Elk Hunt 2014 - The Hunt, Day One...

Finally!  It came!  After months of waiting, and after a 26 hour, 1,440 mile road trip, the first day of our hunt arrived!  We woke to a 5:00am alarm and smells of fresh brewed coffee and eggs and bacon.  The lodge was buzzing with anxious hunters and guides as we enjoyed breakfast and prepared for the day afield.  The camp cooks had laid out a lunch buffet of homemade sandwiches, fruit, granola bars, and fresh baked cookies...so after stuffing our lunch bags, we jumped in our guide Jack's truck and headed out.

Sunrise over the Potato Field, with 9700 foot
Flat Top Mountain in the Distance

With early morning temps in low 40's, daytime highs expected to be in the upper 50's and only a slight chance of rain, we were pleased with our first day's weather.  We bumped along an old rancher's road for nearly 30 minutes to reach one of Dave Holbrook's private ranches which he leases for these hunts.  Once again the scenery was incredible.  Flat-top mountain (9,734 feet) to our south, and Lone Cone mountain (12,620 feet) to our north, provided bookend landmarks to our 9100 foot elevation hunting area.

Deep Canyon at Edge of Potato Field, with
12,620 foot Lone Cone in Distance

The day started on a positive note, as we saw two mule deer on our way to the aspen grove meadow where Dad would spend his morning.  He saw several more deer that morning, but no elk.  Jack and I headed east and still hunted the aspens to the edge of a vast mountain meadow, where we sat for the balance of the morning. We saw several deer as well, but no elk. We met Dad for lunch and all enjoyed a brief combat nap before hunting the afternoon.  We walked a couple deep cuts along the large meadow, kicking out more mule deer. We then setup along the meadow during the late afternoon, hoping to catch elk moving into the field to feed before dark.  No luck however, and we returned to the Lodge by 7:30pm.  By the end of the day we had each seen 15 deer.  A long day afield.....good to see the deer, but hopeful for elk on Day Two.