No problemos here in Catron Co., except there are no people ,stores ,traffic,internet,cell service & no critters....lol
Just stay where you are and you'll be fine.
If you had blown it you would have known, they would have run. I doubt you did if you had the wind.
Glad you filled your tag too.
And with minimal help from me......................................lol
It has been so hot & dry they have gone full nocturnal here....just about. I usually see them...
Every spot named was asked about when folks asked me about 12 this year........all I would have avoided.
Water.
Watch trails to & from @ daylight.
Set up near one & wait to see if that is the one today..........all 3 hunters got opportunities that I helped. All 3 spent the day looking and...
I have Patagonia fleece I have been wearing for 25 + years. One pull over I wore almost everyday in morning for 20 at work. I still have it in my hunt gear bag.
I have thrown away several other brands since...none for political reasons.
Been in the high 90's here all summer.Very hot for SW NM @ 7500'. Very little monsoon season. Due to cool by Wed.
Looks like my old cabin @ Huntington Lake may have burned in the Creek Fire. It is a monster.
I was living near sea level & cabin was 7500'. I would regularly hike to 10-12k.Did it for many years.I would take a day or two before hiking around too. I live at 7500 now....and drink tons of good water daily.
Most likely. Throw in dehydrated.
I never had a problem,then one day walking back to my cabin with empty canteen and hit similar wall half mile away. Bad headache along with cramps. Drank a half gallon of water & laid down. Was fine half hour later.
Finally getting some rain.It has been brutal hot for here. Dryer than normal in the Gila after a good spring.
Elk are very healthy still. Seen some bruisers still in velvet lately.
I retired from Park Ranger job @ 54 after 20 years.... & glad I did. That was 10 yrs ago.
I would say a small local sheriff deputy would be preferable to GW for an older guy. The stress could be same depending on state/area.
I have older friends involved as reserve deputies and S&R/Posses.
I have taken to shooting off a tripod,sitting for the last 10 years.
Never liked a bipod on my rifle. Gets caught on brush,etc & half the time it is too short to clear brush. IMHO
Practice setting up. Set up quickly in the field. Set up & move into clear shooting range.Practice with my ranger...