huntlife
New member
I want to add my 2 cents, plus ask a few questions.
My first elk hunting trip was 20 years ago. We had 5 guys and 2 horses and two mules. We packed into the Weminuche Wilderness in south Colorado. We went to Beaver Meadows (I think that's the name I saw on the map). We had one mule that would NOT cross a bridge. There was three bridges on the trail going to where we were. One guy had to wade three creeks on the pack in. One of the horses would go nuts if he didn't see the other animals. His owner was the slowest guy in the group. All the animals had went around a corner. The last one freaked out and started bucking. He fell of a cliff that was at least 100 feet high. He landed in a pool of water that was 4-5 feet deep. He was sore for a few days but he was ok. In the pic with the horses, hes the brown one in the back with no pack gear on. With those exceptions, the horses and mule were a huge help. With 5 of us, there was usually one or more guys that would be back at camp at some point during the day. He would take the horse to the creek for water, and there was one little hill side that we could graze them for an hour or two each day. We also had plenty of sweet feed for them. Without the horses, we never would have been able to get to where w were. The trip out was way better than the trip in. Looking back, I see several things we should have done different. It was a valuable learning experience.
We drove from west Arkansas to the trail head without stopping, except for gas and peeing! When we stopped, we got the horses out and walked them around for like 15 minutes. They handled the trip pretty dang good. My biggest suggestion is if your hauling horses long distances is make sure you have a slant trailer. It sure makes it easier on the horse.
Now, for my questions for everybody that has used horses quiet a bit. I am moving to Montana the end of this month. Ive had several horses, but I do not claim to be an expert. Far from it. I had thought about having a few horses for packing I and out. I will have horses. I really like them, even if I don't pack with them. Ok, first, if I use them to pack in, how hard is it to ride one of them from camp to where im hunting? I know it depends on the terrain and all that, but I believe I could get farther from camp and other people like that. Whats the down side to it? When I get to where I want to glass, I could tie it up and do all my glassing. I sure think I couls cover a lot of area like that. Ive read on here more times than I can count that the first part of elk hunting is finding the elk. Havin the mobility of using a horse would help, right?
The pic of the tent was out spike camp. The horns was from a bull that died the year before. And yes, we are from Arkansas, and we don't wear shoes much!!! Lmao!!!
My first elk hunting trip was 20 years ago. We had 5 guys and 2 horses and two mules. We packed into the Weminuche Wilderness in south Colorado. We went to Beaver Meadows (I think that's the name I saw on the map). We had one mule that would NOT cross a bridge. There was three bridges on the trail going to where we were. One guy had to wade three creeks on the pack in. One of the horses would go nuts if he didn't see the other animals. His owner was the slowest guy in the group. All the animals had went around a corner. The last one freaked out and started bucking. He fell of a cliff that was at least 100 feet high. He landed in a pool of water that was 4-5 feet deep. He was sore for a few days but he was ok. In the pic with the horses, hes the brown one in the back with no pack gear on. With those exceptions, the horses and mule were a huge help. With 5 of us, there was usually one or more guys that would be back at camp at some point during the day. He would take the horse to the creek for water, and there was one little hill side that we could graze them for an hour or two each day. We also had plenty of sweet feed for them. Without the horses, we never would have been able to get to where w were. The trip out was way better than the trip in. Looking back, I see several things we should have done different. It was a valuable learning experience.
We drove from west Arkansas to the trail head without stopping, except for gas and peeing! When we stopped, we got the horses out and walked them around for like 15 minutes. They handled the trip pretty dang good. My biggest suggestion is if your hauling horses long distances is make sure you have a slant trailer. It sure makes it easier on the horse.
Now, for my questions for everybody that has used horses quiet a bit. I am moving to Montana the end of this month. Ive had several horses, but I do not claim to be an expert. Far from it. I had thought about having a few horses for packing I and out. I will have horses. I really like them, even if I don't pack with them. Ok, first, if I use them to pack in, how hard is it to ride one of them from camp to where im hunting? I know it depends on the terrain and all that, but I believe I could get farther from camp and other people like that. Whats the down side to it? When I get to where I want to glass, I could tie it up and do all my glassing. I sure think I couls cover a lot of area like that. Ive read on here more times than I can count that the first part of elk hunting is finding the elk. Havin the mobility of using a horse would help, right?
The pic of the tent was out spike camp. The horns was from a bull that died the year before. And yes, we are from Arkansas, and we don't wear shoes much!!! Lmao!!!
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