Backcountry Bucks

    Dad and I hopped on a plane in Albany, N.Y., this morning around 5:30 a.m. and headed for Denver. In all the years of going West, I've only flown one other time, and that was the first time we ever went bow hunting for elk in 1992.    After killing my best bull to date that year, we never flew again due to the issues we ran into with getting everything home, including the antlers and meat. However, this year Brian and Dave are driving Brian's truck with all of the gear. They set the tent up a few days after they arrived.    After touching down in Denver and getting our rental vehicle, a Jeep Rubicon, we headed south. We would travel over a few passes and stop in Gunnison before finishing our journey just outside of Lake City, Colo.    As we headed into the mountains, I began gaining elevation and realized we should probably fill the gas tank before going too far. When we pulled into a small-town mountain-top convenience store, I got a hap...

   Please feel free to follow along as I recount my journey to Colorado this year and share the ups, downs and everything in between that happened during the trip. To give everyone a little history on the trip, I must share a few things before I begin transcribing my journal onto this online platform from my leather journal.    In the fall of 1991, I packed my bags, boarded a plane by myself and made my way to Denver, where I would pick up a shuttle flight to a little town called Alamosa, which is located just a little bit to the north of the New Mexico border.    I had no expectations and didn't know if I would ever return to elk hunt again in my life. After being stranded due to a massive, record-breaking snowfall that left hundreds of hunters in the woods, we were finally able to venture into elk country. The snowfall put the migration in full force, and we saw the results. The snow looked like a bloodbath and hundreds upon hundreds of elk were on the mo...

   The alarm jarred me out of sleep. It was December 8, 2024, the last day of Northern Zone rifle season in New York. I had been going straight-out since mid-October, never missing a day and out of bed every morning before 4:30. Although I had loved every minute of every day, my body was finally beginning to feel the aches and pains associated with bushwhacking through swamps, scaling cliffs, climbing mountains, and crossing rivers. With the exception of two travel days, I had found myself in the woods every day from sun-up until sundown. While I've heard many others say they've done the same, I've often doubted it because I know how difficult a task it is to accomplish.    The embers in the wood stove shone brightly as I cracked the door open and stacked a few pieces of wood on top of the burning coals. Although the fire was just about gone, the fresh flow of air gave it some life, and there was a slim chance of hope that the newly added wood would catch fire and bu...

 Today was my last day of hunting for the year. It was an uneventful day, and we didn't see anything. Dad and I are both optimistic about next year, so we will have to wait for about nine months to give it another whirl.    My body and mind need rest. It's time to get back on the horse and find a job. It has been beyond stressful while trying to find one, especially without any responses from all the resumes sent out. I'll keep plugging along now that hunting season has come to a close. I've enjoyed my time in the woods, but I'm glad it's over. I gave it everything I have this year. So I'll say goodbye until next year. Thanks for following along. I had a lot less followers than previous years, but I guess it's still worth it if people are checking in. 

   Dad and I headed out early today. We were in the woods about an hour before daylight. The thermometer hung steady at about 10 degrees. It was a bit nippy out there this morning.  It was loud and crunchy while walking through the woods in the darkness. We spooked a few deer along the way but figure out early arrival would allow things to settle down around us. As daylight broke, I could hear deer walking across the ridge below me. Before long, three does made their way past me and I could see the buck I have been chasing. He was hot on the trail of a doe, but I only saw fleeting glimpses of him. There was never an opportunity to get a shot. Although I felt frustrated, I knew the day was early.    Within minutes of the deer disappearing, I heard another one approaching. Looking down the hill, I spotted a one-horned spike walking toward me. Within a few minutes, he was in my lap. I would've loved to pull the hammer back and let him have it, but I chose to let hi...

   Due to severely bad weather, I actually didn't hunt the last two days. I decided to take a break and get some things in order. It was beneficial for me because it allowed me to rest my body.    As I headed up the mountain this morning, I saw a flashlight on a ridge in front of me. I couldn't figure out how in the world someone could've beaten me into the woods. Although I tried to let it pass, the sighting wouldn't leave my mind.    After seeing nothing, I headed over the ridge to take a look later in the morning. I never cut another person's tracks, so I don't know what the light I saw might have been. I guess I may have seen something that never existed.    Another day passed without seeing anything. I know I'm in the mix, but I just haven't seen anything yet. We will see what happens tomorrow when I imagine more people will be in the woods.