I have always looked forward to this time of year – hunting season!  My brother and I started going to hunting camp with our Dad [Sid Hall in photo] about 60 years ago. The opening day of deer season was always Oct. 15, regardless of what day of the week it was. My Mom’s birthday was Oct. 18 and I remember her saying, “Sid it looks like you could stay home just once for my birthday” but he never did! I also recall that he never forgot to buy her a birthday present before he left for camp.

Not very many people had pickups in those days. We had a ‘31 Chevy car and a two wheel trailer to transport the tent and the rest of our camp supplies. On the return trip, we always brought home a load of firewood. Charles and I learned many things from our Dad on these trips. but I feel the greatest thing he passed along was his love of nature. The mountains have always been a very special part of my life — a place where I feel very close to our Creator, as I remember it, I was probably a Junior in high school when I bought my first deer license. This was just two years after the opening of Elk Season in this area in 1939.

Since the elk had been protected for quite a few years, there was a herd of a couple thousand head up around Saguache Park. The permitees who ran cattle, the Forest Service and the State Game & Fish Department all agreed that it was time to open a season for elk. People who hunted elk that first year had lots of stories to tell.

George Curtis (Jim’s Grandfa-ther) told me that it was almost like going out in the meadow and shooting one of his cows. Claude Hazard killed a real trophy 7 by 7 point bull — it was the largest one mounted by Jonas Bros. Taxidermy that year.

The first year or two they were hunted, these animals stayed in large bunches and were led by an older cow. Hunters soon learned that when the lead cow was dropped, the rest of the herd became confused and would likely mill around for several minutes.

Most hunters today will agree that this is no longer the case — elk in heavy timber are able to take real good care of themselves!

I find it hard to believe how much hunting of big game has changed and expanded during my lifetime. When I was a boy, there was one deer season which lasted for less than a week. Today we have archery and muzzle loading seasons beginning in August, followed by three regular combined deer and elk seasons which last for nearly a month. In addition to that, we also have antelope and bighorn mountain sheep licenses that are obtained through a drawing.

Back in the early days, both bighorns and antelope were native to this area, but down through the years they became nearly extinct. I recall stories my Grandfather, Sandy Burch, told about hunting antelope when he freighted with horses from Villa Grove to Saguache at about the turn of the century. Both of these species of game animals were re-introduced to this area by the Colorado State Game & Fish Department, following World War II and both herds have done really well.

As I sit here thinking about past hunting trips, I remember several times coming home with an unfilled license. But there has never been a time when I didn’t have fun!