Last year my wife and I took a cow, and have a tag in the same unit. Only the second elk I have taken, the first was in 1992 or so. I have hunted occasionally in "futile" mode, but hunted deer extensively in the intervening years.
Last year, the night of opening day it snowed/rained/blew/froze, so much so that I laid awake worrying about my trailer (dumb, it wasn't gonna blow away like a tent or fly might), and decided not to head out until about 1000. We hiked up and stopped for lunch (the ubiquitous sausage on a biskit), and then on up a ridge to see what was on the south-facing side. What was there was a very large herd, and I took my shot on the one nearest bedded down. Thankfully my wife realized that if she shot one, I'd have two to carry out, so we managed to be satisfied with one.
I had kind of figured the elk would be sunning someplace after that previous night, and for one time I called it right. Otherwise, it was more or less blind luck.
Any general advice on hunting cows? The country we are hunting is rough, near a river (couple miles), right at 9000', timbered with occasional old burn scars in that timber. We (well, I, since the wife is unable to hike this season) are not afraid of getting off the road on foot, but my age and hikeability limits just how far in I go (no 15 mile days these days). Sure would appreciate anything you have to share.
DavidNM
Last year, the night of opening day it snowed/rained/blew/froze, so much so that I laid awake worrying about my trailer (dumb, it wasn't gonna blow away like a tent or fly might), and decided not to head out until about 1000. We hiked up and stopped for lunch (the ubiquitous sausage on a biskit), and then on up a ridge to see what was on the south-facing side. What was there was a very large herd, and I took my shot on the one nearest bedded down. Thankfully my wife realized that if she shot one, I'd have two to carry out, so we managed to be satisfied with one.
I had kind of figured the elk would be sunning someplace after that previous night, and for one time I called it right. Otherwise, it was more or less blind luck.
Any general advice on hunting cows? The country we are hunting is rough, near a river (couple miles), right at 9000', timbered with occasional old burn scars in that timber. We (well, I, since the wife is unable to hike this season) are not afraid of getting off the road on foot, but my age and hikeability limits just how far in I go (no 15 mile days these days). Sure would appreciate anything you have to share.
DavidNM
