SmallCaliberCentral

Well, my favorite week of the year has finally arrived. I'm heading out to chase mulies with the old muzzle loader tomorrow. We had a storm blow in Sunday night that dusted the tops of the mountains with snow. It should make for a great hunt. I'll report next week when I get back.

SWEET! Pics...we want pics!

Keep your powder AND your caps dry bro!

Good luck!!!

I'll be doing the same thing is 5 1/2 weeks...
I'm all packed up and ready...grin...

Good luck and pics are a must....

Well, I got back this evening from a terrific week in the hills. The fall colors were amazing, the air was chilled, and the hunt was a blast. Even though I did not harvest a deer, I had a great week. I had the chance and passed on many small forkies and three pointers. My dreams will be haunted by the huge buck I played cat and mouse with this morning in a pocket of quakies. The old buck out smarted me and will live to play the game with another hunter. I took some pictures that I though I would share with you all.

My journey began in the canyon at about 6500 feet in elevation. Back in the 1930s, it was discovered that the mountain contained a huge deposit of naturally occuring asphault. A gravity powered tram was built to carry the asphault down the canyon. The buckets still hang above the canyon floor.


As the road tops out at about 10500 feet, a picture looking west.


This is my home away from home. It sure beats sleeping on the ground, and I can pull this thing to places I would never dream of pulling a full-sized travel trailer.


A view looking south from the ridge we camped on. The quaking aspens in their full glory.


Opening morning!!! Anticipation builds in the frosty morning air as the sun begins to paint the eastern horizon.


I found myself in a quiet pocket of quakies as the sun finally cleared the eastern horizon.


A wood pecker searches for the last remaining meals before the winter sets in.


Fall colors were in their prime. Some gorgeous oaks among the quaking aspen.


From a distance, this tree looked to be on fire. A modern burning bush.


Although I did not harvest a deer. My 15 year old cousin managed to connect with this young buck.


A proud young hunter with his quarry.


There are many wild horses on the lower ridges. This is one that let me get close enough for a picture.


I also saw a few desert big horn sheep in the lower elevations.


Me at the end of a physically exhausting yet spiritually rejuvinating week.


I cannot wait until next year!!!

NHS

That is certainly beautiful scenery,and a great job on the pics.I`d love to be able to hunt on land like that.Cant see it happening though.

I would say you had a successful hunt even though you didn't get a deer. To enjoy natures beauty and the fresh air, you can't put a price on that. Thanks for sharing your story and the pictures are great too.

That's very colourful and beautiful hunting country. Sensational photos, especially the sunrise through the trees. A successful hunt however you look at it. Congratulations to your cousin too.

NHS Thanks for sharing great pics and a great story as well! Wild horses, sheep and a deer for the freezer............and of corse pictures that last a life time.
Glade you had a safe and enjoyable trip>
Ray P

Man, that is awesome! Thanks for sharing. Congrats to your cousin!

I also passed on some small two and three pointers and ended up with nothing. However, my 12 year old son got his first deer. I could not have been more proud!

Thanks for the kind words all. When I'm at work, I find my self day dreaming of being back up on the mountain watching and waiting for a nice buck to show himself.

Nice pictures and a really great looking buck. Great looking hunting country.

Great photos! Thanks!

Great photos! Sure beats the heck out of the corn and soybean fields around me! I think I could be content just sitting and camping in the hills and mountains away from everything. It's aways nice to have a successful hunt but in a place like that, it would be just as nice to enjoy the outdoors and get away from the everyday life.

=123819037009234 squatting wolf, glad i read this post.