elk beat me, again

[bnsafe]

my cousin came out to hunt with me last wedn. first nite he had 2 spikes 13 yds but of course they are illegal here in co where we hunt. didn't see anything the second morning an got rained out that nite. moved to a new location Friday an hiked 6 miles in with WAY to much stuff, again, I just cant seem to learn. I will say I almost didn't make it this year. Friday nite we went out but a severe thunderstorm hit us and we had massive winds driving the rain sideways most of the nite. had a huge aspen fall over 30 yds from the tent. scared the stuffings out of me. fortunately the tent held. Saturday morning we went out an he had a bull at 35 yds but couldn't get the shot off cause of trees and bulls angle. he saw a couple cows and a 6x6 bull. I had a raghorn at 68 yds and ive got a 65 yd pin but he was walking away from me and had a evergreen between us and I couldn't shoot. tried to stalk him but he can walk faster than I can stalk. went out that night and another thunderstorm creamed us again about 5. he saw 5 cows but was only after a bull even though he has never killed one. I never saw an elk. anyway, he got soaked an wanted to go back to the truck cause he was freezing so we pulled camp and started out. another storm blew in an we got nailed again on the way out. gps quit working and we got way turned around in the dark and prob walked 7,5 miles up an down hills with downfalls instead coming straight out. finally got back to the truck at 1115 last nite, thouroughly exhausted an hurting. I still have yet to hear an bugle this year. an honestly I almost swore off elk hunting. one last issue, my boots are a half size to small for the mnts. I have blisters on both heels an sides of feet an both big toes, and bottom of heels. but worse is my toes from being pushed backwards on the downhill descents. I have 3 toenails that are solid blood underneath them an one almost came off during the shower last nite, literally.
with that said I have had 3 hours of sleep and woke up planning a 2 day hunt back in there, shoot a cow an get out. as soon as my feet heal.

[mtnmutt]

Sorry to hear about your feet. The last weekend of last year, I did similar damage to my feet on a 5 mile back country hunt. This summer I experimented with foot gear on my scouting trips. I now use a silk sock liner for the first time ever and I switched to gortex trail running shoes half a size larger than I normally wear. Last year, I had to soak my feet in epsom salt water for weeks. I did lose one toe nail. Went out hunting last week for 7 days and my feet did very well with the new setup. I am much more nibble hiking around in my trail runners than I ever was in my hiking boots. Easier climbing over deadfall too.

[easeup]

that's elk hunting.

sorry for the misfortune so far. It is very discouraging not to hear a bugle. I know that pain too.

[bnsafe]

oh no, im not complaining at all. we were on elk. feet are my fault totally. weather and bugling out of my control. we had a good time. only reason I even mentioned my feet is in case somebody else reads this and getting ready to do the same thing. DONT