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BowAmerica Feb Issue - One Sweet Surprise

2012-02-07T12:44:00.000-08:00

The February issue of BowAmerica is now available to read. This month my husband surprised me by submitting an article as an early Valentine's present to me. He had me in tears! It is so sweet. Check out his article directly after mine. And what is even more amazing than him pulling this off without me finding out, is how well both of our articles flow together. He wrote it before reading my article that was already submitted to the magazine. I love my husband. He earned big bonus points for this one!

So, go grab a cup of coffee, click on the link below and enjoy BowAmerica e-magazine!

Open publication - Free publishing - More archery

I Can't Eat My Phone

2012-01-26T19:55:00.000-08:00

I'm a believer now... there really is an app for everything! Have you seen the new iPhone sight app? Now, just because I CAN download this app and set it up on my bow, I don't think I'll be changing out my Spot Hogg sight for the "coolness" factor of using my phone for a sight. I'm pretty sure that my phone would die on the mountain, get run over by my husband*, or my mom would call just as I am picking a spot on elk vitals.

Me: Mom!?!
Mom: Whatcha doing?
Me: Shhh! I'm hunting and your face just popped up on my screen
Mom: What? I can't hear you.
Me: Your head is in the way!

It might be fun for the archery range, but as far as hunting goes, I think I'll stick to a sight that doesn't have a chance of dying. The only dying I want done is something that can fill my freezer, and I can't eat my phone.

*It really wasn't my husband's fault for running over my phone last Sept while elk hunting. I take full responsibility for opening my door to look at the bear scat in the road. Phone slipped out, avoided the bear poop, but didn't escape the tire and weight of a full sized truck. I would be SCREWED if my phone was doubling as a sight.

"Cowards?" A Bowhunters Response

2012-01-22T08:50:00.000-08:00

Recently an individual, who I can only assume is ill-informed, posted a comment* regarding the magazine I'm honored to write for, BowAmerica. She posted a picture of the magazine cover and labeled it "cowards."

I've pondered this the last couple of days since initially I was at a loss for words. Why would she consider bowhunters as cowards? There is a huge disconnect that has happened somewhere.

If for some reason, my friend is reading this, I would like to tell you what I know about bowhunters....

Most bowhunters practice year-round knowing that an ethical shot requires diligence. Targets are often found in our basements, fields or a range not far from home. We study the animals we hunt and can "talk" their language fluently. Our bodies are kept in top condition and the off-season is used to figure out how we can improve ourselves, knowing that the next backcountry climb to 13,000 feet is not for the weak of heart. Our packs are loaded with water, tent, sleeping bag, food, rain gear, safety supplies, etc. The list goes on. We carry our bow. We sleep above timberline amongst bear and mountain lions. While the storm rolls across the Rocky Mountains sending flashes of lighting from peak to peak, we hunker down under a pine tree waiting for it to pass. A meal of sunflower seeds fill our bellies. The sleet sometimes turns to snow. We don't mind. We are a tenacious breed. We hunt on. We hunt strong.

Even after all of this disciplined preparation, and long strenuous journeys of chasing an animal, a "quartering to" shot is sometimes presented, an arrow is not released and the bowhunter is left with only the hair on their neck standing up. However, I'll take the empty stomach and the hair on the back of my neck experience. I love the animals I hunt. I love the experiences I've had with them in the woods. And I'm thankful for the times it works out and I get to enjoy an elk burger on my grill.

So, in all sincerity I would encourage our friend to reconsider how you've classified bowhunters. Since according to Webster, coward is defined as:

coward

noun

1. a person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc.; a timid or easily intimidated person.

---------------

I think part of the problem is the disconnect people have with the food they eat and where it came from. Hear me out. Walking into a grocery store and picking up a nicely wrapped package of meat for dinner has conveniently provided distance from the realization that a life was lost in order to sustain another's life. We eat our steaks, hamburgers and pork chops but don't give a second thought as to where it came from. We as hunters know differently, yet are often chastised by the animal rights community for providing a hormone-free healthy meat alternative to our dinner plates.

I understand that some hunters may not be as ethical as others, and they should be held accountable for their actions. Careless shots may be taken which end up wounding an animal. Or there are even others who hunt merely for hanging a "trophy" on the wall, and worse... leaving the meat in the field. However, my young commenter must not have done her homework, because all of the contributors to the magazine are not of this caliber. I hold them in high esteem and know they give hunting a good name. While none of us are perfect, we strive to give fair chase to the animal, and would only take a clean ethical shot in order to not wound an animal.

So, in closing, I would like to thank my commenter friend for standing up for animal rights, because as a bowhunter I never want to see an animal hurt or mistreated. I would challenge you, however, to do your homework and give a good honest look at those you are calling names. God bless you!

And on this Sanctity of Human Life Sunday... Let's all remember to stand up for LIFE!

*Note that it looks like our friend has removed her pinterest account, so she may not have a chance to read my response. I'm thankful she has decided to reconsider her comment.

Whitetail - KS Style - in Video

2012-01-08T20:20:00.000-08:00

Once again... because video is sometimes more fun than just telling the story in words, here are some clips from our Kansas whitetail hunt.

Oh, and if anyone can tell me why during the upload process I am losing clarity in the video, that would be great. Everything is crystal clear until I upload the video from iMovie to vimeo. I must have a setting off. Anyway.. please excuse the graininess. I'll get it figured out one of these days.

Bow America Mag Launches!

2012-01-05T16:40:00.000-08:00

Have you heard? There is a new bowhunter e-magazine, Bow America, that just launched today! You are not going to want to miss out. This online magazine features monthly articles on traditional archery, compound archery, bowfishing, DIY hunting, fitness, gear reviews, etc.

Make sure to sign up... the subscription is free! Simply visit BowAmerica.com to request your online subscription.

And check out the cover pic on the inaugural issue! Could that be a first-kill archery Kansas buck shot by.... yours truly?

Open publication - Free publishing - More archery

Recruiting HFO Members

2011-12-28T17:50:00.000-08:00

Just in case you happened to miss the extended version of this commercial, here you go...

And for goodness sake, let's help the poor guy and band together. I think he needs more members to his HFO club! Perhaps it would keep us hunters off Santa's naughty list next year.

Christmas Joy

2011-12-25T07:40:00.000-08:00

Grandpa Santa has delivered all his presents. Sounds from youngsters filled with excitement echoed throughout the house. Gifts to loved ones previously concealed with packaging and bows are now revealed. Bellys are filled from homemade treats. It was a joyous Christmas day in our house indeed!

My sweet husband knows me well. Packages with "Emily" on the gift tags contained... new arrows, a leather gun holster, and snow tracks. He told me after unwrapping my gifts, that the guys at the firehouse shared with each other what they bought for their wives. The remark he received after listing my items off was... "man you are in trouble!" Quite honestly, I would have to disagree 100%. You see, when you know someone well, you know what they will love. My man knows me well, and I LOVE my gifts.

Which brings us back to the reason we celebrate this joyous holiday. Our heavenly father knows and loves us well. So much that the Eternal One, knowing our need for a savior, stepped down into the confinement of time in order to save us from our sin. The great I Am who spoke creation into existence become part of his creation. The God who fashioned a universe and hung each star in it's place became a Jewish carpenter by trade and held a simple hammer in his hand.

Do you want to know what I think the best part of presents is? Anticipation. It's not knowing what is on the inside of the gift. There were a lot of guessing games going on around here - especially by the youngsters. One of my favorite conversations went something like this...

Niece: Auntie Em I got you something REALlllly nice. It's gold. The color gold.

Auntie Em: I'm sure that I'm going to love it!

Niece: Yep. It's sparkly.

Auntie Em: Do I wear it around my neck?

Niece: Nope. You put them in your ears, but I'm NOT going
to tell you what it is because it's a surprise. You are going to
love them though!

We all had a good laugh about that one! There were many more conversations that centered around the gifts under the tree. Everyone was excited to see what their loved ones gave them. That's the point. When you know that a gift is from someone that loves you, it is going to be good. It is the same way with our heavenly father. We celebrate because of the gift he gave us in the form of a baby some 2,000+ years ago. And because of that gift, we have the anticipation of something even better. A promise from someone who loves us so much...

As it is written (1 Cor 2:9):

"What no eye has seen,

what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived"-
the things God has prepared for those who love him-"

Amen to that! My heart is filled with Christmas Joy.

So what are some of the fun presents you gave or received this year?

Tent Materials - Why They Matter

2011-12-15T21:00:00.000-08:00

I'm honored that Steve from Sportsman's Warehouse recently contacted me and asked if I would be willing to feature a guest post on my blog. That was a no brainer. I'm happy to support the local sporting goods store that I frequent often. Plus, this topic is appropriate for me because I have a feeling that Troy and I may be looking for a new tent next season. The last couple of hunting seasons of sleeping double in a single tent (while fun) was a little crowded.

So, if you are in the market for a new tent, this article may be for you also. And if you are planning a hunting trip in the back country, do yourself a favor and do the research on the products you will rely on before purchasing them. A good tent may make a difference in whether or not you are heading off the mountain early or being able to stay dry and warm, which ultimately may result in a more successful hunt.

Tent Materials To Consider For Your Outdoor Adventure

A tent is a key component of your camping supplies as much variety as there is in design and size of tents, there is an equal amount of difference in the quality of tents, and the materials they are built out of. Those materials are directly tied to how long a tent lasts, how well it stands up to a storm, how breathable it is, and in the end, how likely you are to enjoy using it. Spending more on a tent usually results in a better built tent, made out of better materials that will last longer and hold up under extreme conditions. But understanding the differences in the materials that are used can give you insight into what you are getting. Looking at the materials used in the tent poles, tent floor, and canopy and rain fly is a very good place to start.

Tent Poles

Tent poles form the skeleton of the tent. As you might expect, a good skeleton is vital for supporting the tent through bad weather. Tent poles are usually made out of aluminum, fiberglass or steel. Aluminum is generally the “premium” material for tent poles. Lightweight and stiff, aluminum tent poles can take a great deal of wind loading without failing, and are lightweight enough for even ultra light backpacking tents.

Fiberglass has long been the go-to material for constructing reasonably priced family camping tents. While they work well and keep the price down on tents, these poles do not hold up as well in high winds. They do, however, have an advantage in terms of reparability. Where it is usually difficult to find replacement pole segments for aluminum poles, fiberglass tent pole repair kits are widely available, and very simple to repair.

Steel tent poles are less common, and generally used for larger tents. They are normally the bulkiest and heaviest choice, but they do work well for making a large tent strong and weatherproof. Finally, the more poles a tent has, generally the better the tent will do in wind and rain. Each pole works as another “bone” in the skeleton, but also adds to the weight and complexity of setup.

Tent Floors

Tent floors are another area where materials can provide a lot of insight into how good the quality is for a given model of tent. Between being setup on rocky ground, boots being worn into the tent, and cot usage, tent floors also take a LOT of abuse, making quality critical.

Nylon is a typical choice. Being a tightly woven material, once a polyurethane coating is applied to it, these floors will be lightweight, durable, and highly water resistant. If the weight of nylon is listed, between two models the “heavier” the weight is, the more durable it will typically be. Oxford nylon is also used occasionally, and is typically considered “premium” material.

A lesser choice for the floor is woven polyethylene, often listed simply as polyethylene in descriptions. Polyethylene floors are a much looser woven material, meaning that durability and water resistance are less. While less expensive to build a tent out of, they are also bulkier, and will not last as long.

One final thing to keep in mind is that all tent floors work better when used in conjunction with either a “footprint”, built to fit perfectly on a given model of tent, or a ground sheet. These should be used under the floor of the tent, between it and the ground, to help keep thing like rocks, cactuses and burrs from poking holes in the bottom of your tent.

Rainfly

One final thing to look at is the rainfly of the tent. Here, details become very important. Most tent rainflys are built out of nylon or polyester. Both have advantages, and both are good choices. More important is the thickness of the coating applied to the rainfly. This number is usually represented by a number in millimeters. Rather than reflecting the actual thickness of the coating, this is the height (in millimeters) of a column of water that the coating will stop the pressure of from leaking through. A higher number is “more waterproof”, but anything over 1500mm is very good, and over 3000mm is great. Seam taping, which wasn’t found on all tents just a few years ago, is almost universal today. This detail means that you don’t need to apply seam sealant to the seams on the rainfly, it is waterproof out of the box.

Finally, the size and coverage of a rainfly tells you a lot about the intended usage and weatherproofness of a tent. Tents with a rainfly that covers only the upper 1/3 or 1/2 of the tent are generally not going to be as weather proof in bad weather. Rain will have a better chance of blowing in under the fly. Tents where the rainfly comes down to the ground on two sides are much better, and tents where the rainfly comes down to the ground on all sides are better still. Those “full coverage” rainlflys also generally feature storage vestibules, and tend to be warmer in cold weather.

-Jeremy Mutrux

Simply Thankful

2011-11-16T19:53:00.000-08:00

After six years of carrying an archery tag in my pocket with hopes of adding my John Hancock, I finally know what it feels like. My Kansas whitetail tag was punched last Saturday!

I often wondered which big game animal would have the honor of being my first archery kill, and I'm tickled that it was a beautiful whitetail buck. Although it is a bit funny to me because I am the least familiar with this type of hunt. Let me just say that I am completely hooked and am looking forward to arrowing my next bushy tailed deer!

Here is how my hunt unfolded...

Our tree stand was already prepped and ready to go thanks to our friend letting us hunt his property (Thanks Evan and fam!). Therefore, all we had to do was make our way to the stand bright and early, haul our gear up and wait for deer movement. Sounds easy. However, making your way up the tree when you aren't used to it, is no cake walk. All way up the ladder, I found myself thinking things like...

"be a monkey"

"crap! don't look down"

"hand, step, hand,"

"Think like you're twelve," etc.

And then as I reached the platform, I froze a little. I'm not scared of heights but for some reason, it was difficult at first to get situated. You have to hang your bow, backpack and then sit down. My husband being a fireman had no problem climbing on up, and getting our little tree home set up... so I let him! Honestly, once I had my harness fastened on that tree I was good to go. I was ready for whatever the morning had in store for us.

Perched up in a tree, we watched the world awaken around us. As the sun crested the horizon, the field began to glow in hues of orange and yellow. All was quiet except for the crunch of a woodland traveler approaching nearby our stand. Coming down from the Milo field above, a buck was making his way towards us. I looked up at Troy as he quietly removed his bow from the tree hook. Only thirty minutes from the time we arrived and we had a nice buck in shooting range. We whispered back and forth about whether or not to take him, and during our indecisiveness, this buck moseyed around a big oak towards my side of the tree. I eyeballed Troy with the question of "can I really shoot one already?"

I reached for my bow, as the buck was staring right at me. He didn't seem to even care. I heard Troy say, "I think you should take him." So as my buck turned his head and presented a beautiful broadside shot, I drew back and settled my top pin right behind his shoulder.

*THWACK!*

In an instant I saw my arrow sink into the selected spot. I knew it was good. I was confident of my shot. Troy watched through the lens of his binoculars as I waited like a giddy schoolgirl for the report of deer down. He saw blood - lots of it - from the impact of my arrow. We would have a good blood trail. Phew! And as he reported that my buck had laid down, it took all of my self-control to not scream and jump from my tree stand perch. I wanted to get down and tag my buck! But since he had gotten up once after laying down (these deer are incredibly tough animals), we wanted to give him a little time. Plus we were only 30 minutes into our first morning hunt and there was still movement around us, so we opted to wait a bit more in the stand to see if Troy would have a chance to release an arrow. Talk about torture for me! (I think Troy was having fun with it too.)

Finally, after capturing a few small whitetail bucks and Muleys on video, it was time to track my buck. It didn't take long and we found him peacefully laying on the edge of the field. I am truly blessed to have my first buck and best of all.... meat in my freezer.

I'm simply thankful.

Mr. Bullwinkle or Mr. Bugle

2011-11-08T19:10:00.001-08:00

I recently heard that 11 moose were illegally taken this season in Colorado... and most of the cases appear to be due to inability to recognize the target. Wait. What?

Moose:

Elk:

Both of the above pictures I took this fall. I can attest that these animals are very different. Granted, they are both large and impressive, but nonetheless.. they are still very, very different. For anyone out there that may still be confused, let's break down the differences:

THEY SOUND DIFFERENT

Elk Bugle

Moose grunt

THEY GROW DIFFERENT ANTLERS

Elk have branched antlers (non-palmated)

Moose have palmated antlers

THEY HAVE DIFFERENT COLORED HIDES

Elk have lighter fur with brown neck fur (manes)

Moose have dark brown almost red fur

AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE LEGS

Moose are all legs! Have you seen how tall these boogers are?!

Again...

Moose:

Elk:

In all seriousness, if you are still unsure... check out the Elk & Moose Comparison put together by the CO DOW. There are hefty fines if you shoot the wrong species. Be prepared. Know your target.

Bear Conventions - Oh My!

2011-11-02T20:45:00.000-07:00

I really think there may be a bear convention that kicks off right around pre-hunting season. They all get together... probably around a campfire (my story - go with it), and decide how they will torment a gal named, Emily, during the hunting season. The ring leader probably goes by the name "Boo." He rounds up all the little forest creatures for their pre-hunting season game plan.

Anyway, Boo and his pals must have come up with a good plan this year b/c he got me good! Somehow the bear crew planted additional worry into my brain. How they did this? I have no clue. I'm sure they poisoned my stash of freeze dried food somehow. Or maybe it was the stories of their tent raids - which they made sure I was aware of. E.g, the hunter that we "happened" to talk to on the top of a ridge who told me of your raid on his tent while out hunting. It was completely flattened. Nice work, guys! I didn't get a wink of sleep that night even with my .40 on my chest. In fact, I may have given myself Shingles from worrying so much. Honest.

Then, there was the time we were headed to lunch and you decided to meander down the hill by us. Thanks for the visit, but it was a little close for hunters without bear tags.

And finally, I'm not sure how you pulled this one off, but it really takes the cake! Killing my cell phone! Really??!! I fell for it. You got me good... eating all sorts of berries and turning your scat a bright purple. I was so intrigued that I had to open the truck door to get a better look at the pile in the road. And just as I opened the door, my cell phone and purse slipped out. The truck tire squished my possessions right before my eyes. I couldn't get the words out fast enough to tell the driver *ahem* my husband to stop.

Seriously! Didn't anybody tell you that I didn't even have a bear tag this year?? But after all the trouble that you caused me this year, I'm thinking that a bear rug and bear steaks in my freezer sounds good for next year. Game on!

Fishing under Western Skies

2011-10-28T21:15:00.000-07:00

I'm on a video kick lately. Enjoy the latest video compilation of our fishing trip last weekend. In my opinion there is nothing better than an afternoon of chilling by a lake underneath western skies...

P.s. there is a special catch and release duck feature at the end.

Shades of Gold and Ivory

2011-10-27T20:45:00.000-07:00

A glimpse of what Autumn looks like in Colorado.

Shades of gold mixed with ivory tipped antlers.

Captured through the lens of my camera...

The Buck Lung Punch

2011-10-26T18:03:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine recently emailed me a picture of a really nice whitetail buck her brother shot in Ohio a couple of weeks ago (picture on the left). I thought it would be fun to share the story of his buck on my blog, especially since whitetail hunting is not on my usual list of hunts (except for this year - KS here I come!)

The "Buck Lung Punch" as told by Scott Wagers

"In Ohio, our bow season starts the last week of September and ends on the first Sunday in February. My family and I are BIG into hunting, so that always means after Spring turkey season it's time to get ready for deer season. This consists of hanging a ton of tree stands, tending to food plots, digging watering holes, setting up our trail cameras, and having endless target practice.

My family just so happens to own property in one of the top three counties where there are the most deer harvested each season because the deer population in those three counties is so high. The county where we live as a whole is an ideal habitat for deer. Outside of our property, I also hunt other landowners' properties as well as public land to control crop damage, in addition to changing up the scenery of the hunt and making it a challenge. (When I hunt outside our place, I always hunt with a very simple setup: a summit climber, a hand-me-down Hoyt MagnaTech compound, True Glow Sight Mayhem arrows with G5 Montech broadheads, and a True Fire wrist release.)

On Sunday, October 2, my brother and I decided to hunt a new property that we've never been on before which we got permission in the Spring to hunt on. I hunted the whole morning without success. I had deer all over me, but none that I could go for -- does walking under me before legal shooting light, small bucks, and an encounter with a 4.5 year-old buck at 80 yards. While eating lunch, I slipped down from my climber and did a walk-around of my area. I found intersecting trails around massive ancient white oak trees with trees rubbed every six feet. By the size of the rubs, there were mature bucks in the area. So, I moved tree stand locations and waited for what seemed like forever. I was praying for one of those does to come back to the bedding area so I could smash 'er.

The rain storm that the weatherman predicted was very close by the way the clouds grew dark. The temperature drastically dropped, and it started to rain. It was about 5:00 PM. I mentally prepared myself to sit through the rain and wait for the stereotypical situation: deer moving at last light. Then, there he was -- the sleepy, slit-eyed, 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 coming straight on a line right on the trail in front of me. I barely had time to stand up, turn around, and get into position in order to shoot him on my right side. As he approached the 30 yard mark, I tried to stop him with a verbal bleat. No such luck. I was at full draw, looking through my peep sight. I yelled, "Hey!" and squeezed my release. In slow motion, the brute locked up and turned his torso. With his eyes staring into mine, the broad head sliced through his right side lung. He dropped to the ground. Full of excitement, I scaled down the tree. He wasn't going anywhere, but he was still alive. I landed another lung cavity shot. Victory!

With mixed emotions I knelt down looking the animal over, admiring his sheer body size and the crown of antlers on his head. He was a 10-point, with a spread of 146 inches. A sense of accomplishment and gratitude overcame me, followed quickly by the thought that I had just filled my one buck tag on the first week of bow season. How insane and unplanned that was! The pressure to produce is now off. I can enjoy my doe tags and giving my wife a better opportunity to get her own mammoth deer."

Congrats, Scott! Enjoy the rest of your season. And good luck on filling your doe tags. I also hope to see pics of your wife's buck in the near future!

Hold That Bull Loosely

2011-10-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

It was the evening of the last hunt, yet I still had hopes the final hunt would bring success. We learned a valuable lesson on what defines success. To hold our blessings loosely. And, to trust God to provide for all our needs - regardless of how small. I think the video of Troy's hunt explains it best.

BLESSING is defined as... "a favor or gift bestowed by God"

TRUST is defined as... "reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence. Confident expectation of something; hope."

Blending Trust and Blessings...

Celebrating OBN

2011-10-20T20:35:00.000-07:00

The Outdoor Blogging Network or better known as OBN, is celebrating it's one year anniversary. And let me tell you, they know how to celebrate! This online gathering place for outdoor bloggers is giving away some great swag. If you have an outdoor blog (hunting, fishing, hiking, etc), go check it out the party on the OBN. Register your blog and put your name in for some great gear to review. But you have to act fast. The giveaway roundup is just this week.

Hunting Season 2011 in Video: Part 1

2011-10-07T20:06:00.000-07:00

Because sometimes videos are more fun than plain old blog posts...

Hunting Season 2011 - Part 1 from Emily on Vimeo.

What Brings You Up So High?

2011-09-27T19:50:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah Johnson is one of my favorite movies from my childhood. There is a line in the movie that my brother, sister and I would play, rewind and repeat over and over. It is a simple line, but for some reason we thought it was the funniest thing. Jeremiah meets up with his old mountain man friend and while chewing on some type of game meat (rabbit I think) cooked over the campfire, the question is asked, "What brings you up so high?" The old man promptly responds with "Griz!" It must have been the way it was said, but we were in stitches. So over and over we would watch it.

If you've followed my blog then you are probably aware of my somewhat irrational fear of bears. So, I am definitely not motivated to wander into the high country to chase after bears. Thankfully we don't have "Griz" here in Colorado (and if you know otherwise, please don't burst my bubble). But one thing I do know... the mountains are filled with the echo of bugles as the daylight dims each late September evening. And every time I hear their call I am overcome with awe. The sound chills you to the core. THAT is what brings me up so high each year.

Last week during one of our evening hunts, I had the privilege of getting really close to one of these mountain bulls. We hiked several miles into what we call the "lower beaver ponds." As we approached the area we hoped the bulls were hiding out, Alan let out a locater bugle. A bull answered back immediately. Like flies we quickly dispersed and sent two shooters down below. My husband backed up into the thick alders to call while Alan and I were left on the trail. I thought there might be time to make my way through the 30 yards of thick alders in order to have a clear shooting range into the meadow; however, I opted to stay put after hearing the bull narrowing the distance fast. So, I made my way back up the trail we had just come down on with the hope of getting in front of the bull before being pinned down. I got pinned down.

For 30 minutes I sat crouched down on the path with the screaming bull 15 yards on the opposite side of the pine tree and brush. I kept thinking he was making his way through the thick brush and was surely going to give me a top pin shot either directly below or above me. So I sat on the trail, pivoting back and forth guessing which side he would come out. Finally it dawned on me... he isn't coming. Duh. He is simply causing a bunch of ruckus by raking the branches in order to prove how "BAD" he is. So, I strained to get a glimpse of my friend. I had a perfect view of antlers. That is all I could see. It was magnificent. In and out of view they would go. A moment of loud branch breaking display of toughness followed by silence. Huge ivory tipped antler beams pivoting back and forth while the bull strained to listen to the sweet cow calls below. Then a hair raising bugle followed by a chuckle. Proceeded by a burp. (Yes, I'm pretty sure that's what I heard.) Then the whole sequence would repeat. What seemed like an eternity wrapped in an instant caused me to wonder what just happened when this ghost of the Rockies quietly slipped 100 yards away and let out a bugle once again from the top of the ridge.

We walked back to camp via the light of our headlamps that night - tags safely unpunched in our pockets. And just for fun cow calls were let out along the way. We sounded like a elk circus going down the path, but my bull didn't seem to care. He followed us in the darkness for about a mile, keeping his distance and all the while letting out love sick bugles. Or was it a warning? I'm not sure. Either way, I was glad for his companionship and reminder of what brought me up so high that evening.

Cairn You Find Your Way?

2011-09-14T18:50:00.000-07:00

If you've done some hiking in the back country, you most likely have noticed some interesting rock pile structures. In order to achieve this balancing act, the rocks obviously had some human intervention to achieve their current configuration.

I honestly never thought much about these tidy rock pikes, until last week during our Mule Deer hunt. For some reason the light bulb turned on. As we reached the end of a trail and began to traverse further into the back country, I began to notice little rock piles every so often. Duh. These are trail markers.

The formal name for these balancing rock markers: Cairns. Some hikers also call them "trail ducks" if the top rock is larger and indicates which direction to head. I also noticed a nice arrow on the ground made of rocks - not sure if that has an official name?? Ahh... Rock Arrow.

Anyway, after realizing the rock's purpose, we began using them to guide our way. It is a great method to mark your trail when there aren't obvious landmarks to go by. I'm always amazed at how easy it is to get lost in the mountains. You think, I'll recognize that ridge even if I traverse through this draw and up that side of the slope. However, it always amazes me how your perspective changes when you reach the next summit. On the way back to camp, our mantra quickly became, "Follow the Rocks!"

So, what about you?

What other methods have you used to find your way back to camp?

High Expectations

2011-09-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

Hunting high alpine mule deer is not for the faint of heart. 2011 marks our second attempt to outsmart these critters and come home with a backpack full of velvet antlers. So far the deer that exist in our unit (which seems to be few and far between) are still safely roaming the high places.

Last week was a mixture of a few hard hunts speckled with moments of recuperation. I felt like we were doing hunting sprints instead of throwing down a good long hunt marathon. There were several reasons for the whiplash style of hunting... personal, business, sickness (yes, I think I drank bad water - you know what comes with that!), etc. I'm not trying to list excuses for why we didn't punch a tag. I know that if we would have been able to stay on top of the mountain our chances would have greatly increased. It is what it is. The saying is still true... a bad day of hunting is better than a good day elsewhere. Or however it goes.

I recently read a blog post by Mark over at Sole Adventure where he dissected the importance of staying mentally in the hunt. I totally agree and have a feeling that is where our team wasn't as strong last week. If you haven't checked out this article, it is worth a read. Stay mentally strong out there while in the field! Good luck to everyone out there currently hunting. I can't wait to read your success stories!!

It is just over a week until we will be headed to the mountains again. This time we will be concentrating solely on elk and I'm hopeful that all distractions will be set aside.

I do have some great stories / pics from the last week. So, I'll try and get some posts up before picking up my bow and wandering off to the mountains. For example, the picture below shows the slope where we stalked 4 alpine Muleys. More to come!

Pikes Peak Ascent: Check!

2011-08-24T20:51:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure where to even begin on this post. I've been waiting to write this one for a long time, and for some reason I am now having a hard time putting down the words. (So forgive me if I ramble a bit.)

Let me start by just saying... I DID IT! I am now a Pikes Peak Ascent veteran. I've completed the 1/2 marathon race to the top of a stinkin' mountain.

I began my training back in January for the Pikes Peak Ascent. That is when I first entertained the idea of toeing the starting line of the race to the top of America's Mountain. I was faithful in hitting the gym before and after work during the long winter months. So faithful that I think I burned out a little too soon. (Before one of my qualifying races I had a touch of plantar fasciitis.) So, as the big day approached I was honestly a bit nervous and feeling unprepared because my training had tapered off a bit the last month and half.

Well, last Saturday was the day of truth and I crossed that finish line on the top of the mountain!

Race day was amazing. The weather was perfect with only a slight risk of afternoon showers. I was prepared and had extra clothes, gloves, hat, etc. strapped to my CamelBak because I know how the weather can turn in an instant in the mountains, especially above timberline. After the singing of America the Beautiful I was off in the second round of runners towards the summit. We wove through the quaint town of Manitou Springs and slowly began the upwards jog.

It wasn't long until the majority of runners became fast hikers. I was feeling good and ready to jog the first portion of the trail, but as the trail became extremely narrow and steep the option to pass seemed impossible. So I gave into the idea that there would be plenty of time to pick up speed later. Honestly, at around the 3-4 mile marker I was thankful for the fast hike instead of feeling pressure to run the steep terrain. So we wove our way up the switchbacks, counting down each mile.

The volunteers for this race were amazing. Around the 7 mile mark there was a great aid station. A huge kudos to those guys who hauled refreshments back there. I was starting to hurt about 1/2 way in and desperately needed the fuel. I quickly filled up on fresh grapes, a few skittles, and I was off. The hard part was ahead of me. Three more miles to timberline where I could down some water at the last aid station and head to the summit.

As I reached the A-frame aid station I quickly realized there was a long line for water. They were filtering water from a small stream and it wasn't a fast process. As a result, there was encouragement to proceed on if you were carrying any water and could make it to the next aid station. I still had a few more swallows in my CamelBak and was thankful to hear there was one more aid station 1/2 up above timberline. So, I was sure I could make it 1 1/2 more miles. Let me tell you... I was really happy to finally make it to that last aid station. I think I downed 3-4 glasses of water!

One thing I didn't realize or expect was how bad my legs and feet would hurt. I think every muscle in my lower extremities cramped up at least once. At one point I was sure that I had pulled both groin muscles. What was that all about? It hurt and hurt BAD. Oh, and I should probably apologize to those running behind me since I'm pretty sure I was rubbing my butt cheeks (hey! They hurt too!) I think I was running funny at one point also because I was trying to prevent my calf muscles from seizing up on me. And I'm pretty sure I farmer blew my nose multiple times. Sorry.

I was pleasantly surprised that the altitude didn't seem to affect me. I didn't get a headache, wasn't dizzy and wasn't even short of breathe. But then again, some may disagree since I was blowing snot out of my nose and didn't care. Maybe the altitude did get to me a bit.

Anyway, I still can't really believe that it's done! A Pikes Peak Ascent medal now hangs on my dresser and I'm left with a mixture of emotions... relief that I finished; proud for doing it; sad it's done; and strangely, craving more. Yikes! I'm having a hard time processing that last one, especially since I crossed the finish line and almost immediately told my husband, "Never again! That was so painful and stupid." However, the pain is now a distant memory and I'm now thinking a medal that reads, "Pikes Peak Marathon" would be fun to have. Oh Lord, help me!

Are there any other crazy ones out there who want to take on a mountain marathon with me?

Review: .40 S&W Hi-Shok Ammo

2011-08-21T14:45:00.000-07:00

Last month while vacationing in Wyoming, I was contacted by Steven at BulkAmmo.com who asked me if I would be willing to do an ammo review for their company. Since my husband recently purchased a Glock 40 for me to use for our back country hunting trips, I jumped on this gear review opportunity.

Soon after returning from vacation in WY I had a box of 40 S&W bulk ammo cartridges show up at my door. As usual, summer weekends quickly become filled with activities, and last weekend was the first chance I had to test the ammo. I took a concealed carry class which provided the perfect opportunity to empty the box.

Before jumping into the review on the product itself, let me start by saying I was honestly surprised that ammo could be purchased online and shipped directly to your house. How cool is that? Of course, you must agree to their terms of sale and affirm that you are a law-abiding U.S citizen, over 21, etc.

As far as customer service goes, they really bend over backwards for their customers. I was able to track my ammo and know exactly when it was going to be on my door step. I think they had it out the door the same day I was offered the review opportunity. They are very efficient and professional. Check out some of the other comments from their customers.

So how did the cartridges perform? Here is what my concealed carry instructor had to say:

Ammunition: Federal Classic 180 Grain Hi-Shok JHP 40 Cal

Pistol used: Glock model 23

"Ammunition produced 3" groups at 30 and 50 ft with no failures to feed. Federal Classic produced accuracy and flawless functioning. I would highly recommend it." - Bob

Since I am a novice shooter, I really wanted Bob to give me his feedback for this review. He has tested many guns and really knows his stuff. I asked him what the most important test is for good ammunition and he said something to the effect of... "you pay for what you get. If you buy cheap ammo, you'll know it." Bulkammo.com passed the test. There were no failures to the feed. My gun didn't jam. It was smooth firing the whole time. It is the good stuff.

In fact, Bob told me that a lady took his course the week before and called him back because she was having trouble with her gun. She was so frustrated and ready to buy a completely different gun. Every shot, the ammo would fail to feed properly. He told her to bring it out and he'd take a look. Guess what the problem was? Bad ammo. She bought the cheap stuff.

With that being said, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the quality of ammunition and prices at bulkammo.com. From what I've seen so far, it is good ammunition and competitively priced.

Disclaimer: The reviews on Scent Free Lip Gloss are solely the honest opinions of Emily. The ammunition in this review was provided at no cost to me by BulkAmmo.com for the purpose of this review. Scent Free Lip Gloss is not sponsored by BulkAmmo and received no monetary compensation in exchange for this review.

Crazy Stair Workout

2011-08-02T19:28:00.000-07:00

I now have a love / hate relationship with a steep slope covered in railroad ties. AKA the Manitou Incline. What is this crazy incline? It is an old roadbed for a former incline railway. The steepest section has a grade of 68%.

This one mile staircase is adjacent to the beginning of the Pikes Peak ascent route that I'll be participating in later this month. While the race track isn't straight up this incline, the Barr trail zig zags up this first hill.

I almost puked up my McDonald's sausage breakfast sandwich halfway up this thing. I won't be eating one of those little dollar delights the morning before my big run. That's a guarantee!

If you ever are in the Colorado Springs area and looking for a challenging workout, I would highly recommend checking out the Manitou Incline. You won't be disappointed. However, you may puke up your breakfast.

The OTHER Thunder in the Rockies: Elk Stampede

2011-07-28T19:35:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in my previous post, we ran into elk last weekend. Lots of them. And when I say "ran into elk" what I really mean is I almost freaking got ran OVER by elk. Let me first give you some context into what is a very real reality when encountering animals in the wild. Big Al has an elk stampede story that's been retold over and over while sitting around the campfire. It goes something like this...

Many years ago, Big Al was hunting the mighty wapiti solo. Somehow Al was separated from his hunting pals. My guess? He was wandering around in the woods in search of a lost poop chair. Or trying to dream up alternative ways to carry an elk off the mountain. Anyway, it doesn't really matter why he was alone. He was alone.

The fierce solo hunter found himself nestled in a grove of aspen trees. While talking sweetly to the elk in the distance (*ahem* I mean snoring) suddenly the ground began to shake. Instead of the sound echoing from storm filled skies above, this rolling thunder came from the ground below. In a moment's notice, Al fumbled to his feet and was met eyeball to eyeball with a bull elk who had a slew of reinforcements charging close behind. The elk had their revenge that day. Al's bow went flying as he was promptly thrown back down to the ground as the elk herd stampeded right over top of him.

Surviving the thunder of hoofs, Al stumbled his way back to camp covered in mud. Torn shirt. Broken bow. Everyone thought he got into a fight with another hunter, and didn't believe the story... until they saw the hoof prints on his shirt.

Disclaimer: I may have embellished the story slightly or made up some parts, but there are witnesses out there somewhere that will testify that Al had hoof prints on his shirt upon arriving back to camp. So, it must be true.

So, last weekend as I was lingering behind to snap pictures of the wildflowers blanketing the mountainside, I almost had my own elk stampede experience. I rounded the corner of a small knoll trying to catch up to the guys in front of me. The usual raised hand by the party in the lead indicated to stop. I stopped. I then heard a thunder of hoofs. The crescendo was flooding towards me. For a fleeting second, the above story flashed through my brain. Was I about to be run over? So, what did I do? I braced myself and hoped for a good camera shot.

A word of advice I was given if about to be trampled by a herd of elk:

DUCK!

Apparently, if you stand up, you will get knocked over.

If you crouch down it is more likely that you will be hurdled. Thanks.

Wild Flower Love

2011-07-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

Every time I venture up into the mountains in the summer I am in awe of the wildflowers scattered across the hillside. It truly is breathtaking!

Last weekend I had my new Nikon camera (which I'm still learning to use). I think my husband was wondering if it was a good idea to purchase this picture taking contraption because I kept lagging behind to snap shots of the flowers in the field. I couldn't help it...

"Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin.

Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."