My ELK tag came!!!!!

[lawdog]

Woohooooo!!!!! After several years of trying, we finally got drawn for a bull elk rifle tag in Colorado!!!!! I can't wait, I've never hunted elk before and I'm totally stoked. This is a dream trip for me! Season E-M-066-02-R here I come!

[harvey lee]

Congrats Lawdog,you will for sure have the time of your life.I hope you shoot a real trophy buddy.

[Gissert]

Nice going, Lawdog!

Do you know what kind of altitude you will be at?

[lawdog]

I think about 9000' the way it sounds. Its North of Gunnison in that area.

[Gissert]

Cool, sounds like that should be a good hunt. Have fun with the acclimation, LOL.

[lawdog]

Its roughly the same elevation as I've snowmobiled in for years so I'm used to it and not too worried about that really. I do know I need to get my fat lazy behind into quite a bit better shape before then though!!!

[MN Mike]

It's not about getting into shape, it's mind over matter. After a couple days in the elevation, you'll get use to it and get around pretty good. First year I went out, I didn't do anything, of course I was 18 at the time but I bet I dropped 10 pounds out there, had to where a belt for a month after I got home just to keep my pants up!

Drew a Muley tag this year, haven't been back for 2 years so it's going to be fun to relax and do some Mtn. hunting. I'll be in Unit 161 in the 2nd season. My brother just missed the record book a couple years ago, so I have something to beat.

Mike

[lawdog]

Anybody know if I actually have to carry my orange gun safety card with me out there or not? I already gave them the number on the application, but do I need to bring it out there???

[Gissert]

Regs used to say you had to carry it. Not sure if they do now.

Look at the back of your Minnesota Drivers License. If you have the new style, it will have all your endorsements on the back.

Mine shows Firearms and Snomobile Safety. I did not realize that the database went back that far. I took those courses over 25 years ago.

I have been checked several times in Colorado, and have never been asked to show my certificate.

[lawdog]

Kind of strange but my new driver's license I got last year, complete with new D/L # and everything, doesn't show either of those and I've taken them both too. Its the new style as well.

HMMMMMMM...

[jerkin'm]

Umm....Snowmobiling up mountains and walking up mountains is a little different Get your pack on and start walking some hills....I lived in the mountains of Colorado for 3 winters. You will regret not getting into the best shape of your life.

[Mikinaak]

Heys Minnesotan's!

Once you have purchased a license "in person" and shown your Mn. Firearms safety certificate then all Colorado licenses will say "verified" after the Firearms cert. area.

And from that point on you don't have to carry your firearms certificate, ubtil it says verified you need to carry your original firearms cert. with you.

I'm now anxiuos to get my Mn. deer license and see if it will work that way....and I have a Mn. firearms cert!

but you know the govn. somehow it won't be that easy.

[lawdog]

Thanks mikinaak!

[Mikinaak]

law dog,

Your hunting in a great area, you might have to go higher. Acclimation takes weeks so don't worry about that, just take it slow and if you feel dizzy just rest a bit!

Good Luck, anymore questions just shoot.

[SpecialK]

My old boss out in Colorado Springs used to say take regular tums for alt sickness. Aspirins caused your blood to thin and was unable to carry enough O2. Not sure why but Tums somehow take care of it.

[Gissert]

I have hunted several times around 11,000 feet. I carry a good size beer gut, but I can acclimitize enough in about two days. If you are in better shape, that helps a lot of course. This method works well for me:

1. Get plenty of walking time in before you go.

2. Avoid any alcohol the first few days. This is key. It'll dehydrate you.

3. Drink lots of water/gatorade.

4. I arrive on a Thursday, and take it very slow when setting up camp. Befor bed, I walk very slowly for about a mile. I make sure my hydration pack is by me all night, and keep taking pulls off it. I can really feel the altitude at this point. Drinking all that liquid will cause you to have to get up to pee a lot, but it is worth it.

5. If you can, go down low (several thousand feet) for the better portion of the next day. When I wake up the first morning, I usually feel a tad naseaous and have a dull headache. I am familiar with the area we hunt, so I don't scout much anymore. I drop down into Glenwood Springs (about 5k lower) , and have a nice soak in the hot springs. I go back to camp after about 6 hours or so, and slowly take a nice walk on the flatter areas. I usually feel much better at this point.

6. Saturday arrives, and so does the hunt. I tend to watch chutes, saddles and other escape routes the first day that have been good for us in the past. Climbing is still tough, but if I keep drinking off the hydration pack and go slow, the cramps stay away.

7. By Sunday, I can pretty much go where I want to at a good pace, and my appetite is back and the headaches are gone. I still keep plenty of liquids in me at all times.

[Mark Christianson]

Congrats on the tag Jeff!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lawdog]

Thanks Mark, we'll compare notes when we both get back from the west this fall!!! I can't wait!

[outdoor ran]

Last time I was elk hunting in CO 5 years ago I was able to just buy a bull elk tag over the counter. Have things changed or does it just depend on where you hunt? Also everyone in our group got buck muley tags to. Were thinking about going back next year.

[Mikinaak]

Hi Boys, are you as excitted as my family is?

The laws do change out here slighty year to year. Over-the-counter (unlimited license's) bull tags (and cow tags, etc.)are available for some area's. Their is also a left-over (limited license's)list on the internet.

Out west here we all drink a lot of water and I stress that! We have very low humidity so it literally sucks it right out of you. Drink plenty of water....

My son bought a Bull archery tag and season for him opens August 26th. He will hunt an area I turkey hunt so I'll be scouting for turkeys. Are fall turkey season allows me to shoot with either the shotgun or my 22-250 and its open for male or female turkeys, come on Sept. 1st...this is area 85.

I hunt first rifle season in area 25 (flat tops wilderness area) and my Mn. nephew will be joining us, we have rented 2 mules to get us back into the High country. We have cow tags, we didn't get are bull tags.

Next we all purchased left over Mule deer buck tags for area 25 for 2nd season. So My 15 year old son and 14 year old daughter will be trying for a wall hanger and if that doesn't work.

Then its off to Northern Mn. for some whitetail deer hunting. Again come on wall hanger...

And next a late season cow elk hunt down south of Alamosa for my two teen agers. I think its area 81. I hope they fill the freezer like they did last year. This is an area I'd like to see just how many big bulls their are. We are within seeing distance of New Mexico.

Good luck to all of you, If there's anything I can do for you boys just let me know. Paul aka Mikinaak

[Mikinaak]

ANYONE HUNTING THIS YEAR IN COLORADO

[Mikinaak]

When is everybody headed out here?

[doc]

I'm leaving for GMU 34 on the 24th. I heard it has been a dry summer there. Could be a good waterhole year.

[Mikinaak]

Good luck Doc, we have had rain this past month. It's been spotty so I won't try and guess for your area. Let me know how you do...

[Labby]

Leavin in the morning Wednesday 9-6-06

we are hunting soth of Alamosa zone 81. I am bowhunting some of teh others have Muzeloader tags. Cant wait this is the year.

Lab