Planning an Elk hunt... Colorado!

[smj]

Hey voodoo - My original thought was to take you up just the two of us to hunt elk, and that I'd hunt with my normal hunting pard Keven at another time. (He was thinking of going black powder this year anyway.) Well, I talked with Kevin, today. I told him about what we are trying to work out, and Kevin says that he thinks this is a fine idea indeed! (He's an old marine) Keven says that he put in black powder season, but will also pick up a cow only tag for archery. He'd like to join us, if that is OK with you. We won't hunt together all three of us at once, but I think that there are some benifits to having him join us. One big one is that if for some reason you can't make it out, I still have a hunting partner for this season. (I used to hunt alone, but where I go I could be there a long time before someone found me should something happen... And my wife made me vow that until the kids are out of the house I wouldn't do that anymore... I got another 3 years to wait it out...) And on the flip side, if you don't know if you can make it until the last minute - we will still have everything all set to go. Just show up. Plus, one more person to help pack out is always a fine idea! Although, we all get lucky it could be a busy time of it indeed! Kevin knows his way around the trees... Although, he will cuse you out if you drag him through a swamp or two, or three... By the fourth swamp you really need to take his bow away from him, and don't forget to check for any bear pistol he might have stowed away...

Anyway, I told him I'd run this all past you and see what you think of the idea. We are both thinking of taking you up to the area that was featured in "Elk hunting for the novice" so you have a preview of the area. The backup plan is north of Steamboat. This will be the plan whether we let Kevin tag along or not. If I take you to a new spot, I won't be able to help you as much as I won't know the area either. For a first elk hunt, lets go somewhere known! It makes it a lot more easy for me, too. Do let me know if Kevin can tag along! Three is the limit though, no more.

[voodoofire1]

Sounds good to me, things are still "iffy" , so it never hurts to have a backup plan............Steve

[voodoofire1]

smj.. I've had to do some serious thinking the last few days, and make some heavy decisions... I don't believe I'll be making the hunt, I think some dreams are just made to stay that way, and that includes voodoo kustoms too, I have decided to quit selling bows, it has just been too much on my family and I, I haven't recieved a valid order in well over a month, the economy is terrible and doesn't look too bright for the near future, and without orders there is no money for building or hunting trips... so maybe we can get together in the future sometime.. I truly thank you for your offer and wish you good luck in your hunts....Steve

[smj]

Wow. I am very sorry to hear that... Let's not push it over the edge just yet, who knows how it will end up 3 months from now! Like I said before, all you really have to do is show up. I can have everything else ready to go on this end, no problem at all. If I am going to hunt this fall - and I am going to hunt elk this fall - it is about the same amount of work to get ready for one as it is for two. I'll have a spot picked out for you, and if you can make it out then that will be great! If not, I guess I'll have to shoot an elk in your spot... Or at least try to!

I am very sorry to hear about the bow business! The economy sure does seem weak right now, I am having my own issues finding a job. I expect I'll have to take something a bit below my past jobs just to make ends meet around here again. I am kind of at the point of no choice in the matter myself. Let's not close the door on a hunt just yet though... Let's give it up to the end of August and see how things go. It works for me if it works for you!

Last, if not this season, I intend to be here next season, too! The offer stands until you can do it. Honest!

[voodoofire1]

smj, I will do everything in my power to be there, but I will look toward other avenues for the funds............ you ever have one of those days when you wake, your hit right in the kisser with everything that's been building up?... well THIS is one of those days.... I'm ready to go back to bed, and put this day to rest! but I'm not totally ready to give up yet,lol

[Deleted]

Don't give up so easy man, sure everyone has those days where everthing is wrong and it feels like the world is falling down around you, but although difficult, they do pass.
I understand about the cash deal, with the economy, gas prices,crazy mortgages,crazy spouses ;D and what not, it's hard to see where a person will find money for anything these days .
But knowing the little I do about you, I know your going to get by, and even if you have to save up a year or two, the elk will still be here, never give up on your dreams brother NEVER

Also If you don't make it this year, and for whatever reason SMJ can't take you out (doubt he could'nt myself tho ) when you can make it, give a holler.You can hunt with me anytime.Although I aint as good at it as SMJ probably is, I do know where some of those big stinky elk live.
Ster

[smj]

Well there you go voodoo - you got two of us pulling for you out here. This just has to happen at some time in the future! Maybe this year, maybe another year. Either way, I think I see an elk hunt in your future... Maybe several years in a row!

stevej

[huntbunny6]

my goodness, dont give up the dream.
Those bows are just too awesome.
This economy has everyone in the dumps right now.
It will get better. Maybe you would do better marketing them more in europe. They certainly do have a penchant for archery equipment and have a much better economy than us.

I am pulling for you.
keep your chin up and dont get discouraged.
I hope you get to go on that hunt

[royden]

Hey voodoo - chin up Take it all in stride. At least your looking at what is important - family and taking care of 'em. If your bowmaking has to go to part-time/ hobby and find another line of work for income - so be it. In the meantime, keep dreaming ... August is a long ways away and it really doesn't cost that much. IF when the time rolls around and you still can't make it out here then you are that much closer to making it next year.

I had to postpone my yearly antelope hunt last year - even after locating a place much closer to home (400 miles closer) ... finances wouldn't allow the hunt because of a death in the family and our car went belly up in Kansas. It happens. WE CARRY ON!! I hope and plan to make my hunt this year ... (alone probably) but finances may cut me short again.

Bottom line ... focus on what is important (god and family) and keep the spark of a dream alive.

rc

[Greg Krause]

Don't give up on dreams! they are what keeps the fire burning inside of us, no matter what dreams they are.
As a kid i watched all these hunting videos and always wished that I could do those things. I just kenw it would never happen, I didn't even know anyone that ever went on a guided hunt. In 2004 i just decided one night that i was going to do a bear hunt come hell or high water. the very next day i started making calls and by the end of the week I had a hunt booked. I didn't tag out but it didn't matter. I did it, I was really there hunting something beside the local deer!
After that trip i decided that maybe somehow I could do a mid western deer hunt in the future. Again i never thought it would happen......they were much more expensive than a bear hunt. I decided to bite the bullet and just book the hunt. To come up with the balance and tag fees i had to really watch my $$ and spend next to nothing outside of the essentials. i managed it though and before long dawn was breaking over an Illinois corn field in front of me! I had done it, I was there! The 150" buck i slayed at the end of the week was just iceing.
The following year I knew i couldn't afford another hunt like that, but my buddies had found a very good deal on an early season IL hunt. we all booked it and then i found out that i had won a raffle and a rut hunt in IL. I had to be the one going on the raffle hunt so i made my fathers dream come true and sent him to Il with my buddies. His dream had come true.......he NEVER thought in all his life that he would have been there. No deer were taken but that didn't matter at all!
this past year I didn't plan any trips and my dream was to get a good one here at home. I fuffilled that dream too!
By not going anywhere I saved enough to chase speed goats across S. Dakota! I couldn't afford my MT elk tags but I still may make a stop by there and see what it's all about........because of the generosity of another member here! Just being in woods where Elk live is completeing a dream for me!

The bottom line is to never say never. as soon as you do, never becomes real. Maybe you can't make it this year, or even next, but if you want it bad enough it can and will happen. Things that could never seem possible come true every year because of the great members we have here.
In the last year i have recieved invites from people all across the country. My dream is to take as many people up on the invitations as possible and make some new friends and amazing memories. I'm young yet, but don't ever want to one day wake up too old to do something I dreamed of doing and had a chance at. Even if things seem impossible just keep dreamin' them and eventually they can come true