there is cold storage in Durango, Bayfield, Chimney Rock ... likely Dolores too ... just another thought a bit after the fact

Ringworm. iirc, there is a locker in Mancos. I have had to store one a couple of times, that or go ahead and pay for processing... The warm temps this season sure put the urge on for sure..

Ugh, had no idea. Thanks for the info guys.

yep, I was with a group of about 7-8 people, carpooled up in 3 trucks (mine not being one of them), killed my elk opening morning ... took to processor in Durango when I got it off the mountain the following day. The remaining 8 days I would take others out to where they wanted to hunt early morning, then I went sightseeing and cooked dinner until dark thirty when I picked them up. The processor had it all done by the time we left. Did similar with a Muley when hunting closer to Chimney Rock.

So on the whole been a rough week...

Alitiude hit me hard the first few days. Although we did get up to 11.5k this week


There just have not been many elk signs. A lot of people moved of The Mesa earlier in the week. I will hunt the evening then head back for Texas tomorrow morning

Keep at em Cleric. Good luck this evening.

Cleric, have you ever tried any of the altitude adjustment pills? I've never really had much of an issue with altitude but my wife used to take them every time we went to Breckenridge to snowboard and they really seemed to help her.

Water, water and more water is the key prevention to altitude sickness, however it can hit anyone regardless of how many times you have been up in the mountains. Another key is to get below 7,000 feet until you recover.

Absolutely water is the most important and I'm sure Cleric knows that...but the pills certainly can help as well.

I'm not saying don't use the pills, I'd do everything I could not to get altitude sickness. Heck, I'm even drink some snake oil if someone said it would help. Speaking of that, drinking some of the other stuff only increases your chance of getting sick because it thins your blood which means your not carry as much oxygen as you should.

Prevention is key, as stated above. Several ways to do that. Cleric knew hydration was key and admitted he was behind in his water intake and was really making an effort to catch up. He never went anywhere w/o his yeti rambler full of water while I was there. I think that is what caused his symptoms. Sounds like he has acclimated though and is all in on finding an elk.

Most of us are computer savvy and can do google searches in our sleep, however, I am thinking about starting a thread titled, "Altitude or Acute Mountain Sickness" in the open hunting discussion forum to give some evidence based literature that supports what is the current recommendations out there. I by know means will cover it all nor will I give medical advise as to what you should take or if it's right for you, nor am I an expert in the field, but simply want to provide some easily accessible resources for you all to have that I have found useful. Two of the options I have tried and can comment on, however there are multiple other options that won't be covered (some of which have no supporting research to back up their claims....which is okay, I however tend to avoid those...no biggie) and some of the current options don't work for everyone or are contra-indicated for use in certain people. In the end, you have to decide what is best for you and should seek medical advice from your personal physician, when necessary, to assist in making those decisions.

Hang in there Cleric, fortune can smile at any minute.

Use ginger (the spice) for the sickness, before, or after symptoms start, works great and has no negatives.. You can get it at walmart in a capsule. The normal stuff for sea sickness and altitude, can actually kill you if you're one of the unlucky ones.

Also less alcohol is best and hydrate, as already mentioned.

Hang in there Cleric, it isn't over until you quit, or the bell rings. No one can say y'all haven't given it hell either.

I hope someone had some luck. We are headed out wensday, weather was looking cooler but that changed. Hoping to find some resident elk or some pushed down by all the pressure

Finally getting back online..... great overall experience, and meeting such quality people as Shane and Daniel at this hunt.

Overall not a big fan of Taylor Mesa due to the hunting pressure, etc. Look like there is a population of resident elk, but they are hunted hard and I think figured out how to avoid being shot, etc. Son and I found some active sign, but from what we could tell they had gone nocturnal due to hunting pressure.

After two days of hunting them, I decided to try and run around and find some different areas to try as I did not want to be stuck for a week trying to pattern what small group of elk were on Taylor Mesa. We spent two days up in Lizard Head and saw allot of active sign from some larger animals, and again looked like the hunting pressure and heat were causing them animals to be nocturnal.

We were eating in town and one of the locals said Stoner Mesa seemed be getting allot of action, as the hunting pressure over there was getting the animals moving. We drove up there and sure enough we heard more shooting, but it also looked like a Pumpkin Patch. So we headed further SW and stared hunting some of the canyons that lead into the desert. We found more active sign and actually heard some Bulls and Cows one evening but it was too late to get over the ridge try and see/locate them.

Overall enjoyed the trip.. I still say.. you're not going to find any better people than what you find here on the THF and TFF.

TX Basser, good review and I agree with you, hard to find better people than here on THF. I made the DIY hunt last year and had a good time. Missed this year due to lack of work building up to the hunt, then too much work during the hunt! I am thinking about trying another unit for next year, like 75 near Pagosa Springs. I am interested in looking at property in that area to buy anyway so might try there next season. Glad you had an enjoyable hunt.

Congrats on the bull and enjoy the meat!!! It's a great feeling eating dinner and knowing you beat the mountain and the elk!!!

I agree!

Congrats on your bull Ringworm, well done.