Elk Hunt- 2006

As I finished one of my favorite breakfasts, this morning, sausage/gravy on toast, or B's & G's (biscuits and gravy) made with some excellent elk sausage, I remembered part of the adventure that led to this great meal. This year's hunt had us arriving to over a foot of snow on the ground, with more coming down as we set up the latest version of elk camp. As we(Nate, Matt and I) went thru the familiar process, I realized this was 35 years in a row of pursuing those "frisky critters" (Don Lineen's term for elk) in the Colorado high country. Last year, same time/same place, it was 'bluebird weather', with sunblock being more necessary than longjohns. Another difference, this year, was the outdoor patio, (which hosts the best 'happy hour', to be found anywhere) was enclosed and had a propane heater going. If you've never been there/done that, (elk hunting in fresh powder) it's hard to describe, but the winter woods, under the brilliant blue sky by day, and intense, twinkling Milky Way by night, is an experience that can't be adequately described, (by me, anyway). Won't go into all the details, but this year's hunt, like most, had it's share of 'rocking chair memories', including Matt finding out (twice) that you can't fire 30-06 ammo in a 300 Win Mag. This lesson is even more dramatic when there is a herd of elk within 100 yards. Needless to say, anyone who was there will check the caliber of their shells very carefully in the future. We also proved, what we already knew from previous experience, that when you lose ALL your brake fluid, your vehicle won't stop, no matter how hard you stomp on the brake pedal. This situation did allow us to add to our list of "Amazing Coincidences", when we found a mechanic in the camp next to ours, who just happened to know me from MANY years before, and did an emergency fix that got us safely home. Could ramble on, but suffice it to say, those little white packages in the freezer, although fantastic enough on their own, are continuing reminders of that most magical of times, huntin' with your buddies. Really gonna miss that part of my life when for some reason or another, I can't do it any more.....( picture from 2005, when we got 4 elk, this year only 3. Click on x to see pic, but only if you are not squeamish about seeing dead animal)