The only way to describe this hunt,
is the trip from Hell.
My regular partner couldn't go this year, so i took 3 rookies, that was my first mistake, i felt like i was the guide. and basically ruined the hunt for me.
we got to the camp site on Monday around noon, set camp up in the rain, it took almost 6 hours, i tarp my Tent to keep it dry, the 20' x 40' tarp wasn't on but 5 minutes and one of the guys tripped over a corner guide line and tore the eye out, a $ 100.00 plus tarp that ended up in the trash.
on Wednesday i ran over a small stone, and ruined my left rear tire , on Thursday i ran over another small stone, and ruined the left rear again .
Don't get me wrong, all 3 of these guys were nice guys, BUT, 3 rookies are just to much to deal with, specially when they don't listen to what i say.
I am not sure what the deal was ?, but i couldn't find the Elk, the last 3 days we even had snow, and i covered a lot of ground and couldn't even find a track.
places that i found in past years where i consistently saw elk nothing this year ?.
We packed up Saturday morning to go home, the roads on the mountain were very slippery, i had chains on my front tires for the last 3 days, they were so bad.
well i started down the mountain, with no problem, i got about 300 yards from where the NF ended, and a guy pulling a 28' trailer, with no chains, jackknifed blocking the road, there was another truck about 50 yards in front of me, parked and waiting for them to get the mess out of the way.
We sat there for about a 1 1/2 hours, when another truck came down the road, and apparently didn't know how to drive, he rear-ended me, knocking my truck about 20' forward.
I got his info, then called the police.
About a hour later, they finally got the trailer out of the way.
I meet the police about a mile down the road.
He took the report, and asked if i thought there was more then $1000.00 in damage, i said i am sure that there is way more then that, he asked if i checked the stuff inside the trailer, i said no, i am afraid that i wont be able to get it closed back up.
But the front of my ATV is right against those doors.
The trailer Dog tracked all the way home, so it will be totaled, i had a 12 cu ft freezer in the front of the trailer, it almost put it thru the front wall.
The trailer and my ATV are a totaled, the freezer needs to be replaced. i have a class 5 draw bar on my truck it is bent, junk, the trailer hitch is bent, and my frame on my truck is bent a little, not bad.
I just hope the insurance covers it all, or i will be getting a lawyer, and going after the guy the hit me.
I think that i have had it with hunting with a bigger group, it just causes me more work, and takes the fun out on the hunt for me.
I hold my Wife from now on i am either going with just 1 guy or going alone.
OH, then to top all this off, i get about 5 hours from home, and my Wife calls to see how it is going, and ask me if i would like to hear her dilemma, now that i am almost home .
some how a fitting in the master bathroom cracked while she was at work, she came home to water spraying in the bath room, and water leaking out of the ceiling below.
I fixed the leak, but haven't had time to check all the damage for that yet.
Murphy's law it me hard this year.
Kevin
I now the rookie feeling. I never try to take one on at a time, or you become like a babysitter. Better luck next year. Throw some salt over your shoulder or get a lucky rabbit's foot. 