Colorado Elk hunt 2009

[SDS]

Well I'm sitting here in Littleton, Co. waiting on my hunting buddy to grab a couple of things and then we are headed up into the mountains for a late season elk hunt. We are going to be up near Kremmling and hope to get in a full day of scouting tomorrow........well, maybe a little fishing while we are scouting.

I'm not real sure what our chances are since we will be hunting public lands and the weather is a bit warm (around 20 at night, low 40's daytime) and we are both novice elk hunters. Doesn't really matter though. I'm going to be camping in the Rockies and playing in the woods! That can't be bad whether we get animals or not.

I'll try to take plenty of pictures to post up when I get back. Hopefully I'll have some pictures of my grinning mug over a big ol' wapiti!

Stay safe,
SDS

[Allen Newberry]

That sounds like the makings for some good times! Have fun!

[JAWilliams]

Hey you should be able to get fishing in an hunting. No pressure about the pics. But you know if there isn't pics it didn't happen. Have a great time and enjoy the beauty.

[Jeff Pearce]

Just dont shot this one....my son and i just got back from our elk hunt. some guy had this along side the road. good luck i got my elk.......

[SDS]

Well I'm back. A bit early but the storm that is hitting up there was threatening to pin us down where we were camping. After seeing pictures that my hunting buddy sent me this morning it looks like a good thing we bailed when we did. I might have been there for awhile waiting for the pass to clear before I could get out.

I didn't hear of any elk being taken in the entire GMU we were hunting (18 and 181) but we sure had fun. I saw moose, muley, and even saw some elk but they weren't in our hunting area. Saw some beautiful country and hiked for what seemed like forever. We covered a lot of ground but it just wasn't meant to be this year.

I'll post up pictures later but I still have to unpack the truck. Got home about 1:00 am. I started my day yesterday at 4:00 by hiking up to about 9800 ft.

That is some incredible country up there.

SDS

[Jeff Pearce]

sounds like you had a great time.

[SDS]

I used to feel like a hunting trip wasn't a success unless I shot something. I've changed my mind on that over the years. I had a fantastic time in some of the most beautiful country I've ever had the privilege of seeing. The Rocky Mountains humble me every time I get up there. Yesterday morning at about 6:00 am I was sitting in some pines at about 9600 ft. watching a meadow. I sat and watched for awhile then got out my Jetboil burner and made a cup of coffee using some of the fresh snowfall.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/068.jpg

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/064-Copy.jpg

After awhile the sun popped over the mountains and lit the peaks up.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/071.jpg

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/072-1.jpg

Unfortunately those clouds over the mountains were snow storms headed our way.

http://s261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/?action=view&current=088.jpg

We made it out just ahead of the storm.

SDS

[SDS]

Here are a few random shots from throughout the week.........

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/039.jpg
Hunting at about 9500 ft. in the snow.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/043.jpg

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/048-2.jpg
There were elk, just not in our GMU.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/elkhunt2009039.jpg
Marlin .45-70 Guide Gun.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/elkhunt2009008.jpg
4X4 muley.

SDS

[SDS]

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/elkhunt2009024.jpg

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/elkhunt2009029.jpg
Plenty of sign.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/elkhunt2009060.jpg
Getting ready to hike about 6 miles. No wapiti.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/elkhunt2009051.jpg
Outstanding scenery.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/058.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/059.jpg
The obligatory knife pictures.......

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/060.jpg
The results of the above pictures.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/078.jpg
Good times with good friends.

SDS

[JAWilliams]

Thanks for the pics. they make me home sick. I used to run around the rockies but spent most of my time in the blue mountains. Thanks again.

[SDS]

I'm envious of anyone who gets to live up there. That whole area makes me feel very humble.

SDS