The last couple of weeks I have been on tape delay, so to speak, because it’s archery elk hunting time and I turned in my homework early. This is post-dated homework but fear not, I’ll be back “live” next week. Hopefully I’ll have some great elk stories to share with some great photos of me along with my bow and a huge bull elk. 

This year as in the past, my brothers Whammer and Garret will join me in Colorado for the hunt. My brother Tuna may not have the hunting in his DNA but he was infected with a huge lifetime dose of walleye fever. If you gave him the choice of catching a 10-pound walleye or bagging a 10-point buck he would answer it this way: “Pass the willow cats.” That said, here is the starting line-up for elk hunt 2023. 

Whammer is probably the odd-on favorite to bag a bull. As far as the Beck boys go, he is the undisputed champion. His man shed is a tribute to previous hunts with horns adorning the walls. He seems to hunt with a horseshoe in his pack as he once bagged a bull only a half hour into our hunt. We weren’t even all the way unpacked and set up when the call came over the Motorola radio that we needed to come help pack out. For that reason and a half dozen or so other sets of horns in his shed, I’d put my money on him before me. 

Garret falls behind Whammer on the bull elk leaderboard, but he is still ahead of me in terms of bagging bulls. His last bull was a couple years ago during a late season rifle hunt in the snow. In addition to being an able elk caller, he is an accomplished camp cook. He can take a mess of Wisconsin bluegills and whip up a panfish chowder for elk camp that will taste like something a chef made on a Food Network show. We do share in making meals for elk camp, but Garret takes the crown by making a rack of ribs, shrimp alfredo, or some other li- smacking dish. I always tell people that the only reason I don’t lose more weight during elk hunting is because of Garret’s cooking. 

The other traveling and hunting partner is Dan, an unofficial brother who grew up with us. He bagged a bull with a rifle a couple of years ago but he has yet to get on the archery board with an elk. I guess that means if I had to pick someone besides myself to bag a bull, Dan would get my vote. Truth be told, we’d invite him along even if he didn’t bring his camper. 

Last but not least is me. I’ve bagged some bulls, just nowhere near as many as Whammer. I could fill a binder with stories where I was close but no cigars were smoked. Like every other year, I head to Colorado with high hopes and great anticipation. 

Now that you know who is going on the hunt you can decide who to bet on, but here’s the deal: I hope that we all bag a bull. If that can’t happen, then I hope that three of us do. If that can’t happen, then I hope that two of us do, etc., etc. But even if none of us bag an elk, it’s still going to be an epic time. Camping and hanging out in the Rocky Mountains with my brothers for two weeks is really the prize.  

Didn’t get enough Dave this week? Visit “Outdoor Trails and Tales with Dave Beck” on Facebook for photos and video of Dave’s adventures. You can share your own photos and video with him there as well, or by emailing him at dave@piercecountyjournal.news Also, check out OTT content on Instagram @thepiercecountyjournal