Hunting Elk by Camera Behind Pikes Peak, Colorado

Elk and Deer are very elusive animals (especially during hunting season). Other times of the year, they will walk right up to you and smile for the camera!

I'm not a hunting enthusiast and NO, I'm not against hunting either. I understand the balance of Nature and the need for hunting. But, my preference has always been the "hunt" behind the camera.

Currently, I'm sitting here looking out the window at the snowfall accumulating from a major storm system moving through. Although I no longer live in the Mountains of Colorado, I still live in Colorado and we still have our share of snow on the flatlands. Isn't it amazing how something will suddenly spark a memory?

It was December 25, 1985. I had been living in Colorado since 1977 and every year, I would go home for Christmas. This would be the first year that I would not be going home! December 1, 1985, I moved into an old ranch house that I was leasing. The house was heated by a wood burning stove. Since I had to fire up the stove several time a day, I would not be able to go home for a week as I always did.

When I moved into that ranch house, I was starting a new adventure. I did not know where it would take me but I was excited at the prospects the future held for me. Being out of work and having no prospects for a job or even a career, is something to fear or to embrace. I chose to embrace it to see where I went from there.

One of my income prospects was to sell some of my photography in local gift shops on consignment. I had a very good meeting with one shop owner that wanted to see my photography (especially wildlife photography)! I went home with mixed emotions since I concentrated mainly on scenic photography. I decided I would not let this opportunity slip by.

Christmas eve, while stoking the fire in the wood stove, I decided to give myself Christmas gift. The next day, being Christmas, I decided to spend it in the wilderness with my camera and wildlife friends. With about 2 foot of snow on the ground, I decided the best place for me to find Elk at that time of the year would be west of Pikes Peak. I found a nice little place to start climbing and off I went. I soon located a herd on the slope I was climbing. I ducked into the woods and continued to climb until I had reached the area they were in. As I came back out of the woods. with camera ready, I walked ever so cautiously. I was right in the area that I had seen them from below. They weren't there! Their trail headed up the slope some more. So, back into the woods and start climbing again!

I came out just short of where I expected them to be. It didn't matter though. They knew my every move and they were the same distance up the slope again! Although they were too far to capture the photos I was after, I checked them out through my lens. They were looking right at me and unless I was mistaken, I would swear they were laughing.

I tried 2 more times to get within range but the result was the same: I would pop out of the woods, they would have moved up slope the same distance, and they would be standing there looking at me (and I swear laughing!)