Hunting with the Badger 2024

[WhistlingBadger]

The view from camp. It ain't as nice as the mountains, but it'll do. Nothing like the peaceful, easy feeling of being alone for a long time in wild country.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

OK, that's it for now. The speed goats won this round, but I'll be back after them with my rifle in October.

September 1st is the opening of elk season, and we'll be hunting some new-to-us areas of the mountains that I'm excited to explore. If we don't score the first weekend, we'll be bow hunting desert elk later in the month.

 

[GaryE]

I read that as "dessert elk" for a moment.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I read that as "dessert elk" for a moment.

Dessert elk are very rare and hard to find. The trick is to look for the ones with pink frosting and sprinkles on their backs.

 

[GaryE]

I got one once that had what I thought was a cherry on its nose, but it turned out to be a reindeer.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I got one once that had what I thought was a cherry on its nose, but it turned out to be a reindeer.

The season on those is very short: December 24 and 25th. It's a very limited draw, as there are only nine tags available, worldwide.

 

[Colin_T]

Not exactly the best area for playing hide n seek, there's no cover

That big black antelope thing in the picture in post #23 would have made nice steaks

And those prairie chickens look scrumptious

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Not exactly the best area for playing hide n seek, there's no cover

That big black antelope thing in the picture in post #23 would have made nice steaks

And those prairie chickens look scrumptious

Yeah, you're telling me.

Angus cows are delicious. I've eaten beef from this ranch before and it's good stuff. But my friend that owns the cows would probably be rather upset if I shot one. Ranchers are weird that way.

I've never eaten sage hens; some people love them and some hate them. But I'll have to wait to find out; the season on them doesn't open until the middle of September.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Elk season opens next weekend, so my hunting buddy David and I went out and did some scouting yesterday. It was a banner day! We saw at least nine, possibly as many as 12 bull elk, all in one valley, and all before 8 a.m. (a few of them might have been repeat sightings) Considering that I sometimes go an entire hunting season without getting eyes on a single elk, that's a pretty amazing start! Outside winter tours of the National Elk Refuge, I have never seen that many bull elk in one day. I LOVE looking at elk, especially bulls. What a great day.

So, this is where we plan to be on opening day. It's a challenging place to hunt. This valley is almost entirely surrounded by private land. There is really only one legal route in and out, and it is directly upwind. That means it's hard to get in without the elk catching our scent. But we scouted all that and came up with a good plan. If the bulls are still in the area next weekend, and if the wind holds steady, and if no other hunters come into the valley and spook them out? I'm pretty optimistic about our odds.

Just before we left, a pickup drove into the upper end of the valley, and I think it must have spooked this group. It is also possible that a lion or bear came along and jumped them off their beds--hard to say. I was sitting on a hill at the bottom of the draw, glassing some timber, when these three guys came blitzing over the hill about a hundred yards away. They never saw me, but something really had them moving! Look at the way that lead elk runs with his head up. So proud. So Magnificent.

Some further pics of the area. It's a big valley with a little creek running down the bottom, right where the desert and the mountains meet. Such a pretty spot.

A Tuka Dika (Sheepeater, Mountain Shoshone) teepee. Most likely a modern replica, given the location. But a very well-done replica! I've found a couple of real ones, and they look exactly like this.

OK, that's enough for now. I should have some stories--and maybe some steaks!--next weekend.

 

[Back in the fold]

Is this archery season down there ? Seems awful early for hunting . Birds haven’t even opened yet up here . That stick teepee looks cool . I could live in that .

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Is this archery season down there ? Seems awful early for hunting . Birds haven’t even opened yet up here . That stick teepee looks cool . I could live in that .

Roughly, archery season is september and rifle season is October/November. Waterfowl seasons are later.

 

[Back in the fold]

Roughly, archery season is september and rifle season is October/November. Waterfowl seasons are later.

Then what are you doing ? Just out playing Daniel Boone until the show starts ?

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Then what are you doing ? Just out playing Daniel Boone until the show starts ?

Something like that, yeah. We were scouting--looking around, getting to know the country, figuring out where the good habitat is and where we're likely to find elk. It helps with the hunt, plus it's just fun to watch elk doing elk things.

 

[Back in the fold]

Something like that, yeah. We were scouting--looking around, getting to know the country, figuring out where the good habitat is and where we're likely to find elk. It helps with the hunt, plus it's just fun to watch elk doing elk things.

A reconnaissance mission huh ? Lots of guys do that and those are the guys that have better “luck” . Do you go for upland game birds ?

 

[WhistlingBadger]

A reconnaissance mission huh ? Lots of guys do that and those are the guys that have better “luck” . Do you go for upland game birds ?

I'll certainly whack a grouse if I get the chance. We have blue grouse and ruffed grouse around here, and both are extremely good eating. But I don't really go after them specifically.