Return To The Big Belts

[Woodsman416]

I just firmed up plans to return to the Big Belt mountains of Montana next September for a pack in bowhunt for elk. Hopefully the drought and fires that are plaguing the west this year will be long over. Following will be pictures from two years ago. It's tough hunting and I'm in better shape now than I was last time but I'll step up my conditioning over the next year to prepare. 

 

We packed in seven miles to a camp that a friend of mine outfits out of in Helena National Forest. After a couple of days I split off from the others, packed a teepee camp up to the top of a mountain so that I could hunt a valley on the other side called the blowout. I spent three days up there and hunted hard, came close to getting a shot at a huge herd bull but it didn't happen. Bowhunting's like that!

Edited September 3, 2017 by Woodsman416

[Woodsman416]

We grabbed all the tack and weighed all the gear so that the panniers on the pack animals are even. They get matched up down to a pound. They we go and pick up the stock. We had about a dozen head including saddle horses, pack horses and pack mules.

[JimmyScags]

That's so cool, one day I hope to make that trip.

[Woodsman416]

It's better than an hour drive from Townsend Montana to the trailhead. It's probably another hour of packing and saddling before we're moving up the trail. My horse is in the second picture. Black Jack. He has a good disposition but a rough gait.

Edited September 3, 2017 by Woodsman416

[Woodsman416]

Pack train heading over the top of Mount Edith. We're pushing 10,000 feet in elevation.

[Woodsman416]

Main camp and corrals.

[Cedars]

Living the dream! Gotta love it!

[Thunderchicken]

Very cool pics!! Cool story!

[Woodsman416]

Me and BlackJack.

[Woodsman416]

Petey the mule. Little guy with a big personality. He packed my camp up to the top of the blowout.

[nmc02]

I have done hunts in a wall tent in the Adirondacks...would love to bow hunt elk like that. You are a true hunter....good luck. One day

[Woodsman416]

My teepee camp. I spent three days alone up here. I'd wake up at sunrise, eat a little something and hunt my way to the bottom of the blowout. 900 feet of elevation drop. That was the easy part. Climbing back out in the evening was kinda rough on a flatlander. At night the wind would blow constantly. It was soothing and I slept well.

Edited September 3, 2017 by Woodsman416

[Woodsman416]

The first morning in the teepee, I opened up the flap and right in front of the door....bear crap! I had food tied up in a tree about 80 yards away from my tent but it never bother it. I guess he just wanted me to know he was there first.

[Woodsman416]

Sunrise at 9000 feet.

[Woodsman416]

Looking right to left down into the blowout. This spot is not far from my camp. I couldn't climb down here. I had to swing north where the slope is more gradual. The plan was, if I killed an elk down there, gut it, quarter it and hang it up in the trees. THAN climb back up 900 feet back to camp and grab my backpack. THAN hike back down Third creek 3 miles to the main camp and grab horses. THAN ride back up and down pack it up and ride back to camp! It almost happened too!

Edited September 3, 2017 by Woodsman416