyed hunting camp more than anything else I can think of..........almost. I have in the past few years become more interested in getting a couple nice trophies for the den but it' s not a priority.

RE: What are your priorities?
 

Have a safe hunt.

Have a good time with family, friends, and nature.

Get the meat home clean and unspoiled.

Get home safe.

Good luck on all your hunts!

RE: What are your priorities?
 

4,3,1,2
If I just want meat, by the end of a slow hunting season the cattle on the farm look real nervous.:D

RE: What are your priorities?
 

for me its a mix of it all.....i can see nothing all day but still call it a great day...i can sit in freezing rain for hours and not see anything and walk 2 miles out with a smile on my face....ive done it!...just getting away from everything PERIOD is nice...i clear my thoughts..take in all the wonderful things around me...the sights the sounds the smells.....sometimes im after a trophy..sometimes im after meat for the freezer....thats the MAIN reason i am out there...but thats the bonus to the hunt when it comes down to it....spending time with my dad and friends..just having a good time...when im hunting nothing seems to matter....things that bother me in everyday life is just washed away....it makes me realize that nothing is really that important..lifes too short to sit around worrying about anything...take life day by day and enjoy it while you can....hunting is great

RE: What are your priorities?
 

Filling my tag is just a bonus. My hunting partner, my son, and I have put over 2000 miles on the jeep scouting this summer, we have shot hundreds of arrows per month, and hiked countless miles checking tanks and glassing ridgelines.

I leave for a 2 week elk hunt tomorrow. Will I shoot a bull? Probably, but my hunt is already a sucess.

RE: What are your priorities?
 

Howdy Folks,
For me it' s 5.
Actually 1 & 2 are one and the same. Wheather you are hunting deer, elk or whatever, a legal animal taken under fair chase is a trophy.
3 & 4 just speak for themselves, what more could a man ask for.
Take care, good hunting and may God bless you and yours.