Ross and Adam: First CO Elk Hunt Planning Thread

[AdamW]

I'm upstairs and my gear is downstairs but off the top of my head, here's my gear list. Some of this stuff may or may not stay in the truck depending on what we decide as to how many days we stay out at a stretch, etc. Those items are marked with a "*".I know I forgot some things I'm taking, I'll add the additions in bold when I add them. Base weight looks right at 37 lbs for potentially cold weather. Tear it apart Rokslide!

Pack:

• Kifaru Timberline 2 w/ Guide Lid, small belt pocket, gun bearer
• 3L Bladder
• DIY pack cover
• HPG Original Kit bag (bino harness and emergency items)

Shelter:

• Kelty Salida 2 tent
• 0 degree mummy bag
• Klymit Insulated Static V Lite pad
• Ultralight inflatable pillow
• Ground sheet
• 5x8 emergency silnylon tarp w/ lightweight guy lines pre-rigged

Clothing (worn and packed combined):

• Merino boxer x 2
• Merino LS top x 2
• Merino base pant
• Darn Tough socks x 2
• EB Guide Pro pant
• Fleece midweight top
• Fleece midweight bottom
• Merino Buff/neck gaiter
• First Lite Uncompahgre puffy
• Blaze ball cap
• Blaze beanie
• Lightweight blaze vest x 2 (1 for use on pack)
• OR Croc Gaiters
• Mechanics glove/general purpose
• Wool/fleece fingerless folding mittens
• Vasque Erikkson GTX boots
• North Face rain jacket
• Columbia Rain pant

Hunting Gear:

• Rifle w/ sling
• 10 rds ammo
• Solohunter rifle cover
• Black Ovis game bags w/ gloves, ribbon, elec. tape and ground sheet
• Outdoor Edge Razor EDC w/ 4 blades
• Custom Redmech fixed blade!
• DIY sit pad
• Wind checker
• Leupold rangefinder
• *Bugle and cow call
• Vortex Diamondback 10x42 binos
• Tripod w/ Vortex bino adapter
• License and tag w/ ink pen

Cooking and water:

• MSR Pocket Rocket
• 230g fuel x 1
• *100g fuel x 1
• Toaks 750ml Ti pot w/ lid
• Toaks Ti spork
• Sawyer Squeeze w/ 2L and 1L bags
• Backup water tabs
• Nalgene Oasis 1L canteen

Hygiene and First Aid:

• Small FAK w/ bandages, assorted meds, leukotape, Chapstick
• Toiletries - toothbrush and paste, ultralight micro towel
• TP and unscented butt wipes
• 1 oz Boudreaux's butt paste
• Small hand sanitizer

General Gear:

• Delorme Inreach SE
• Headlamp
• iphone 5s w/ onxmaps
• *Garmin GPS
• Compass w/ emergency whistle
• Topo/trail map
• 10,000 mah battery pack for phone
• Extra batteries for all devices
• Bic lighter x 2
• Fire kit - tinder, small ferro rod, lifeboat matches
• Trekking poles
• Bear spray

Food:

Breakfasts -

• paleo granola w/ dried fruit and protein powder "milk"
• Starbuck's Via coffee

Lunches -

• Whole grain tortillas
• Justin's almond/peanut butter singles
• Precooked bacon

Dinners -

• Assorted Hawk Vittles and DIY dehydrated meals

Snacks/meal variety -

• Trail mix
• Almonds
• Snickers w/ almonds
• Jerky/Epic Venison bars
• Electrolyte singles
• Lemonade singles
• Emergen-C

 

[Bar]

Can you remember where it all is in the pack?

 

[AdamW]

Can you remember where it all is in the pack?

Is that required? But yes, fortunately I have a system.

 

[Bar]

If it was required i'd be screwed.

 

[BroodBuster]

I'd add a bandana, sunglasses and a small tube of sun screen.

Being Irish/Polish I take my sun protection seriously. Especially if there's a chance of snow.

The sunglasses sock doubles as my lens cleaner. The sun screen can replace the lip balm. And the bandana has a million and one uses.

 

[COlineman78]

I have started leaving my ground cloth behind for my cheaper tents because the floor of my REI half dome is thicker than most BA with their ground tarps combined. Your Kelty is 68D, so as long as you're careful to clean your tent pad before setting up then you won't have to worry.

I would warn not to underestimate the increased fuel consumption at altitude. Due to both decreased efficiency due to lower ambient temperatures, decreased oxygen and a lower starting temp for the water you should probably double any boil times/fuel usage you are seeing at home. Also, I was up at 10k+ yesterday and there was 4" of snow on the north facing slope and the standing water was starting to ice over. Don't know where you are going, but if there isn't a lot of moving water it may become more convenient to melt snow.

I would also add some tenacious tape, but leukotape may be good enough in a pinch. I personally would leave the Garmin behind, but take whatever you are more comfortable with.

 

[armadillo66]

My home made rocket stove was able to boil water almost as fast as my Coleman Peak one liquid gas stove at 10,600ft. If I would finesse the construction and assembly a bit to control air flow better, it would be even more fuel efficient and great heat output on twigs and pine cones.
I made it out of a 4" to 6" water heater flue transition and a coffee can and a small tomato paste can. I can store fire starter stuff in the coffee can with a lid on it and it all packs down to a easy and light setup. I use one of those Chicken on a beer can type BBQ grill stands for a grill and my GI canteen cup and a small 8" round cast iron griddle and a small copper clad soup pot work excellent. I can even use the griddle and soup pot upside down on it for a small dutch oven.
I utilize a couple of recent production MRE meals, the meal heaters can come in real handy for keeping hands functional on a cold morning in a blind

I have found that using a wool sock over my left hand in a glove, holding my rifle, I don't get near as cold from the metal and wood on the gun. Hunting in northern Missouri late deer season, a 50 cal Hawken has a heavy iron barrel that channels the cold deep into your body even with decent gloves

In real cold weather I leave my boot laces real loose. and wool socks with a pair of hosery stockings under them works pretty good to stay warm

I have a 10' square cotton canvas tarp to make a roof for my blind and another one for a heavy cold wind block for my tent site.

 

[XMP]

Ok, my friends, I'm getting anxious for an update. Hope it's going well and you are overrun by big bulls.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Updates people updates!

 

[AdamW]

Man, what a wild 8 days. Cliff Notes version: we worked our butts off and never set eyes on an elk in 8 days. We've got hundreds of pictures and I'll post some up when I get them imported over. Forgive the typos I only slept about 4 hours last night. I'm wiped.

Wednesday 10/12 - Travel day:

I left home at 3 am and met Ross at his house at 6 am to start the trip to CO. We arrived Wednesday night around 9 pm and camped in an empty campsite.

Thursday 10/13 - Scouting day 1:

We got up early and hit the 4WD roads in Ross's Mule with the intention of checking out a few places we had chosen as potential hunting spots. We swung through a local store and talked with the owner who saw a lot of hunters through the seasons (mainly archery) and gave us some spots to look at. This overlapped with our own plans so we were feeling pretty good. Spot #1 was pretty high elevation and since they had only had a small amount of snow that had since melted off, I was expecting the elk to be up high still. We stashed some gear and decided to pack camp in the next day. The spot was about 1 mile as the crow flies from where we parked the Mule, a bit over 2 miles of trail, not including some of the switchbacks I couldn't measure on Google Earth. Should have made a track with OnX.

Friday 10/14 - Scouting day 2:

We packed camp in and intended to glass that evening for elk. We found a good vantage point and sat down behind the glass (binos on tripods). We glassed until dark and saw nothing. The moon phases couldn't have been much worse, nearly full moon all week. The wind also started picking up. Swirling winds as high as in the 40 mph range probably and they rarely settled completely. There was a constant swirling wind for most of the week we'd learn.

Saturday 10/15 - Hunting day 1:

We were behind the glass well before shooting light and just weren't finding any elk. The spot felt good so we stayed optimistic. I stood up to glass behind us and right there at maybe 60 yards was an orange vest hung over a tree limb. I pointed him out to Ross and we waved and went back to hunting. He moved on. A bit later Ross says "Adam!" and points. About 100 yards away was a guy wearing a black Carhart coat and hat, zero orange. We went down and talked to him. He was from Wisconsin - we were sitting in the middle of a good ole Wisconsin "deer drive". We ended up having another member of Team Wisconsin walk through, at least he was wearing an upland jacket with orange shoulders. They had a group of 5 (only 2 of which had tags) staying in a cabin down the nearest road. We decided to go further in for the evening since they had been tromping around all day and I hunted a small meadow I had found just in case an elk stepped out. Day 1 ended with us bumping in to 3 people and zero elk spotted.

Sunday 10/16 - Hunting day 2:

Same tactics as Day 1. We decided at mid-morning to walk to check out a nearby spot, glassing as we went. We saw 2 more hunters in orange. They came walking out of their spot like guys on COPS get out of their car to talk to the officer when they have dope in the car (sorry, just an accurate simile). I felt like they were coming out to talk to us because they may have seen elk near their spot or didn't want us crowding in. We didn't have any intention of crowding them, because we didn't want to be the crowded on either. They were a local father and son and said they hadn't seen anything. The dad, Ryan, said this was the worst year he could remember so far - the moon, the wind, the early snow maybe screwing things up. He couldn't believe we weren't all in to elk up high. We talked for a bit, really nice guy. He said after 2 days they were dropping down to give it a shot. Evening tactics were the same as Day 1 as well. My meadow felt promising, but didn't deliver. Ross had a big bull Moose walk within 50 yards of him and as he was telling me the story all excited, I saw a black school bus driving across the mountain a half mile or more away. That bull stood out like a sore thumb. So cool to see.

Monday 10/17 - Hunting day 3:

We decided to pack up camp after our now 4th at least partial day in the area without seeing a single elk or even promising fresh sign. We were elkless and wind-beaten,. The downside is moving to a new area is we're losing hunting time in an already short 5 day season. The hike out was interesting. The snow covered trail had melted some and frozen. The high winds had snapped off several trees that were now lying across the trail. We took our time with full packs - trekking poles were a life saver. We hit the road and headed to our intended new spot #2. There was a pine, maybe 2 ft. diameter and 100 ft tall snapped off and over the jeep trail. There sits a Cadillac Escalade and a Subaru small SUV. I wouldn't drive my crew cab 4WD GMC up this road in 100 years, but confidence overrides sense at times apparently. The Caddy had just parked in the middle of the road and the Subaru owner (dad with 2 kids) was flipping rocks to make a path to get back. They and others were at the top of the mountain when the tree had fallen, stranding them there. Subaru had knocked all the limbs off the under side of the tree with a hammer and was able to drive under. He was out of gas almost and had zero emergency supplies. The Mule couldn't fit under the tree, we were a long way from out hunting spot and we discussed the issues of skimming under the tree only to have it settle more and trapping us up the mountain. We decided to relocate. Time lost.

We ran in to Ryan and his son again. He laughed and said for MO newbies he thought we were on the right track because we were having the same thoughts he was. We were all headed to a similar area. He laughed and confessed they had seen 3 bulls the day before when we met, but they were in a location where it was near impossible to make a play on them. They had written those bulls off.

We checked out spot #3 that evening. It just looked so-so. There was a lot of blown down timber and it would be low visibility hunting it seemed. You just couldn't see much in there at all. We camped near the truck to hit it in the morning.

Tuesday 10/18 - Hunting day 4:

We woke early and decided to instead hit a promising higher elevation spot #4 we had thought about because we would be walking in to this current spot blind and didn't have high hopes. In hindsight, we should have probably stayed instead of burning more time relocating. We were playing the grass is greener game hard. We ran in to another local hunting the adjacent unit and he said he had never seen it like this either. The elk were nowhere to be seen and seemed to be shut down by the moon, wind, or something. Once we got to the spot mid-morning it looked good. We hunted it all day. Much like spot #1, the elk just weren't there. The sign was old-ish. Even though the area looked very "elky" it was 2+ weeks ago "elky". I climbed to over 12k and glassed down in to an adjacent gulch where I had an awesome aerial view; nada. We decided to leave in the dark and go back down low. Ross had a spot in mind and when we got there at 9 pm or so there was a sign they were burning that place off during 1st rifle season. Wow. We decided to head back and hunt near spot #3 at lower ground. I wont' speak for Ross but I was getting pretty beat by this point.

Wednesday 10/19 - Hunting day 5:

We decided to use the full-ish moon to our advantage. We were in the timber by 5:30, glassing by the moon as we walked in. This area was a small (1,000+ acre!) area that I felt like people would overlook and not bother with. It was also right between the mountain and private ground where the elk were known to move to as they wintered and escaped hunting pressure. I glassed up 2 muley bucks at 60 yards or so and saw a ton of fresh deer sign, but weathered elk sign. The elk just weren't in there either and we couldn't find them. It was like we couldn't find them up high or down low. We wrapped the season without so much as setting eyes on an elk.

Conclusion:

We were just outclassed on this trip. The odds weren't in our favor as 2 goobers from Missouri on our first hunt, but I thought we'd at least get in to some elk, see some, blow some stalks to get in rifle range, etc. I felt like we worked our asses off. If we made a list of the stuff I felt we did right vs the stuff we screwed up, I feel like the "did right" list would be way longer. We endured the conditions, the trials and the doubt. We heard 3 gun shots the whole season and at least 1 of them was from an adjacent unit. We weren't the only ones who struck out but I will be interested to see the harvest stats for the unit for this season.

I summed the trip up like this: "1,700 miles driven, untold miles on my boots, 8k up to 12k elevation, brutal winds and 1 good friend, but 0 elk packed out. What an epic but trying 8 days." Steve Rinella talks about things that are fun as you're doing them and things that are fun after the fact; I think this trip was a combo of both.

Hat off to you guys that consistently get it done. This shit is hard work. Thanks for all the help over the last year and since the start of this thread Rokslide; you're good eggs.

 

[fngTony]

I've followed the whole thread, enjoyed all aspects and details. You guys did nothing wrong in my book, the elk didn't cooperate. Somethings are just out of your control. Much respect to both you for all the homework, time, and effort, and you never quit. Wish you a filled tag next year.

 

[XMP]

Great write up. The only thing I'm sorrier for than that you didn't get a bull, is that I wasn't there with you.

 

[gelton]

Yup, never quit, I didn't see a single elk my first year out, and the year after that only saw a single cow. Its hard work with a lot of skill and a little luck involved...maybe even a lot of luck and a little skill.

 

[Dos Perros]

I think we laid eyes on 6 elk in our first 8 days of elk hunting. Didn't hear a single bugle, brutal. This year, our second, we saw well over a hundred elk, a few trophy class animals, and even managed to call in two and get bows drawn. All in the same unit as the first year. Keep at it, I know you two will.

 

[Finch]

Good write-up. Don't feel (as) bad because we only saw one elk on our first time out last year. She snuck up on me at 20 yards and I didn't get a shot. I agree with what you said about Rinella. It sucked at times but we've since forgotten that and can't wait to go back. Planning on a 2017 trip. It definitely gets in your blood!

 

[Redmech]

Adam wrote a detailed write up of our trip.

If the success is measured by pounds of meat brought home to the family, or the size of bone growing out of a harvested animals head, we failed horribly.

If success is measured by memories, lessons learned, great photos, time spent with a good friend, better health, learned a way to eat healthier and have body in better shape, and vacation time well used, well then I feel like I am the most successful forum member here.

I'm already thinking of future hunts. Adam and I discussed wether to hunt a unit not cursed (anything but this one), or try to hunt the unit that has taken life out of our boots and pack straps. We both believe it would be beneficial to learn a unit and keep with it. As time allows, I'll get some photos posted and update thoughts.

Negatives, no elk meat brought home to Missouri.

Positives, time spent with a friend in God's country, 80 pounds lost, great memories of my first back country high elevation big game hunt, I arrived home to my 10 year old daughter wanting to go whitetail deer hunting this fall (youth season, next weekend), and many more blessings that elude me as of now.

Great trip all in all.

 

[realunlucky]

This has been a great read and will be a great asset for new comers wondering where to start. Also it sucks when even the best plans don't pay off but it happens to everyone. Don't get down it makes it all the sweeter when it finally comes together. Luck I personally don't know how you aquire it (wish i did)but I'll choose it over preparation every time. Most times it takes a little for it all to come together.

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[oopslala]

I ended up with a 1st rifle tag and saw a grand total of 8 elk all on the last night 2 miles away, all lacking horns.

I feel your pain, but it's just as much, if not more about the experiences in the woods than bagging one. Keep up that work ethic and you'll get them next time!!

 

[Umpqua75]

Been following you guys since ya started ... no failures noted! Thanks for keeping us posted and sharing all that you learned . I know I will use some of that knowledge in a couple weeks when I head North to my homeland for Oregon Silvies # 2 !!


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[AdamW]

Thanks for all the kind words guys!