- Feb 8, 2013
- 20
- 0
Hi all,
I'm new to this forum and wanted to introduce myself.
I got into western hunting several years ago when my cousin who lives in Colorado asked my dad and I to come out to visit him sometime. He's not a hunter, but we decided to go out and do a backpacking trip with him and hunt while we were there.
Our first trip was to Colorado in 2010 archery hunting for elk. I passed up a cow the first morning and didn't have another opportunity after that, though I think we came close one other time.
In 2011 I went back out there with my uncle to a different area in Colorado. My uncle had an archery elk tag, and I was just along to help. We found plenty of sign and heard some bugling, but again, not much for sightings.
In 2012, I took a break from the elk to try and do a hunt with a higher chance of success to be a confidence booster. I headed out to Wyoming for my first antelope hunt. I planned over a week for the hunt since I didn't know what to expect. As soon as we got out there, we started seeing animals. After a couple failed stalk attempts, I got my first western animal on my first afternoon of hunting! It was a short trip, but I was happy!
In 2013, I decided to try for elk again. My dad and I headed to western Colorado for a 4th season hunt. We got there early to scout. The day before season opened, we saw a bull. We saw a cow during the season, but never saw a legal animal during season. We saw some nice mule deer, so I took this as a successful hunt, even though we didn't harvest anything.
I was back in Colorado in 2014 for an OTC rifle tag. On opening morning, I came the closest I've ever come to getting an elk. We were hiking down the trail right at first light, and an elk jumped up by us. It stood there looking at us, but the way the light came into the scope bleached him out so I couldn't make out the antlers that well. I could see it was a bull and could see it was more than a spike, but I just couldn't see if he had 4 points, so I couldn't shoot. That was the only opportunity I had at an elk, but I saw a ton of moose which made my trip! I had this guy ripping up a tree at 15 yards...awesome!
This year I didn't get to go out west. I was planning on taking my uncle for antelope, but he didn't draw his tag. With being newly married, I wasn't sure if I should head out. I sure missed it though!
I'm now looking at planning my hunt for next year. My dad should have the tag this next year, and I can't wait to get out there!
I'm new to this forum and wanted to introduce myself.
I got into western hunting several years ago when my cousin who lives in Colorado asked my dad and I to come out to visit him sometime. He's not a hunter, but we decided to go out and do a backpacking trip with him and hunt while we were there.
Our first trip was to Colorado in 2010 archery hunting for elk. I passed up a cow the first morning and didn't have another opportunity after that, though I think we came close one other time.
In 2011 I went back out there with my uncle to a different area in Colorado. My uncle had an archery elk tag, and I was just along to help. We found plenty of sign and heard some bugling, but again, not much for sightings.
In 2012, I took a break from the elk to try and do a hunt with a higher chance of success to be a confidence booster. I headed out to Wyoming for my first antelope hunt. I planned over a week for the hunt since I didn't know what to expect. As soon as we got out there, we started seeing animals. After a couple failed stalk attempts, I got my first western animal on my first afternoon of hunting! It was a short trip, but I was happy!
In 2013, I decided to try for elk again. My dad and I headed to western Colorado for a 4th season hunt. We got there early to scout. The day before season opened, we saw a bull. We saw a cow during the season, but never saw a legal animal during season. We saw some nice mule deer, so I took this as a successful hunt, even though we didn't harvest anything.
I was back in Colorado in 2014 for an OTC rifle tag. On opening morning, I came the closest I've ever come to getting an elk. We were hiking down the trail right at first light, and an elk jumped up by us. It stood there looking at us, but the way the light came into the scope bleached him out so I couldn't make out the antlers that well. I could see it was a bull and could see it was more than a spike, but I just couldn't see if he had 4 points, so I couldn't shoot. That was the only opportunity I had at an elk, but I saw a ton of moose which made my trip! I had this guy ripping up a tree at 15 yards...awesome!
This year I didn't get to go out west. I was planning on taking my uncle for antelope, but he didn't draw his tag. With being newly married, I wasn't sure if I should head out. I sure missed it though!
I'm now looking at planning my hunt for next year. My dad should have the tag this next year, and I can't wait to get out there!
