Tough Hunt/ Close Call

[Phantom Hunter]

Just wanted to post-up a report. Our cow hunt in NM unit 51 was tough. Elk were tired of being chased for two weeks and were holed up in nasty thick blow-downs on steep slopes. We all had some type of chance, but only Allan connected. Lots of rain, snow, sleet. I think it only froze one or possibly two nights (9,000 +/- feet). Mud was covering everything. Now about the close call--We started down the mountain from the Trout Lakes, with the road so muddy I rode my horse and led another. We only loaded the mare in the trailer. We had been warned not to trailer the horses down. After a mile and a half or so we stopped to get the horses through the cattle guard. My two partners in the truck said they had no problem and suggested I load the horses in the trailer for the rest of the 11 mile trip. I thought, why not? One half mile later, in low range, 2nd gear, 4X4 on a slight turn I looked in the side mirror to see my horse trailer start to slide toward the downhill side of the road. I gave the diesel a little pedal to try to get across the slick spot. The trailer still slid, slid right off the road pulling the truck with it. As the trailer left the road it tipped over on it's side, slid a few more feet down the mountain. The trailer had come off the hitch. My truck was at about a 60 degree angle. Our only thought was the horses, fearing the worst we scrambled to the trailer. It appeared there were no broken legs but the mare was on top of one of the geldings in the front and he wasn't moving. My horse was by himself in back and had one leg through the bars of the side of the trailer. After carefully moving his leg, we pulled his lead rope and he started thrashing and came out. Now the the front compartment, after an eternity (2-3 min.) we got the divider loose and pulled the mare off the gelding. All three finally out, cut up and scared. We dared not try to guess what internal injuries they might have. Our good samaritan friends came down the road with a small winch and com-a-long. Three to four hours later we had both truck and trailer back on road. I started down riding my horse (who was the least injured) and pulling the mare, leading the gelding. My two partners pried the fender from the wheels, re-wired the trailer plug, and started down the mountain. At the bottom of the mountain more extensive horse first aid was possible. Looked like we were very lucky. We loaded up and started for Texas. A call to our vet had him waiting for us early next morning. He said most of the injuries were not serious and we would have to wait and see what developed on two or three of the injuries. Moral of the story, If you take horses into the high country and the road is muddy or icy ride your horses up/down and do not take chances. A trailer can be replaced (mine needs to be) but your favorite steed is cannot be replaced. Listen to the locals and the guys that have been in area for several seasons. They know best. Always take at least two com-a-longs with two or three chains. We had left four com-a-longs in my garage in the interest of room. We only had one chain. An accident can occur at any time even to guys who have been hunting in the mountains for several years. Take your recovery equipment and don't take chances. A special thanks to our good samaritans.

Phantom Hunter

 

[Smiley]

I am glad that atleast so far all have come out ok accept for the trailor. I hope that everything comes out in the end .
But I do have to ask wheres the pictures?

 

[dakotakid]

Wow, quiet a story, I'm glad that everything came out ok with the horses.

Mike

 

[saminwy]

we had a very similar episode a few years back-now we have started parking the horse trailer down the mountain aways. if the weather is good when we get there, we'll haul horses to camp, but then we park the trailer back down where the road is better. the place we go has some really big exposure if you slide off the road. luckily, we had our mishap in a place where it was just some bent metal and sore horses, but we realized how much worse it could have been, and descided to play it safe from then on. payed off this year, it would have been a bear to get the horse trialer off the mountain-the campers will be spending the winter, but we need the horse trialer all winter, so it would have had to come down. hope the ponies heal up alright.

 

[Chef]

WOW!! Glad to hear you and the horses are okay. Good advice and a lesson for all of us.. Goes for any trailer in general, may be a camper or car hauler. It's just plain risky no matter how well we drive. That mud is slick and that trailer keeps pushin through in the direction it wants.

Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"

 

[Phantom Hunter]

If my good samaritan e-mails some pics I will try to post up. All our cameras were "unavailable" during the whole trying time.

Phantom Hunter

 

[vinihunt]

glad everything come out ok! wow...i know where trout lake is...by chance did u try Martinez canyon?

looks foward for the pixes


vinihunt

 

[Phantom Hunter]

Vini, we stayed up by the Trout Lakes. Seemed like all the pressure was off to our south. We kept thinking that the elk would eventually get pushed up towards us. Never did happen. There were some elk there but they were only moving right at dusk and dawn. By the way that was a nice bull you took. Congrats. We will try again next year. Got to go find some whitetails for the freezer.

Phantom Hunter

 

[bigbull1]

Thanks for sharing. This is what makes MM so valuable. Sharing of good information that can and will help other hunters.

Hope there is no lasting ill effects to your horses.

Ed

 

[rutnbuck]

Kewl Story.
When hunting things always seem to work out. Unless u or your critters die. My last off road experiance took a wrecker to get us back on the road. We went off a Cliff. One thing I found. One can lead a horse on the back of the trailor. I do it often when on really steep, rough or slick roads. The horse seems to walk faster. And if you get going to fast they put the brakes on for u. Glad things worked out for you.

 

[DonV]

Wow, glad all horses were ok.

 

[pasowoman]

What if the trailer slid off the mountain like it did in this example? Your horse could end up under the trailer. That would be awful. Also your horse could stumle on a rock and whack their nose on the trailer. Just too risky for me. I either ride them or trailer them (if it's safe and I know the road well).

 

[pasowoman]

Thanks for sharing. A reminder for us all to be extra careful out there and not take chances. I've also heard of guys getting snowed in at the bottom when they have to go up and over a mountain to get out. A forest service guy told me some guys did it two years in a row. I'd say they weren't too bright to get caught in it again. A snow plow had to come in and plow out the road and drag their butts out of there. Don't know how much that cost them, but suddenly that elk just got a lot more expensive.

I might also add that we need to be careful out there on (or more importantly off) the trail. I ended up in a bad spot this year and was lucky that both the horse and I came out without broken bones as we tried to scale a very steep rocky mountain at night, as we couldn't get out the bottom due to the steepness and rocks. We took a trail up the mountain then baled off the top, as I was told there were elk in there. They were right and we came down the other side just fine. It was when we got down in the bottom and tried to make our way out through deadfall, rocks, and steep sides that we were in trouble. With daylight fading, I was worried. My best buddy and I slid down the mountain at one point, whacked my knee on a rock, but that was nothing compared to the rocks he hit his legs on. It was cold, dark, and pouring rain as we tried to make our way out. I knew the direction we were going, but not exactly how to get back to where we were, after encountering wire fences, rabid dogs, swamp, more rocks, steepness, etc. We finally found our way out with the help of our mare calling to us from the corral.

Although I encountered elk in there (sign and heard them), I thank God that I never killed one!

On another day we climbed high and encountered snow, which was ok, but when we tried to make our way down to the lake the trail was narrow, steep and the snow was balling up in the horses feet. It was like he was trying to balance on high heels. Needless to say, I enjoyed the view and the great trail we had up until that point and turned back. It wasn't worth injuring my best buddy. We had an awesome day with beautiful scenery (and saw some deer and other critters). After the other experience I have vowed to stay on trails or in meadows when riding. Just my personal choice so as not to get myself into trouble. If I'm walking, then I may make other choices. It's not worth it to me if I am injured or my horse is injured.