Ziegler Outdoors: Rocky Mountain High

Once again the month of August kick started the hunting season of first’s for my buddy’s and I; our first time hunting elk and our first time living out of our backpacks in the high country of the Rocky Mountains, but it was an experience that tests an outdoorsman in way he has never been tested before. This type of hunt strips you down to the bare essentials of life: food, water and shelter. I believe there are certain things hard wired into every man, things like the desire to go on an adventure and the desire to be the hero; while all three of us got to go on one exciting adventure, it was only Tony that was the hero, but the triumph was definitely enjoyed by the entire trio. I assume most people not knowledgeable about elk hunting would wonder why we were so elated over a young bull and two empty tags, well in Colorado I was told there is a 7 % success rate among archery elk hunters, we hit pay dirt on our first try, I know hunter’s in their 40’s and 50’s with multiple elk hunts under their belt’s with no more success than us. It was a journey that started back when I was 12 year’s old still sharing a room with my older brother and talking dream hunt's at night before falling asleep and reading outdoor magazines with stories of elk hunt’s in God’s Country. I thought that was something maybe I would get to experience when I was in my 30’s and could afford a guide, but as luck would have it, I would meet a great friend in college that grew up in Denver and might be to elk hunting what Aaron Rodgers is to football, ha ha. But seriously, my old buddy Danny Clum knows the mountains and he knows elk like a Wisconsin farmer knows his cattle. When I told him I was going to come out and scout some land I had received a tip on from a friend that might hold elk, he offered to take me out and show me one of the places he has found success. I was blown away by that sort of generosity, fishermen don’t give away their best fishing holes and hunters don’t show others their honey holes. Danny took a day off work and spent a couple day’s in the mountains with me not only showing me elk and where to hunt them, but how to hunt them and more importantly how to survive in the mountains; I didn’t know how to load my pack, set up my tent, filter water or make dinner until my scouting trip with him. I really felt a thousand times more at ease after he took me out and taught me the ropes a bit because on this hunt I wasn’t just responsible for my own well-being, but a couple of other young hunter’s as well, I always feel pressure to make sure my compadres have a successful hunt, but this time it was about more, in the Mountains five hours from any help, it was also about survival! Danny provided me with skills and experiences I will carry with me going forward until I hang up my bow permanently. I also am grateful Danny helped me get great deals on the best gear at his shop rmsgear.com, even if you’re a non-hunter, but enjoy camping; they have the best equipment and friendliest service.

After a 16 hour drive out, a 20 minute four-wheeler ride up and 2 hour hike in we found our campsite, although not before we ran into a local couple and their attractive daughter that were sightseeing on this mountain and she stole Tony’s heart ha ha, we had them take our picture as we set out on our trek and tried to refocus Tony on hunting elk and not college girls; Jesse on the other hand was mesmerized by the view and the vastness of the wilderness, he did a great job of reminding us on this hunt “it’s the little things in life that mean the most” . Daybreak found us sneaking along a creek bed through a valley Danny told me we should get on some elk in. After making it only a quarter mile and to our disappointment hearing no bugles Tony suggested we set up on the meadow in front of us and call; Jesse and Tony took their positions on either side of the meadow 50 yards in front of me and I started cow calling, to my dismay I thought I heard a bugle, couldn’t be I thought to myself because I stink at calling and no way am I lucky enough to call in elk on my first try ever. I called a second time and I heard the bugle again, I thought for sure a fellow hunter was playing a cruel trick on me, just then a calf elk ran into the meadow between Jesse and Tony, Game on! A few minutes later the bugling bull came along the side of the mountain in and out of my view, but in plain sight for Jesse, just in too much brush for a shot, Jesse watched the show as he bugled to my calls, raked his antlers on brush and just stood around being enormous to a few whitetail hunters from Wisconsin. After him and I talking back and forth and my trying to play “hard to get” cow elk style he was 30 yards from Jesse and I and only needed to take a few more steps to present the shot we traveled so far for; Just about that time I heard a loud “whack” and turned around to see Tony’s bull run out of the meadow, I turned back around as our bull figured out the game and slowly walked back up the mountain and bugled no more. After getting up to Jesse, he whispered to me that Tony had made a great shot on that bull and it was expiring within 60 yards of us, I was ecstatic, twenty minutes into the hunt and we got a bull! Tony and Jesse noticed how I was the most excited out of us three; I thought of all the money I put into this hunt and more importantly the time away from my family, business and friends it just all seemed worth it at that moment. What a great memory with friends. After the butchering process and an afternoon hunt a thunderstorm rolled into our mountain range and little did we know was about to dump rain, wind and hail on us for the next 24 hours. I spent the night dry in my tent and woke the next morning thinking we would just wait out the storm before packing out the meat, but Jesse told me him and Tony had a much different night in a tent that leaked horribly and were wet and half frozen. Finally after truly realizing just how bad their tent leaked and how wet and serious their situation was I agreed we needed to get this meat out and get these guys to dryer land. We loaded up the meat and I asked Tony if I could carry out the head and horns of his bull for him to assure I had the most weight, it was only logical as I have 30 more pounds of mass on my frame than Tony does and I spent all summer hiking Gibraltar rock in my 60lb weighted vest preparing for that moment. Jesse reminded me of the hell I was in for; I told him we always accept the challenge! On our rainy, miserable hike out, I tripped and fell once, but mostly felt great, like my training was paying off, even in the rain and cold all three of us kept our spirits up. I will admit the only time I started feeling frustrated was when marble size hail started pelting me in the head. I remember looking at Tony as he was soaking wet and winded and got a great laugh as he sarcastically said out loud “go elk hunting they say, it will be fun!” Dry clothes and a warm meal never felt as good as they did that night; we packed back into our campsite the next morning and grabbed our bows to continue the hunt; I had an opportunity to take a cow that day, but we were all a little spent at that point and were not ready to put in that much effort again for a cow. Of course the rest of the hunt no shots were presented and I regret not bringing home more meat. Elk burgers are a delicacy in my eyes. We hiked out feeling like we conquered a huge challenge learning to navigate in the mountains and had a much clearer picture of how to hunt elk and what skills we need to improve on for the future. Reliable gear, better cardio training and more skillful calling are a must for next time and there will be a next time.