I want to hunt elk...

[Guy Miner]

I want another incredible hunt.

I want to ride the high country, please on a horse that won't kill man more used to walking... I want to see the countless stars overhead. I want to worry that a grizz might stray into camp - to show us who really is boss up in the high country. I want to struggle up a steep ridge. I want to gasp for breath at high altitude. I want to hear the wolf howl. To fish a stream in which few have wet a line. To stalk a stand of silent timber that hasn't seen a man in a year, or ten, or a hundred. To rise in the cold darkness, pulling myself out of the bag and dressing in the half light of a still glowing camp stove. To stalk silently along a trail leading higher still in the pre-dawn darkness. To thrill to the shrill challenging scream of a rutting bull.

To issue my own false challenge - hoping to fool him - at least for a bit.

I hope to settle my crosshairs on his chest, pausing to breathe the thin, icy air, remembering to gently stroke the trigger, while the rifle is snugged to my shoulder...

I want to exalt in the thrill of seeing him collapse at the shot. To feel sorrow for taking his noble, wild life. To feel the gravity of extinguishing such a mighty creature.

I want to strain under the load, carrying out quarters. Placing each foot with care.

I want to hunt.

 

[JD338]

Guy,

I am right there with you!
I went to CO in 2002. 5 days on horse back and we finally saw elk. I shot this 5 pt at 350 yds and dropped him in his tracks. I can still hear the whomp of the 210 gr PT hitting him.
The cold mornings, sipping coffee as we climbed the trail in the darkness and the sparks from the horseshoes of the horse in front og me.
Its an awesome experiance and I can't wait to do it again.
Sorry for the small picture, I had to scan it.

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

Got room in my camp.... :|

 

[Elkman]

Guy, I feel your pain !!

I am counting the days. :grin: :grin:

 

[DrMike]

Guy,

You are waxing absolutely poetic! I'm impressed. You do capture the essence of the hunt in the back country, however. August 15th can't get here soon enough!

 

[Woodycreek]

Guy, I feel your pain !!

I am counting the days. :grin: :grin:

October seems like its taking forever to get here Bill! Its going to be fun experiencing what Guy is talking about for my first Elk hunt.

 

[C.Smith]

Nicely put.

Corey

 

[ElmerThud]

Such descriptive writing Guy. Captured the essence..magic.
Come the end of September & into October when the rut is on, the hills & glens echo as the biggest stags defend their harems.
While there are remote places in the Highlands where I stalk, there's nothing as remote as your description.
It's a pity I'm much older & knackered now & less able to get about, but the roar of Red Stags in Scotland is truly in the same sort of league. Inspirational!

 

[SJB358]

Very good writing Guy. Felt like I was there! Elk country is something else huh? Just no place else I would rather be. At least I haven't found anything better yet. Scotty

 

[atmoshpere]

Well said! That brought to mind the time jmad and I woke up in the middle of the night on an archery hunt where we had just tossed our sleeping bags out under a tree at the end of the day. Woke up under a full moon and bright stars to the sound of a bull coming down the saddle we were in. He was screaming and we could see his breath and hear his hooves on the rocks as he went by like a shadow, chasing another bull that was answering him from lower down the drainage. Made the hair on the back of our necks stand up. Had a hard time getting back to sleep after that!

 

[C.Smith]

Well said! That brought to mind the time jmad and I woke up in the middle of the night on an archery hunt where we had just tossed our sleeping bags out under a tree at the end of the day. Woke up under a full moon and bright stars to the sound of a bull coming down the saddle we were in. He was screaming and we could see his breath and hear his hooves on the rocks as he went by like a shadow, chasing another bull that was answering him from lower down the drainage. Made the hair on the back of our necks stand up. Had a hard time getting back to sleep after that!

Wow no kidding not sure I would sleep at all.
Corey

 

[Greg Nolan]

Wow!
You just put us all in the woods with you and the anticipation grows with each memory you stirred. Thank you for that.
Greg

 

[jmad_81]

I have been sitting in a combine for the last week dreaming of hunting season! I can't help but thinking about whacking a big bull someday.

I think you just made it worse :x

 

[buckfever]

I feel your pain I want to hunt Elk and not just general second season spike (that gets old) so I bought a bow set up a range behind my house and shoot almost everyday. Achery season starts august 27 and runs a month. I might not get a Elk but knowing I can shoot any size bull and hunt the rut makes me a happy hunter.

 

[sask boy]

That could be our Creed, if only to be twenty again and have my 50 something brain well maybe not all of it as I forget once in a while now :wink:
Now that the new rifle is started, I wish I would have done it sooner so I knew that I would have it for this season oh well. My CDL has always put them in the freezer.
I hope that everyone has a opportunity to have their dream hunt before we have to hang them up. The only one that I still want is a Caribou well maybe next year :grin:
What would be your big one?

Blessings,
Dan

 

[SJB358]

That could be our Creed, if only to be twenty again and have my 50 something brain well maybe not all of it as I forget once in a while now :wink:
Now that the new rifle is started, I wish I would have done it sooner so I knew that I would have it for this season oh well. My CDL has always put them in the freezer.
I hope that everyone has a opportunity to have their dream hunt before we have to hang them up. The only one that I still want is a Caribou well maybe next year :grin:
What would be your big one?

Blessings,
Dan

Dan, my big hunt would bs the Coastal Brown Bear or a Big Canadian Grizzly from around Mikes area. Either one of those would be a trophy of a lifetime for me. I'm pretty content to be able to hunt elk and muleys as I can and moose with a little traveling. Scotty

 

[sask boy]

Amen Scotty, I am really blessed to live here in Saskatchewan we have some of the finest hunting and fishing anywhere in the world. Many years ago I did quite a bit of bear hunting but had a experience that turned me off. I had a beautiful cinnamon come in and I shot it and as I was getting out of the tree stand I saw a black blur come in and here the cub came in after the sow. This cub start trying to get its mom to response and so I tried to scare it off but it wouldn't leave and I knew that it would not survive so I anchored it with tears in my eyes never hunted them since I do have a beautiful rug and I have a full mount done on the cub climbing a tree. There was some good as my daughter is a teacher and she takes into her class to let the special needs kids have a look and ask questions.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[C.Smith]

Wow, thats tough, sorry man. I hope to hunt a branched antererd elk some day, any one I hunt and shoot would be a trophy for me. Caribou might be neat too.

Corey

 

[atmoshpere]

Maybe we should start a "Describe your hunt of a lifetime" thread...

It's always nice to day dream a little!

 

[cloverleaf]

Guy,
yup....you either need to or you just dont get it. Hope you get the chance. Never had the "need" for an Elk hunt. I never could anyway... but you know how I am about pronghorn.... My wife dosent even try and talk to me for a couple days after the Pronghorn Application deadline. D day is August 12. CL