I planned better this year than in any other, in terms of purchasing and packing. New: headlamp, worked great. I planned worse this year than in any other year, in terms of physical conditioning. Unlike my El Cap climb or Half Dome climb, I was a couch potato. Other than hiking hard at the Ranch during deer season, I was a pansy.

This year also marked a change in my hunting style. I normally like to sit at the Ranch, rarely do much walking, even in the morning. I don't like offhand shots, find it frustrating to be as quiet as I want to be, too many run off before you even see them. In Wyoming, I have tended to sit in one place, often all day. Craig and Bill have shown me how to check a place out and then move on. This year, I did not stay put in one place for long, but after doing a thorough checkout of the territory, I move on. I have learned how to hunt both the area within shooting range as well as the territory 800 yards off that is ahead of me now, but will be within shooting range as I move along.

Oct 8 Day of Frustration and Mixups

Up at 5:30, fully packed from the night before (what Bill did not take in his Bronco), SuperShuttle to pick me up at 6:50, arrives at 5:50, but speaks so little English that I cannot communicate with him, and he drives off. Called SuperShuttle, they admit mistake, same driver picks me up at 6:50, still does not know what is going on. Arrive in Denver at 12:30 pm, go to car rental agency (way off premises, long trip to try to save some $$), learn that their insurance does not allow me to leave Colorado. Back to airport, get another rental agency, get a car, take off at 2:40 pm. Need to pick up a pair of long john bottoms, get directions to a "nearby" outdoor store, Bass Pro Shops. Ask, get directions, go there (several miles away), not there. Ask directions again, get directions, go there (only several blocks away now), not there; ask directions, get directions, go there, directions wrong: I can see the store, but the road does not connect! After two U-turns, I finally make it to the store. I get the long john bottoms and eventually leave Denver at 3:55 pm, almost four hours after my plane landed in Denver.

The entrance looks like the entrance to Yellowstone Park, with massive timbers and large stones.

The store is absolutely huge, with two tall floors, massive displays. Cabela's must be quite similar.

Late getting into Wyoming, need to get Conservation Stamp (only available in person, in Wyoming), too late to get it in Laramie (where I usually do; always too late to get it in Rawlins). Pull off hiway in Cheyenne, get directions to gun shop, arrive: they are closed. Get directions to a WalMart, turns out it is several miles away. Finally get it, get on the road, sun sets before I barely leave Cheyenne.

Gorgeous sunset, with golden clouds and all. Pix above does not do it justice. Try to enjoy just being there, ignore being late to camp, but it is 160 miles to Rawlins. Arrive Rawlins, get gas, head out to camp. Arrive after dark, radio Bill. Turns out, Sandy never forwarded my arrival information, they have no idea when I am arriving. Get into camp, greet the guys (Ted has already been successful (!!!) and left for Suki's birthday), and head to bed. Bill nicely offered me some chow, but too tired.

Tuesday, Oct 9 Day One

Up at 5:30, too cold to eat, frost on the ground, head out to Waterfall Canyon, via the Promentory (site of my 06 kill). Craig warned me that it would be empty: not a hair. Turns out, Charlie shot a 29 1/2 incher the previous week, one of Charlie's brothers took one I think as well, over Craig's head. Anyway, nada. Take a couple of naps on the ground, wake up, still nothing.

Move over from Promentory to my favorite tree on the West Fork of Waterfall, nada. Nap.

View up Waterfall Canyon, from my favorite tree.

Around noon, give up on Waterfall and head over to Cherokee Creek, where I had seen a conga line of about 35 deer last year. I am not sure which ridge it is, so I need to go in via Cherokee Creek to the northwest side, to glass the area over and, hopefully, with the aid of Bill's great map, determine where I need to hike in from the southeast side. The gate is locked and the key Bill gave me for the Five Buttes Ranch won't open it (turns out it was a defective key, would open some locks but not others. Frustrating.) Turn around, drive down the county road for a mile, then hike in another way to the southeast side toward my hunting area, but guessing as to which ridge is right. I hike in via a gully marked "7463" on the map, the largest gully to enter from the southeast of Cherokee. Explore around, looking for a landmark water trough and spring with a large poplar or aspen, can't find it. I make a guess as to which ridge it is, and decide I need to cross gully 7463. I see a good spot on the far ridge, high enough to see, low enough so the distance is tolerable, some cover. I head over there. Get there after a fair hike and fighting a aspen thicket. Day is very warm, need to shed some clothes required by the a.m. chill. Get settled, and see someone drive over to my vehicle and get out. Rats! The light is just getting good, but I abandon my hunt and hike over to my car. They are starting to pull out, but see me, stop. It is Charlie's brother Tony. He is looking for poachers, did not recognize my car. I tell him who I am, never hear of me. Never heard of Bill Nelson. But has heard of Craig Wyosnick (why is that guy so famous?), so he knows I am OK. Yeah, OK to be there but you screwed up my first day's hunt! And were a bit nasty, to boot. Back to camp, dinner, quickly to bed. One of the problems of the way we are hunting is that there is so little time for "camping" and camraderie. We are up very early, out all day, back late, eat and crash.

I try to enjoy the nature, despite seeing no bucks. Amazingly, this tiny blue flower is blooming in October at 7000 ft.

This bumble bee landed in camp while Bill and I were resting.

This mushroom was growing in camp from a cowpie; blue waterjug in background. Beauty everywhere, just no bucks!

 

Next: Wednesday, Oct 10 Day Two