Do take me with you.

Do not not take me with you.

With the spring you had, I should take you and let you do the calling.

Thanks again for the tips. I'm filing them away in memory.

I'm trying to be as legal as I know how. Our outfitter called us last week and gave us a long list of stuff. We have to bury our toilet paper in the woods - Completely....No camp fire at the camp but I can have a fire if I get stuck away from camp for the night. ???. Evidence of sex must stay attached on one of the quarters - by skin! Have to print hunter Ed card, apparently the number listed on my lifetime license is not good enough alone. No party hunting - once a hunter fills his tag he cannot carry a weapon if he is assisting the other person.

He said to cut pine limbs and cover (not hang) the meat after it is cleaned to keep the birds off the meat until they get there. All edible meat (except ribs) must be removed from the carcass and processed.

If you decide you just want to sit and watch for awhile, and believe me, if you walk around those mtns. you'll want to sit plenty. If you can't locate wallow or waterhole, find a saddle between two high points and watch it. That will be their travel route. If you can locate a bench on the side of a mtn., that will be where they like to bed down for the day.

Wade,
The guys above have already given you some great advice and are way more experienced than I am. I went along to learn and assist in third rifle season last year. We were DIY on a backpack hunt 5 miles in a wilderness area at an altitude between 9-10.5k. We were not successful for a number of reasons so I will leave my hunting advice out and give my 2cents on health, gear, and fitness

Staying hydrated helps tremendously with the altitude sickness. On days that I didn't drink enough water I got terrible headaches. I found out 3liters a day was not enough despite feeling like I was peeing continouosly every 30 min. I needed 4 liters a day to stay hydrated to where I didn't get headaches. Take some form of flavored powder Gatorade, lemon whatever to flavor some of your water with to encourage drinking more.

Know the warning signs of altitude pulmonary and cerebal edema. It sounds like you have experience at altitude but keep an eye on the rest of your party if they don't.

If you don't get the prescription diamox, then try aspirin and original Rolaids and ginko; they seemed to help us with mild altitude sickness.

Always keep your gps, map and compass on your person. Campfires? I would definitely check your regs. Working out? There is no substitute for finding the steepest rocky trail in your area putting on your hunting boots and whatever pack your going to carry with all your hunting accessories in it and going hiking. Maybe leave out the black powder:). Otherwise at least put 20-30lbs in that pack. Your daily gear may not weigh that much but the extra weight and a steep rocky trail will tell you quickly if your gear and boots are gonna hold up and/or how to adjust your pack. It doesn't take much to hit 20-30lbs in a pack, spotter, tripod, water@ 2.2lbs/liter, food, extra clothing, kill kit etc. Walking on smooth trails is not the same as sidehilling in steep country. On a side note I hope you have a decent pack back. If you don't have a pair of gaiters consider getting some. Gaiters were one of the most useful things I purchased for our trip.
Good luck and postup when you get back.
Dm

Thanks again for all the advice. I've re-read this thread several times and I have added everything but the diamox. Just have not had time to drop by the doctors office yet. Sorry about lunch Troy but I've been busy with work & farm and have not been around to grab a bite during lunch time. Maybe I can get up with you one day and we can take my squirrel dog (Cosby bred) for a round.

I leave next Thursday. I will start a thread and hopefully have some coverage to update during the week.

Headed out to walk around the neighborhood...

Just made it to Ft. Collins. Bought our license and will meet the outfitter in the morning to head in. Hopefully I will have something bloody to show you goobers that chimed in with tips. Thanks again for the advice.

Good luck Wade!

I'll be watching this thread. Good Luck!!!

Well, the elk trip was a bust. I saw one elk and heard zero bugles for the week. There were 4 of us in camp and we saw 6 elk (briefly) during the week. I saw 9 mule deer, 8 other hunters, and 1 elk. I walked over 8 miles four different days. I only saw 2 fresh piles of elk crap. We talked with the wranglers and the other camps had similar results. But, we were the only camp not to harvest anything. Five total camps harvested 8 bulls for the week. I will go back with this outfitter, but probably not to the same camp. Thanks for all the advice. See my Gaia post. That worked really well.

Hate to hear that. I dang sure wouldn't consider going back with that outfitter, you would have had better sightings just placing your finger randomly on public land.

That's a bummer. If you need any advice for next year let me know.