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Left to go on an elk hunt in New Mexico on the 30th of Dec, and got back last night. Kind of a budget hunt, with a landowner cow tag. We had a nice place to stay with plenty of heat, good beds, great kitchen, and easy access to the hunting area that is a working cattle ranch.
Tags were good for Jan 1-5. New years eve, we got a 5" snow. The first of the season.
I went with some guys that have been going there for many years, with a 100% success ratio for the last 6 years.
This year, something was different. As this was my first elk hunt, I just rode along while glassing with the guys, and we saw lots of elk. Bull elk. No cows. Finally on the second day in a valley, we saw 8 bulls, and 3 cows. Nothing we could do as they were 1K yds away, and walking to the Indian reservation.
Next day we set up in a 100+ year old log bull barn where some of the chinking had fallen out, making a perfect blind.
Elk came out on the other side, over 6k yds away. Dark came and had to walk out.
Sunday morning came out crisp and clear, and a -22 degrees below zero at 9000 ft. The other guys (desk jockies) decided to huddle around the pot bellied stove, so I took off across the mountain. Took a GPS and a Lensatic Compass, food, etc.
Spent the day following tracks and trying to find where the elk were, as this ranch is a migration route for the elk.
Finally cut tracks, and followed them until they left the 7K Acre ranch on the South.
Next day before daylight, (11 below)was driving up the ranch road before daylight and saw another group of tracks, and followed them. They intersected with the first group at the edge of the dark timber, and went around the face of a mountain, leaving the ranch at the same place. For whatever reason the elk had changed their migration route to go around the ranch instead of through it?
Long story short, I've been to the mountains on ski trips, etc, but have never put on the backpack, slung a rifle, and make like a wanna-be mountain man. It was an incredible experience to wander the mountains. I crossed a pair of mountain lion track, saw mule deer, elk, etc. Some of the trip was memorable. I had my GPS and getting back to camp, it registered my total miles at 3.21. Highest speed, 4.3mph. The guy that invited me, wondered how the heck a top speed of 4.3mph could be obtained?
Easy. Thats the speed you reach when the 45 degree face of a mountain in loose rock gives way underfoot, and you slide down the mountain on the cheeks of your butt
;D
Yesterday morning, got out for another hunt, and not far from the cabin, found some fresh tracks crossing the ranch road, so, got out and followed them. While cresting a hill, I saw two cow elk on the opposite ridge about 400 yds away. The range didn't bother me, as much as knowing there was a house, and livestock on the other side of the ridge below where the elk were standing.
No brainer. No shoot. They wanderd off down the ridge, and I went about my way. Had to leave early as another major snow storm was heading that way, and they said to get out if we didn't want to get snowed in.
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Tags were good for Jan 1-5. New years eve, we got a 5" snow. The first of the season.
I went with some guys that have been going there for many years, with a 100% success ratio for the last 6 years.
This year, something was different. As this was my first elk hunt, I just rode along while glassing with the guys, and we saw lots of elk. Bull elk. No cows. Finally on the second day in a valley, we saw 8 bulls, and 3 cows. Nothing we could do as they were 1K yds away, and walking to the Indian reservation.
Next day we set up in a 100+ year old log bull barn where some of the chinking had fallen out, making a perfect blind.
Elk came out on the other side, over 6k yds away. Dark came and had to walk out.
Sunday morning came out crisp and clear, and a -22 degrees below zero at 9000 ft. The other guys (desk jockies) decided to huddle around the pot bellied stove, so I took off across the mountain. Took a GPS and a Lensatic Compass, food, etc.
Spent the day following tracks and trying to find where the elk were, as this ranch is a migration route for the elk.
Finally cut tracks, and followed them until they left the 7K Acre ranch on the South.
Next day before daylight, (11 below)was driving up the ranch road before daylight and saw another group of tracks, and followed them. They intersected with the first group at the edge of the dark timber, and went around the face of a mountain, leaving the ranch at the same place. For whatever reason the elk had changed their migration route to go around the ranch instead of through it?
Long story short, I've been to the mountains on ski trips, etc, but have never put on the backpack, slung a rifle, and make like a wanna-be mountain man. It was an incredible experience to wander the mountains. I crossed a pair of mountain lion track, saw mule deer, elk, etc. Some of the trip was memorable. I had my GPS and getting back to camp, it registered my total miles at 3.21. Highest speed, 4.3mph. The guy that invited me, wondered how the heck a top speed of 4.3mph could be obtained?
Easy. Thats the speed you reach when the 45 degree face of a mountain in loose rock gives way underfoot, and you slide down the mountain on the cheeks of your butt
;DYesterday morning, got out for another hunt, and not far from the cabin, found some fresh tracks crossing the ranch road, so, got out and followed them. While cresting a hill, I saw two cow elk on the opposite ridge about 400 yds away. The range didn't bother me, as much as knowing there was a house, and livestock on the other side of the ridge below where the elk were standing.
No brainer. No shoot. They wanderd off down the ridge, and I went about my way. Had to leave early as another major snow storm was heading that way, and they said to get out if we didn't want to get snowed in.
