Wore myself out

[Guy Miner]

Wow - what a day! I'm worn out, which is a mistake, 'cause I'm home, and it's still light outside.

Headed out, drove to the trailhead. Didn't stay on the trail long, headed up the ridge. Two hours later I was at the top of the ridge, 2,000' higher. Ugh. Only ran into vine maple for 20 minutes or so, battled my way through that. The rest was just climbing, and climbing. Beautiful country, but somebody built a lot of vertical into it.





Stayed up high and glassed and scouted around a fair bit. Was a little surprised to find more elk sign than mule deer sign. Did find three mulie beds, right where they'd be expected, high & dry.

Was carrying the .25-06 Remington of course, and my Nimrod pack. That black nylon portion is new this year. It's specifically built to haul boned out meat, quarters, or other bulky & heavy items. It expands tremendously from what you see here. I just had a wool shirt in it, and my water bladder. First day afield for the orange Nosler hat. I'm afraid it's sweat soaked.



A little uneasy about the descent, I decided to try a new route, based on the map and what I'd seen from below on previous trips.

Bad idea. Thought I could skirt the cliffs I'd seen. Huh. That didn't work. I ended up going down the cliffs, through a chute. Pretty dicey for a while. Had my rifle on my pack so I could use both hands & feet. Remembered my old rock climbing skills from 30 years ago. Well, some of them. I honestly don't think I've come down a cliff face like that in at least 20 years, maybe 30. Yeah, I got a little scared, but here I am. Below the cliffs I ran into the shale & scree. Almost every step was an adventure. I remember being relieved once when I made it three steps without sliding or nearly falling. Pretty cool. Eventually ended up back on the trail. Getting down took just as long as going up, but I have to admit that I didn't sweat as much. Only saw one big doe all day. She looked sort of lonely, like she was looking for more deer too.

Got to the Jeep. Met some horsemen going in for a week. Five horses & mules for two guys for a week. Wow, those guys are going to be living well. Decided it was time for lunch and a re-think. That ridge was tougher than I'd anticipated. Grabbed lunch. Drove to another nearby area and scouted it, but didn't venture far from the Jeep. Didn't have a lot of go left in the legs.



Again, found more elk sign than mule deer sign. Have another chance to hunt on Thursday. There's an area open for antlerless elk right now. Might make a change in plan and go for elk instead of mulies. Who knows?

It was a GREAT day. Aside from the pucker factor for a while. Just what I needed. Legs are tired, but otherwise fine now. I think I'm taking it a little easier tomorrow, getting in some range time in the morning with a friend.

So much for the first day of deer hunting here. A little tougher than I'd planned on.

Regards, Guy

 

[cloverleaf]

Officially a little jealous. Looks like a good day. CL

 

[SJB358]

Awesome hunt Guy! Way to push the fight buddy!

 

[IdahoCTD]

That country looks a lot more like elk country then mulie country to me. That might be why you saw more elk sign too. Are there no high open basins with sage? Way off in the second picture looks like it may be deer'ish.

Other then that it looks like a good day to be in the woods. I'm sure the recent temp. change was nice for hiking as well. Good luck with whatever you pursue tomorrow.

 

[FOTIS]

Great country Guy. Way to climb brother!

 

[DrMike]

You done good, Guy. Man, at this rate, you should run into an elk, just 'cause. Great account or a fabulous country. I spent the morning with a native guide that has guided Barsness several times. He broke his leg last spring in a rodeo, and is still recovering. It is the first time in 52 years he hasn't been in the mountains. He said he was missing it a great deal.

 

[russ808]

That was a good day Guy.
Russ

 

[big rifle man]

Beautiful country Guy and it reminds me of the area I hunt Elk in Colorado. Know what you're talking about in regards to the legs. I'm 69 years old and for the last month have been putting in about a mile and a half a day to get my legs in some kind of reasonable shape for next month. Florida doesn't have any hills to speak of so I do other types of leg exercises to try and compensate. On a good note I have found over the years that the slower moving hunter sees more and my age is working well in that respect.

 

[Guy Miner]

Thanks guys. It was one heck of a day. Real glad that I've been hiking and bicycling as much as I have this year. I needed the strength yesterday. It helped.

Coming down that cliff was the only part that really worried me. I didn't think it was as bad as it turned out to be, and by then I was well into getting down it. Had to dredge up long-dormant rock-climbing knowledge & skills. I never was a real serious rock climber anyway, but was smart enough to maintain three points of contact, and work my way down, one toe hold & one hand hold at a time.

Yeah - am thinking I was too low for the mulie bucks this early in the fall. Just didn't find any, yet by mid October I've seen them in that area. A lot of them migrate from their high summer range to the lower winter range in October & November. I'll try higher on Thursday when I give it another go.

The elk sign was a pleasant discovery. Not sure what I'm going to do about that... Would be a really ugly place to retrieve an elk... Heck, I was glad enough that I didn't have a boned-out mulie in the pack on my way down yesterday! Pretty sure I wouldn't have taken the cliff route if I'd shot a mulie. Then again, that's where they are often enough, on or near the cliffs.

Guy

 

[mcseal2]

Great pics and story. I know what you mean about to much UP, every year when I head out for a muley or elk hunt and look at the mountains I think I REALLY spent my vacation time and money on THIS! Then I chuckle and head out, wouldn't miss it for anything!

 

[Hegland]

Terrific post, Guy. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

 

[Elkman]

Guy
Sounds like an excellent adventure. Tired, worn out, and a with great memories. Congratulations on a great day in the mountains !!!!!

 

[C.Smith]

Great photos as usual. Glad you made it down the cliff.

Corey

 

[Vince]

It reads like you had a great day!

I'm envious as I have to go and play with the animals in their cage. That's work. Oh well, on the bright side I adjusted my Annual Leave and days off to better accommodate my upcoming deer hunt. I have five of seven days to get it done when I was originally going to have only four. I feel a "sickness" coming on for the other two. Just kidding. I'll use all five of my days but won't call in if I'm not sick.
Rock Climbing scares me. I did it and got to where I was able to lead a 5.8+ Trad climb or a 5.10 Sport route but took a few whippers that knocked the testicular fortitude right out of me. Call me crazy but I was the freak that always liked the off-widths. Lots of work for very little progress but hey, I felt like I wasn't going to fall to my death when I could jam half my body in a crack. They were just hard to place pro in.
That looks like some beautiful country Guy and maybe one of these days I'll get the opportunity to chase something there.

 

[truck driver]

Great read Guy. I've only got about 2 months before our deer season and it will be on flat land farms but I'm still worried my ankle won't be in shape to be able to hunt with out help or get to do the scouting I need to get done before the season starts. I could get a permit to hunt from a vehicle but that just isn't hunting to me.