Longtime lurker, second time poster? Something like that. This post would be easy to make into a novel, so I'll try to bullet point it.
Summary:
To start off, my plan this year is to hunt solo (archery), but if someone with a similar mindset and hunting style is in CO then I think I'd be open to pairing up.
Dates:
Currently planning on September 15th through the 28th, but I am coming from Oklahoma and haven't quite nailed down when I will drive out
Where:
Colorado OTC Units sort of in the Montrose to Glenwood Springs area. I have things narrowed down a bit more than that, but I don't want to post specifics. The units I am looking at will be new to me, so I'm not dead set on where I'm going if I need to change things up.
Me:
33 and in good shape, I've bowhunted my whole life and last year was my first elk season (drew a tag, but didn't draw it this year). I went the opening days of archery and called in a few elk, came to full draw on 3 (didn't have a clean opening on 1 at 18yds / had one at 4yds that busted me / passed a third that I wasn't sure was legal), so not bad and I definitely learned a lot. I lived in CO for a bit and know what to expect for miles and elevation. Like last year, I'll prob hold out for a bull the first half of my trip and just try and fill the freezer after that. I couldn't score an elk on the hoof as I just don't get that caught up in scores (for deer or elk). My calling won't win any competitions, but I did get regular replies from elk last season-- including that one that came in on a string from 150yds to 4yds... surprised me enough that I didn't even have a good set up ready. I'm studying up and practicing a bit more on my calling to hopefully be better this go around.
Plan:
I did a mix of truck camping and also backpacking in pretty deep last year and may do the same this year, we'll see what it looks like when I get there. I don't have an ATV or dirtbike, so I'm trying to avoid the areas where those are common. Obviously I'm hunting with a bow, otherwise I'm trying to trim down my equipment even more from last year to keep as mobile as I can. I wouldn't say I'm ultralight, but you get the idea.
SO, if you're another solo archery hunter in good shape that would would be interested in meeting up, let me know. For me, this trip is all about hunting-- so everything else is pretty bare bones. That is, I'm not packing in booze (that's what you pick up in town once you fill your cooler) and setting up a campfire for biscuits and gravy every night. I'm eating far too much peanut butter and dehydrated food and getting up unpleasantly early to hike in. When backpacking, my wife gives me hell for being a mountain goat (she quickly learned to ask me not just how far we were going, but also how much elevation was in store for the day). Otherwise, for my day job I am a professional engineer and constantly tinkering and building stuff. I enjoy being busy.
Finally, as has been mentioned before, if you're an app developer, we need to get a Tindr for hunters. Finding partners when no one in your social circle hunts (let alone bowhunts) is a pain in the @$$!
Summary:
To start off, my plan this year is to hunt solo (archery), but if someone with a similar mindset and hunting style is in CO then I think I'd be open to pairing up.
Dates:
Currently planning on September 15th through the 28th, but I am coming from Oklahoma and haven't quite nailed down when I will drive out
Where:
Colorado OTC Units sort of in the Montrose to Glenwood Springs area. I have things narrowed down a bit more than that, but I don't want to post specifics. The units I am looking at will be new to me, so I'm not dead set on where I'm going if I need to change things up.
Me:
33 and in good shape, I've bowhunted my whole life and last year was my first elk season (drew a tag, but didn't draw it this year). I went the opening days of archery and called in a few elk, came to full draw on 3 (didn't have a clean opening on 1 at 18yds / had one at 4yds that busted me / passed a third that I wasn't sure was legal), so not bad and I definitely learned a lot. I lived in CO for a bit and know what to expect for miles and elevation. Like last year, I'll prob hold out for a bull the first half of my trip and just try and fill the freezer after that. I couldn't score an elk on the hoof as I just don't get that caught up in scores (for deer or elk). My calling won't win any competitions, but I did get regular replies from elk last season-- including that one that came in on a string from 150yds to 4yds... surprised me enough that I didn't even have a good set up ready. I'm studying up and practicing a bit more on my calling to hopefully be better this go around.
Plan:
I did a mix of truck camping and also backpacking in pretty deep last year and may do the same this year, we'll see what it looks like when I get there. I don't have an ATV or dirtbike, so I'm trying to avoid the areas where those are common. Obviously I'm hunting with a bow, otherwise I'm trying to trim down my equipment even more from last year to keep as mobile as I can. I wouldn't say I'm ultralight, but you get the idea.
SO, if you're another solo archery hunter in good shape that would would be interested in meeting up, let me know. For me, this trip is all about hunting-- so everything else is pretty bare bones. That is, I'm not packing in booze (that's what you pick up in town once you fill your cooler) and setting up a campfire for biscuits and gravy every night. I'm eating far too much peanut butter and dehydrated food and getting up unpleasantly early to hike in. When backpacking, my wife gives me hell for being a mountain goat (she quickly learned to ask me not just how far we were going, but also how much elevation was in store for the day). Otherwise, for my day job I am a professional engineer and constantly tinkering and building stuff. I enjoy being busy.
Finally, as has been mentioned before, if you're an app developer, we need to get a Tindr for hunters. Finding partners when no one in your social circle hunts (let alone bowhunts) is a pain in the @$$!
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