Colorado '15

[Alexandre Bugnon]

#5672

I went to Colorado for Elk opening week in the San Juan National Forest. I rented a car, stayed at David Petersen’s Thursday night, and joined Joey and T.Downing’s in their high country camp at 10400ft on Friday afternoon, before opening day saturday. This was my second time in Joey and T’s camp. I hunted mostly alone or with Joey, and one time with T, who is still busy with kids and work in town.

a very brief journal:

September 1st:

This country is so big, steep, thick like a tropical jungle, and unforgiving. Some bugling, very few sightings of elk, mostly in bottom of canyons where it would be crazy to want to kill one down there, because packing it would be near suicidal! ??

Yet I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now!

[Alexandre Bugnon]

#43270

Sept 2nd

We glassed and found a small herd at 6:45 this morning with a big body bull. Very far, 2 miles as crows fly, across the canyons. We hiked there, found the small hidden meadow below the ridge where they were feeding an hour earlier, only to hear one lone bugle on the next ridge! They had moved into timber to “rest”, as my girlfriend Lauren would say!??

We called and waited 45 minutes. We hiked back to the ridge where we heard the bugle, I tried to go down and see, but we decided to move away because of wind issues. I really thought I had a chance this morning. Oh well!

This picture is taken from the meadow and shows the mountain on the left where we glassed this morning. Pretty far, heh?!

[Alexandre Bugnon]

#43280

Sept 3rd

Came off the mountain and back in Durango to spend some time with with Dave this morning. No hunt this morning. It was raining and I’m a little sick anyway. Coughing and sneezing with fever the last two days. I toughed it out yesterday but it got worse during the night. It was a fantastic experience with lots of knowledge gained! I chose one of the hardest area to hunt, but that’s what makes it so great! I got to hang out with Thomas Downing and his 74 year old dad Joey who still goes up and down these canyons like a 20 year old!

I called a bull in, that was a first, but didn’t have the patience to let him come in all the way, so he spooked! You live and learn! Next year!! Tomorrow, back in the grind, show in Birmingham saturday, Atlanta Sunday, Home monday!!

[David Coulter]

#43296

Alex, great post from your journal. Thanks for putting up these words and the great photos. What a great time! Good luck with your shows. best wishes, david

[Brennan Herr]

#43871

Alex,

Looks and sounds like a great hunt!!! Thanks for sharing it is appreciated.

[paleoman]

#43873

Love the pics. I’d forgotten that the elk opener out there is in August. Has been upper 80’s here and humid so hunting less on my mind than with the cooler weather to come. Good to see the action starting.

[Mark Turton]

#44119

Nice looking country Alex, plenty of places for elk to hide.

Thanks for the post and regards to DP when you next speak

Mark.

[Col Mike]

#44533

Alex

Awesome photo’s that is some high camp. Dave and I visited it last spring. Glad the hunt went well and good luck on your next engagements–safe travel. See you soon:D.

Mike

[Ptaylor]

#45232

Sounds like a great hunt Alex! I got to spend a few days in the elk woods this past weekend. Got to take my wife out there with me too, and we were able to get in close enough to hear elk talk but not see them! I’ll be heading back next week for some serious hunting though.

[Bob Ledrich]

#46532

Hey Alex, sounds like a fantastice hunt! glad to hear the details. That country is beautiful out there. I hunted the Cortez area for Mulies a few years back and the scenery is

spectacular…especially all the Mesa’s. Thanks Bob

[Stephen Smiley]

#48700

Great pictures Alex. I’m heading out there Saturday to hunt for Mr. Elk. Cant wait to get out in the mountains and sleep under the stars.

[Alexandre Bugnon]

#49014

Thanks everyone!

PS: I saw the movie at Dave’s house and all I have to say is: It’s freakin’ beautiful and sad at the same time! content, cinematography, story of Dave and Caroline’s life! My throat was full of tears! Well done Dave and Christopher!

A few more pics from my Elk quest:

Engineer Mountain:

I had only 2 pairs of socks, and the morning hunt was so wet that I had to change socks everyday midday. Thanks to the car’s heat, because putting them in my sleeping bag didn’t work all the way. I would have preferred a fire, though! 😀

Bear turds! every 20 yards on some ridges! Almost as many and as big as in New Jersey!! 😀

Dark Elk hole!

my Elk broadheads of choice, Abowyer Brown Bears: I take them out of their oil pack once a year in September, for a week’s hunt, and I put them right back in their oil bag after the hunt! I had them 4 years and never had to sharpen them! They have retained their edge and they shave my hair every time I take them out! Since I totally gave up on learning to sharpen single bevels after trying repeatedly all sharpening tools on the freakin’ planet, that’s what I had to do, and it works for me, so there is no need for change! I’ll buy new ones if these ever get dull!8)

PS: I sharpen my Zwickey Eskimos shaving-sharp every other day during NY deer season! no problem there!

[skifrk]

#49697

Cool trip report Alex, enjoying the visuals. Glad to hear about the movie.

[Dave Nash]

#50614

Thanks Alex, love this stuff!

[paleoman]

#51794

Beautiful additions to the pictorial. Engineer Mt. looks like a painting!

[Col Mike]

#52227

Alex

Great pics. I find that the tuff heads retain the same edge.

Watched the final cut of Dave’s movie about a month ago—didn’t want to make you contributors out there pine, but as Alex said it will be worth the wait. From Dave, should be in the mail soonest. Still no word on when it can be released for open sales.

[Author]

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