13 September 2008
Best Wishes to Everyone Heading West To Hunt this Fall
Posted by Darrell under: Elk; Rantings Of An Outdoorsman .
Charley, Matt, and Dana (some friends of mine) leave today for their archery elk hunt in Colorado. I hope they return with stories, pictures, and elk meat to share!
Yes, Tis the time of year for hunting. Right now, hunters from all over the east and midwest are heading west to hunt the elusive elk. I know how much I’m looking forward to my upcoming hunt in New Mexico. Still, I envy all the guys that are (right this very moment) making the trek west. If they are anything like me, their impending hunts have occupied precious space in their minds for the past several months.
They’ve spent their time preparing and packing and going through all their gear to make sure everything is just right. They’ve made numerous trips to the range or if their lucky have spent some time shooting from their back decks. They’ve been watching the weather reports for their destination for the past several weeks and have been studying topographic maps of the area they will hunt. They’ve cussed everytime gas has went up and calculated just how much they are going to save every time it has went down (this they have then pointed out in great detail to their spouses). They have spent hours upon hours brousing through the aisles at Bass Pro and Cabellas - making sure they have everything they ‘need’ for their upcoming trip.
And now, all their work is behind them and the fun is about to start. Well, not really. It will be fun, but the work has just begun. After driving for many many hours (all the while wondering if you’ve forgotten anything) the trek into the mountains finally begins. You don’t notice the ‘work’ so much because you are running on fresh mountain air and adrenalin. After setting up camp and cooking out over the fire you are so tired you barely have the energy (and the breath) to make it to the designated tree or log when mother nature calls. Oh, but that sleeping bag feels so good. Too bad you are too excited to sleep.
You, again, are conscious of that fresh mountain air as you climb out of that sleeping bag at 3 am. By the way, you wonder, just where is the air and why can’t I breathe? Did putting on my boots really just make me out of breath? You realize as you return from the aforementioned log that you probably should have put on a jacket, because you are shivering uncontrollably. Hopefully someone has the campfire ablazin. After eating a breakfast that it is way too dark to see, you gear up and head out. Your weeks of preparation are about to be put to the test. As you hear that first bugle and see the sun starting to peak over the mountains you find yourself smiling uncontrollably. This is what living is all about.
Meanwhile, back home your better half is also smiling uncontrollably. She is experiencing the deepest sleep she’s had in months. No one is snoring at an uncomfortably loud level just inches from her ear. Plus she is oh so warm - apparently no one has pulled the covers off of her during the night. And, she noticed before turning in how nice it is to not have hunting and camping gear in various stages of pack piled all around the living room, den, office, dining room, and bedroom.
I’ve come to understand why fall is my wife and I’s favorite time of the year!
3 Comments so far...
Michael Says:
13 September 2008 at 10:39 am.
Best of luck to the Elk hunters… and welcome to Colorado if that’s where you’re headed! Can’t wait to get into the high country in several weeks!
Arthur Says:
14 September 2008 at 6:42 pm.
Great post. I can relate to a lot of it, except for the thin air portion.
I love fall. Just so you know, this post actually made me laugh out loud.
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