for "Bonded"

for "Hooters"

for "Night Patrol"

for "On a Dare"

for "Best Journal (Overall)"

Daily Sights

our Honeymoon view

a tall mountain

a tall tower

a comic strip


powered by SignMyGuestbook.com

Want an email when I update?
email:
Powered by NotifyList.com

Newest
Older
Previous
Next
Random
Contact
Profile
Host

blizzard warnings - 13:52 , 03 October 2013

heelerless - 21:32 , 18 August 2013

Red Coat Inn in Fort McLeod - 11:38 , 23 June 2013

rushing into the waters - 09:53 , 21 June 2013

choosing a spot - 17:43 , 27 April 2013

14 October 2002 - 21:47

111 opener

So, catching up on the entries that never got posted because of the defunct phone line:

Thursday was the opening of the elk season in the Seminoes, and a perfect fall day.

Of course, it couldn't make it its mind what kind of day it would be. Headed out without the thermals on, and regretted the decision upon checking a pair of hunters at the head of Markingpen, with the cold wind whistling through the pass. Went up to the next high overlook and, in front of the world, stripped down and got the thermals on.

Much better.

Now, on these opening days, when I'm wandering on patrol instead of sitting on check station, I'm hunting.

Hunting hunters.

A lot of them never get that. They seem to think I'm looking for whatever they are after. Elk, deer, antelope, it doesn't matter. They always seen disappointed if I haven't seen tons of critters that day.

But I'm not looking for critters. The things I'm after tend to be less secretive. And concentrate along roadways.

Sometimes you find them singly:

Like this fellow from California, who had the same name as an astronaut, only spelled differently. His first elk hunt, and in fact only his second big game hunt. And the first time he's ever been on his own to gut an animal.

And he shot her way down a rocky draw. All his buddies are far above on their ATVs on the fenceline road, which follows the crest of the mountains, none really willing to hike down there to help him out.

But I did. I and the heeler sisters.

He had his paperwork almost all correctly filled out, and properly tagged on the animal (a yearling cow). Quite surprised to see me, afraid he'd done something wrong. Why else would I have hiked all the way down here?

He'd managed to get the rumen out, which is the most essential part of gutting. So, while simultaneously trying to keep the heelers from snatching up pieces of raw elk guts, I showed him how to date his tag. And split the ribs with just a knife to get the heart, lungs and windpipe out. And to clean out the birth canal.

Well prepared fellow, but the sweat was dripping off his face (literally... I thought he'd dumped water on his hair to cool off, but no, that was sweat). Two knives, good and sharp, even if one was a Buck. Two bottles of water.

He'd worn his camo hunting gloves to gut his elk, which were soaked with blood. And seemed distressed I dove in with bare hands to show him how to complete the job. And cleaned up with soft dirt.

Insisted I use some of his drinking water to clean up, which did help.

But I smelled of yearling cow elk the rest of the day.

Wonderful.

Other times you find your prey in pairs or small groups:

More and more of them are riding on ATVs, or quads, scooters, 4-wheelers, whatever you want to call them.

Sometimes you find them in big packs:

Have I mentioned lately how much I love the automatic transmission of this new rig (new, although it has over 13,000 on it now). Went up the incredibly steep fenceline road with no trouble at all. Past the point where I had to turn back with my previous rig. Up where all the ATVs were running around.

The road where you are quite literally hanging on to the top of the steering wheel with both hands, because the G-force has your body pressed back into the seat. And the heelers are resting their butts on the back of theirs.

Even more fun coming down.

Had to strip the thermals back off up there on the top of the mountain, after helping the astronaut namesake. It warmed up that quick.

( 2 comments on this entry )
previous entry || next entry
member of the official Diaryland diaryring: next - prev - random - list - home - Diaryland
the trekfans diaryring: next - prev - random - list - home
the goldmembers diaryring: next - prev - random - list - home
the onlymylife diaryring: next - prev - random - list - home
the unquoted diaryring: next - prev - random - list - home
the quoted diaryring: next - prev - random - list - home
the redheads diaryring: next - prev - random - list - home