Friday night I prepared for elk hunting on Saturday – I only had time for a 1-day trip. Went to bed at 11:30. ‘Slept’ until 1:30, and awoke to get my hunting clothes on and truck packed to leave at 2:00. Dad showed up about 2:15 and we left for Craig. Arrived in Craig about 6:30, and was to the hunting unit by 7:15. Saw one heard of elk in the area – we gave chase. I came within about 500 yards, and, I could have taken a shot – but there were other hunters in close proximity and I didn’t feel comfortable shooting (even though they weren’t in my line of fire, there was one guy to the right of the herd about 100 yards and I didn’t think he would appreciate me shooting in the same general direction). We again gave chase to the herd, but, they slipped into somewhere unknown and we lost them. That was the only herd we saw all day.
On the way back we came across a wounded deer along the side of the road. I hate that – when drivers hit an animal and they don’t stop to put the animal out of its misery and leave it to suffer and die. Yes, I understand nature is cruel and predators will often make sport of wounded animals before killing them. But, you would think that we as humans would have compassion for them and end their misery before they die of their injuries. Then again, probably most drivers don’t carry stuff to put a wounded animal down, or, even if they did, might not have the intestinal fortitude to put it out of its misery.
So, I stopped and approached the deer, and it stopped struggling as soon as I put my hand on its head. In a quick motion I sliced its throat. Then we put the deer in the back of the truck and I drove into Dillon/Silverthorne, and I got a tag for it from the Silverthorne Police Dept (had to fill out paperwork and let them know where the deer was on the highway when it was hit). I was able to salvage 3 of the 4 quarters (the shoulder where it was hit was too badly damaged – broken bones, etc.) We processed the deer in the parking lot behind the Kum n Go, on my tailgate (I don’t gut the deer unless need drives me – it’s easier, but more time consuming, to quarter it and remove the backstraps) underneath a street lamp (it was dark by then). So, I came home with meat from the hunting trip – just not the kind I expected. Arrived home at 9:00 PM and was in bed by 11:30.
Next hunting trip Dec 26/27 – going back for elk. Hopefully there will be more in the hunting area by then.
On the way back we came across a wounded deer along the side of the road. I hate that – when drivers hit an animal and they don’t stop to put the animal out of its misery and leave it to suffer and die. Yes, I understand nature is cruel and predators will often make sport of wounded animals before killing them. But, you would think that we as humans would have compassion for them and end their misery before they die of their injuries. Then again, probably most drivers don’t carry stuff to put a wounded animal down, or, even if they did, might not have the intestinal fortitude to put it out of its misery.
So, I stopped and approached the deer, and it stopped struggling as soon as I put my hand on its head. In a quick motion I sliced its throat. Then we put the deer in the back of the truck and I drove into Dillon/Silverthorne, and I got a tag for it from the Silverthorne Police Dept (had to fill out paperwork and let them know where the deer was on the highway when it was hit). I was able to salvage 3 of the 4 quarters (the shoulder where it was hit was too badly damaged – broken bones, etc.) We processed the deer in the parking lot behind the Kum n Go, on my tailgate (I don’t gut the deer unless need drives me – it’s easier, but more time consuming, to quarter it and remove the backstraps) underneath a street lamp (it was dark by then). So, I came home with meat from the hunting trip – just not the kind I expected. Arrived home at 9:00 PM and was in bed by 11:30.
Next hunting trip Dec 26/27 – going back for elk. Hopefully there will be more in the hunting area by then.
