windymtnman
Active member
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2014
- Messages
- 484
I'll start my rant here with a bit of background info. I've began hunting Elk since 1989, and probably missed two seasons since then. I started as a midwestern guy, heading to Colorado every year, buying that nonresident tag, and facing all the questions, difficulties, and problems that go along with finding a place to hunt, and worrying about being able to pack one out alone, when far from the road in rough country. When I retired, we moved to our 49 acres we'd bought in South Central Colorado, and built our ranch from scratch in the Rio Grande National Forest in the mountain foothills. Our ranch is surrounded on 3 sides by Federal lands, with a 13,000' mountain summit 5 miles behind us. Some times of the year, we can watch huge herds of Elk from our living room windows. I'm blessed with great health, fitness that allows me to race in 15 mile+ Pack Burro Races all Summer, a comprehensive knowledge of where the game (and the hunters) are in this area. We also have 2 horses, a mule and a pack burro that are ready, willing and able to hit the trails. So, I fully relate to hunters that are in the situation I used to be in. I enjoy helping others, as I've never forgotten what it's like to "be one of them". Last year, in 2016, two guys came out here from Wisconsin. I never met them before they hit my wife up about if I'd help them with a hunt. We corresponded for many months, and repeatedly told them to GET IN SHAPE! I decided we'd pack them into a backcountry camp I'd made up in the national forest, and give them the next best thing to a Outfitter's hunt. I just wanted to give them a memorable hunt without the expense. My wife even came along and prepared gourmet meals in camp. While they got into the Elk, they didn't punch their tags, but did get some adrenline flowing when we got into the Elk! They asked me how they could re-pay me for all our efforts, and I told them if they brought me a 12pk of some Wisconsin beer, we'd call it even.
Fast forward to my fielding a query from a guy from a State in the Eastern U.S. on this forum back in Feb. 2017. He inquired about hunting in units 78 and 80 in So. Colorado, so I answered him on here. I learned he & his buddy were wanting to come archery hunting, and were active duty soldiers in the Army. That resonsated with me. As the Spring and Summer months passed, we exchanged a lot of correspondence, and I offered to show him where my backcountry camp was. I had to be out of State when they arrived, but they assured me they were Army strong and could hike the 4 miles to the camp with sufficient directions and GPS help. I gave them all the necessary info on finding the campsite. ( A pic of this camp and of the general area is attached here). The camp is in good Elk country You can lay in your tent and listen to them bugle. I've also never seen another hunter in this area, as it's usually too far from the trailhead for walk in's. I figured when I got packed in, I'd show them where I've found Elk in the past, and maybe set up a decoy and call for them if they wished? A huge pile of firewood was pre- cut, as are 3 benches around the fire ring. A creek is 30 yds from camp. I put up meat poles, a hitchin' post and a tarp post in case it rains. This is as good as it gets in the backcountry. Tentative plans were made, that I'd be back from a trip the day after they got here, and would pack in on the horses to see if I could be of help? I also figured they'd have Mountain House on their menu, and thought I'd pack in some "real food" as I have plenty of room in our 3 pack animals panniers. I made a special trip back to this camp in late August, just to see how things were. I sent them pics of the camp, the surrounding area, and Google Earth images to get them a bit stoked. (if possible?) I didn't hear much from the guy I'd been corresponding, so on August 14th, I emailed him to ask if they were still coming? He answered, "yeah, but we've been busy this Summer" I thought it a bit odd he didn't seem more fired up?
So, the day arrived when they should have showed up and I never heard a thing from them. In fact, I realized I hadn't heard from this guy since mid August. He never responded to the pics and message I sent near the end of August. I can understand how they may have felt they had a better opportunity somewhere else in Colorado, but then it's pretty rude not to even tell me they changed their minds about coming here. Shucks, another hunter on this forum had also hinted he'd like some help, but I felt like I was pre committed to these guys. Initially, I was a bit ticked that these guys blew off my offer to assist them without the decency to just let me know their plans changed, but have now decided that it's a blessing I didn't go to the effort to get even more involved if they were going to turn out to be of this character. So much for trying to lend a hand and hoof!
Fast forward to my fielding a query from a guy from a State in the Eastern U.S. on this forum back in Feb. 2017. He inquired about hunting in units 78 and 80 in So. Colorado, so I answered him on here. I learned he & his buddy were wanting to come archery hunting, and were active duty soldiers in the Army. That resonsated with me. As the Spring and Summer months passed, we exchanged a lot of correspondence, and I offered to show him where my backcountry camp was. I had to be out of State when they arrived, but they assured me they were Army strong and could hike the 4 miles to the camp with sufficient directions and GPS help. I gave them all the necessary info on finding the campsite. ( A pic of this camp and of the general area is attached here). The camp is in good Elk country You can lay in your tent and listen to them bugle. I've also never seen another hunter in this area, as it's usually too far from the trailhead for walk in's. I figured when I got packed in, I'd show them where I've found Elk in the past, and maybe set up a decoy and call for them if they wished? A huge pile of firewood was pre- cut, as are 3 benches around the fire ring. A creek is 30 yds from camp. I put up meat poles, a hitchin' post and a tarp post in case it rains. This is as good as it gets in the backcountry. Tentative plans were made, that I'd be back from a trip the day after they got here, and would pack in on the horses to see if I could be of help? I also figured they'd have Mountain House on their menu, and thought I'd pack in some "real food" as I have plenty of room in our 3 pack animals panniers. I made a special trip back to this camp in late August, just to see how things were. I sent them pics of the camp, the surrounding area, and Google Earth images to get them a bit stoked. (if possible?) I didn't hear much from the guy I'd been corresponding, so on August 14th, I emailed him to ask if they were still coming? He answered, "yeah, but we've been busy this Summer" I thought it a bit odd he didn't seem more fired up?
So, the day arrived when they should have showed up and I never heard a thing from them. In fact, I realized I hadn't heard from this guy since mid August. He never responded to the pics and message I sent near the end of August. I can understand how they may have felt they had a better opportunity somewhere else in Colorado, but then it's pretty rude not to even tell me they changed their minds about coming here. Shucks, another hunter on this forum had also hinted he'd like some help, but I felt like I was pre committed to these guys. Initially, I was a bit ticked that these guys blew off my offer to assist them without the decency to just let me know their plans changed, but have now decided that it's a blessing I didn't go to the effort to get even more involved if they were going to turn out to be of this character. So much for trying to lend a hand and hoof!
