Well been back for a few days from another elk hunt out in Idaho. This year went in a lot more prepared but in the end the elk won again. I have a goal to kill an elk in the mcall zone otc in Idaho before i cant do this any more.
The first day we found an area that looks great a little snow and ready to set out it is cold and i packed way to much gear. Trying to be ready for the what if that was a hard lesson learned the next day. Gear wise it performed great the seek out side cimaron with lite out doors stove there is not any weather i would not tackle. Out doors vital sleeping bag zero degree kept us warm in low teen temps. This was the first area.
So we spent a day and a half glassing looking around and no sign at all nothing. Only thing we heard was a moose in rut which was awesome so we decided time to pull pins and head to another area. That is when the torture started i have done some stuff that pushed me to the limits but this was red line. I cant believe i did not tear every bit of sitka clothes i had on . Snagging on blow down falling we were lucky no one was seriously hurt. 800 yards and 4 hours latter we were at the pick up and to top it off had a flat tire. The mountains dont care.
Got back to cabin rested and up early on to the next spot we saw elk last year and feeling good get back in there about 3 miles with a lot less stuff in my pack. Feeling good and damn it was grazed down bad and four wheeler tracks and lots of human sign but no elk sign after another day of hunting hard time for plan c
If any one does go to the Riggins ID area pinehurst resort and rv is a great place the owners are awsome people. Pat called some friends and outfitters he is friends with trying to help us out and overall it has been a tough year. I could not have asked any more from them as they wanted us to get and elk as bad as we did. Overall every person i have met out hunting there has been great to bs with and even helpfull more than i would expect.
So a few more swings and it came down to the last night and we left Idaho empty handed again but with great scenery and lots of fun i will not call a unsuccessful trip as the adventure was everything and more that i wanted . I can say i was physically and mentally done when we left i gave every thing i had. A last few pics and now time to get ready for next year i am fully addicted.
Oh and these guys were by the road saying whats up as we crossed the mt/id border
The first day we found an area that looks great a little snow and ready to set out it is cold and i packed way to much gear. Trying to be ready for the what if that was a hard lesson learned the next day. Gear wise it performed great the seek out side cimaron with lite out doors stove there is not any weather i would not tackle. Out doors vital sleeping bag zero degree kept us warm in low teen temps. This was the first area.
So we spent a day and a half glassing looking around and no sign at all nothing. Only thing we heard was a moose in rut which was awesome so we decided time to pull pins and head to another area. That is when the torture started i have done some stuff that pushed me to the limits but this was red line. I cant believe i did not tear every bit of sitka clothes i had on . Snagging on blow down falling we were lucky no one was seriously hurt. 800 yards and 4 hours latter we were at the pick up and to top it off had a flat tire. The mountains dont care.
Got back to cabin rested and up early on to the next spot we saw elk last year and feeling good get back in there about 3 miles with a lot less stuff in my pack. Feeling good and damn it was grazed down bad and four wheeler tracks and lots of human sign but no elk sign after another day of hunting hard time for plan c
If any one does go to the Riggins ID area pinehurst resort and rv is a great place the owners are awsome people. Pat called some friends and outfitters he is friends with trying to help us out and overall it has been a tough year. I could not have asked any more from them as they wanted us to get and elk as bad as we did. Overall every person i have met out hunting there has been great to bs with and even helpfull more than i would expect.
So a few more swings and it came down to the last night and we left Idaho empty handed again but with great scenery and lots of fun i will not call a unsuccessful trip as the adventure was everything and more that i wanted . I can say i was physically and mentally done when we left i gave every thing i had. A last few pics and now time to get ready for next year i am fully addicted.
Oh and these guys were by the road saying whats up as we crossed the mt/id border