There’s a Story or Two Coming…

By: Gary Akin

I just returned from Colorado (muzzleloader hunt) a few weeks ago. I had a fantastic trip and I’ve been struggling to find words to capture all the emotions I’ve experienced leading up to, during, and upon my return… It’s been a three year process. Hunting Colorado with my brother, Tom requires a non-resident license which is not guaranteed. I needed to go through the state’s draw/application process. Nothing is assured when you apply to hunt the western states. An application must be submitted. Payment is sent via credit card and you wait…..

By the time you receive notification whether you’re successful (or not), it is probably too late to apply elsewhere. I’d already been unsuccessful to obtain a tag in Montana and Colorado, one year each. But I had obtained a preference point for Colorado. Meanwhile I’m getting older…

I want to hunt the way I’d always hunted. Public land, success determined by our willingness to hike, climb, find, stalk. I’d never taken a bull elk. I wasn’t interested in hunting a private ranch.

Hunting the Rockies is physically demanding. Those are bigger mountains than those found in the northeast. The starting elevations are about double the highest elevations found in the Adirondacks so there is less oxygen. Each year failing to successfully draw a tag was adding a year to my wait… When I received my notice that I’d again been unsuccessful my frustration would take on that of one of my favorite movie characters. From My Cousin Vinnie, Marisa Tomei/Mona Lisa Vito, “My biological clock is TICKING!!!”. (STOMP, STOMP, STOMP!) LMAO, now! And finally upon drawing my tag,… I felt the doubt as to whether I was physically capable of taking on those mountains…. From ROCKY, Sylvester Stallone/Rocky, “You want me to fight the champ?! Yeah! I’ll fight the champ! Legs ain’t workin’! Lungs ain’t workin’! You wanna see?! Get a ringside seat so ya can see. Yeah, I’ll fight the champ!” I’m laughing now, but that’s pretty damn close to my emotional roller coaster… But I had my tag!