Editor's Note: Tony Sanders, the host of Tony Sanders Outdoors heard every Saturday morning from 6:00-8:00 AM on WGOW 102.3 FM is on the road elk hunting. He shares his experience with Chattanoogan.com Outdoors readers.

I am outside Hotchkiss, CO experiencing my first elk hunt so obviously, I write this from the perspective of someone who has never hunted elk.

I am joined by SCI Vice President Chris Willmore, also on his first elk hunt as well. We are hunting with Bear Creek Outfitters (BCO)

Photo by Tony Sanders

The hunt was purchased at this years Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation fundraising dinner. The hunt was set for Labor Day week, but preparation began months in advance.

Being my first hunt, I can now try and point out some of the mistakes I have made for the benefit of others.

The first thing you need to do is pick a good outfitter. Having purchased this at auction, we did not have the option to do the research on the outfitter beforehand. BCO was the chosen group and we began communicating early with them. I would find out as much as you can as far as what you need to bring, what you do not need to bring, In our case, the place is pretty much a self-contained facility. Other than hunting equipment, sleeping bag and personal items, everything else is provided.

When purchasing a hunt at auction, make sure you know what is and is not included in the hunt. This could prove very costly if you are not sure what you have paid for and what still needs to be purchased. They met us at the Grand Junction Airport and we began our two-hour drive up to the camp. Brian, one of the owners, who picked us up, got us our tags and stopped at a store to pick up anything else we thought we would need during our week.

Elk hunting so far has not been much different than hunting deer in Tennessee. We have either been stalking and calling or sitting in a stand over a watering hole. I probably should have consulted the Farmer’s Almanac, or at least a cheap calendar , to determine when we should be hunting, Using something silly like work schedules or social calendars is a poor way to select hunting trips.

You have all experienced a beautiful full moon in our area and how everything is lighted up at night. Imagine how bright it is in the Rocky Mountains where there are no lights to dull the moon (you need sunglasses at night). I remember telling a listener once that I have never done well hunting during a full moon. So far, that record still stands. Luckily some weather is moving in and hopefully it will keep the moon at bay.

While the hunting so far is still the same, the scenery is not.

Photo by Tony Sanders

The Rockies are awe inspiring as seen in some of the photos. I hope to show you some elk very soon. So far in our camp, two black bears and a mule deer have been taken in two days. The elk are starting to move and have finally began to bugle to gather their harem. With the weather that is predicted, we hope their time tables will speed up. When planning a trip like this, consult the state's wildlife department to see what other animals could be taken. If I had done this, I may have already had a bear or mule deer.

The second thing I learned is I should have done more cardio exercise in preparing for the hunt. I have been working out for two months to get ready for the hunt. The cardio should have been about 60 percent of my workout. If you think you have done enough cardio, do more. I was prepared (I thought) until I started up that first 200-foot climb to a stand.

The altitude at the base camp is 7,600 feet and most of the hunting spots are higher. While I am quickly becoming acclimated, no amount of strenuous cardio can be replaced.

The final thing I will say in this first writing is the people. The outfitters are extremely helpful. They have been very nice and are a colorful cast of characters. From the former pro rugby player, Brian, to the former beach dweller, camp boss, Tim (also an owner), to the guides which can make a sailor blush when expressing their frustrations with the elk; these are salt of the earth men that are doing what many people may like to do... running a hunting camp in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. During the season, nothing else matters than finding the quarry.

The people chasing the quarry are just as colorful. There are 12 hunters in camp ranging from a social workers from LA to a college professor from Ohio State.

We all have one thing in common; an unbridled passion for pursuing these big animals.

More to come later.