Deerfly Diaries

Archery elk hunting in Colorado: If only I could fill my freezer with memories.

My first archery elk hunt has come and gone. My husband Glenn and I didn't harvest an elk, but we we sure learned a lot and had fun.

Mind you I am originally an upland hunter. Not exactly a quiet sport. The dogs are running 100 mph, I'm whistling and calling and sprinting to keep up and the blasts of the shotgun certainly liven up the situation. Elk hunting by comparison can be a little slow and monotonous at times.

However, just when I was thinking, "elk hunting is OK, but my feet are getting cold and I'm tired of sitting here so still," my outlook on the sport was forever changed. I cow called for a good thirty minutes when all of a sudden, out of the quiet forest, a herd of elk charged in on us hot.  I'll never forget the look on Glenn's face, which was likely a mirror of the astonishment on my face.

I saw a flash of unmistakeable brown elk fir through the dark timber. I had just enough time to sound off two more cow calls, drop the call, connect my release to my string and draw my bow on a young bull that had run to within 5 yards of me.  After what seemed like an eternity of waiting for a shot through the dark timber, the animals spooked and my chance was over. 

Glenn and I were excited and adrenaline filled the experience. Even though I didn't shoot the bull, I felt like I had finally joined the club of the elk addicted. I had my first dose and now I wanted more.

Our season closed with a couple more close encounters with elk. I now look at those quiet, slow moments as valuable time to reflect on life. I inhaled the smell of decomposing leaves that brought back memories of fall from my childhood. I stole short naps under my tree as the warm sun finally popped its head over the opposing ridge. I sat silently as a striped skunk hunted for grubs under the log across from me.  I conversed with a chipmunk that sat on my boot toe. Like any good hunter, I want to fill my game tag, but if nothing else, I am well fed with valuable memories that I can forever share with my husband and the rest of my family. 

Author's note: I forgot to add that I had fun with a rather vocal blue grouse that called back and forth to my cow call as it was getting ready to roost for the night.

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Sue Melus specializes in public relations and communications for hunting, fishing, shooting sports and resource conservation. Learn more at www.melusoutdoors.com.

5 tips for hunting blue (dusky) grouse in the mountains

We've had a great start to the blue grouse season here in Western Colorado. Lots of rain this past spring made for thick cover and, from my perspective, that has meant a bumper crop of blue grouse this year. Or maybe it's that now I've been doing this for a while and I'm starting to learn the little tricks.

1. I find blue grouse between 7,000 and 10,500 feet where I live, but no matter the elevation, blue grouse love ridge tops. If you can go a little higher to the top of the ridge or hill, do it. You'll likely find grouse there. If there is a rocky ridge or a scree field to hunt near, even better. 
2. Try to find a place that has been recently cut in the last two or three years.  The regeneration of the understory is a great place for the birds to find food and cover.  Grouse love grasshoppers and berries.
3. Remember that the places where the grouse hunting is good likely will not have very much, if any, water for your dogs.  You'll need to either pack in water, teach your dogs to drink from your hydration pack or take frequent trips back to the truck.  You might need to tell your bird dog when to take a break since most bird dogs don't want to ever stop. Don't let Fido suffer heat exhaustion. 
4. Pack a good pair or needle nose pliers or a multi-tool. Cactus, thorns and porcupines are abundant anywhere you might be hunting. If your dog gets a cactus in its foot you will need a way to pull it out.
5. Try the Spred-R load from Polywad, Inc. The Spred-R load works very well in my Fox Sterlingworth 20 ga. and is also available in 12, 16 and 28 gauges.  This shotgun shell produces a quick opening and uniform pattern that is very effective for upland shooting.  It helps when you find yourself in tight cover. They are a little more expensive than standard game loads, so sometimes I put one in my right, or more open barrel, and put a standard shell in the other barrel. 

Sue Melus is owner of Melus Outdoors- public relations and communications for the outdoors.