Longtime Steamboat Springs archer Paul Franklin has stories about hunts that could hold court around any campfire: tales of rolling four-wheelers, breaking through ice, even the typical getting lost. Following are a few tricks of the trade he’s learned from decades of hunting western Colorado:
1. Make your own wind indicator:
1. Make your own wind indicator:
1. Make your own wind indicator:
You’ll use a wind indicator every five minutes, but forget buying a new one every hunt. Make your own out of something as simple as a small shampoo bottle filled with baking soda. It’s odorless and still works when wet. Flour smells and gets heavy in the morning dew. Bring extra to refill.
2. Heed the heat:
2. Heed the heat:
2. Heed the heat:
In the mornings, the ground is heating up, so even if there’s no wind, your scent is going uphill. In the evenings it’s heading downhill.
3. Get dirty:
3. Get dirty:
3. Get dirty:
Your face and hands are shiny, but forget the store-bought paint and just rub mud or dirt on them. This is especially important for your hands. They move around a lot; any glint of unnatural shine will catch an animal’s eye.
4. Go natural:
4. Go natural:
4. Go natural:
You showered with scent-free soap and are ready to rub on artificial elk urine. Don’t. The area you’ve scouted is where the elk are, or you wouldn’t be hunting there. Find some fresh droppings or urine-soaked dirt and rub it on your boots.
5. Snow job:
5. Snow job:
5. Snow job:
After gutting your kill, clean up the natural way. Use the snow. And don’t wipe your bloody hands on your hunting clothes. The smell does not come out easily.
6. Noiseless apparel:
6. Noiseless apparel:
6. Noiseless apparel:
Animals are super sensitive to unnatural sounds. Wear quiet clothes like wool, flannel or fleece. Break twigs and crackle leaves, just don’t rub your pants together when you walk.
7. Multiple calls:
7. Multiple calls:
7. Multiple calls:
Bring more than one cow call. Bulls are looking for herds of girls, not just a stray lady. Bring a Hoochie Mama, a Sceery, and recalls. They may be harder to master, but they’re worth it. Keep a call in your mouth, around your neck and in your pocket. Sound like a bunch of cows, not just one.
8. Forget the phone:
8. Forget the phone:
8. Forget the phone:
Turn off your phone, period. Get away from your spouse, kids, job, society. Elk don’t pay taxes; if you’re not all in, you might as well stay home. When you’re pulling back that arrow for the perfect shot on the last day of the season, the last thing you want to hear is “Please say a command” coming from your pocket.