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My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt

Posted By: ol' dad

My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 07:37 PM

Thought I would share some pics of my recent southern Colorado archery hunt. It was my first time elk hunting. Hunted September 4th through the 13th and shot it on the afternoon of the 13th. Drove out with a buddy but we hunted different areas. I had hiked into a national forest area about 4 miles from the nearest road. It had been pretty tough hunting the first 9 days. There was one bedding area that I had my eye on for the last day and it paid off. He was bedded on a west facing slope and came in to my calls at around 2 p.m. I was just under 11,000'. I was in thick cover and the opportunity for a shot was limited. All he gave me was a quartering-to shot, which I had hoped to avoid, but was confident with my ability to make it. He was right at 20 yards when we shook hands. Ran 80 yards and piled up! Hate to guess how many miles I put on the boots over the 10 day period but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Also caught some nice brook, rainbow, and cutthroat trout during the week which helped keep my spirits up when hunting was slow. I turned 40 at the end of August so this trip was a birthday gift to myself...and an excuse to my wife to buy more hunting gear! smile

Big thanks to my new friend Ronnie from Magnolia Texas who was another hunter in the area. He was kind enough to offer his ATV and help to haul my elk off the mountain. Thanks Ronnie!

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ol'dad
Posted By: Michael Morris

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 07:43 PM

Way to go man
Posted By: bucksnbears

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 07:43 PM

Most excellent!
Congrats!
Posted By: goldnut

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 07:45 PM

Great hunting trip you had. That is next on my bucket list of hunts. Congrats!
Posted By: concrete man

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 07:47 PM

That's great is it hard to get bow tag.
Posted By: Hodagtrapper

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 07:50 PM

Very well done! Way to make it happen!

Chris
Posted By: adam m

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 07:52 PM

Nice bull & fish. Congrats
Posted By: jbyrd63

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 08:06 PM

Awesome job!!!
Posted By: Bear Tracker

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 08:25 PM

Very nice, Congrats
Posted By: Catch22

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 08:28 PM

Holy cow, what an adventure! WTG man, congrats!!
Posted By: Rockfarmer

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 08:30 PM

Nice Bull! Congrats!
Posted By: DaveP

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 08:57 PM

Congrats, that
is awesome!

And now I'm crushed to know I'm almost old enough to be ol' dad's dad!
Posted By: J. Brooks

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 09:13 PM

Sounds like a great trip and lots of memories!
Posted By: BernieB.

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 09:30 PM

Very cool and congratulations. Looks like a lot of fun and hard work combined.
Posted By: Sask hunter

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 09:49 PM

Congrats!
Posted By: backroadsarcher

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 10:21 PM

Congrats, looks like a fun vacation.
Posted By: J.Morse

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 10:27 PM

That is a beautiful DIY bull! He'll make a gorgeous addition to your Man Room, (and freezer!) Congratulations on a super hunt. Do you mind sharing which unit you were hunting in?
Posted By: 330-Trapper

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 10:35 PM

Congratulations Nice Bull!!!
Posted By: snowy

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 09/30/19 11:04 PM

Great job! Nothing like solo hunting and getting git done! Great bull.
Posted By: BillyTraps

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 10/01/19 12:04 AM

that is just awesome for a first timer..Congrats !
Posted By: wheelers

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 10/01/19 12:13 AM

Very nice.
Posted By: rpmartin

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 10/01/19 12:30 AM

Well done, congrats
Posted By: Outlaw99

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 10/01/19 01:12 AM

Nothing more rewarding, congratulations
Posted By: Lugnut

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 10/01/19 01:20 AM

Nicely done ol’ dad!

Originally Posted by DaveP
And now I'm crushed to know I'm almost old enough to be ol' dad's dad!


Ha! Me too. The first thing I thought when I saw his pic was, “ol’ dad doesn’t look very old.” grin
Posted By: ol' dad

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 10/01/19 01:35 AM

Thanks for all the comments! It didn't come easy. I worked hard for it. The toughest part of the whole hunt was staying in the game mentally. After the 5th day of hunting, seeing limited sign, and only one cow, it would have been easy to pack up and come home. Got rained on most every day, sometimes two or three times, hailed on one day, and temperatures fluctuated from the high 20s to upper 80s. Everyone said the hardest thing about killing an elk is just staying on the mountain when things get slow...and they were right.

Concrete man, I was hunting in an OTC (over the counter) unit, so tags are readily available. Its my understanding that typically the success rate for OTC units is around 10%. And I would guess a portion of those are outfitted hunts. But don't let that deter you. It can be done. Just keep after it. I think a large portion of the 90%'ers give up early, aren't physically capable to handle the terrain and altitude, or are not comfortable getting away from camp by more than a mile.

J Morse, PM sent.

Just remembered I forgot to upload the best pictures...

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Sous-Vide elk loin topped with sauteed morel mushrooms, brussels sprouts, and blistered tomatoes with feta cheese. I think I will have it again tomorrow! grin

ol'dad
Posted By: rpmartin

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 10/01/19 01:51 AM

Oh man that looks delicious, nothing better than fresh elk steak!
Posted By: regulargrey

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 10/01/19 09:49 AM

nice and congrats looks like you had fun
Posted By: Pawnee

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 10/01/19 10:59 AM

Very nice. Congrats
Posted By: capt.scott

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 10/01/19 11:03 AM

Congratulation on your elk. Hard work and never give up attitude pays off most times.
Posted By: Getting There

Re: My Colorado Elk – over the counter, DIY, solo hunt - 10/01/19 12:24 PM

WTG!
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