Day hike from the cabin.

Discussion in 'Adventure, Hiking, Backpacking and Travel' started by Datilite, Apr 2, 2017.

  1. Hawkeye5

    Hawkeye5 Member

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    Great pictures.What knife did you decide on? 6 or LS ?
     
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  2. BobbyRatTail

    BobbyRatTail Member

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    The pics in this thread are gorgeous!
     
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  3. Datilite

    Datilite Member

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    Hawkeye, I like my “6” for clearing some of the elk trails that are growing closed. Big bulls stop using trails that they have to fight through. The Esee 6 is a good chopper for me and easily cuts thru 2 to 4 inch soft pine and pinyon limbs. The LS is my most favorite general purpose knife and I carry it the most, for me I’d does everything I need to do well enough. Both are really great knives.
     
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  4. Datilite

    Datilite Member

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    Thank you BRT!
     
  5. Hawkeye5

    Hawkeye5 Member

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    Thanks Datilite


    Was wondering what it was that you used them for the most.But you answer that. Do you also use them to gut and clean Elk and deer? Thanks for your reply. Hawkeye!
     
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2020
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  6. Datilite

    Datilite Member

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    Hiked into the canyons north of the cabin, it's been a very poor monsoon season here with very little rain. Dry and unseasonably hot.

    Started hiking at 0600 and the temperature was 76 degrees.
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    Located some fresh bear activity along the trail.
    Pulling a log apart looking for insects.
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    After hiking about 5 miles and made it to a mesa rim. Glassing into the surrounding canyons I located an elk
    shed laying in a opening.
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    Horn is almost center of photo.
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    Looking at my remaining water supply and temperature already in the high 80's I decided to wait for fall before I go after that horn.

    Some photos on the way home.
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    Returning on the same trail I came in on I found a bear track on top of my boot track, very close to the log that was pulled apart.
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    Arrived back to the cabin and the temperature in the shade was 92 degrees, pretty warm for 8000 ft. Elevation!
     
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  7. Hawkeye5

    Hawkeye5 Member

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    Nice pictures thanks for posting.:)
     
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  8. Datilite

    Datilite Member

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    Headed into the canyon's to look for late season elk sheds. I started out with a beautiful sunrise.
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    Going through the rock formations. I refer to this formation as helmet rock ridge ( simple mind yields simple thoughts).
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    More rock formations:
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    Cleared the canyon's and started to look for elk sheds. I found where my old bear had recently traveled through.
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    Found four horn, all hard white's.
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    Heading home, a great day in the woods!
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  9. Strigidae

    Strigidae Administrator Staff Member

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    Nice haul!!
     
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  10. SEMO

    SEMO Member

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    Always enjoy your posts.
    Thanks for sharing.
     
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  11. Datilite

    Datilite Member

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    After receiving our first good snow storm of the winter I was able to get out for two days of hiking.

    I wanted to recover two elk sheds I had glasses up earlier in the year but where to far for a day hike.

    Taking the elk trail into the canyons. IMG_20210222_083055826.jpg
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    I picked up water at the only spring in the area. I had to cut thru a few inches of ice to reach water.
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    Getting enough water for two days I continued on.
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    Pack weight jumped to about 40 to 50 pounds.
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    I spent the rest of the day traveling to my camp site at approximately 6400 ft elevation. Finding a dry spot under a large juniper tree I set camp.
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    After camp was set I climbed to 7500 ft and went to the area I had previously glasses the elk shed's.
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    I located one shed and found it ruined by rodents chewing it down to a nub. The second shed was not located.

    Returning to camp I put in a good night's wood supply and started a fire.
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    Mrs. Datilite had prepared some burritos which I warmed up in the coals of the fire.
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    Last days of light before nightfall.
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    After getting a good freeze overnight I packed up camp and started home trying to stay at lower elevations and avoid the heavier snow areas.
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    After getting home and warming up by the wood stove, I am always amazed at the terrain and conditions the elk live and thrive in. A great couple of days in the woods!
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    Last edited: Feb 24, 2021
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  12. kihnspiracy

    kihnspiracy Member

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    Great pics. I love your updates.
     
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  13. Datilite

    Datilite Member

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    Thank you, glad you enjoyed the photos, Dat.
     
  14. Datilite

    Datilite Member

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    The 2021 antler drop has started in my area!!!!

    I hiked into the canyon land's north of the cabin looking for fresh brown elk antlers. I hiked into a canyon that is at the northern most point of my day hike capabilities.

    I started searching the south aspect of the canyon and started picking up old shed's I had missed in the past seasons.
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    I started picking up single horn's scattered along the slope.
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    I found a solid set of horns laying near each other but still no fresh brown horn's.
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    Looking into the canyon bottom I spotted a fresh brown shed. It's located in the center of the photo left of the large pine tree, in a small opening.
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    Getting down to the canyon bottom I located the horn and started to search the area for the opposite side.
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    After a search of the area I located another brown horn but not a match to the first. Also found another and white horn in the bottom. IMG_20210417_124045775.jpg

    Getting late in the day, I strapped everything down and headed out of the canyon. I had a total of 12 horns and estimated my pack weight at over 70 pound's

    Getting near the rim of the canyon I took my pack off and rested. When I tried to get my pack back on I was just to fatigued to get the pack up. I stashed half the horns and will return next week to recover them and continue looking for the other sides of the browns I could not find.
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    On the way home I located one more horn but left it for seed. Had a great day in the woods!
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  15. Datilite

    Datilite Member

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    I headed back into the canyons to try and matchup the brown horn's from last week's trip. This time I packed for an overnight stay so I would have more search time.

    Heading out at sunrise.
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    As I picked up my favorite Elk trail I found a very fresh mountain lion track.
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    Left over lion snack.
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    Arriving at my campsite, I set camp and started into the canyon that I had picked up the brown sheds I found last week.
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    As I began grid searching the canyon I located a bear den near the rim of the canyon.
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    After hour's of searching the canyon I located the match to the largest horn I found last week.
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    Returning to camp as the sun was setting I started a fire and had some camp chili and torts, then retreated to my sleeping bag.
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    Headed home in the morning and more fresh lion tracks on the trail.
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    This match set weights 21 pound's. IMG_20210427_130925136.jpg

    A great couple days in the woods!
     
  16. Strigidae

    Strigidae Administrator Staff Member

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    Soooo cool!!! Thank you for taking us there in photos!
     
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  17. Bozho

    Bozho Member

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    Awesome! I've never found antlers in the woods. I can't imagine how many deers you have there.
     
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  18. Andy the Aussie

    Andy the Aussie Administrator of the Century Staff Member

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    Nice, I have a few cast antlers from Fallow, Rusa and Chital that I have pick up around the place but have never seen them in the qty you have there...!
     
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  19. SEMO

    SEMO Member

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    Great trip, sir. Always enjoy the picture journey.
    Thanks for sharing.
     
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  20. Datilite

    Datilite Member

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    Thank you gentlemen. Glad to share my wondering. We have an estimated (Game & Fish Dept. estimate ) fifty thousand Elk in Catron County, NM. If that estimate is anywhere near accurate figure roughly one third of that will be bulls, that’s a lot of horns scattered over hundreds of square miles.

    It takes many miles of walking to find them. I have gone days without finding anything but that’s what makes it challenging. I will be 69 in a few months. I can’t haul the weight or walk the distances I used to, but I will still be out there looking for shed antlers and enjoying what nature provides. Thanks again for the kind comments!
     
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