1.) Wild Bob - 01/26/2016

Fish Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) contacted me yesterday to give me some good news: I was selected as an eligible hunter to participate in an Elk Damage hunt in my hunting area! (Winter conditions are driving large numbers of elk to hole up on private ranches and they are causing issues for the ranches.)

I found out that I have about three weeks to make the most of hunting a given area for antlerless elk. I am eligible for two, but I'm thinking I'd be more than happy with one cow. I guess it will all depend if I can beg, borrow, or steal a buddy's snow machine!

In some ways, I think the hunting its self will be easier than compared to the fall...but the logistics are going to be tougher with winter temps and snow. The good news is that I spent some time this morning on the phone with the MFWP coordinator for the area and he informed that I should at least be able to get to my hunt area via 4 wheel drive for now. Hopefully we don't get dumped on over the next few weeks. :pray:

It should be an interesting experience hunting elk this far into the winter. Looks like I'll be putting my ice fishing on hold for a little while...I sure wasn't expecting to have to do that in February.

And to think that two weeks ago I found a good deal on a used snow machine that I was ready to buy! :bang: I called to go look at it, but by the time I called it had already sold. I've been wanting one to use mainly for winter trapping and ice fishing but is sure would have come in handy for this hunt... There is just no end to the tools needed! :wink

2.) luv2bowhunt - 01/26/2016

Congrats Bob!

Just bite the bullet and get a sled. Where you live, you know you're going to need it. Plus there's the coolness factor, open praire, wind blowing through your hair, joining a sledder gang.:tu:

3.) DParker - 01/26/2016

[QUOTE=Wild Bob;38592]In some ways, I think the hunting its self will be easier than compared to the fall...but the logistics are going to be tougher with winter temps and snow.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, but use what you learned from [I]The Revenant[/I]: Just follow the bugling bulls. That is, if you can hear them over the bullfrogs.

4.) Swamp Fox - 01/26/2016

[QUOTE=Wild Bob;38592]...

In some ways, I think the hunting its self will be easier than compared to the fall...but the logistics are going to be tougher with winter temps and snow. [/QUOTE]

Can I assume you're going to try to get the whole elk out for skinning and quartering?

Or are you gonna be standing there, knife in hand, 20 MPH winds, 10 degrees before the windchill, sun going down, and sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads, saying to yourself, "Well, here goes..."?

:pop:


I'd be interested to hear about the whole thing. :beer:

5.) Wild Bob - 01/26/2016

Unless I get extremely lucky and the cow I hope to shoot runs towards my truck (where-ever that may end up being) and keels over near it...then I'll be quartering and hauling one way or another. Unless I can bum a badass snow machine with a big sled...then I might have a chance of pulling it out in one piece.

It's going to be an experience not matter how I slice it...:-)

"Well, here goes..."

6.) Swamp Fox - 01/26/2016

Can you get the rancher to move all the bale feeders over to the parking area? :wink

7.) Wild Bob - 01/26/2016

:cf: Diesel is cheap now...

8.) Bob Peck - 01/26/2016

[QUOTE=Wild Bob;38605]It's going to be an experience not matter how I slice it...:-)[/QUOTE]

I see what you did there. Nice!

Get a sled. Live and use it over and over.

Don't get a sled. Increase the odds of Murphy's Law kicking in.

9.) Wild Bob - 01/27/2016

Good point Bob. I'm just having a hard time justifying to myself a new bow and a sled all in one year. :-) It might be one or the other and I really want that new bow.

Luv2 - I like your thoughts on the matter... But I may have to keep my hat on; I don't have much hair left and unless I want to look like Terry Bradshaw, I better protect what little I have left!

10.) Deerminator - 01/27/2016

Face it Bob, you truly deserve to have a nice sled and a new bow.:tu:

11.) Wild Bob - 01/27/2016

Deerminator! Welcome back man, where ya been?? Good to hear from you.

Are you snowed in?

12.) DParker - 01/27/2016

[QUOTE=Wild Bob;38627]I don't have much hair left and unless I want to look like Terry Bradshaw, I better protect what little I have left![/QUOTE]

I've seen Terry Bradshaw up close and in-person (bumped into him on the midway at the TX State Fair several years ago). Nobody wants to look like Terry Bradshaw...not even young Terry Bradshaw.

13.) Wild Bob - 01/27/2016

:laugh:

14.) bluecat - 01/27/2016

Um, are you sure that wasn't Patsy?