Where is everyone hunting?

co/Shawn:
 
I'll be hunting with an outfitter.  I'm not quite sure if I'll have to put in for a drawing or if the tag will be available over-the-counter or it will be a landowner tag type of a situation.  The offer came suddenly so my head is still spinning a little.  It has always been a dream of mine to chase elk across the mountains of Colorado or Montana or any of the western states.  It should be a lot of fun. 
 
I wrote you an E mail also.  I'm still planning on hunting Mule Deer with you.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve
 
     

Topgun:
 
You're probably correct.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

Topgun by draw I was talking about a drawing or contest  hunt. Not the general public drawing. but thanks for the heads up.
 

Thank God for this wonderful life and the men and women protecting it for us. You are ALL Heroes!!

Steve,
I would say regardless you can get a tag since it is an outffiter. If you do have to draw and do not get chosen, he should have land owner tags. Congrats sounds awesome. Ya were still going Mulie hunting!! Can't wait!!

Thank God for this wonderful life and the men and women protecting it for us. You are ALL Heroes!!

Steve---If you will be hunting during the rut you will really have a ball.  When they come in bugling like that one in the picture from Wyoming you will be hooked, I guarantee!!!!!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

I can't wait!  It should be awesome. 
 
I'm know one thing for certain; I'm going to have to get in better shape!  I was sucking a lot of air when I was up in north Missouri hanging tree stands a few weeks ago.  I'll have to start a pretty intense exercise program in order to get up and down those mountains!  It sucks to get old.  Going to turn the big 40 in July!  Where the hell did the last 20 years go??
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

Not quite 40 and sucking air putting up treestands, huh.  I wish I could give 20 years back physically, but still be retired like I am now, LOL!!!  You have plenty of lead time and the best way is to start doing uphill walks or stairs with weight in a backpack.  I can walk all day out in Wyoming at a pretty good pace if the grade is not steep.   However, when you have to start pushing just your body weight alone uphill it does not take long to get gassed, especially if you are above about 8000'.  Add in a backpack and your bow, or even worse a 10# rifle, and you will enjoy yourself a lot more if you start and maintain a conditioning program.    

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

Good advise Mike,...
 
Stairs,... do PLENTY of flights of stairs!!
 
Find some bleachers at a local high school, a apartment complex, public building, or parking structure.
 
 
Start out doing them without any added weight and once they seem not that hard to do, ad a backpack with about 30lbs in it. Do as many flights up and down every other day until you feel you just can't do them anymore for the day,... then force yourself to do 2 more flights up and down them.
 
You'll be ready,...  The legs might get sore,... but as my old PE instructor used to say,.. "If it isn't hurting,... it's not working."

Shoot Straight & Stay Safe !


Terry A. Webster

REMF - Sponsoring Member
SCI- Member
NRA Life Member
NAHC / NAFC Life Member

U.S. Army SGT. 1970-72 1st BN.327th/101st Airborne
(Nam Vet)

Topgun:
 
Well, in my weak defense, we were at it for 4 straight days from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. or later every day, dragging tree stands, tree steps, limb pruners, stacking sticks, etc. into the woods, and the terrain is quite hilly.  It's not mountainous by any stretch of the imagination, but there are some deep valleys and steep hills.  Let's just say I was feeling my age by the end of it all and I'm only 39!  I think Frank and I even made the comment that we couldn't see ourselves doing the same thing when we turned 60!  Maybe we're off track, but by the third and fourth day I was getting a little weary.    I've been athletic all my life so don't worry, I'll be chasing those elk with the best of them when the time comes. 
 
The one thing I am thankful for is quitting my job last September before I really suffered the damaging effects of arthritis.  I worked a job that demanded extreme physical effort and took place in a very harsh environment (a -20 degree freezer), which causes all sorts of muscle and joint ailments.  During the week I spend putting up tree stands I could tell I had injured a lot of my joints, especially my knees and ankles.  Good thing I quit when I did or I would have been in complete misery.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve   

Steve---I'm sure you know that I was just giving you a little jab, LOL!  I honestly don't know how people can work in the freezers like you were doing.  I used to have a few freezer plants that I had to inspect as part of my job with the Michigan Department of Agriculture.  It is an awful harsh environment that I sure didn't look forward to on the days I had to go in them.  Even with the best clothing that man can buy, the human body is eventually going to break down.  You made a wise decision to get the he** out of there while the getting was good!  I have no doubt from the way you hunt whitetails that you will be more than ready when it is time to chase those bugling bulls out in Colorado!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

Mike:
 
No worries.  I didn't take offense to anything you said/wrote.  I hope I didn't sound angry?  That was not my intention at all.  I apologize if I sounded that way to you.
 
Yeah, my body was in agony on a daily basis.  One day I woke up and literally struggled to get my sorry butt from the bedroom to the bathroom and I looked at my wife and said, "I'm done."  I put in my notice at work and 2 months later I was a free man. 
 
I will definitely get myself in better shape for chasing those elk.  Don't get me wrong, I am in pretty good shape as it is.  I'm right around 180 pounds at 6 foot tall, but I have to admit I was starting to get a tad weary toward the end of the week up in Missouri.  I suppose that was my little wake up call telling me to start working out! 
 
Thanks for the encouragement. 
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve  

Sounds like your weight to height ratio is right where it should be and you look to be fit in your pictures.  It just takes a lot of the enjoyment out of a trip if you are aching and struggling for air.  It can also cost you a chance at a good animal if you need to move quickly and don't have it in you.   I have decided that I need to do more for those Wyoming trips now that I'm in my 60s and I think I will make it a year around process.  I just don't know what it will be yet, but it might be more uphill/stair stuff.

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

nochawk:
 
Best of luck to you!  Let us know how your season turned out.  Take a bunch of pictures and tell us your story.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

Mike:
 
That's good advice.  I'll start with a lot of cardio work and then change to a mix of weights and more cardio.  I have a "never quit, never die and never give up" attitude that I follow to the letter.  In other words, I'm a stubborn bugger from the word "go".  Don't' worry, I'll put a hurt on those elk before it's all said and done.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

ever since i was a little boy i'v dreamed of havesting a monster bull, its a obsession, well i started dating a girl(eventually married and now divorcing) but her father and i r still great friends and better hunting buddies, we have often talked about going out west and trying our hand at that dream, his passion for the woods are as deep as mine, so cananyone give some advise on where would be a good place to start, a fairlly inexpensive trip w/ a fair oppertunity for success, now i have zero experience w/ this type of hunt so the more info i can get the better, info from ways to aquire tags and best area to possible hunt stratigy, i'll take it all 

mike ziegler

There is really no such thing as an inexpensive elk hunt now if you are a nonresident because most tags alone are $500-$1000.   Montana has guaranteed licenses for around $1000, but you have to hunt with the outfitter and that costs several thousand dollars.  Other states are on a lottery and many have a low chance to draw a good tag.   Idaho may be your best bet right now because some tags are issued on a first-come first-serve basis.  If you are a member of the NAHC, there is a member who conducts a hunting gettogether for members every October in the Worshak 10A district up there.   From what I understand, it is over one week long and they have a great time and decent success at a very reasonable price.   Those tags go on sale in December for the following year and sell out within a few weeks, but that is probably as close to getting a guaranteed tag as there is by going on the net and buying it as soon as sales start.

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

nochawk:
 
Best of luck to your and your buddy.  You should have some exciting elk hunting adventures to share with us after the season.  Please be sure to post some pictures and let us know what happened.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

ttt

Mike