After an 18 mile round trip into the Colorado backcountry, countless miles tromping around the hills at 9,000 feet higher than my residence elevation, no hot meals for a week (note, Wal-Mart doesn't sell Jet Boil fuel!), I am now happy to announce I am once again taller than I am round. After seeing 6 bears (with the meat from my buck hanging at piñata level for a 5 year old) and finding that there was an active mountain lion den just 200 yards behind my tent (with a fresh kill buried) I am happy that they only weight I lost was due to physical activity rather than removal by tooth and claw. No fresh elk sign and average buck size about 30" smaller than years past, I feel extremely blessed to have shot this old bruiser. He is easily the largest bodied buck I have taken in years. Check out his funky looking rack, not much for forks, but some pretty neat character. Not sure what good deeds I've done to have earned a season like this one so far, but you can be sure I'm rubbing that lucky rabbit's foot.
South Cox
