OK so this will be a long drama dragged over several weeks. I figured rather than wait till all the excitement happens I would start now.
1Week prior to departure;
Trailer has new tires, batteries, propane tanks, all appliances work today but who knows about when I get there, extra gear for a remote camp if my truck and trailer cannot get close enough.
Quad has new batteries and has been put to the test. Quad held up nice I broke 2 ribs. Quad fixed I seem to be ok too.
Truck tested out with the help of Henmar and it was a big success, but now I may have a 2001 4x4 Excursion diesel instead hmmmmmmm.
I have loaded enough gear in the trailerr to outfit 4 hunters guns for 2. Ammo is way to extreme but where else but America can I Drive around with my own malitia. I even have locking gun racks for the hunt just like the cops have, EBAY is great.
Food will be bought on the way in at Rifle Co as well as filling up the water tanks for the trailer, gas cans for extra fuel/quad, and ice for elk meat. OK that is still wishful thinking but I am going all out this year.
The only part I lack is common sense. After years of hunting and teaching and Search and Rescues I am hunting solo. Not really as last year there were 25 camps within a mile of ours and hunters were crossing each others paths all day long. I plan on sharing good Whiskey, Rum, Beer and whatever tangible good I can to befriend other hunters I met last year. I will hang a flag each day I return and hope they call the rangers if I miss the flag one night. I have a strict rule of no booze during the hunt until the harvest night. Then it is all good until 8 hours before I drive home again.
As I go along I will take pics and try to post them. I hope for some comedy on the trip as since I retired I have lost so much stress, 25 pounds, and 2 waist sizes. Spirits are very high. For the first time in 25 years I am med free, eating good healthy food, and full of energy. If nothing else I will have 2 weeks carrying a rifle in Colorado around several dozen hunters. The experience is as close to heaven as I can get.
I have improved my gear this year to make it easy on me. I have new knives for the harvest as I might be alone with 500 pounds for a couple hours cutting. I bought the Outdoor edge Swing Blade, Knives of Alaska Cub and Wolf knives. I have sharpened my old Winchester knives and have a new saw for ribs. New maps, apps, and computer to document it all with and log in where I went and what I saw. I even have 3000 movies digitized if I get bored with nature, probably not. My quad is new to me and Colorado too. I have a 4x4 to get there, winches, block and tackle recovery gear lots of stupid stuff for stupid guys hunting solo. I have downloaded DOW regs and apps that might help with the hunt to my phone.
As I go along I am sure I will remember more but like I said this will drag on for a few weeks. I gave my last Hunter Safety class Saturday and they all agreed, I am nuts to teach safety then go solo on a hunt. I plan on meeting up with a couple of you while in Colorado, and like I said there are a lot of people in the area.
1Week prior to departure;
Trailer has new tires, batteries, propane tanks, all appliances work today but who knows about when I get there, extra gear for a remote camp if my truck and trailer cannot get close enough.
Quad has new batteries and has been put to the test. Quad held up nice I broke 2 ribs. Quad fixed I seem to be ok too.
Truck tested out with the help of Henmar and it was a big success, but now I may have a 2001 4x4 Excursion diesel instead hmmmmmmm.
I have loaded enough gear in the trailerr to outfit 4 hunters guns for 2. Ammo is way to extreme but where else but America can I Drive around with my own malitia. I even have locking gun racks for the hunt just like the cops have, EBAY is great.
Food will be bought on the way in at Rifle Co as well as filling up the water tanks for the trailer, gas cans for extra fuel/quad, and ice for elk meat. OK that is still wishful thinking but I am going all out this year.
The only part I lack is common sense. After years of hunting and teaching and Search and Rescues I am hunting solo. Not really as last year there were 25 camps within a mile of ours and hunters were crossing each others paths all day long. I plan on sharing good Whiskey, Rum, Beer and whatever tangible good I can to befriend other hunters I met last year. I will hang a flag each day I return and hope they call the rangers if I miss the flag one night. I have a strict rule of no booze during the hunt until the harvest night. Then it is all good until 8 hours before I drive home again.
As I go along I will take pics and try to post them. I hope for some comedy on the trip as since I retired I have lost so much stress, 25 pounds, and 2 waist sizes. Spirits are very high. For the first time in 25 years I am med free, eating good healthy food, and full of energy. If nothing else I will have 2 weeks carrying a rifle in Colorado around several dozen hunters. The experience is as close to heaven as I can get.
I have improved my gear this year to make it easy on me. I have new knives for the harvest as I might be alone with 500 pounds for a couple hours cutting. I bought the Outdoor edge Swing Blade, Knives of Alaska Cub and Wolf knives. I have sharpened my old Winchester knives and have a new saw for ribs. New maps, apps, and computer to document it all with and log in where I went and what I saw. I even have 3000 movies digitized if I get bored with nature, probably not. My quad is new to me and Colorado too. I have a 4x4 to get there, winches, block and tackle recovery gear lots of stupid stuff for stupid guys hunting solo. I have downloaded DOW regs and apps that might help with the hunt to my phone.
As I go along I am sure I will remember more but like I said this will drag on for a few weeks. I gave my last Hunter Safety class Saturday and they all agreed, I am nuts to teach safety then go solo on a hunt. I plan on meeting up with a couple of you while in Colorado, and like I said there are a lot of people in the area.
