Easy Elk Transport

Use a sled and friends for easy elk retrieval!

Posted by: Janis Putelis

The two best things to have on hand when you need to get an elk out of a non-motorized area are friends with backpacks and an Otter sled (though not necessary, a little snow helps).  The elk was 3 miles in as the crow flies.  Luckily we had an old snow covered road for 80% of the pack job.  We only "packed" meat on our backs for about 15 minutes; the rest was all downhill in the sled.

On top of elk steaks, my friends were rewarded with magnificent views for helping me retrieve my bull.

 As always, the Outdoorsman's Pack carried a load of meat and antlers without flaw.  One of my favorite features is how the internal sack flips out for an easy cleaning after a bloody pack job.

We use the Otter Sport sled in the small size.  At 6 lbs. it's a breeze to get uphill.  We've added a few holes and enlarged a couple others for our contact points.

Here we are only packing 3 quarters and the antlers, but I think the sled would have tracked better if we had loaded the 4th quarter as well.  Four quarters would also fill more space, snugging up the load for less shifting.  We did not lash the load, but I will have a strap dedicated for that next time.  

 It is important to have a rope connected to the rear; on the way down the brake-man is working harder than the lead.

 We eventually ran out of snow, but the Otter sled still slid along nicely on the grass, leaves, and dirt, but started to lose glide on the gravel.

 Thanks again boys!

Gear Review: KUIU's Super Down Jacket and Pants

This really can't be called a gear review as much as a "Gear Praise."  After stuffing the hooded Super Down jacket in and out of packs since April and just about living in the  Super Down pants while spending time in camp this fall I can't think of a single bad thing to say about this set up.  It's certainly not the most durable outer fabric out there (I patched my pants twice in the butt) but it's not supposed to be.  It's supposed to be light, water resistant, and most importantly, warm.  Even if I have to baby these two pieces a bit, it is well worth the never ending cozy feeling I get when, as darkness settles in and the first shiver crosses my mind, I'm slipping in to my Super Down.  It's akin to putting on a warm hoody just plucked from a hot dryer.

   I first wore the jacket on a POW island black bear hunt.  It performed as expected under my shell; a great insulating mid layer.  But I decided to see what this waterproof down was all about.  So on a drizzly 30 minute run out to some fishing grounds, I left the Super Down jacket uncovered.  Almost amazing: the DWR kept the water droplets rolling off the entire run, but eventually from messing around in the boat and rubbing against wet stuff, the fabric on my forearms soaked through and the jacket looked a bit sad.  So no, you can't wear it alone in a driving rain storm and stay dry.  But what happened next shows how this gear and the ingredients in it really shine.  I put my rain shell back on, rode out the storm and when the sun poked out, took off my rain shell to discover that my forearms were darn near dry and puffy again.  The Quix down and the outer fabric had nearly dried just from the heat inside my own rain shell.  With the sun now beaming, it was just ten minutes and my DOWN jacket was completely dry and puffy again.  I was sold.

The jacket being so light and so small when compressed, it should never be left behind on any outing.  It sure came in handy on my turkey hunt in Nebraska this past spring as we chased gobblers through 6 inches of fresh snow.  As a last minute thought I stuffed my Super Down jacket into the cargo pocket of my Guide pants.  At sun up, the temperature was 6 deg.  Not ideal for hunting toms, but hunting none the less.  Adding the Super Down between two layers of wool and my Guide jacket kept me in the game, and I followed a trail of three-toed tracks right to a nice two year old gobbler.   

The real testing of the whole Super Down jacket/pant combo came when I traveled to interior British Columbia for work with the MeatEater crew.  Over a span of 14 days, wet conditions were guaranteed.  We spent a total of 9 days in the alpine, two on the river and the rest at the main camp.  Of 9 alpine days, two were complete tent days due to weather, two others should have been, but the will to hunt forced us out into the crap.  We did enjoy a couple magnificent blue bird days and the rest were tweeners. 

Overall, it was wet and my Super Down kit was dry.  Enough said.  Daily, both my jacket and pants were donned first thing, right out of the sleeping bag.  Taken off for the mornings ascent, back on again for any glassing session over an hour (usually on some windy, rocky ledge).  Off for more hiking and back on for the evening ritual of Jetboil stoves and Mountain House.  Oh, and they make a great pillow stuffed inside one of KUIU's wool base layers.  The ease with which the pants are put on and removed (without removing your boots) is one of their greatest features, making for quick transitions from stationary hunting/glassing to mobile hunting/hiking.

Once cloaked in the hood of the Super Down jacket, one can glass comfortably in all kinds of wind and cold.

Couple the Super Down jacket and pants with KUIU's Chugach rain gear and merino base layers, and you've got the finest, lightest backcountry hunting gear in the world.  I've at least tested it across a little bit of North America.

Buffalo Creek Ranch Elk Hunting in Colorado

Last fall I had the great opportunity to guide Elk hunts at Buffalo Creek Ranch in Walden, CO.  It's hard to know where to start when describing such a phenomenal place and operation.  Without going into too many details and specifics, the easiest way for me to applaud BCR is by saying that, if I owned and ran an Elk Outfitter, I would closely model it after BCR.  What I loved most about the operation was that the Elk are treated with as much respect as the cattle.  Through intense forestry, manager John Ziegman improves the health of the forest, specifically for the creatures that live there.  Mostly private land hunting, I rate it a 9/10 for the state of CO.  We killed a handful of bulls over 300" which most CO outfitters can only dream of.  Especially for a unit that is not a limited draw unit.  More importantly the staff rocks.  From the management, to the cook, to the guides, everyone works together to make a great experience for the client.  Here are a few pics of last year's hunts.

Scott Graham making sure the hunters' rifles are hitting spot on.  A crucial extra step to a successful hunt.

A couple of nice bulls being prepped for skinning.  BCR takes amazing care of the meat.

Opening morning of 1st Rifle was a snowy one.  This bull bugled just enough so we could find him in the near whiteout conditions.

Unmatched scenery.

If you're interested in a great CO elk hunt, don't hesitate to contact me or go to Buffalo Creek Ranch directly.

Backcountry Cheesecake Recipe

While filming the latest Caribou episode with the MeatEater crew, we took some time to whip up some dessert.  This is a great idea for those who travel the backcountry with a sweet tooth.

Click the link to check out my Backcountry Cheesecake Recipe photo essay.

Rifle Cleaning

I've gotten a few inquiries lately on how I clean my rifle so I thought I would share my procedure here.  By no means am I an expert on this subject but I have been lucky to have had good mentors.  I don't do anything super special or tricky, just follow the directions on the bottles and do everything thoroughly.  I also believe it's better to clean my rifles too often than not enough.  Certainly every time prior to long term storage and most often after every trip to the range.  During a hunt, I do pack along an oiled cloth to wipe the weapon down if there was any contact with moisture.  Here is a quick breakdown of the tools and products I use to get the job done.

1. MTM Case Gard gun vise/cradle.  This one piece of equipment makes this chore twice as easy.  By securing the rifle, I'm able to focus on the task at hand.
2. Dewey Cleaning Rod.  The coated rod protects the barrel.
3. Nylon Brush and Brass Jag
4. Bore Guide  Essential for keeping the rod true, and again, protecting the barrel.
5. Patches
6. Gun Scrubber,  Hoppe's 9 or similar product
7. Sweet's 7.62 Bore Cleaning Solvent
8. Rem Oil or similar product

If I buy the smaller containers of the products above, they all fit neatly into the MTM portable gun maintenance center.  This makes for a very portable kit.  Next are the basic steps I take to clean my rifle.

1. Alternate between a few solvent saturated brush strokes and patches soaked in your chosen powder solvent.  Always follow with a dry patch.  Once dry patch comes through clean, go to step two.
2. Use Sweet's solvent to get the copper fouling out.  This step usually takes me the longest.  About an hour.  I just follow the directions.
3. Run one lightly lubed patch down the barrel.  Use Rem Oil here.  At this point the barrel is done.
4. Spray the bolt with the aerosol Gun Scrubber.  A toothbrush works great to loosen crud that is really caked on.
5. Once a year, usually following the hunting seasons, I take apart the stock from the action so I can clean the underside of the barrel as well as other nooks and crannies.  I oil those areas prior to putting the stock back on.

I believe even basic cleaning such as this helps my rifle shoot better and will keep it in better overall condition.

2013 Arizona Elk Hunting Forecast

The AZ Elk and Antelope regulations are out.  This blog post is an attempt to give our two cents for the 2013 elk season.  At this point it is two early to judge moisture levels but it appears the snowfall might be slightly ahead of last year at this time. 
Our favorites for the AZ archery elk season are Unit 9, 10, 23 South, and 23 North.  Unit 1 was going to get the nod this year but with the tag increases it got dropped off the list.  At Colburn and Scott Outfitters we have had many great elk seasons in Arizona Unit 9 and 2012 was another fantastic year.  We had an awesome time with our clients enjoying God's country in Unit 9 and chased some great bulls.  We went three for three with a 354 and a 380 in Unit 9 and a lower 300's bull in Unit 10 with two days to go.  We made some new friends and shared the adventure of the hunt which will not be forgotten.  Being optimistic, we feel that 2013 is poised to be a great year with a a few key storms over the next several months.  The AZGFD kept the tag numbers in Unit 9 the same at 100 bull tags and no cow tags.  You can expect to be chasing 330-350 bulls almost everyday and catch an occasional glimpse of a 360+ type bull.  This year there will be a muzzleloader hunt after the archery hunt which ought to be really good.  We think the odds of harvesting a sold 350+ bull is very high on this hunt.  This muzzleloader hunt is definitely the best in the state especially with low tag numbers.  With the archery dates being the 13-26th and the muzzy dates starting the 27th we feel real confident that the antler breakage will not be a huge problem.  The muzzy hunt is definitely the premier tag in the state and we hope to be guiding on that hunt.

Unit 10 is always a great choice but adding 50 extra tags for the 2012 season and then keeping the bull tags the same at 200 for 2013 makes us cringe a little.  Yes the AZGFD did eliminate the cow tags which is great but we still feel 200 is 50 tags too many to have a truly enjoyable hunt.  Are there big giant bulls in Unit 10.....of course there is but we think the quality of hunt diminishes a bit with the 50 extra guys. The early rifle hunt has 75 tags which we feel is too many for a truly awesome hunting experience.  Will a few big bulls be harvested....of course but it may be more of a race than a hunt.

Next is Unit 23 South and North at 15 tags each.  As far as tag numbers for an enjoyable experience both get a thumbs up.  The success rate for harvest is usually about 40-45% on those hunts.  The quality of top end bulls is better in the South but the density is way more spread out and seems much lower when you are in the field compared to the North unit.  You can expect to chase 320-340 bulls in the North with an occasional 360 type bull.  In the South, you can expect to chase 300-330 bulls but may catch a glimpse of a 365 plus or two on the hunt.  Our clients have harvested some very large bulls in both the North and the South over the years.  The early rifle hunt in 23N is a lot of fun but the quality expectation needs to be in line.  Not many bulls over 350 get shot on this hunt.  In our opinion 350+ is a true trophy on this rifle hunt.  We would love to be guiding this early rifle hunt.  23 South does not have an early rifle  hunt.

For late elk hunts Unit 23 is our favorite late elk hunt.  Hunters can expect to be chasing bulls that are broke up a little and the size expectations are 300-330 bulls with an occasional bull that has all of its points and is over 340+.

Two things that we want you to take away from this, 1) The AZGFD despite some of our tone, does a fantastic job managing our wildlife in general.  Are there things as a guide or trophy hunter that we would like to see different of course but overall they do a pretty darn good job compared to alot of states.  2)  Our size expectations in our forecast are a generalization for most hunters.  We feel confident that the three guides at Colburn and Scott Outfitters will find and be on some of the finest trophies in each unit no matter where our clients draw.  We have a commitment to giving our clients a high quality hunt from start to finish for the whole 14 days.  We will not sub you out.  if you book with Colburn and Scott you will get one of the three of us.....period!

Make sure to watch our elk season last year that was featured on Cabelas Out West.  Click on the this link to watch or click on the videos on the right side of the screen.

As we write this the trucks are packed and the three of us (Darr, Janis and Jay) are headed to Mexico for our coues deer hunts.  We will be down there for about three weeks.  We are trying to catch the rut from start to finish.  If you have questions about different units or what to do with your points please send us an email or give us a call and when we return we will get right back to you.  The deadline is February 12th 2013 for the apps so we have plenty of time to discuss options and evaluate moisture patterns when we return.

Lets pray for some good snow and lots of moisture.  Lord willing if it all comes together there will be some big bulls to chase come September!

Jay Scott
jayscottoutdoors@gmail.com
Darr Colburn
darrcolburn@aol.com
Janis Putelis
jmedibas@yahoo.com

Gear Review: TAG Bags

I finally got a chance to try out the T.A.G. bags.  No more cotton bags for me.  Lighter, stronger, more breathable.  It all makes for better care of your precious wild game.  T.A.G. Bags impressed!  I feel like having breathable bags helps build the crust on the meat which protects it as well as prevents soggy areas in the bag during the hanging period.  The bags were easily hung by the drawstring which withstood the strain of  these 75+ lb. hams.  Most impressive was how clean the bags came out after one wash and the 15 minute hang-drying time.  T.A.G. Bags are a no-brainer for the meat hunter.

These 24"x44" bags could easily handle two quarters for the ultralight guy.

Arizona Unit 23 Late Elk Hunt 2012 with Dan Heuker

I got a call from Steve Chappell of Chappell Guide Service a week before the AZ late rifle hunt in 23 saying he had a last minute hunter for me.  I jumped at the opportunity and hooked up with Dan Heuker of Oregon.  We scouted a few days, found some bulls and got lucky on opening morning.

We decided to stop by the range and it's a good thing we did.  Dan's rifle was shooting six inches high at a hundred yards.  We dialed in the scope and hit the hills with confidence.

Dan made one 360 yard shot to down this bull.

A clean, unbroken six by six.

Thanks Dan for having me along on your hunt.  It was a pleasure.  -Janis

Colorado 4th Season Rifle Elk Hunt With Janis and Martins Putelis

Not the weather we were expecting in the Colorado high country in mid November!  I hope it starts snowing soon, we can all use it.  Despite the conditions, my brother and I found a few elk and hung a few quarters.  I ended up eating my cow tag, but that's what I get for passing on calf elk and hunting big bulls.  We'll be missing that cow come June.  Thanks to all those that helped haul meat, your name is on a few frozen white packages.  A super big thanks to everyone that has been or is involved in perpetuating our sport and way of life.  We are blessed to have these opportunities.

I searched high for two days, looking for a mature six point bull.  Not turning one up and with only three days left to fill a cow tag and an either sex tag, I started meat hunting.  The Mrs. does not like an empty freezer!

My brother with his second elk.  He made a 150 yd. shot off of one knee to put her down.  He was using his new Zastava M70, chambered in 30-06.  We have been impressed with this rifle, especially at a price around $400.  

I had a shot at a calf seconds later, but passed, hoping for more meat.  The saying holds true, even when meat hunting: "Don't pass on anything the first day, you'd like to have on the last day."

Using the Otter sled for packing meat was awesome.  This thing is bomber and should last quite a few hunting seasons.  It was important to have a brake man steering the rear.

As he lay.

The first thing I heard that morning was antlers clashing.  A sound seldom heard in CO, it took my brain ten minutes to recognize it.  Even this late in the year, the bulls are working their pecking order.

Yes, everything in this picture was packed into or on the KUIU Icon 6000

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Loaded and ready to roll.  The afternoon sun had warmed the snow to create treacherous load hauling conditions.  I will not attempt these pack-outs without my Leki Hiking Poles.

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Hauling meat with the Otter Sled.