Heading to Wyoming

[GregE]

Still sorting and packing this AM but will be on the road about noon arriving at Big Piney WY tomorrow for some ELK.

May not have access to the web thru the end of the month- so you folks play nice.   :biggrin:

11 years ago I asked if she could skin ELK and she said, "I can skin em as fast as you can get em "  not knowing she was quoting my favorite movie Jeremiah Johnson.  We are slower now but still going after them.   :arms:

[Markshoreline]

Best wishes for a safe and successful hunt!

[croaker stroker]

Good luck, and don't forget the ibuprofen. 

[jamaica]

You're a lucky man! I wish I could train my wife to skin & gut but I'm afraid to ask. I don't know if I would just get "The Look" or if she'd throw something at me. She's a great birddog and camp cook however. Gotta love em".

[FWilliams]

good luck and have a great trip , one of my favorite areas

[Yachter Yat]

    Wow!  We thought Bandaid was a nurse...........she's actually a DOCTOR!   


Yat

[Markshoreline]

Specifically, a surgeon!

[GregE]

We're back.

Story and pics to follow - lots of unpacking to do

[Mooch]

Welcome back kids. 

Hopefully there's room enough in the freezer for all that unpacking.

Looking forward to the pics.

[GregE]

Left W WA at 8pm Sep 19 and 22 hours later we arrived at Big Piney cloaked in heavy smoke from several forest fires just W of where I planned to hunt .   
Judy brought her Buddy to keep an eye on things

Near freezing temps knocked the smoke down but things will warm up later. Taking the rig up today to get oriented and set up
Here's a few pics to show the area.

[GregE]

We spent a night in Big Piney / Marbleton, 6348'  then traveled 32 miles up into the campsite at 9000'  After setting the camper Shane took me on an orientation tour up some steep ridges looking for fresh sign.

The next day I was able to take Bandaid up on the ridge overlooking the Red Castles shown from below with smoke from the NW fire.

[GregE]

     Shane was able to hunt with me several days working areas where he had seen or taken ELK.  Othere times I went out on my own.  We saw lots of critters but no elk for 8 days.

the fire smoke stayed N of us after the first couple days.

Having an ATV to help get close to the hunting areas was real boon for these old bones. 

[GregE]

With just a couple days left Bandaid talked with some deer hunters that had stopped by previously and they said they had seen elk nearly every day but about 20 miles S.  We drove down but weren't impressed with the heavily burned area with limited access.

Shane came up the next day and said he knew an area near there so we headed up- and I mean UP  We ? I took a rest near the top and decided to hunt back thru the burned Aspen woods into the wind.  We saw some deer and Shane heard some elk respond to his calls.  We set up in a likely area near a spring seep.  As I was sitting on a log, an elk spotted me and quickly turned away behind the brush.   30 yards and 3 seconds.......                                                                                                                                                                               

[GregE]

 And that was the only elk I saw- disappointing.  We did call in another bowhunter one afternoon.

Saw lots of mule deer, 4 moose, several dozen pronghorn, 5 grouse, 30+ blue birds and about a 120 rifle deer hunters.  WY overlapped the seasons ???

While we were packing up thunder rain and hail made things interesting and broke to reveal a rainbow below us

Comments from Shane on my FB post:
This was a very hard hunt,, dry as a pop corn fart,,fires burning on two fronts,, the elk did not make a sound,, and the full moon did not help,, the deer hunter were every were before we even started,, We did cover a lot of ground ,,When we get some snow they start to move a lot more,,,

Shane is the .Sublette County coordinator for Hunting with Heroes who volunteer to take Vets with VA disability ratings of 50% or more on hunts.  My tag was donated and Shane spent several days working with me to find an ELK. Knowing I had help to pack one out was a BIG plus

43 hours driving to /from, $622 diesel for the truck.  Bandaid had prepared several freeze dried meals and Reese's Peanut Butter cups kept me going during the day...  Still I left 7# on the Wyoming slopes and kept some memories.

Have I mentioned how much I like Quaking Aspens? 

[SeaRun1]

I wish you had tagged out but it still sounds like a great trip.  Mule Deer opens up next weekend and this post has me really excited for some quality time out in the field.  Thanks!

SR1

[Markshoreline]

I haven't bow hunted in a number of years but your post and pics make me wish I was there.  Beautiful, though bows aren't the most efficient method of harvesting but very satisfying when you take one!

[Mooch]

Greg, sounds like you got a pretty good workout even without the hack & pack.  Good thing about memories, you got them for a lifetime, they get sweeter by the year and they never get freezer burn.  Great pics too.  They certainly bring back wonderful memories for me.  Thanks for sharing!

[Rokefin]

That is some really sweet looking country. Very good for the eyes and the soul.

I really miss archery elk hunting.....fishing has taken over any spare time I have I guess- would love to get out there again sometime.

[BestBoats]

Sounds like a good trip put on by some good people! Great pictures. Thanks for sharing

[beancounter]

Sorry you didn't get your tag filled. Looks like you had a wonderful time just the same. Beautiful country there.

[GregE]

A bad day ( x 10 ) hunting...........   :arms:   Thanks for the comments.

Still unloading and sorting stuff  and thinking about making another run at it after the snow hits the high desert.

[croaker stroker]

On a positive note....Looks like you got some good exercise in gorgeous surroundings.   

[GregE]

CS, I didn't go there for a workout-  coulda got one much cheaper at the local gym.

But, ELK are my inspiration and make me sweat - just need to do better other times of the year.

I would have been really happy to have a view like this  ( Colorado 4 years ago )



I can make that shot- here's one from 20 years ago-  yep there's an elk in there with an arrow.  Buddy Mike captured the moment of impact

[croaker stroker]

...

[GregE]

Nice pair!!  N CA?

Here's a video I made 10 years ago on our way to Montana.  You may need to click on it to open