I just returned from South West Wyoming hunting elk with a good friend of mine Jeff Short. We did a 9 day hunt using Jeff’s 3 horses to get us into a 9,600ft basin in the Wyoming Range.
Warm weather kept the rut from getting cranked up and the elk quiet except early in the morning and just before dark. We covered a lot of ground, heard and saw a lot of elk but could not get the shot we needed at a bull.
I wanted to share with you a few photos of our hunt. This is always a sobering time of year as the bowhunting seasons for deer and elk come to a close.
Please send in your photos for our “In The Field” album at album@kuiu.com. I love sharing these photos and bragging about all of you to my friends, family and industry.
I hope all of you have had a great fall.
Jason
Building KUIU 
I’ve hunted the Wyoming Range many times the country is so vast and beautiful. Next year I should have a tag in my pocket!
It is fantastic country to say the least!
Wish you could have filled that tag, but I know the adventure was enough… It always is…
Thanks David, a filled tag is certainly part of it but not all of it. We had a great trip.
J
Great pictures! I too didn’t get the chance this year on a bull. Now looking forward to 2012. I must say, I LOVE the wool base layers! The funk is down and comfort level is way up compared to synthetics. Was able to wear same clothes the whole trip which cuts down on pack weight and bulk.
Matt
Thanks Matt for your comment as usual. I am always surprised how many days I can wear my Merino. Amazing stuff even in hot weather.
J
Wow, that is some beautiful country. That just shows it’s more about the hunt than it is about the harvest.
Thanks Gregg!
Also just returned from WY backcountry where I know well the experiences you encountered. How’s your butt after sitting on a horse that much? Mine doesn’t care to see another horse for a while. Managed to kill a bull on the fourth day. My KUIU jacket saw a lot of use. Not sure how to post pics here but would be happy to put a few up if you walk me through it.
Congratulations on your success. If you have not sent us your photos we would love to have them for the album. Fortunantly I never got on the horses. We used them to pack camp in (I walked) and out. We did not ride them to hunt. I like horses to pack out an elk but I am not a huge fan of riding them daily on hunts. Shoot your photos to album@kuiu.com.
J
Tried sending some pics but the e-mail was rejected by the domain.
Dave,
I sent your info to Eric to see if he can help.
Jason
Can I ask what type of watch that is your wearing?
Suunto Core Altimeter watch.
Fantastic country, eaten tag soup twice on Elk up to now, would have been nice to fill one but both were great trips with good memories that have me longing to go back.
Thanks for posting the pics Jason.
Thanks for the comment Andy.
Jason,
What are you showing in the picture of the pack (above the pic of your watch)? Also, what is that cool looking leather thing on what looks like a saddle (three pics above the watch pic)?
Hi Larry,
Nice to hear from you as usual. The photo is of our Guide Vest, Jeff had a bino-pouch (black) on. The leather thing is a saddle horn cap. Jeff added the KUIU logo to his, it turned out great.
J
Jason, tough hunting all around in many states this year. Way to keep up the “testing” as you call it. ha ha ha
Did you like the Core series? I had the Vector for a couple of years, and lost it somewhere in the western parts of Asia. How often are you having to reset the altimeter?
Hey Trevor,
Yes I like the Altimeter feature, which is all I ever really use except for time and date. It is nice to get elevation with the quick push of the button. I do have to set it regularly to keep it totally accurate.
J
Hi Jason,
Great pictures and nice saddle horn cap! I just got back from our hunt, and same story here in Idaho. Seems like the elk know to hold off rut when we’re going to get a long, cold spring. We’re already planning for next year!
Take care,
Kit
Hey Kit,
I agree with you and I am already working on plans as well for next year. I heard the hunting was challenging this season in Idaho as well. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Jason
I was also in WY 3 weeks ago on what was my first solo backpacking elk hunt with my new Icon 3000 pack. I was also testing new gear, my tent and sleeping bag sucked but the Icon pack worked great with just enough room for everything. Unfortunately I didn’t get to try out the meat cell either. I learned a lot, but what I really figured out is I desperately need is lighter rain gear and a spindrift jacket, so hopefully you have plans to make size smalls for 2012! I promise to send you pictures next time, you don’t want to know what I was wearing this year.
🙂 Hey Mark,
I have 30″ waist Attack Pants on order just for you and will be adding smalls as well in all of the gear. Thanks for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it.
Jason
Great pictures as usual, better luck next time. We are having the same luck in Alberta…elk are around but none want to commit to our calling efforts.
PS. I hate horses too 🙂
Cheers,
Mike P
Who said I HATED horses:)??? Cant wait till next September!
Jason
Maybe hate is a bit harsh…horses have their place, right beside the carrots and potatoes with a glass of red wine…lol
ok maybe they are handy to pack stuff out too 🙂
Only horses we will be using next year is Shank’s Mare 🙂
Cheers,
Mike
LOL!:)
J
Excellent pics from a most excellent looking hunt. My elk season was the opposite of yours as we were in a cow/spike only area and multiple branch bulls decided to stand broadside well within 20 yards of me on a daily basis, while the cows stayed well out of range… Still it was an awesome trip, and we can only hope to learn from unfilled tags.
Derrek
Sounds like a lot of fun! Good for you. Thanks for the comment Derrek!
Jason
I believe the picture above the altimeter watch is the bino pouch.
Thanks Robert, this is correct.
Jason
J, great sounding trip. Just returned from my 7 day Elk hunt in south eastern BC. Covered a lot ground and managed to call in some 5 pointers, but no legal 6’s. Still an unreal trip and the rest of my crew has another week in camp. My Chugach pants, merino top and toque (beanie) performed exceptionally. The chugach pants were far more breathable than my sitka jacket and did not tear at all coming through thick alder and spiky black pine. I will be purchasing a chugach jacket as soon as you release it in olive drab ;). My brown Kuiu cap is now ideally stained white with salt from the hiking and looks legit. Congratulations again on a fantastic product and I look forward to your developments.
Rob
Thanks Rob! So glad to hear your feed back. The Chugach gear is truly amazing, I agree. Good luck the rest of the fall.
Jason
Filling the “TAG” to me is neither here or their, but taking back with you the fantastic experience of the whole deal is what it is all about ,from the preparation to the move in and out ,with everything in between. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Robert for the comment. I totally agree with you.
Jason
It’s nice to see that you made it to my home state for a while. Maybe we will cross trails one day.
I have really enjoyed having KUIU this year. It has been great for the most part. I enjoy testing it to see what everything is capable of.
Sounds like a good trip to a good place. Though the weather was warm and dry here in Wyoming this September it sure made for pleasant conditions for camping and bowhunting. I for one don’t mind not testing all my foul weather gear during bow season. Plenty of time for that in rifle season.
My only question is why can’t there be two Septembers in a row? I could easily give up one of the early spring months here in NW Wyoming.
Jason, Had I known you were in the area I’d have love to meet up with ya. We were in the Bridger Teton Sept 28-Oct. 7th. Ya missed a doozy of a snowstorm Thursday night…We ended up with 3 bulls out of 6 of us. I did 112 miles of riding.