Another day, and more gray hair.  Cordial meetings w/ several bulls this fall, and I have been REALLY close to closing once.  He was a bruiser... and every bit of a majestic experience.  The cards didn't deal, and the pursuit is still on.   

I had hiked in the evening before and slept on the periphery.  I slept with both eyes open as the constant screaming carried on through the night.  Insane thoughts went through my head, not knowing if they'd stay put all night, or rut into the next drainage.    I couldn't sleep...

I had no choice but to sneak closer in the moonlight... soon I was in the middle of everything.  The sun was up, and the air was stained with the pungent smell of elk urine and musk.  I passed on six-point satellite bulls, praying that i could keep my cover and get to the epicenter (where an epic battle was underway for entitlement of the herd). 

Everything was perfect... I made it... two big bulls (one bigger than the other) and cows everywhere (+/- 50).  The bulls were moving their ladies over the ridge, and my sights were set on bull #1. 

I stuck with them for most of the day, but it never came together for me.  Here is a quick blurp of video i took.  You can get a glimpse of bull #2 moving some of the cows.  -Bull #1 was out of sight at this point. 

I just got back from a great week in Montana, where I spent a few days in the field with our designers Richard and Zac...the two geniuses responsible for taking our gear concepts and turning them into reality. A "gear testing" trip, with Wapiti in our sights. Utilizing Richard's pop-top certainly spoiled us as far as base camps go, but also made it easy to bring piles of gear and prototypes to try and critique.





We pounded a lot of miles without seeing or hearing anything. Glassing, calling, napping. Nothing. Beautiful country, with great sign, but no one home. 

However, things would change for us. Finally, we ended up in one of those magical spots. The bulls had turned on, and wanted everyone to know.



In the end, found ourselves in the middle of a dozen or so bulls, screaming their heads off. Patience, a few passed opportunities, and then a well placed arrow, had us jumping up and down.



Another hard day at work!!

I had my first life changing elk experience in the woods last week with my husband.  As a new archery hunter, this was some exciting stuff!

After thirty minutes of calling to a quiet woods, a group of bulls charged in on us hot. I had just enough time to drop my call, get my release on my bow and get it drawn on one that ran right in on me.  Of course, I was on the edge of a meadow, but the bull stayed in the thick of it in the dark timber.  As it came closer, all I could see was two ears and antlers sticking out on either side of the tree just in front of me.  After what seemed like an eternity, the animal spooked and I came completely unglued.  No shot.  I finally learned what elk fever is all about. So much fun.

We've got two more days left in our season and we're headed out after I get this post written.  We've seen elk in our "spot" three times in the last week.  I really want it to all come together, but if nothing else, it sure has been fun.

Needless to say, hunting is more then a passion for most of us. We move from season to season focusing on the next prey at hand. However, we all have that one specific hunt that fuels us from year to year. Whether it's an elk hunt back home, a whitetail hunt in the mid-west, or a mule deer hunt on the family ranch, there always seems to be one hunt that means more then the rest. For me, it's hunting blacktail at home in Northern California. This year, California's A-zone proved all and more then expected. From an opening day miss (not to mention a couple other missed opportunities) to a few unsuccessful after work "mountain sprints;" I finally got to notch that tag on the closing weekend.

The closer turned out to be a solo hunt, as elk seasons began to open across the country and hunting partners become less and less available. However, a classic hunt it turned out to be. High winds were blowing in my face and the bucks were beginning to rut. After a long morning with nothing to show, I spotted a decent fork horned buck chasing tail two canyons off. Although he wasn't the wall hanger we all dream of, I definitely knew this may be my last chance. I was able to crest over the hill and peer into the canyon just 65 yards above the two does and the buck. As I contemplated my shot opportunity from this distance I noticed he began heading directly towards me up the same trail I was on. Not believing my eyes, I knocked an arrow and ducked down on all fours waiting to see how close he would come. Next thing I knew, the buck fed right up to me just 5 yards off. As I drew back, he spooked and stopped at 10 yards, to figure out what I was and where I came from. Like David Brinker Sr. says " I'm deadly at 10 yards".... I couldn't be happier! Two thumbs up for the Elite GT 500.

The best I could do without a partner to take a quality photo...



Not much better....



Jeff Sposito

A lot of you are probably gearing up to get into the high country for an upcoming hunt in Colorado or somewhere else in the Rockies.  I figured you might like a non-scientific, yet first hand report of what's going on with the animals and the weather.

We just got our second cold snap of the season yesterday and last night.  This morning we woke to an inch of snow above 9,000 feet.  Temperatures were in the 20s in Carbondale in the Roaring Fork Valley and it was reportedly 17 degrees on top of Monarch Pass near Gunnison, Colorado.  Let's just say it was darn cold in the woods this morning before sun up.  Don't forget to pack all your best and warmest hunting gear.

If you are driving through the mountains, make sure to check the Colorado Department of Transportation website for pass closures.  We only have a little snow now, but that can also change quickly.  There's nothing worse than having to turn around to drive all the way around a pass.  Usually the passes don't close until closer to the end of October or start of November.

The leaves are mostly still on the trees, but that will change soon with our next big windstorm.

The rut was slow to start with all the warm weather we had, but I'd say it's in full swing now. Last week my husband and I called in a group of hot and horny bulls.  I had my bow drawn on one just 15 feet in front of me, but never got a shot through the dark timber.  That's hunting.

Best of luck to everyone and safe travels.

Elk hunting... It’s a Love/Hate sometimes.  I literally foam at the mouth all year in anticipation for what the season may bring.  Anxiety runs wild, imagination paints hallucination, and my social life literally tanks. 

Like a roller coaster, the elk tease my patience.  Only two weeks into the archery season, and the familiar cycles unfold:  One day they're hot, the next they've completely vanished. 

Often starting my approach several hours before sunrise, I tip-toe through dark country.  My destination is a golden ridge top for the very first light.  Quietly moving, as to not wake anything..  Beads of sweat sting my eyes.  Countered by a perpetual adrenaline flow, my palms stay dry as the sage.

 Fueled on the notion that “this day” I will get my shot, I repeat... day after day. 

Elk hunting... No guarantees.  I LOVE IT! 

I'm back staring at the front of my computer catching up on emails, phone calls, and in my spare time....receiving text message updates from dad as he continues his month long venture for the cu-vetted crowned royalty of the Oregon rain forests.

Since my update I managed to miss a large black horned 5 point, a smaller red horned 5x4 and a forked horn buck...(in normal Brinker fashion) but ended up with a true trophy in my book..

We were in elk everyday but the rut was only its beginning stages. As it is everywhere, you can think you know exactly when the rut is going to hit, but it almost always varies by a few days from year to year on the coast. The Roosevelts usually rut a week or two before their Rocky Mountain Cousins but this year the weather was so weird it pushed the beginning of the rut to when I was stepping on the plane headed home:)...you never know! Here are a few pics that I thought i would share;

At least we had a good camp to come back and be wet in!

Dad enjoying what we call "the patio". (the front porch of our camp looking out over the pacific)



Dad calling into a classic Rosie Spot



Dad overlooking another "text book" spot



A view into a Rosies living room.



Optifade in a hemlock/alder/fir jungle...



A five point and his harem escaping from the Brinkers!



Entering the 6x7's lair....



Camp.



A good bugle point...hello!!!!!!! (no one home, a week early..:))



Optifade(fern)...a good friend Jeff Dunn waits patiently...



After a long week of rain,swirly winds, poor shooting, and a true test of my enthusiasm, I was presented a 10 yard opportunity at this long horned spike, and I took full advantage of it..I couldn't be happier;



All in all what a week!! Headed back this weekend for more calling....Stay tuned for the story, I will post on Thursday......

As some may know Im up in Oregon hunting Rosie's......

My apologies for not bringing you up to date as of yet, it has been quite slow. Thursday went by with out seeing an elk.....Friday morning we drove into a herd of 25 on the way to our hunting spot with several small bulls...once to our area we were just behind a lightly bugling bull for the first half hour then he faded into the distance. By end of day Friday we had seen just a couple branch bulls, no shot opportunities..then the rain blew in. Hunting this morning felt like an Oregon November, it probably rained an inch, not conducive for calling to say the least. Saw a couple smaller bulls again today, but again no shot opportunities...one dandy bull right at dark. This rain is tough to hunt the way I like to hunt and the elk just get plain weird here when it is like this...it is supposed to storm even harder tomorrow with thunder storms. Patience.........

Sorry for any mis-spellings, grammar problems, ext...it has been a long day, but any day is good at elk camp!! Another update soon....with pics...

Looking forward to a great labor day weekend. It's friday afternoon, and were grinding through spreadsheets. But, we can see the light at the end of tunnel for the week and are ready to hit the hills this weekend. Hope everyone has a great one.