After doing a wedding this afternoon, I was already back in the mountains so I went on a quick scouting hike. Found 4 nice bucks, including a pretty good 5x5. No record breaker, but I would have shot him. Pics don't quite do him justice- he had pretty good forks and good height, length was just Ok.






$8 million ranch- Not a bad location for a wedding...

I'll spend a couple hours tomorrow morning tying up loose ends at work, exit interview with boss and final briefing with my replacement. Corny as it may be, I'll likely say what's certain to be a tearful goodbye to a job and coworkers I dearly love (95% of the time).

And then... I'll embark upon a journey that I've been planning for and dreaming about for the last year or so... a season long solo diy backpack archery elk hunt in the Weminuche Wilderness of SW Colorado. She's been both a magnificent companion and a cruel mistress, but always a source of adventure and enrichment.

Tomorrow, I'm "goin' for the Musselshell".

I know what I'd do...find the prettiest campsite on the mountain and see if a month is enough time to eat a whole elk by myself. Also grow an epic beard

May have just worked my 2 week Montana archery elk trip into a 3 week one.

Quick scouting hike this am, then some range time.

No pics from the scout, but I found a nice herd of elk- 18 cows/claves and 4 little runt bulls. Also found 12-15 deer (what I was really looking for). 5-6 bucks, but nothing worth remembering.

Time at the range was more productive.
Wanted to sight my muzzloader in- I pulled the scope and put on an XS Ghost Ring & front post. Also switched to BH 209 from 777 pellets. CO legal now. Figured I would be starting completely over on sight in, but I went for it at 50 yards because I already had the target out there. First 2 shots down the tube were right on the money. Then some stranger stopped on the road and came up to me to ask me some stupid questions, and I lost track of my loading sequence (my fault). Seated a bullet with no powder behind it... and of course didn't have a puller with me. Sigh...

So, I spent the time dialing in and old rifle I am restoring. It was my Dad's first gun, my first gun, and will be my son's first gun very soon. For not being shot in 25 some odd years, it did surprisingly well. Cheapo Redfield 4X scope jumped around erratically with adjustments, but held decently when it was finally on. That will be replaced soon, as it's been on there since my Dad had it I think. At the very least about 30 years.

Muzzloader sight in @ 50yds


Initial grouping from the .22 Hornet


After some tinkering


Had a friend shooting with me, I tried to tell him the spinning target wouldn't stand up to the Hornet. Some lessons just have to be learned the hard way, ha ha.


Rule #1 compliant on the gun restoration. Got Everything metal all cleaned up. Really doesn't need any more work there. Not sure what I can do with the trigger- it's a little stiff. Still debating on what I want to do with the wood. Steam out the dings and make it new again, or leave the character and memories and just touch up... it really matches the red-neck sling right now, ha ha!


The mountains are calling, boys!!!