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Well, our summer of scouting and hard work finally worked out. Mark Hogue who joined our camp for the 4th time in 8 years finally got it done (even with the cracked limb 1982 PSE he was shooting!). Mark traveled from Pittsburgh (New Brighton), PA last Saturday. His 2008 elk hunt started off with a bang (or break) when he fell off a ladder earlier this summer and broke his foot (shortly after he realized he drew a CO Elk tag). After some PT and making sure that ankle was healed, he boarded a plane destined for Denver International Airport (DIA), only to be met by typical late summer t-storms in Denver. His plane circled the airport numerous times until it almost ran out of gas and had to land in Colorado Springs to re-fuel. Finally, after the delay Mark made it to Denver, and Matt Hogue (brother) picked him up for the airport. Althought I didn't get to spend the entire time in camp with Mark and Matt, I did get 3 days in the field before they arrived, and 3 days in camp hunting with them. To continue Mark's unforgettable hunt, when I arrived Matt informed me that on the first day out, Mark slipped and sprained his ankle (not the one he broke and was gingerly walking on....but the other ankle). When I got to camp, I offered up some stretch gauze and athletic tape to go on top of the ace bandage he was already wearing. 2nd weekend of Colorado elk season sucked! The animals all of a sudden dissapeared. The weather was a warm 70 degree high with crystal blue bird skies. Not exactly elk weather. I hung a stand on our "sheep water hole" that had produced daily picks of elk activity all through August. I sat there for a day and half with not as much as a doe walking by that stand. High winds and warm weather kept those buggers bedded down all except the first and last hour of daylight. I left Mark and Matt after 3 days of somewhat frustrating hunting. We just could not believe with the activity we captured on the hillside along with my close encounters the week before that the elk had vanished. I left Mark and Matt at my camper as I headed home (not without a pit stop on the way to see if I could put some stalk on an antelop buck). I came home and relished my mattress after 3 days of sleeping on a rocky slope with all but the thinest thermarest foam pad underneath me. As I drifted off to sleep upon my return, I wondered if the elk gods would shine down on my good friends, still up at 12,000 feet - clinging to hope. On the next episode of BowCast (Episode #61), I get to hear how Anthony and Shawn "Launch" Monsen are faring up in Alberta, Canada. I have already let the cat out of the bag on the BowCast forums, but success has already been had in the North country. Just 1/2 hour before we recorded that episode, Matt left me a voicemail that they were headed down the mountain back into Denver. That's it - no details, no story. It left me wondering until about 10 minutes before I got connected with Anthony in Canada. Shortly after Matt followed up with the call I have been waiting for - the storms crept into the hight country and in a terrential downpour, Matt was able to setup with a Montana Decoy elk rump and call down a 6X5 bull that Mark blasted at 15 yards. No blood trail due to the rain, but they found that bull expired 60 yards from where Mark shot. Fo' Shizzle. Skirkles (Mark) - congrats after a long hard battle of 8 years of coming back and forth to Colorado to land your bull with archery tackle. I hope to see you in camp in years to come, and I hope my turn is next :-). Your story should be noted to all of those coming from the East coast or Midwest to chase the Wapiti around in the Rockies - it is never predictable, it never goes as planned, is not always rewarded with a harvest - BUT - it is always worth it! Pics are fuzzy due to the rain and failing camera lenses. I think you all get the point. Once again, congrats Mark! 
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Aneal