Elk Hunt 2013 at Sand Creek

Getting ready for the hunt. All the cooking is finally done (after a very late last night with Sally’s help). Rifles sighted, cartridges loaded, gear mostly packed!

The DOW game biologist, Mark Vierra says the weather is looking pretty good this year and elk have been sighted on the south end of North Middle Mountain. 1st season and the opening weekend of 2nd season produced a number of bulls (road over the pass is very difficult due to melting snow and mud, however). He also hears that they are migrating from the south across the Deadman switchbacks near FR 303. He had no info on Bull Mountain, but all-in-all, looks promising.

My friend Sam hunted 2nd season and has seen elk feeding in my old hunting meadow near Sand Creek Pass on Bull Mountain, they come down at night and leave in the early morning. Sam’s most productive spot was way up high in the deep timber of the School Section (south gate) – small herds of cows, some bull tracks but difficult to get a shot, let alone drag out, plus the roads were so muddy you can’t get your truck very close.  Sam’s party got 2 deer, one near his cabin and one in the school section.  They saw a few deer tracks on Boulder Ridge, but little elsewhere.    Bull Mountain – Woo Hoo!

Here is Sally portioning out some Mole Chicken Chili and getting the rest of our yummy dishes (Bison Meatloaf, Pulled Pork and Bison Sloppy Joes) ready for the cabin.

Today, Sally heads up to the cabin with friend Lisa, and I follow tomorrow to do some work until Ben arrives on the 31st to do a final sight-in, some game scouting drives and final prep. There may possibly be some beer involved…….

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Author: David Willett

Worked at Agilent Technologies and Hewlett-Packard, attended University of Washington and Michigan State University, lived in the Netherlands, the Peoples Republic of China and the United States, visited 36 countries, 11 of 13 Canadian Provinces and all 50 U.S. states, living in Fort Collins, CO, USA View all posts by David Willett