Elk Camp 2013

[dk17hmr]

Spent the passed week hunting and camping with my dad and my uncle in the mountains west of here. What a week. I didn't even carry a rifle, since both my hunting partners are non residents I was hunting for them. We started out with temps in the high 40's than mid week temps dropped and we got a little over a foot of snow. We saw all sorts of animals from weasles to mule deer to moose....and several herds of elk after the snow.

Early in the week I shot this grouse with my little old 410 close to camp. I cubed up the breast and boiled it, drained the water gave it some salt and pepper and some butter....it didn't last long.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/DSCN3989_zps4339c083.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/DSCN3989_zps4339c083.jpg.html)

Camp life was good for the week, I had gotten an elk earlier in the archery season so we had plenty of meat, between steaks and stuff I had canned.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/DSCN3986_zps47230db5.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/DSCN3986_zps47230db5.jpg.html)

We woke up one morning the mountains covered in white.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/DSCN3997_zpsd3356c6c.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/DSCN3997_zpsd3356c6c.jpg.html)

Spent all day over looking an amazing valley, we built a fire so we could dry out, we ended up keeping the fire going for close to 7 hours because it felt pretty good and there was plenty of wood laying around.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/IMG_0466_zpsaf7bae55.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/IMG_0466_zpsaf7bae55.jpg.html)

We got into a pretty good size herd of elk, my uncle was able to get a bullet through the shoulders of this nice calf. My dad had took a little trip down the mountain side the day before and didn't see that the turret on his scope was 1MOA high....the cow he shot at got a nice hair cut and a nasty scratch across the top of her back.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/IMG_0485_zps673279f5.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/IMG_0485_zps673279f5.jpg.html)

While my dad went after that cow, uncle Mike and I got started on the calf.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/IMG_0488_zps3a58cfe8.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/IMG_0488_zps3a58cfe8.jpg.html)

All quartered and set on our pack frames ready to move.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/IMG_0492_zps676e9227.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/IMG_0492_zps676e9227.jpg.html)

I was able to get my truck fairly close but doing so I turned a steep hill into ice, wasn't able to get back up even in 4-low, we hooked the Commander onto it and it gave me the extra bump to get to the top, it just so happens my dad was walking back at caught this picture.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/DSCN4023_zps555fc79b.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/DSCN4023_zps555fc79b.jpg.html)

Got the meat hung back at camp and cleaned up ready to cut steaks up back at home.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/DSCN4025_zps71b81da5.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/DSCN4025_zps71b81da5.jpg.html)

We had inner loins, potatos, and fried eggs for dinner that night.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/DSCN4027_zps3c5a4033.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/DSCN4027_zps3c5a4033.jpg.html)

What a week.

[TXGunNut]

Wow, sounds like a great time. Thanks for sharing your hunt with us.

[warboar_21]

Thanks for the great story and pictures. I am sure it will be one hunt you are not soon to forget. Made me think of the deer hunting I would do with my uncles.

[Reg]

One quality hunt in my book !!!!!

[waksupi]

Good hunt, Doug!

[runfiverun]

I recognized your dad in the first pic, I was wondering who the other family member was.

[sixshot]

I'm coming over....not to hunt, I want to eat with you guys! Nice job, good write up.

Dick

[Gray Fox]

Great hunt story. Every day you can hunt with your dad is one to treasure. I wish mine were still with us. Best of luck to you. GF

[Bulldogger]

That looks and sound great. Would love to be there with you. Thanks for sharing it
Bulldogger

[missionary5155]

Greetings
That was a very enjoyable read. Great pictures also. Thank you for taking the time to do all this for us.
Mike in Peru

[Idaho Mule]

Good story, good job, looks like GREAT eats!! Ya just gotta love this time of year. JW

[GunnyJohn]

Doug, awesome tale. I remember hunting with my dad, that was a long time ago. Then I remember hunting with my father inlaw, he too is now gone. Two years ago I got to hunt with my son, he is now away at school. So the other day I got to take my grandson out in the woods for a little hunt... It all continues... From generation to generation we pass along the traditions. I'm happy for you that you got to spend that week with your dad and uncle. Enjoy and treasure those hunts. Congrats on a great hunt, and thanks for bringing back some wonderful memories.

[Ammohouse]

Great story and great hunt...thats what its all about!

[dk17hmr]

Couple more pictures.

Camp was a 12x15 canvas wall tent borrowed from one of my good friends, seen here without the stove pipe, we burned a lot of pine and we had to clean it out.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/IMG_0503_zpse9b1af67.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/IMG_0503_zpse9b1af67.jpg.html)

We found some flat rocks for the top of the stove, which helped hold some extra heat, and my dad toasted pop tarts every morning....I packed other breakfast food but it didn't seem to matter.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/IMG_0456_zpsb48d58a6.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/IMG_0456_zpsb48d58a6.jpg.html)

After we had snow on the ground we moved my two burner camp stove inside the tent. Coffee made with the percolator.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/DSCN3993_zps173e73bf.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/DSCN3993_zps173e73bf.jpg.html)

Most days I just packed my slingshot, binos, and Glock 10mm around....getting the moose out of camp one morning
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/DSCN3984_zps8d559a15.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/DSCN3984_zps8d559a15.jpg.html)

Couple of moose we saw while hiking.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/DSCN4007_zps31a754ad.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/DSCN4007_zps31a754ad.jpg.html)

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/DSCN4014_zps982aa552.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/DSCN4014_zps982aa552.jpg.html)

Late in the week.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/DSCN4006_zps031f051d.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/DSCN4006_zps031f051d.jpg.html)

Loaded up and heading home.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/IMG_20131101_131345_zps5cda214a.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/dk17hmr/media/IMG_20131101_131345_zps5cda214a.jpg.html)

[Kull]

Very nice, great pics, thanks for sharing.

[Whiterabbit]

Man. How big a check do I have to write to tagalong next year??

[waco]

Way to go Doug! I'm guessing all those .25 Cal. Nosler bullets I sold you years ago didn't make this trip!
Very nice bud! thanks for sharing!

[runfiverun]

what do you think he uses in the sling-shot?
he found out the ballistics are better and they are much more accurate that way.

[Maineboy]

There's nothing like hunting camp. Thanks for sharing!

[35 Whelen]

Thanks for sharing. Those type hunts are far more than shooting game.

[Djones]

Great story. Thanks for sharing.

[Gibbs44]

Looks like a good time was had by all.

[smoked turkey]

Those memories will never be forgotten. I am envious of your hunt. The way you guys did it is in my mind the way it should be done. You earned every bit of it. Thanks for sharing such great pictures and story with us here.

[white eagle]

sounds like and looks like a fantastic time
great to have family and friends that can share that with

[Gus McCrae]

Awesome, thanks for sharing.

[marshall623]

Looks like you folks had a awesome time , great pic's

[TheGrimReaper]

Looks fuN!!!

[OnHoPr]

Well it looks like you had a good hunting trip and brought back freezer or canning material.

[skruske]

How did I miss this thread!?

Doug & I took a walk close to camp one after noon. He was about 20yds above me when I hear "holy sh#*>". I look up & the biggest porcupine I have ever seen is barreling down hill right at me. He dove into a downed pine when he saw me from about four feet away. This is the business end of a Porky that could fill a bushel basket. Doug poked it with a stick for good measure.

87082

Doug & Mike tracking a wounded cow. 600 feet elevation gained in about 1/2 mile. Tough going for us flat landers. We were at about 8900 feet. That cow was not hurt bad enough to slow down much.

87083

This is the one Doug was defending us from. Just 30yds from our tent.

87086

I have since swapped scopes on my 300mag to a 4-14x50. No more over sized varmint/target scope. Hopefully will not miss again when I go back to Doug's place in December. 23hr drive straight through, $350 worth of fuel to fill a $300 Elk tag...worth it.

[frogman43]

Congrats Doug! I took a 5x5 in the Bighorn NF last month myself. I use the same camp stove as you, Camp Chef. Can't beat them, they are bullet proof!

[4719dave]

THANKS,very cool hunting with your dad etc ,I miss that . Great time you guys had thanks for sharing ..

[Fisher]

I think you guys are very tough, hunting and camping in all that snow! I would really like to have a go at in myself, I think...

[Ghost101]

The smiles tell the whole story. Thank You

Ghost101

[TCLouis]

Congratulations to all.

Looks like a great family hunt.