On September 7, 2021, 62 yearold Ken Stach of rural Letcher arrowed a 6 X 6 bull elk in southwest Colorado on public land. What makes his achievement even more impressive was the fact that he was self-guided, and his tag was purchased over-the-counter without preference points.

Ken and his nephew, Todd, age 57, hunted over six miles above the trailhead where they parked their vehicle. They hired a horse wrangler to pack in their gear. This was Ken’s sixth hunt with Todd, and they had enjoyed some previous success with Todd taking a 5 X 5 bull on their first hunt as well as a few cow elk between them.

The surrounding country was extremely rugged and made all climbing hazardous – especially in the dark. A clear, cold water creek ran within 75 yards of their tent. This creek would later prove invaluable. For safe drinking, the guys boiled the water. Years ago while on an elk hunt, I picked up giardia while drinking from a Colorado mountain stream. Giardia is carried by beaver and bear – both prevalent. Tempera tures at 10,800 feet ran from freezing at night to the mid-seventies during the day.

Ken emphasized the use of Google Earth in identifying wallows – a key to his success. Wallows are mud holes that sex-crazed bulls love to roll around in – especially during late afternoon-evening hours. Cow elk apparently find this urinesoaked mud attractive.

Following a strict routine was of paramount importance. It was up an hour-and-a-half before sunrise, breakfast – usually oatmeal, packing protein bars, and filling water bottles. A deliberate climb up the mountain followed. Frequent stops were made to listen for bull bugles or cow chirps. If an area looked promising, one hunter would drop back 50 yards and make a few cow calls. Always they paid attention to thermals. Wallows and trail cameras were also checked. A trip back to camp for lunch and a short nap usually followed between eleven and noon. Late afternoons and evenings were spent at a likely wallow.

The guys arrived at their camp site on Sunday September 5th. After setting up camp, there was time enough to scout a promising wallow a grueling 1.9 miles above camp. After setting up without blinds on opposite sides of the wallow, no elk were seen by either, and they returned to camp for a Mountain House MRE supper.

During their September 6th Monday morning routine, the guys encountered a 5 X 5 bull at close range, but neither had an arrow nocked, and the elk escaped. That afternoon the guys went their separate ways with Ken toting a 50 pound pack including a blind and director’s chair back up to the promising looking wallow. He sat there until dark, and became disoriented on his return until his GPS set him in the right direction. Todd was preparing to search for him when he arrived in camp.

On Tuesday morning, September 7th, things looked promising when the guys heard bugling bulls challenge each other, but a stalk on them proved fruitless. With confidence in the wallow he had already twice visited, Ken once again returned to the site where he had the previous evening left his blind and chair. At 5:18 P.M., a bull bugled at what Ken guessed to be 35 yards distance. When the bull eventually appeared, Ken feared that the wind would betray him, but the blind apparently held his scent.

Though Ken thought he was fully prepared, he now realized that he had forgotten his face paint and hood. Now the bull was focused on his lily white face! He froze – nary blinking an eye. When the bull finally put his head down, Ken drew his compound Mathews Mission Riot bow, put the 20 yard pin of his bow sight low behind the front shoulder, and released his Carbon Express 350 grain arrow tipped with a 100 grain Grim Reaper razortip, and watched

his bull tumble at 80 yards. Now the real work began for an emotionally high but physically exhausted Ken. He removed the head and hind quarters and placed them in his blind. He then spread his jacket over the remaining carcass, hoping that his human scent would deter scavengers. He then returned to camp. The following morning the guys boned out the meat and placed it in Koola Buck antimicrobial game bags and packed them down the mountain to camp. The bags were then placed in the ice water creek. Eight hours later they drained off the water, put the game bags in heavy duty garbage bags, and returned the bags to the creek. None of the meat spoiled!

On Saturday morning the 11th, meat and gear was packed down to the trailhead and their vehicle. Though he hunted hard on Thursday and Friday, Todd failed to bag his elk. Considering Ken’s age and an over-the-counter tag on public land, I would rate Ken’s achievement as one of the most outstanding efforts I have ever chronicled.

See you next week.