On the Hunt

For 40 years, Hal and his friend Mickey have hunted in Colorado's Flattop Wilderness, perfecting their annual elk hunt without the help of outfitters. Their hunting crew, which changed yearly, would haul over a thousand pounds of gear and supplies on horseback to reach base camp. It was all part of the effort to spend a week in the wilderness, camping and hunting in peace. Every day started before dawn, and the hours were spent in the saddle, tracking elk, often not returning to camp until just before dark. "For a true hunter, it's about the hunt," Hal says. "The icing on the cake is having meat for the winter."

Published by 5280 magazine.