Live Hunts - Colorado Archery Elk Hunt - September 9

Live Hunts - Colorado Archery Elk Hunt - September 9 - Day 3

Saturday - September 9 - Day 3
Colorado Archery Elk Hunt

A.M. Hunt
This morning I decided to venture down into the area the 2 cows and calf came from 2 evenings ago. They came up out of a deep ravine, so I ventured down there this morning and finally found some fresh elk sign. LOTS of fresh elk sign. There was a real steep drop-off from the ravine and some real narrow trails leading down to a series of shelves. I made my way carefully down to the first shelf, and almost immediately started seeing fresh elk dung and tracks all over the place. From the looks of things this spot has been overlooked so far this season by hunters, because the elk seem to be in there big time.

Here I am starting out my still-hunt along the first, higher shelf
I walked along the first shelf for probably about a mile, real slowly, thinking I'd be seeing elk at any time. I continued to see fresh sign all along the shelf, but never actually saw any elk, nor to the best of my knowledge did I spook any - or at least I didn't hear any thundering hooves and crashing rocks. When the first shelf basically ended, I worked my way down the 2nd, lower shelf, and worked my way back to from where I had started out at daylight. Again, I saw plenty of sign, but didn't actually see any elk. I was very surprised that I didn't see any elk with all that sign present. Perhaps they were bedded in the really steep stuff that I couldn't navigate very well. I'm going to go back to the area this evening. There were about half a dozen meadows interspersed throughout the 2 shelves, and there was abundant fresh sign in each of them. I'm either going to get on a vantage point with my binos and spot downward, or I might actually get in and hunt one of the meadows and just try to set up near a good looking trail. You will see tonight what I did and how I did.

I saw the same group of elk this morning that I saw yesterday morning. They were feeding in the exact same place, taunting me, knowing it's too difficult for me to get in there to them.

The group of 15 elk were again feeding this morning where I saw them yesterday morning. Here the sun breaks over the mountains behind me and illuminates the bowl they are feeding in

Here I took a rest in one of the smaller meadows on the 2nd, lower shelf.

This was a beautiful view from a vantage point on the 2nd shelf. I couldn't resist snapping a shot while I was resting.

My little girl, Kate, was happy to see me when I got back from the morning hunt.

P.M. Hunt
This evening I went back to the area I found so much fresh sign in this morning. I decided tosit and watch a meadow with a good bit of fresh sign around it. I found 2 nice evergreens right together that formed a natural sort of blind. I added a few broken limbs to the front and it made a nice hide with some great shooting lanes. I sat from 4:30 till 7 p.m., and didn't see or hear any elk. All I heard was the howling wind and an annoyed squirrel. I still-hunted for about the next hour back towards my car, expecting any minute to see elk out and about. I passed about 4 meadows on the way back to the car and there were no elk feeding in any of them. The moon has been pretty night the last 2 nights and tonight as well, and I think perhaps the elk are coming out after dark. I'll probably hit this area again tomorrow morning, but I think I'll stay up on the top shelf. Climbing up and down to the 2nd (lower) shelf is wearing me out. Sorry no real elk action yet - it's not for lack of trying! Check back tomorrow night!

Here is a shot of the meadow I sat this evening, looking out from my hide. That rock face you see in the background is the climb back up to the top shelf.

Here I am all dressed up and waiting.

Go to Day 4

e-mail Joshua Flournoy

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