This adventure took place on High Mesa during an elk hunt in central Colorado. There were three of us in our hunting party: Pete, Rob, and myself. We hunted hard for the first couple of days, but all we managed to see were cow elk, and none of us had a cow tag.

By the third morning we were in position before daylight and already worn out from the previous days of hunting. Rob stayed near the base of a ridge while Pete and I worked our way around the hillside hoping to push something toward him. Around eleven o'clock we met back up without seeing a single legal elk and decided to call it a day.

Back at camp we grabbed lunch and spread out the maps, looking for new country to hunt the following morning. After eating, Pete and Rob decided an afternoon nap sounded better than scouting. I stayed outside enjoying the quiet while studying the maps and finishing a sandwich.

While I was eating, I noticed a curious gray jay hopping closer every time it landed. Before long I forgot about the maps and started tossing it a few breadcrumbs just to see how close it would come.

Gray Jay messing with my feet

Within about ten minutes the bird was standing near my boots. That's when a rather mischievous idea entered my mind. I began placing breadcrumbs on my pant legs until the fearless little bird was actually landing on me to eat. Little by little I moved the crumbs closer until I figured I might actually be able to catch it.

Finally the jay landed exactly where I wanted it. I made one quick grab—and amazingly, I had the bird.

Trying not to laugh, I quietly walked over to the tent where Pete and Rob were sound asleep. Then I gently released my feathery accomplice inside.

Sleeping in a tent

Instantly the gray jay exploded into action. It flew wildly around the inside of the tent, squawking and bouncing from wall to wall while my two unsuspecting hunting partners woke up in complete panic.

From outside, the tent looked like a giant rubber ball was bouncing all over the campsite as Pete and Rob scrambled to figure out what was attacking them and how to escape.

By then I was lying on the ground laughing so hard I could barely breathe. It turned out to be one of the funniest moments of the entire elk hunt—and one neither of my hunting buddies has ever let me forget.