Boning out wasn't the issue it was getting down to the Elk and then back out. It was an almost vertical cliff down to the little meadow where the elk was grazing and would really have taken ropes to get down safely. The nearest road on the other side of the ridge was probably a 5-10 mile walk. We let our brains do the talking and passed up the shot.

This was on the way down to the Ouray area. We got a late start and stopped for the night at the rest stop on top of Vail pass.


Here's me heading out. The binoculars are a pair of Swarovski 8.5x42 ELs - expensive but worth every penny!



If you look closely you can see two Elk in the small meadow with one about to enter the trees. They were out in the open when we first saw them.


After 30 years of hunting, about 10 of which is going after Elk, I'm proud to say I have a 100% shooting record - one shot, one Elk. I'm more interested in just being in the woods at a great time of year and getting game is secondary. So I'm not tempted to take the low percentage shots. Once you put one down, the fun ends.