Markleo21377

My son drew a tag for one of Colorado’s open space hunts this year. It is a neat opportunity because it allows you to hunt the month of December and January which fits well with kids school schedules. We drove out as a family Christmas Day and headed out on the 26th for our first day of hunting. Saw a pile of deer and my son picked the deer he wanted to harvest and made a great shot. It was a special day and one I will never forget. I can’t stress enough, IMO, how important it is to just get out and hunt with our kids! No expectations, no trophy talk, no making them wait years for a tag because we want them to shoot the buck of “our dreams”. Let them shoot what they want. Just get out there and soak up the opportunities…they grow up so fast and time is so fleeting!

My buddy was the fortunate recipient of a once in a lifetime Idaho moose tag this year. Like many of the western states Idaho moose has taken a beating over the last few years from predation, disease, and ticks. We didn’t know what to expect, however harvest data still showed a very high success rate on hunts. My buddy traveled to the unit over the summer to get a feel for the landscape, acquire the necessary access permits, speak with the biologist, and learn the road systems. After that trip we felt optimistic and all we had to do then was count down the days until November. This would be a hunt after the rut, so food was key. These giants are worn to nothing after the rut and spend the majority of the day browsing. My wife and I flew in the evening before to meet him and his wife at the Airbnb and after an evening of beating the girls in cards our egos were overinflated and optimism was at an all time high 😂. Opening day was on par for November in Idaho…fog..then rain…then snow….then fog and snow. We continued covering country all morning glassing when we could and as the snow started to stick looking for fresh bull tracks to try and walk down. We spotted a few cows and calfs in the morning. Shortly after noon we cut two bull tracks and a cow crossing a logging road. We started on the track and about two hundred yards in we saw the cow. The fog and aspens were thick and we could not locate the bulls. After a minute or so we felt the wind switch and her head came up on alert. The hill erupted with moose and they were gone. We went back to covering ground and with it being midday started focusing on dark timber directly adjacent to feed. About two o clock we found two bulls bedded and one was nice. My buddy tried to get on him as he stood and started moving off but the fog and snow was thick and a good shot never presented itself. We hopped back in the buggy and circled to an upper road in hopes of picking them up from a better angle. As we start glassing from the high spot we see a black body moving through thick aspen below. A good bull pops out at 185 yards and my buddy anchors him. Such a cool experience! Average bull for that unit over the last five years was 34 4/8”. My buddy’s was 37 2/8”. We were able to get him broke down and packed out with daylight to spare. For those that haven’t had the privilege of eating moose it is extraordinary!

I agree. These Shiras are big but not nearly as big as Yukon. I spent two weeks DIY floating for moose in alaska this year and broke down some giants…when they are 35 yards away tearing trees to pieces they look like dinosaurs. 675 lbs ready for plane off 62” bull

Hey all, I know it’s a long shot but a buddy was helping a couple hunters in 5B last Thursday and on one of their stops his tripod either fell out of the buggy or they inadvertently left it. its a tall outdoorsman with a fluid head. Has the orange leg covers so pretty easy to spot. Appreciate it anyone happens a to find it to let me know. Thanks Mark

I could have not have scripted this hunt for my buddy from Texas any better. Opening morning I dug up 3 great bulls in a nasty canyon. After running out of real estate we settled in for a shot my buddy makes pretty consistently at 736 yards on the best bull, a 6 point probably around 300-310”. After cutting hairs on his back twice the bull had enough and moved into thick timber. We never could pick them back up that day. He was heartbroken. Fast forward to day 3…..I locate 2 giants in some cedars and we sneak in to 50 yards and he hammers the biggest a 6 by 7 with devil point!!! His first elk! What a dream hunt for him and this is a bull of a lifetime! Only 4” broke off him, beams just under 55”, and mass all the way up 😬😬😬

The story is short….. I was so busy trying to finish up my cabin before our friends arrived from Texas that I only got out 4 times. Was on bulls every time but just never had the shot opportunity I liked. Day before season ended I decided this “trophy Spike 😂” would do. 58 yard shot and the track job was short. Awesome to have my boy with me on it and our friends arrived just in time to hang the first elk at the cabin!

I agree! Spot and stalk beating them on their turf with a stick and string is the ultimate hunt 👊

😂same one

Thank you sir

Super awesome! Congrats to her!

Great experience!! Congrats!

It does take a fair amount of snow in my experience is to get them moving. The amount of good canyons throughout give them lots of great secluded areas to recover from the rut. Good luck! It is a great hunt!

They absolutely will be dispersed throughout the unit right now. From rim to north flats. I have a cabin in 5a and I scout a lot. Bulls are everywhere they have good cover, feed, and water. Density in junipers is low unless rim gets 2’ snow

I have a cabin up in 5a and will be up there for the late archery and rifle hunt helping on hunts. If you get in a bind or need help on getting out just holler 👍

5bs is loaded with elk and dispersed throughout . Use that flatline map and locate water sources near canyons. Get on vantage points looking south into top 1/3 of canyons with good pinyon or pine cover. Use that map to identify topo lines with benches with wider line spacing. Elk will be there. A lot of tags so elk will be moving around the unit a lot. Be patient and an opportunity will present itself. Good luck! 👊

Hey sir, I know that unit and hunt very well. Text me and I will give you some info Mark 989-615-8953

Mike, I believe it is sold as of today. If it falls through I will follow up in order if interest. Thx, Mark

Hey gents, thought I’d throw this gear on here locally first. Boy has shot up lately and outgrown gear. All in perfect condition. I want to sell it all together peloton 118 Valo Rubicon Jacket Valo Attack pants Valo Reversible puffy jacket Verde $200 for all For reference, my 14 year old is now 5’ 8” 130 lbs. this is perfect for a kiddo 5’-5’5 imo

Hey gents, thought I’d throw this gear on here locally first. Boy has shot up lately and outgrown gear. All in perfect condition. I want to sell it all together peloton 118 Valo Rubicon Jacket Valo Attack pants Valo Reversible puffy jacket Verde $200 for all For reference, my 14 year old is now 5’ 8” 130 lbs. this is perfect for a kiddo 5’-5’5 imo

Carefree highway and 7th street

I think your plan is great! Sitting water can be mind numbing so I like to mix it up with chasing bugles, still hunting, etc. I have often experienced good morning hunts at water as they leave feed and head to bedding but I have experienced evening being a bit more consistent.

This solid 5a bull was pretty fired up this weekend! Good luck! The bulls look incredible this year up there 👊

The true reason we shoot be deadly is at 60 is to make 25 automatic!! I have called in dozens of bulls to hunters and the urge to “get an arrow in one” is strong. But I strongly encourage passing on long shots and chip shots always follow. For cow it is a no brained for me…enjoy some rut action but sit water. They have to drink daily and you will get a much better shot in a controlled environment. I have been a part of over 10 elk bow kills in last 5 years and furthest shot was 35 yards…..all recovered. Be patient….good luck 👊👊

Hey Nick, I have a cabin in 5a and know it really well. I will be up there most of November hunting late archery bulls and helping on a bunch of hunts including late rifle 5a and 5bs. 5a is loaded with bulls and you’ll be just fine. Shoot me a PM and I will offer a bit of advise I think will pay dividends. Mark

Awesome video and hunt! Just miserable enough weather and terrain to appreciate it fully 👊