After a couple days home to finalize a few tax returns and make sure Mrs. Fin has not changed her mind about marriage, I am now in Denver Int'l Airport, on my way to an archery elk hunt in New Mexico.
I have never hunted this unit. Have driven past and hunted antelope in the low country. Almost fell over when the draw results came out and I drew my first choice. I really expected my third choice, as I always make my last choice one of the easy draws.
Been getting some good info from Hunt Talkers who have hunted here before. And, will be making calls to a couple other Hunt Talkers in hopes that I can get even more info.
It is rough country. Good news is that we have a new moon next week, and the rut should be reaching its peak. Lots of moisture down there the last couple weeks, so focusing on water might be a waste of time.
I know we have good coverage in most places and I am going to be near a full blown charging system for our cameras, so I should be able to keep the updates coming more regularly than last hunt.
Get to ABQ around noon, then ice, groceries, gas, and a meal later, I will be staking my tent to the ground and hoping to get out for an evening scout. Season opens Monday morning, so I have a ton of work to do to check out the many places that Hunt Talkers have told me about.
My map looks like a kindergarten coloring book from top to bottom, left to right. I guess that means the elk are scattered throughout the unit. And hopefully means even a hack like me might find one. Will be nice to have big chunks of public to chase them on and be aggressive, compared to the passive and tactical approach required in the MT hunt last week.
Hope all of you are getting out and hearing the sounds of September. I think Julie Andrews was secretly an elk hunter when she sang, "The hills are alive with the sound of music." Love the September Serenade.
I have never hunted this unit. Have driven past and hunted antelope in the low country. Almost fell over when the draw results came out and I drew my first choice. I really expected my third choice, as I always make my last choice one of the easy draws.
Been getting some good info from Hunt Talkers who have hunted here before. And, will be making calls to a couple other Hunt Talkers in hopes that I can get even more info.
It is rough country. Good news is that we have a new moon next week, and the rut should be reaching its peak. Lots of moisture down there the last couple weeks, so focusing on water might be a waste of time.
I know we have good coverage in most places and I am going to be near a full blown charging system for our cameras, so I should be able to keep the updates coming more regularly than last hunt.
Get to ABQ around noon, then ice, groceries, gas, and a meal later, I will be staking my tent to the ground and hoping to get out for an evening scout. Season opens Monday morning, so I have a ton of work to do to check out the many places that Hunt Talkers have told me about.
My map looks like a kindergarten coloring book from top to bottom, left to right. I guess that means the elk are scattered throughout the unit. And hopefully means even a hack like me might find one. Will be nice to have big chunks of public to chase them on and be aggressive, compared to the passive and tactical approach required in the MT hunt last week.
Hope all of you are getting out and hearing the sounds of September. I think Julie Andrews was secretly an elk hunter when she sang, "The hills are alive with the sound of music." Love the September Serenade.