9.14.25 | Colorado Was short but Sweet 🏹| After hunting for 10+ days in WY we decided to head to Colorado to change up the scenery and test our luck. I have been scouting this area out for the past 4 years via E-Scouting and twice during September as I passed through that past couple years We drove through the night to arrive at first light to glass a huge bottom and ridge system I’ve seen bulls in before. As soon as daylight cracked the canyon was filled with bugles. Now the plan was getting into the correct position. I decided to drop in that evening to where we seen the majority of the bulls go into this dark north slope. Dropping 1600 ft in elevation that evening to spike out was the plan. Take in 3.5 days of food and make some aggressive moves. @cambcookin and I awoke to silence. As I was lacing up our wet boots I heard a faint bugle lower in the drain. We moved down trying to located the bulls. Sign was everywhere so we knew we were on the “X” just had to be patient. As we were enjoying our morning snack a bugled cracked off just 200 yards on our elevation line. A quick pack up and move into position to start a calling sequence. I heard soft cow calls coming from above us so we snuck up the cliff edge to see his cows moving across the bench we were sitting on 5 minutes prior. He bugled right behind and I seen where the cows were going through the deadfall. No time to range but I knew it was somewhere around 30 yards. He chuckled and following behind. At full draw I field judged him and said to myself “yep, this is why I love elk hunting” and let it fly! He piled up just in sight and the tables of our luck just turned in a matter of minutes! This is why you don’t give up or quit. Elk hunting can be a daunting and long game. Just stay after it and things can turn in seconds! Happy to punch my CO tag on day two of hunting! I love September and the changes of season! It’s a magical time to experience the Mountains and smells of changing Aspens. Couldn’t ask for better company and to have it all captured by @cambcookin @ahunteronthehunt bombed it down the mountain to help with the packout and off to WY we GO for the rest of the Elk Rut!