Hide & Seek

Trying to find an elk during hunting season is the most difficult game of hide and seek that I have ever played. For years, I have been going with my husband on his elk hunts in the Rocky Mountains and I cannot recall even seeing an elk. He has shot plenty of elk, but never when I have been with him.

We have hiked for hours each day for days on end without seeing any elk at all. Sometimes, we do not even see any sign (poop, etc). And, without a doubt, as soon as elk season is over, they pop their heads out and are all over the place.

My college roommate, who lives in a major metropolitan area, came to visit me a few years ago in the remote mountain town where I now live. My husband and I were driving her around and explaining the area. We started talking about elk hunting and assured her that it was nearly impossible to find an elk. Not a half an hour later, she saw a huge herd of elk right on the side of the road!
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Seeing elk in nature is truly mesmerizing. A few months ago, my husband and I were driving on a dirt road high in the mountains and we spotted a mother and baby elk in the river. It was truly magical.

​Within the past year, I have routinely seen elk on the side of the road while driving or in meadows high above the highway.

I can assure you that as soon as elk season begins, all of the beautiful, majestic elk that I have seen meandering in fields and streams will begin the most aggressive game of “hide” of their lives.

I hope that I am wrong as today is the eve of opening day of second season. My husband and I have the camper loaded and will be heading to the high country in a few hours to search for the elusive elk. It is going to be a great weekend consisting of an epic game of hide and seek! Wish us luck!