Don't hunt with strangers

[wyzardd]

Left hunting camp early, the group we were with contained at least 60% total idiots. One just about shot another, none followed blood trails until I nagged them, they wouldn't finish off wounded game - just left it to die while they tried to blame each other for being lousy shots (I took it upon myself to finish him off, which they hardly noticed)

Never got a shot at anything, buddy and I bugged out and counted ourselves lucky to get away in as good shape as we were.

Sucked because the area was chock-full of elk, but it's just not worth it. Maybe I'll make it back next weekend with some people that understand firearm safety and dislike leaving animals suffering.

Area 4, btw. Most camps had at least 2 animals hung up, the idjits I was with filled 6 out of 12 tags by noon Saturday. Apparently a half-dozen guys can pump enough lead in the general direction of a herd to kill or wound 3 in less than a minute. The other tags were filled by guys that knew these 6 and headed a safe distance downhill, waiting for the herd to run from the spray 'n' pray crowd.

[pickenup]

This is one of the reasons I quit hunting. All my old hunting partners either moved away, or died off. I won't hunt with a bunch of idiots.

Sounds like it's a good thing you got out while you still could.

[Wallary]

Wow Wyzardd! It sounds like you got lucky and got out while you could. Too many guys competing in one spot can't be a good thing. The most I've ever hunted with is 4 or 5 and that seems like a lot to keep track of me. That's why I switched to Archery Hunting the last 20 years to get away from the over crowded Orange War- Zone. We used to laugh and say things like ( Are we Hunting or are we at a Bronco game!) lol! Good Luck next week and be safe.

[brandyspaw]

I haven't been hunting in years for that precise reason. I too have lost all my
old hunting buddies as they have either died off or moved away. I think one has to be really carefull who you go hunting with and in this day and age it seems much worse than before.

Maybe I'm just getting old and grumpy since I'm pushing 60 but it seems there are a lot more morons hunting than when I started 40 some years ago. Still and all, I would like to go on one more Elk hunt before I take a dirt nap.

[HunterCO]

I think tomarrow I am going to turn in my drivers license and quit driving there are just to many idiots on the road. I mean 20 years ago it wasn't so bad but anymore it is just too dangerous to drive. I think my best bet is to give up turn in my DL and get a buss pass. After all it is much easier to blame everybody else when you need an excuse to quit.

[wyzardd]

Yeah, I'm not going to stop hunting, I'm just going to stop hunting with those morons. I'm thankful that they showed me a prime spot, and I intend to go back with two or three of my old hunting buddies.

Never seen so many, nor so severe, cases of buck fever. The two young boys that were with them were more responsible and in control than the 40 through 60 year old men.

[pickenup]

After all it is much easier to blame everybody else when you need an excuse to quit.

Thumper..........what did your father tell you?

[rondog]

OK, I can't resist this...

I grew up in Oklahoma, and my dad and his buds all went elk hunting in the San Juans every fall. Here's some of his old photos, from around 1961-1964 I believe. I scanned these because of the old Jeeps in them, there's a lot more photos than this, I was after the old Jeep shots. I hope I haven't posted these here before......

[wyzardd]

Some of those pictures look startlingly familiar. I grew up hunting around Pagosa Springs and get a little "home" sick for that part of the state sometimes. I haven't been back since my grandmothers funeral and I suspect it's changed a lot since '92 or so.
Took some big ol' cows out of there.

[TINCUP AL]

Rondog- Those are some great pictures. Did you also post these on colorado4x4.org a while back ?