Tents all dried and put away. Some closing comments for all.
1) Elk have to eat, drink and sleep....regardless of moon or weather. If you dont hear them then cover ground and find em or glass them up and stalk them or slow hunt into the wind in the dark nasty stuff. Too often I see hunters in September throw in the towel when they dont hear the bugling. Change your mindset as a human and get past the having to hear them.....come up with a plan B and C. Trust me if you do you will still have daily encounters with the animals.
2) Got to see one of the new Rhino Garmins with the touch screen. Very nice but mows through batteries and I couldn't find a waypoint transfer function to send to another radio. I may have missed it. Regardless will be sticking with my older 530 model. As a data point I received a 46 mile data position update when up high one day with voice comms in the GMRS 5W setting, clear day and unobstructed line of site.
3) Calling on a dying rabbit call for bears was a little unnerving as every sound in the woods had me spinning my head slowly and sometimes quickly. We glassed up the big cinnamon boar I was after only one day and couldn't close the distance to make it happen. Never saw him after that. I really hope we can bait them soon as I get more and more stories of black bears getting a nose for meat in game bags. Might have to also start hangin them higher like in Grizz country.
4) I got to compare one day a Vortex HD Viper and a set of Swaros both in 10-42. I got to tell ya, not much difference. I made a point to do the comparison in low light conditions and in shadows. The Swaro owner also commented "geez, I cant tell a big difference at all"
5) Lastly....this was the first year in 8 years I went into the September woods without my son as he is away at college. I have a tradition of saying a prayer with the group the first day we all hike in after everyone has traveled safe and arrived. I had to wipe away a few tears when I was done as I missed him terribly. If you got young ones get them involved early, let em hike in with you before they can shoot or hunt in prep for when they turn legal hunting age. If you got old ones, invite them to camp.....show them the experience of elk camp and all t the beautiful things the outdoors has to offer.
For all those heading out for the upcoming rifles season. Good luck, have fun, help your fellow hunters in the mountains and make sure you stop and take in a sunrise from up high one day. I start prepping for 4th season rifle today and it cant come quick enough.
Its a great day for elk camp. God Bless.
