Finally I don't have to choose ducks or elk.

[FOD]

I don't know how long for me it has been, but my eagerness to shoot me a bull elk has taken away from the duck hunt opener that my hunting roots were established from around the age of 4 yrs old. I hadn't missed an opener duck season until about 4 or 5 years ago. The only problem with that is my dad has done given up on elk all together and says he will never choose to hunt elk over the opener instead of hunting the ducks and geese. I understand why. I still have not even seen an elk on the opening day of the elk hunt. I kept finding myself regretting not just going duck hunting on Saturday and then elk hunting elk from the opening Sunday till the hunt ends. Before I realized that the dates are now off set I was planning on hunting ducks Saturday then heading up the mountain for the rest of the week. Now I get the best of both worlds. I know it is important to hunt the opening day of the elk for the reason of luck. That day will in my opinion be the best day to be "lucky" and have someone push the elk into me on public land. But I think I am more stoked to get out on the duck opener and get back to what I am used to.

Anybody else been torn between the two sports in the past few years? I am very happy with the dates this year, except for the fact that the elk hunt ends and the Northern Utah general deer hunt opens just 2 days later. Its gonna be tough getting that many days off in a row. The employers are just going to understand.[]
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[Theekillerbee]

I haven't been on the general elk opener for a bit, but I have buddies that go up every year. I've never regretting sticking to waterfowl on the opener.
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[crankem]

FOD
I missed seeing you at the classic last week. I'm back in Roy for about a week and then headed up on the Wasatch unit for our LE muzzle loader elk hunt.
Talked to a few locals from Duchene about some possible locations for a decent bull and got some good feed back .
Got any suggestions buddy? Deb and I didn't do to great on the classic tourney. We ended up in 5th place over all but managed to place first for mixed couples and won the option pot.
It was great to see every body and we had a good time.
Lots of dink eyes and perch and the damn trout about drove me nuts. I did catch the largest brown (accidently of course) that I've ever caught. A little over 27 inches with a big girth.
Hope we can get together some time soon. I'll be back in Utah for Xmas.
Can't wait to get back to Wyo. I've had just about enough fun in Utah allready!
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[PACKFAN]

Rog, I haven't gotten back to you on any good bulls for your hunt, as I haven't seen any where we hunted that would go over 300. They were bugling like crazy a couple weeks ago where we bow hunted but they were young 6 X 6's and a couple raghorns.
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[FOD]

Hey Roger, good to hear from you. It has been way too long. I meant to fish the classic this year but my work fell in the way. I mainly just looked forward to seeing everybody and sippin on whiskey; with you guys. Sounds like you and everybody else did well. Its always that kicker fish that you really need to catch both days.[pirate] Yours just happened to be a BROWN!!!LOL Still a nice fish in my book. Just bad timing.

Sorry I dont have much info on the elk out there this year. I have not even scouted my spot yet.

Glad your lovin Wyoming. Sounds like you get to surround yourself with what you love doing. That is what retirement is all about right.[]

Stay in touch. If I hear any word on big bulls I will let you know. I still have your number, as long as it has not changed. And I still owe you a shore lunch. I have not forgotten.[fishon][fishon]

Good luck on the hunt.
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