I've done a few hikes off the Peak to Peak trying to toughen up for 2nd rifle season. I have cow, bull and bear tags. One evening I came upon 15 elk in a meadow north of Ward. Two bulls were fighting halfheartedly, with one doing a few bugles. The next day I hiked to a lake where there was a bull moose in the water chomping on yellow pond lily stalks. And, sometime over the past couple nights, a moose walked through my yard by the cabin leaving tracks in the mud.

On another day I walked up on two mulie bucks in velvet. They knew I was there but I stalked and followed them through the woods for a good half mile, keeping within 20-70 yards of them all the way. They acted curious and not overly concerned. Several times I could have taken them with a bow or handgun. They finally took off when I approached in a more open lodgepole forest. Fun stuff.