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A Bowhunter's Week-Long Solo Quest for Elk in the Colorado Rockies
A Bowhunter's Week-Long Solo Quest for Elk in the Colorado Rockies
The first thing that popped into my head when I realized I was alone in the wilderness, 5 miles from the road, and had lost my GPS was the voice of F&S Rifles Editor David Petzal. Dave believes that a large part of hunting is acquiring certain skills, and the last thing he wants when out in the woods is more technology. “If you do get lost,” he told me once, “shut up and die like a man, don’t ruin it for everyone else.”
I was in a Colorado Wilderness area during the last week of the archery elk season on a solo backpack hunt. For the past two years I’d hunted the area with outfitter Terry Commander in the Gunnison National Forest. This year I’d booked the same trip with 5 friends. Same week, same place. But bad luck had thrown a wrench into our plans and everyone had canceled on me. Since I am obsessed with hunting elk with a bow, I decided to go it alone.
I live in Brooklyn, NY and was born and raised near Albany, hunting whitetails and ducks. I have always been fond of backpacking and camping -- every year my friends/family and I set up a tent camp upstate during the deer season – and I’ve killed elk with my bow, but a solo backpack hunt in the Rocky Mountains was definitely out of my comfort zone.
Photo by Greg Gatto
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Photo Gallery Comments (20)
That is awesome, i would love to to a hunt like that!
What a great story. Its nice to hear about someone who still appreciates the hunt instead of only the kill.
That's a good hunt and good hunt story.
Thanks guys! It was an amazing experience ,I learned alot about elk hunting...and myself, and I can't wait 'til next year.
Hey, you learn a little more each time, and I will hopefully get it done next year, but in my eyes, this year was a success.
Great story - good luck for next year - keep us posted on your preparations.
SBW
Better luck next time. I would love to try that type of hunting. Beutiful landscape!
Greg,
I'm all about getting off road and into the dark timber. Check out the 44 Mag S&W 629, lightweight, constructed with scandium allow, I think you will trade in that 357 before your mext trip.
Carlton
Carlton, that is the exact pistol I will have next year...already on the list!
Sweet story / photos!
Great Story! What happened to your other eye?
S&W the great equalizer.
Greg,
I have two, one with a wood handle and a 7 1/2 barrel, the other is jet black rubber grip, 4 1/2 barrel. It does have a kick but .... bear do have teeth, which as stutzman21 said a few seconds ago
" the great equalizer" I'll take the lighter one (4 1/2) into the mountains although they are both about equal.
Hopefully you'll get one next year!
great place. gods country out there
I really enjoyed this story.. Iam trying to teach my 12 year son that it is not always about the kill but Nature itself. But here in the East so many hunters hunt out of a tree stand or ground blind and has lost the art of the stalk. My Dad is a walker and I have fond memories of the hunts we would go on. He would always be the one to jump bucks up for us boys and was happy to do so. I miss them days it seemed easy back then.......
Elk hunting is one of the hardest types of hunting in the US. Going at it Solo is no joke, Kudo's to you for going at it hard and surviving it. Remember how tired you were on that last day... imagine having to then pack out an 800lb elk
Now your hooked for life!
Greg,
A BIG "THANK YOU" for your time and effort to send in your report. I learned a lot from just watching your videos and reading your posts. You are so right about the need for and the key of mental toughness.
Would like to know more about your workout changes for next year.
All my best,
GSJackson
Castle Rock, CO
Very good and honest reporting. Enjoyed your sharing this experience in a very true technique. No covered over romantic rambling, and people need to know how tough such a hunt really is. Kudos to you for how you revealed that a lot of effort that did not yield the prize sought after still had a great enjoyment factor that was very rewarding. Takes a lot of guts and skill to do this type hunting and good ethics to not take shots that are low percentage. You are the kind of hunter that we all need to point out to our next generation.
Greg,
I was doing so more reflecting on your hunt...
Did you use scent blocker? You are absolutely correct that the winds in those mountains can make or break a stalk - as you shared about on several occasions - therefore I wondered what you did for scent elimination.
Again, great job on sharing about aspects of an elk hunt that many of us have experienced but few have shared.
All my best,
Greg Jackson
(GSJackson)
Castle Rock, CO
GSJackson,
I did not use any scent elimination products for a couple reasons:
1) The weight to pack in sprays, etc
2) I was working so hard every day that I would eventually stink.
The best option in to have a bunch of the powdered wind checkers and ONLY do stalks with the wind in your favor. The main thing is to not bump the elk out of the area...so even if you have to hike a long distance to stay down wind, its worth it.
Post a Comment
That is awesome, i would love to to a hunt like that!
What a great story. Its nice to hear about someone who still appreciates the hunt instead of only the kill.
Thanks guys! It was an amazing experience ,I learned alot about elk hunting...and myself, and I can't wait 'til next year.
Hey, you learn a little more each time, and I will hopefully get it done next year, but in my eyes, this year was a success.
Greg,
I'm all about getting off road and into the dark timber. Check out the 44 Mag S&W 629, lightweight, constructed with scandium allow, I think you will trade in that 357 before your mext trip.
Carlton
I really enjoyed this story.. Iam trying to teach my 12 year son that it is not always about the kill but Nature itself. But here in the East so many hunters hunt out of a tree stand or ground blind and has lost the art of the stalk. My Dad is a walker and I have fond memories of the hunts we would go on. He would always be the one to jump bucks up for us boys and was happy to do so. I miss them days it seemed easy back then.......
Greg,
A BIG "THANK YOU" for your time and effort to send in your report. I learned a lot from just watching your videos and reading your posts. You are so right about the need for and the key of mental toughness.
Would like to know more about your workout changes for next year.
All my best,
GSJackson
Castle Rock, CO
That's a good hunt and good hunt story.
Great story - good luck for next year - keep us posted on your preparations.
SBW
Better luck next time. I would love to try that type of hunting. Beutiful landscape!
Carlton, that is the exact pistol I will have next year...already on the list!
Sweet story / photos!
Great Story! What happened to your other eye?
S&W the great equalizer.
Greg,
I have two, one with a wood handle and a 7 1/2 barrel, the other is jet black rubber grip, 4 1/2 barrel. It does have a kick but .... bear do have teeth, which as stutzman21 said a few seconds ago
" the great equalizer" I'll take the lighter one (4 1/2) into the mountains although they are both about equal.
Hopefully you'll get one next year!
great place. gods country out there
Elk hunting is one of the hardest types of hunting in the US. Going at it Solo is no joke, Kudo's to you for going at it hard and surviving it. Remember how tired you were on that last day... imagine having to then pack out an 800lb elk
Now your hooked for life!
Very good and honest reporting. Enjoyed your sharing this experience in a very true technique. No covered over romantic rambling, and people need to know how tough such a hunt really is. Kudos to you for how you revealed that a lot of effort that did not yield the prize sought after still had a great enjoyment factor that was very rewarding. Takes a lot of guts and skill to do this type hunting and good ethics to not take shots that are low percentage. You are the kind of hunter that we all need to point out to our next generation.
Greg,
I was doing so more reflecting on your hunt...
Did you use scent blocker? You are absolutely correct that the winds in those mountains can make or break a stalk - as you shared about on several occasions - therefore I wondered what you did for scent elimination.
Again, great job on sharing about aspects of an elk hunt that many of us have experienced but few have shared.
All my best,
Greg Jackson
(GSJackson)
Castle Rock, CO
GSJackson,
I did not use any scent elimination products for a couple reasons:
1) The weight to pack in sprays, etc
2) I was working so hard every day that I would eventually stink.
The best option in to have a bunch of the powdered wind checkers and ONLY do stalks with the wind in your favor. The main thing is to not bump the elk out of the area...so even if you have to hike a long distance to stay down wind, its worth it.
Post a Comment