I’m typing without an agenda, which makes this the first article of it’s kind for Sole Adventure this year.  I have been incredibly focused on my upcoming elk hunt, and writing informational articles that help share my journey with you, the reader.  I am not finished; there is a lot more that I want to talk about in terms of elk hunting, whitetails, archery, and the future of Sole Adventure, but it’s going to have to wait.  I leave for my hunt in less than two weeks, and it’s going to be pretty quiet around here until then.

To be honest with you, I’m completely worn out, and that isn’t how I want to start my adventure.  So for the next couple of weeks I’m going to take a mental break to get ready for my hunt.  But, please stay tuned for photos, videos, articles, gear reviews, and the like. There’s going to be a lot of great stuff happening around here this fall!

You’ll probably see one more article from me next week, before I leave, but for now let me share some random thoughts, and answer a question that I’ve been getting lately…

Kicking Doubt in the Face

There have been highs and lows on this journey.  Times when I’ve been incredibly confident, and times when I’ve questioned if I’m up for the task of spending a week in the mountains, miles away from civilization.  Do I have what it takes?  Can I make the shot? Questions, seemingly endless questions.

In talking with other “regular” hunters – guys that hunt over the counter tags on public land – I’ve come to realize that the odds really are staggering.  One hunter commented that,

“If you are not willing to put in the time, and endure several unsuccessful seasons, archery elk hunting may not be for you.”

Another guy shared his experience of a group hunt: in three trips, only 1 tag out of 11 went filled.  Wow.

I’m fully aware of the difficulty of this hunt, but that’s no reason do doubt!  Mindset is everything.  What you chose to believe in and focus on does, to some extent, determine your destiny.  I choose to kick doubt in the face, hunt my hardest, and come home with pride – elk or not.

“The Harsh Realities of Hunting, and the Hope of Chance”

Where Am I Going?

I’ve received several emails from readers who want to know exactly where I’m hunting. I’m not trying to keep any big secrets, nor do I feel like I’ve found some special, unknown spot.  But I’m still not going to be sharing where I’ll be hunting.  There are many reasons for this, but primarily I’m not telling because it doesn’t matter.

I’ve already shared that I’m heading to Colorado, but the specific unit, or spot within that unit is irrelevant.  The fact is, there are dozens of quality units in Colorado, and there was no special reason that I chose my unit.  I selected my unit by following the advice and research that I shared in this article, and in terms of the specific area within a unit, I would point you to this “scouting for elk” article.  Whether I come home with a monster bull, or nothing, the unit I chose is only a minor aspect of the result.

The Mountains Are Calling, And I Must Go!

“The wilderness hunter, learning the habits of animals and meeting the prey on its own ground, appreciates the stillness, physical exercise, woodlore, the pride of roughing it, the kill that comes hard, rather than easy.”

- Michael Frome