Well, my elk trip into the Weminuche was sort of a let down from the hunt perspective, but still an awesome experience all around.

I left the TH Thurs morn 9/1 around 10.30 mountain time. The plan was to hike in 5 miles, then hit a relatively small canyon about a mile off the main trail. I've been in this canyon twice before and seen elk both times, back in late May over Memorial Day weekend and on last year's hunt in early sept.

I was on a skinny, broken cow trail moving pretty slowly towards the mouth of the canyon with a decent wind. I was Prob only a quarter mile off the main trail at this point. It was around 2.30pm when I heard two "cracks" kinda to my left and almost behind me. Before I turned I nocked an arrow then spun around to see a cow at roughly 30 yards. She knew something was up but she hadn't winded me yet and it appeared she had no good visual on me either (the Sitka Open Country Optifade has been great in close quarters on more than 1 occasion).

I think we were both a bit confused as it all happened pretty fast (don't it always happen that way?). Since my tag was either sex and it's backcountry solo archery, I had made the decision to take the opportunity to kill any legal elk. With no time for the range finder, I started to draw at the broadside cow. As I came to full draw I realized I could clearly see her hip, neck and head... But there was brush covering her vitals... Too thick to even consider. She figured it out soon enough and that was that. After she split, I ranged the brush at 31 yards. Needless to say, I was pretty fired up with this encounter in the 4th hour of my trip.

Unfortunately, That's when things started kinda going south. I continued down the trail and soon saw 2 other hunters making their way to the same spot I was after.

Long story short, I saw no more elk in that area (9500ft).

The weather then sucked pretty hard for the first 4 days (constant rain) and game was sparse. I headed to the high country (11,600 was my peak) on day 2 where I saw lots of good sign but no elk and more rain.

I did get to see 3 bull moose, which is always cool. Seen moose all 3 times I've hunted this area.

Bull Moose @ 150 yards... Pic taken with my iPhone.


Had a calf almost run me over one afternoon while I was having lunch, saw the ass end of another cow in heavy timber as she fled, then saw 2 bulls way above me on the last day... A raghorn and a shooter. Heard Bulls bugling up high at 3.15pm the day before I left, and at 2.15 pm the last day. Got no response to calling during entire trip.

After day 7 I decided to pack up and head to New Mexico GMU 30, where I drew a deer tag. Saw some deer, got a little sunburned and nearly stepped on a rattler on my way out.

I've never seen southern NM this lush this time of year... Climate change no doubt.


It's prob crazy but I've decided to head back to CO next week for a quick hitter. Gonna leave WEd afternoon so I can hunt thurs, fri, sat.