Seasons here!

[Frac]

Congrats, hummer! Way to get it done! I’m still collecting points while I figure out how to hunt Elk. With that in mind, I’m really impressed with your hunt and story.

[TRnCO]

Congrats on a fantastic Colo. moose. A whole lot of good eatin' there.

Think I now have my 3 +11 or 12 pps and with the change in application cost, figure it'll be like winning the lottery in about two more seasons, to even draw a tag.

[Hummer]

Yesterday, Irving and I met at the trailhead and had a leisurely walk into some beautiful country. It was great to get acquainted and to share some of what we know about other members of the forum. I have to say that I like Stu even better than Irving. What a nice guy!

On the way in we studied animal tracks and talked about our hunting and shooting experiences. It was such an enjoyable time. When we arrived at the site we still had a lot of work to do. I had eviscerated and skinned most of the carcass, removed legs from the top side but was stuck because the animal was just too heavy for me to turn over alone. You can't imagine how much bigger moose are than bull elk until you're faced with one on the ground. But one step at a time we broke it down and bagged it up ready for packout. I had arranged to have an outfitter come in to transport the meat out. More on that in the next post but I must say that Irving was an absolute champion and a godsend. I couldn't have done it all without his help. I will always be grateful for his generosity and service.

My only regret is that I wasn't able to find a live moose for Irving as he had never seen one. We did try. But his first was on the ground where he got to observe from a very different perspective.

I also want to thank Sniper7 who offered help. He was on a Pronghorn hunt at the time otherwise he would have been there with us.

[Hummer]

We didn’t expect the outfitter to arrive until the following day but he made it to the trailhead just after noon. This morning I learned that the outfitter went to the trailhead with horses and was turned away because apparently that trail is closed to livestock. If I had known this I wouldn't have hunted there. I have lumbar issues and can't carry much weight on my back. So now I’m faced with trying to muster some help for a packout tomorrow. I want to get all of the meat and the head out of there.

We’re up against a time constraint because the gate concessionaire supposedly plans to close the access gate to Brainard earlier than previously scheduled. We need to get everything out by Friday.

I’m planning a packout party for tomorrow, Thursday Oct. 10, to begin at 9 a.m. at the Long Lake trailhead. Seven or eight guys can do it in one trip, two miles in, two miles out. The outfitter’s guide is arranging a few young men to help and I might pull in some others. One fellow can’t go in until noon but that’s okay, we just need bodies, even Friday if necessary.

So here’s a chance for a cool mountain adventure, and a conditioning hike for those planning to hunt later this fall. If you’d like to talk about what you need to bring, I’m at 970-250-6161.


Location:

The Brainard Lake area begins on Highway 72 at the town of Ward. Go around Brainard Lake to the Long Lake parking lot.

The GPS location for the bull is N40 04.359' W105 36.755' at 10,949 ft.

From the Long Lake parking lot it is 1.57 miles straight line distance, and the track is ~2.3 miles by trail. It is north and slightly east of the east end of Lake Isabelle about 1/8 mile, in a cirque/meadow east of the Pawnee Pass trail 907.

As you go up the trail heading for Lake Isabelle (and before you get to the lake) there will be a couple switchbacks. There is orange and blue flagging tape in a tree on the right, and up the draw all the way to the animal (about 300 yards). Go up, veer right, then left.

Along the trail for a mile or more are painted stakes with numbers progressing up the trail. At stake #41 is the flagging tape marking the off-trail route.

[def90]

I’ve got appointments scheduled for tomorrow but if you still need help Friday I can be there. I’ve got a load carrying pack and gear so..

[Irving]

Let's help Hummer out if we can. I've been called out of town so I'm unfortunately unavailable.

[Hummer]

Thanks fellows, I know most people actually have jobs.

Def90, thanks for the offer. I'll let you know if it continues into Friday. It will be a miracle if....

[ChickNorris]

Hummer! I should have called last night but I had to sort something this morning first. I did just leave a message. Missed the 9am window, but could meet up with whomever @ noon or can do tomorrow.

Since I havent spoken with Hummer, if anyone has an idea as to the specifics of what the 'need to bring' list is, I'd like to know it. Then I might be able to arrange what I will need to actually be of some use.

[Irving]

I believe at this point it's just help being a laborer. The animal has been quartered and everything put into game bags. The challenge now is the carry them down off the mountain. The challenge being that each bag is stuffed with 60-80lbs of meat. Besides whatever cold weather clothing you need to keep you comfortable, you'd want to bring a backpack that you can either fill, or strap stuff onto. If you bring plastic trash bags, you can put the game bag inside the trash bag so you aren't filling your backpack with blood. At this point everything is going to be pretty well frozen though. My suggestion of bringing additional game bags was because a few of the bags hold only meat, with no bones, so it'd be easy to put some into a new bag so it can more easily fit into a backpack/be carried. We were expecting horses, so we stuffed everything full.

[ChickNorris]

Here's my thoughts since this IS infact my first rodeo.

These may seem like silly points of concern for those who 'do' but I'm not familiar with the area & have no idea of the schedule or specific route the other folks are taking right NOW because plans sometimes change. Sure, I could march up the hill unaccompanied (have gps) to the coordinates & miss everyone on the way... or just wait at a trailhead for dunno how long to find there were plenty of folk @ 9 & it's been sorted. You also only made mention someone was coming at noon & that's not enough for me to count on.

Apologies, again my first rodeo. Good intentions I have though a bit late out of the gate. If you need assistance tomorrow Hummer, I'm your girl & you have my #.