As a parent it is important to me that a kid's first hunting experience is positive.

The reward of mentoring new hunters is something I enjoy enough that I became a volunteer hunter education instructor here in Colorado. One challenge of mentoring is tempering my high expectations and keeping the expedition relaxed and fun for first-timers. It is one thing to stand in front of a hunter education class, talking about hunts. It can be quite another to entertain a kid for several hours sitting in a blowing snowstorm waiting for an opportunity.

On this particular day, patience paid off for my oldest son, Ben, who harvested this large cow with a single, well-placed shot from his grandfather's 7mm Weatherby magnum. This was southwest of Steamboat Springs in unit 131.

Now Ben is nearing the end of boot camp in the U.S. Marine Corps.  In his latest letter home he said, "Dad – I’m doing well here but the thought of missing hunting camp makes me pretty homesick.  I can't thank you enough for all those times you took me hunting.  You wouldn't believe how much all the shooting, camping, orienteering, etc. you taught me has helped get me through boot camp.  Also, you'll be glad to know I just scored Expert on the rifle qual course…"

I'd take a hundred hunting trips with lowered expectations and hassles for just one letter like that.  Mentoring is not for everyone, it takes a LOT of patience.  But it's worth it. 

Ben, I am very proud of you!

Photo and story submitted by: Jim Deeming, Colorado

After countless hours scouting and many trips into the backcountry, my son Brent, Bobby and I were watching five rams. The problem was the rams were three miles, as the crow flies, and more than 4,000 vertical feet of steep cliffs to maneuver around the Emerald Lake area. 

Brent and Bobby took off.  They spent a very cold, wet, sleepless night waiting for daybreak. With visibility at 30 yards and rain continuing on Wednesday, the 14-mile walk out was miserable.

Thursday evening Brent and I returned and found the same five rams. I returned to Durango that night to contact Brent’s uncle, Larry.  By 6:30 a.m. Friday, we were back on the mountain and had again spotted the rams. Brent was off on another stalk.

At 10:30 a.m., the rams exploded and ran in all directions. Brent had been busted. Then Larry pointed out the two bigger rams were looking downhill. They had not run!  At 11:10 a.m., the smaller ram stood looking uphill. The bigger ram then stood, dropped and slid down the avalanche shoot.

I heard the shot and saw Brent running downhill after the fallen ram.  He had closed the last 350 yards to 31 yards in his stocking feet!

The 28-mile roundtrip up the Pine River to retrieve Brent and the ram started at 4:30 p.m. Friday and ended at 4:30 a.m. Saturday. It was the happiest 28 hours of hunting in my life!

Submitted by Dave Peterson, Brenton's father

While hunting with my son on a do-it-yourself hunt in unit 75, I shot this old, heavy-horned 6X6 bull in the first rifle season of 2010.

The bull was 2.5 miles from a trailhead and it took us three days to pack it off the mountain. We did not waste an ounce of meat using the meat care tactic of de-boning and skinning the animal immediately and hanging the meat in the shade while we took trips up and down the mountain three times.

I’m glad I had my 23-year-old along to help with the packing. My wife also came along as a camp cook — it’s a great family affair.

The animal is by far the biggest bull I’ve ever seen. This was the third trip for us to this area. The other two trips were successful as well, my oldest son killed his first bull, a 5X4, and my youngest son harvested a nice fat cow.

Colorado still is the best buy for elk hunting and the most scenic state I have ever hunted in. But the hunting is not easy, as far as terrain goes, and getting away from the crowd pays off if you can do it — walking to the spots in the dark and getting back in the dark takes preparation.

The DOW Elk Hunting University articles are right on as far as information needed to accomplish this type of hunting while staying safe at the same time. Thank you for a great opportunity!

Landin Patton, age 9, has spent the last four hunting seasons with his dad, Monty Patton, hunting in Unit 15 outside of Steamboat Springs.

This season opening day, Oct. 23, offered a few inches of very wet snow for the hunt. We could see the elk were traveling to the high areas and we followed them up. After several hours of hiking we had the small herd in site, my dad took sight and took a 5X5 elk down. The fun had just begun. This bull was very healthy looking and large.

We spent the next couple hours cleaning the bull and managing the weather conditions as the rain and snow was creating a very wet environment. After the elk was cleaned, we packed down our first load of meat and the head for testing. 

The walk was more than 2 ½ hours back to the trail, wow what work simply walking down the mountains. It is really amazing how much work it is to haul an elk out on foot.

The time in the wilderness and the time talking with Dad is something I will always remember and look forward to many more years of hunting.

This was a great father-and-son opportunity to participate on an antlerless youth tag in a premier unit like 61 in the first rifle season.

Before the hunt we called the biologist for the unit and he helped us identify an area to focus on since we were driving from New Mexico the day before. As usual, this CPW employee was very helpful, and it led to a successful hunt for Michael.

Michael's hunt only lasted several hours, but during that time we saw a couple of great bulls and two herds of cow elk.

Providing 15 percent of the cow tags to youth is a great way to get kids hunting and was an experience that Michael and I will remember for a long time.

Submitted by: Rich Knowlson, Michael's father

I have been hunting elk in the "Bears Ears" area of Colorado for 8 years.

The 2010 first season was successful. The first morning I was still hunting alone, up the trail in the snow and cold. It was getting to the end of the early morning twilight when I heard several shots about 1,000 feet above me.

When I stopped and listened closely, I could hear elk running down the mountain towards me in the thick aspens and pines.

I raised my Model 70 Winchester .270 and took the safety off. As the three cows were running towards me at about 60 yards, the lead cow saw me, turned and ran the other way with the other two cows.

I could not get a shot. As I was putting my safety back on, I saw another cow running towards me.

I brought the gun back up, jammed the gun stock into my armpit, got the cow in my sights and dropped it. I ran up to the cow and followed up with one more shot. 

It was so exciting and happened so fast. I tagged the cow, took the photo, skinned it, quartered it and, after three round trips, I had the cow packed out by 3:30 p.m. The next morning I took the elk meat to the butcher. 

What a great experience. I want to thank the Colorado Parks and Wildlife for all of their efforts. 

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