I always enjoy myself in DeBeque. The people are great, our ranches never fail to tickle my senses, and there is something genuinely exciting about seeing a plan actually take shape physically on the land. But it was the day before the opening elk season up on the Wyoming Ranches and the nose of the F-350 was pointed north, me grinning at the wheel. I’ve always looked forward to opening day s(...)

It was an hour or so after dark that I rounded the sharp ‘s’ curve of Dead Man’s Corner in a particularly gnarly portion of this true back country road. Huge columns of rock glowed in the moonlight. There was a silver green sheen to the firs. Ghostly white of aspen trunks framed the twinkling lights of the cabin welcoming me a half mile or so down the creek.

I was the last one in camp. The (...)

That afternoon I crept into No Name Creek with stealth. My back was tender but bearable. I chose the cover of a rock and a few surrounding fir trees in the scattered timber about one hundred feet in from the sage meadow at the upper pond. The languorous warmth of the Indian summer sun filtered through the tree canopy making me heavy-eyed and lethargic.

I nodded off. The shrill shriek of a bu(...)

The next day dawned balmy and dry, more like early September than mid October. I drove the bull carcass into town to the butcher we have used for years. He smiled when he saw me, and said “Getting started early this year, eh?” I laughed and told him to keep the tables ready. 

I took my time on the drive back, stopped here and there to enjoy the unexpected warmth of the sun that evidently had(...)

During that first weekend Rhett managed to join us for a few days.  That he drove for a day to get there was a testament to his propensity for hunting, something we share.  The poor kid arrived at three a.m.  Not wanting to disturb us old guys snoring in the main cabin, he slept in his truck.  At five thirty he was pounding on the door asking excitedly if we were ready to go.

Rhett and I set(...)

Rhett had to leave to get back to classes, which I’m sure he mostly missed. Jay had work to do and headed back to Colorado. Our buddies from points west also had to depart. The second week became ‘me time,’ something I have always enjoyed. I did a bit of work on the books, outlined these journals, and enjoyed fabulous fishing for a few hours virtually every day. I completed some projects arou(...)

Rhett had a big fencing project to complete on one of the Colorado ranches the second weekend but he joined me toward the end of the third week. A couple of my buddies arrived too, not to hunt, but just to hang out. The first day Rhett was back in camp I hunted the west side of the ranch and he the east side in the morning. He returned to camp around mid day excitedly relating great stories o(...)

 Rhett was still disappointed the next morning. There was a slight lethargy in his demeanor when he left camp before light to head up to his ridge. That remote rocky haven is his favorite section of the ranch and we aptly named it Rhett’s ridge. His plan was to pursue the bands of elk and the two big bulls that had played chess with him and won just the day before.

The nights had been progre(...)

The end of the final week was extra special. Jordan and her fiancé, Bob, drove from Montana to join me, chase elk, relax, fish, and in Jordan’s case spend some quality time with Dad. It had been quite a spell since she and I had had spent extended time together. We went on several great hunts replete with bugling bulls, flashes of elk amongst the timber and hastily devised and revised strateg(...)

The month was beginning to regrettably wind down. Fishin’ and huntin’ had been of storybook caliber. I had had a terrific time with Jordan and her fiance and had enjoyed getting to know her beau. It had been special, too, spending time afield with my daughter once again. Watching her display outdoor skills I had taught her so many years ago with a proficiency that would make most men enviou(...)