The weather was perfect, and due to the drought the rutt was still in progress. I was an invited guest. Al Flack was the trail boss, he has hunted this area for over thirty years. The particular spot we hunted for the last 13. I hunted with Al, his nephew Matt Flack, and my brother. They are very serious about this hunt each year and a lot of preparation goes into it.

This was my first hunt. I don't mean first Elk hunt, it was my first hunt period. I had not even shot a riffle larger than a 22 or a 410. The invitation was given to me in March 96' and I accepted, wondering the whole time if I really wanted to go. The only other attempt I made at hunting was fifteen years ago when my brother (same one) took me out to a piece of land he had and sat me under a tree in the cold rain for hours. I had no problem with not hunting after that.

Regardless of all that I took the hunter safety training (required to hunt in Colorado). I was faxed a list of items to buy and/or bring and what was to be expected of me:

Facsimile Transmission: 9/5/96
Att: T.J.
Re: Elk Hunt
Dear T,
The dates of the hunt are 10/12-16th. you should plan to arrive by the 10th a.m., and leave on the 18th in the a.m..
Your requirements are:
1)Buy breakfast the morning of the 11th for all at restaurant on ride up.
2)Buy dinner the evening we drop off the meat at the butcher's.
3)Keep your nose up Al's rear and say "Yes Sir!"
Your clothing requirements are as follows: 1 pair snow pack boots, 1 pair tennis shoes for in camp, 1 pair cowboy boots, 1 each cowboy hat and soft hunter orange hat cover, 1 hunter orange ball cap, 1 hunter orange safety vest. 1 water proof/insulated coat, 5 pairs jeans, 4 pair long John's, 8 pair cotton socks, 6 pairs shorts (underwear), 4 flannel or cool shirts, 1 sweat shirt, 1 light jacket, 1 sweater, 1 Buck knife, 2 tee shirts, 4 or more pair cheap cotton gloves, 1 pair leather gloves, 1 back pack, 1-2 canteens, 1 slicker, toiletries as required, no pare products required.
4)Shoot 22 200 times or more.
5)License fee is $250.25
We'll I got most of the things on the list plus some extras. Some I borrowed. The things I did not bring, or the deviations I made that I though were so smart could have cost me dearly. This list I found out was extremely accurate and thought out.

Following is the time line of the hunt:

October 10, 1996 - DAY ONE
5:a.m. Coffee, get up, finish last minute packing, load car
6:a.m. Coffee, leave for airport
7:30a:m. Leave Austin for New Mexico
1:p.m. Arrive in Farmington,NM
2:p.m. Lunch
3:p.m. Misc. shopping for items I deleted off the list
6:p.m. Dinner
7:30p.m. Visit Mr. Flack Trail Boss, loaded gear, groceries, tack and saddles
10:p.m. Return home, shower
11:p.m. Bed

Oct.11 - DAY TWO
5:a.m. Rise and shine
6:a.m. Coffee and prepare to leave, load gear outside ready to put in truck upon arrival, --
-more coffee.
7:a.m. Mr.Flack arrives, load truck, load horses in to trailer, head out to meet Matt at highway.
7:30a.m.Meet Matt and leave for Durango.
9:30 a.m.Stop at hardware store in Durango to purchase license and tag for hunt.
10:15a.m.Stop to eat breakfast, got out of paying for it.
12:30p.m.Arrive at unloading zone north of Durango at San Juan National Forest unload and pack horses.
3:p.m.Arrive at camp. unload pack horses, finish camp set-up.
5:p.m.Set out horses to graze, prepare for dinner.
6:p.m. Hike up valley to scout for misc. elk. Saw first elk of trip. Big ole things!
7:p.m.Eat dinner, wash dishes, get ready to sack out, final check on horses, equipment, etc.
10:p.m.Sack out.

Oct. 12 - DAY THREE - OPENING DAY
4:30a.m.Wake up to coffee, more coffee
5:a.m.Roll out to smell of bacon, eggs, toast and more coffee
6:a.m.Suit up for first day
6:30a.m.Still dark-brother and Matt take off to their pre-selected spots, Mr.Flack waits with me to lead me for first start.
6:50a.m.Mr.Flack walks me up valley to area we saw elk night before, tell me how to walk up a mountain and not get worn out, points to a tree at top of mountain and tells me to meet him there at noon.
8:50a.m.Saw first elk, had shot but was hesitant and did not shoot, lost shot.
10:15a.m.Hearing shots all over. Saw second set of elk, too far shot, no position.
11:a.m.Almost at top of ridge, hear talking. Mr. Flack and Matt. Both got their kill. Started to head down with Matt to camp.
11:40a.m.Three elk walk in front of Matt and I, could almost touch them. Did not shoot? Too close? What?
12:30p.m.Meet Mr. Flack and brother at camp. Brother shot elk also. Eat lunch.
1:p.m.Saddle horses, saddle pack horse, set out to pick up all three elk shot due to unusually warm weather need to get them into the darker wooded area at camp.
6:30p.m.Dead beat tired beginner, all three elk (6-800 lbs each) skinned, quartered, packed off mountain.
7:p.m.arrive at camp. unload pack horses,
7:45p.m.Washed meat, sacked, hung.
8:30p.m.Set out horses to graze, prepare for dinner.
9:p.m.Eat dinner, wash dishes, get ready to sack out, final check on horses, equipment, etc.
10:30p.m.Talk about kills, prior kills, future kills,Sack out.

Oct.14 - DAY FOUR
6:a.m.Woke to the smell of fresh coffee
6:30a.m.Bacon cooking, pancakes ready
7:a.m.Dress and ready to hunt.
7:15a.m.Brother leads up canyon known for big elk.
12:p.m.No elk seen, stop for lunch.
3:p.m.Hiked along top of ridge, stopped at top where others shot elk day before. No elk seen.
5:p.m.Hiked down to where Mr. Flack had started me day before and I had seen elk. Brother went on to camp for water and extra jacket.
5:30p.m.Layed back in small pines. Brother and Matt returned with jacket and water, cookies. Layed up in tree's behind me. Brother and Matt laughing and throwing things at me. They knew somthing was coming.
6:p.m.Heard noise, snapping, laid down. Large cow elk walked out from dark woods, laid on bead, shot once. Lung shot (exactly where Mr. Flack had instructed me to shoot).Got up to kneeling position, reloaded, fired second shot at elk which had moved six or eight steps (missed). Elk took two more steps, fell.
6:04p.m.First hunt successful, 800 lbs. cow down. Largest elk of trip. Very old.
6:20p.m.Help Matt and brother gut and drag elk down ridge. Covered with pine branches. Went back to camp.
7:30p.m.Set out horses to graze, prepare for dinner. Thinking about a good cigar.
8:30p.m.Eat dinner, wash dishes, get ready to sack out, final check on horses, equipment, etc.
9:30Talk about kills, prior kills, future kills.
10:30p.m.Sack out.

Oct.15 - DAY FIVE
6:30a.m.Woke to fresh coffee
7:00a.m.Bacon, eggs, toast. Cleaned up after breakfast
8:30a.m.Saddle horse, packs, headed to clean, skin, quarter elk
10:00a.m.Arrive back at camp, wash and quarter elk.
11:00a.m.Prepair to pack out some gear. Mr.Flack and Matt took out one load. Stayed in camp and broke down some of camp, packing. Smoked a cigar. Went back up to my kill zone and went thru it in my head, savoring my first kill.
3:00p.m.Al and Matt returned, packed all horses and meat. Started to trucks.
5:00p.m.Unloaded gear and meat for Mr. Flack to take to butcher. Headed back to camp. Took different trail back to camp that was awesome.
7:00p.m.Unpacked/saddled horses, fed them grain.
7:30p.m.Cooked dinner, cleaned up after.
8:30p.m.Turned out horses.
9:00p.m.Talked about kills. previous and future.
10:30p.m.Sack out, first night I actually slept.

Oct.15 - DAY SIX 6:30a.m.Woke to fresh coffee
7:00a.m.Bacon, eggs, toast. Cleaned up after breakfast
8:30a.m.Began final break down of tents and camp
11:00a.m.Mr.Flack returns, packed all horses, rode out. Enjoying the last ride of the trip. Back in Farmington that evening we just went straight to the house. The next morning we went to Mr. Flacks and unloaded, put away all the gear. I moved my flight back a day and got home that night at 9:00p.m. The meat will be hard frozen and shipped to me. A total meat weight of over 200lbs.

Every meal we ate was an excellent home style meal cooked over a camp stove. Bacon and eggs, homemade bread and pancakes every morning. Fried chicken and steak at night with more fresh bread and homemade fruit pies galore! I have never had as much fun riding horses, or rode in such a beautiful place. The work was as hard as I have ever had to work. The rewards of the comradery, the beauty of the land, and the time to clear all thoughts of the hustle and bustle of daily life was life changing. Last year they said they were up every thirty minutes thru the night shovelling snow off the tents.

They have gone on this hunt many times when they did not even see an elk. If I quit now I will always have a memory of a perfect hunt. But like the gambler trying to hit the jackpot, I think I'll probably try again. I just have to figure out how to get the invite.

T.J.Greaney
Publisher
Country Line Magazine
Austin, Texas

If you would like more onfo on this article, email me at:

For details, email: countryline@juno.com

T.J.Greaney
Publisher
Country Line Magazine
Austin, Texas

For details, email: countryline@juno.com

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