Dusan Smetana

The Icing on the Cast

Online Editors — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:36:55 -0400

jimrange

Joe_Cermele — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:21:04 -0500

Backcountry Bowhunting in the Thorofare

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:44:56 -0500

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fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:44:55 -0500

Backcountry Bowhunting in the Thorofare

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:44:32 -0500

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fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:44:32 -0500

Backcountry Bowhunting in the Thorofare

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:40:08 -0500

More glassing. One great thing about bowhunting in early September is the weather. We were in light turkey hunting clothes for most of the week.

Backcountry Bowhunting in the Thorofare

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:40:08 -0500

Here's a picture of Colby looking somewhat relaxed, which you didn't see often. As the "Camp Boss," he was in charge of making sure everything ran smoothly, which is not easy when you're dealing with 30-some head of horses and mules, guides, hunters, a few dogs, and the odd grizzly bear that might wander into camp (hence the pistol).

Backcountry Bowhunting in the Thorofare

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:40:08 -0500

After a 45-minute ride on the mules, we started listening for bugles, and glassing for elk on the ridges. Our guide, Colby Gines, always seemed to see them first, sometimes from as far as half a mile away. After spotting one we'd run, usually uphill, to get in position and start calling.

Backcountry Bowhunting in the Thorofare

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:40:08 -0500

On the first morning we mounted up long before sunrise and rode to near the treeline, which is where the elk were this early in the season. One thing you must have on a hunt like this is a good bow sling (mine was from Primos). You're going through a lot of trees and brush, and your bow can take a beating -" as can you. You also need a good headlamp.