NW Colorado Archery / Muzzleloader 2018 Report
- Thread starter Slugz
- Start date
Day 5 end of day dog ass tired report. Woke up this am to a humid 5 degree temp change in the higher direction. Apparently the elk didn't care. Bugleing from sunrise to 1030 today. 4 real chances. 3 broke off and didn't come in.....one though we had a solid 6x6 come bee line in only to have the shooter pegged down by another dumb dumb spike. Still seeing bachelor herds of bulls running around. They gotta break up any day now.
The day 6 caller must maintain geometry so the bull enters the setup slightly downwind report. ��
Another really cool day of screaming animals and close encounters. This am for the second time I had 2 bulls responding to the bugle at the same time. Saw 10 bucks this evening just not in a stalkable postion. Will make a big push this week to fill the elk tags before muzzle loader starts.
Another really cool day of screaming animals and close encounters. This am for the second time I had 2 bulls responding to the bugle at the same time. Saw 10 bucks this evening just not in a stalkable postion. Will make a big push this week to fill the elk tags before muzzle loader starts.
Bonecollector
Veteran member
The day 7 I'm spent edition. Well 3 straight days of am bulging came to an end today. Silent woods today. We messed with a few spikes this am but nothing else. Could have went into the dark stuff but I didn't want to bump them out and out of the valley. Gonna recharge this evening and am.
Gear update.
Kifaru Woodsman. This thing has been perfect. Can't wait to haul a quarter out with it. For the day hunts so far it's exceeded what I wanted. I've had 5, 13, 7, 6, 5, 5 and 5 mile days with it.
Crispi Nevada uninsulated. The only boots I've worn that has kept my ruptured achilles in check and doesn't aggravate or make it tender. Been super happy with them. Others in camp have heel blisters and complaints of small toe boxes in their boots.
Lastly hearing comments of Jason H founder of Kuiu passing. God bless him and his family. My attack pants and merino tops are awesome.
Take care everyone and be safe.
Gear update.
Kifaru Woodsman. This thing has been perfect. Can't wait to haul a quarter out with it. For the day hunts so far it's exceeded what I wanted. I've had 5, 13, 7, 6, 5, 5 and 5 mile days with it.
Crispi Nevada uninsulated. The only boots I've worn that has kept my ruptured achilles in check and doesn't aggravate or make it tender. Been super happy with them. Others in camp have heel blisters and complaints of small toe boxes in their boots.
Lastly hearing comments of Jason H founder of Kuiu passing. God bless him and his family. My attack pants and merino tops are awesome.
Take care everyone and be safe.
Catahoula12
Very Active Member
Thanks for your report Slugz. Good news on the pack and boots. Glad you are having tons of fun!!
The get some rest and recharge report. Went high this am and glassed 2 herd bulls in the open feeding. They didn't have a care in the world where the cows were. Saw a few deer and cows staying out a little later today. Will go back after them with fresh legs in the am.
The day 9 herd bull up hi report. Got into them again today but just couldn't get ahead of the big guy. He got to a high point and bedded with his small herd feeding in front of him in the thick stuff. We pressed him from below but he wasn't budging. Should have circled the wind got into his back door and surprised hin from above. Oh well, we had a great set up and a satellites came to the call to include a cool chocolate colored 4x5. Spikes and 2 x2s still have their velvet. Looks like it's gonna stay hot so into the thick stuff we go. Dusty and dry as all heck up here.
The day 10 deer hunt while the muzzleloader boys go at it report. Son and dad made it yesterday so we got fresh brains in camp. Went to our hidey hole this am to rustle up some deer. Sure enough about 910 one shooter and 2 small guys came over the hill and down the slope. Into an aspen patch they went. My son hopped up as we had good wind and went after them. After a half hour stalk with muzzleloader in one hand and sticks in the other he was in a postion to shoot. A nice in velvet 3x3 gave him a 5 second shot window but after deciding to go free hand vice the sticks, that 5 seconds went quick and was gone. Lesson learned when stalking be in a postion to shoot. Will go after then again this evening.
The day 11 meat on the pole report. My son put a hell of a stalk on a nice 3 x 3 still in velvet today. 40 yard shot with the smoke pole click boom flop. Haven't heard from the elk guys yet today in the valley. Big 6x6 bull taken by our neighbor camp yesterday am. Seems a little colder today even though the weather report says different.
Winchester
Veteran member
ElkTrout
Veteran member
Very nice! Congrats and thanks for the reports! Living through you each day until I get the chance to go!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Colorado T
Active Member
Nice work! Congratulations to your son! My boy arrowed his first deer this year and we tracked it until dark. Went back the next morning and a bear had found it first. Not much left of it.
1998caxj
New Member
The day 11 big six goes down post. Neighbor camp that I've known for 10 years knocks down a good elk today with the muzzle loader. The archery gang couldn't get him to come to a call as he just wanted to follow the cows. That was his demise 1/2 mile later. My camp went down to take more water and help with the pack out.
Deer are starting to move am and pm now during daylight hours.
Did a haul out today of a rear quarter with my Kifaru frame and the cargo net only. Man was that nice.
Deer are starting to move am and pm now during daylight hours.
Did a haul out today of a rear quarter with my Kifaru frame and the cargo net only. Man was that nice.
1998caxj
New Member
The day 12 it's just too nice out report. Good news is the elk are staying out till 730-800 feeding and coming back out to feed about 1800 pretty consistently now. The weather though has kept them quiet since Saturday. Gonna change tactics and hunt till dark in the good spots then hike back the 2 hour trip in the dark.
Mule deer are active just after first light and rarely get glass on them in the evening.
Gonna be a tough couple days coming up. I was gonna break camp 16th 17th but it looks like next week we got a cold front coming though. Gonna be tough not hunting that.
Mule deer are active just after first light and rarely get glass on them in the evening.
Gonna be a tough couple days coming up. I was gonna break camp 16th 17th but it looks like next week we got a cold front coming though. Gonna be tough not hunting that.
The day 13 Mountain Dog says " Blue Grouse for Dinner Report"
Didn't catch up to a nice 4x4 muley this am after he changed his normal route post sun up.
Son went and whacked some mountain chickens this afternoon for fun.
Gonna chase deer this evening and go after the elk again in the am.
Didn't catch up to a nice 4x4 muley this am after he changed his normal route post sun up.
Son went and whacked some mountain chickens this afternoon for fun.
Gonna chase deer this evening and go after the elk again in the am.
LCH
Very Active Member
The day 14....it's a quiet woods report. Wind kicked up last night and spoiled the evening deer hunt. Chasing elk this am in my sure fire canyon......not. Oh well, will find em.
