Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Shooting and Hunting => Topic started by: Mesophilic on September 15, 2021, 02:24:21 pm
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Decided to start a thread about.this years elk hunt. My wife and daughter don't care about my exploits so sharing with the PA community will help keep me motivated. Will update periodically.
In addition to getting drawn for an elk tag, I also purchased OTC bear, mountain lion, and turkey tags.
Day 1
A.M.
Walked 4.25 trail miles. Elevation 9200 feet
Once the sun came up the dang squirrels wouldn't shut up!!! Kept giving the warning alarm every 30 to 50 yards.
Put a stalk on a good size cinnamon brown bear approx 8:15 a.m. He ended up detecting me and bolted thru some thick aspen when I got about 40 yards. What a rush to stalk a bear when you're hunting solo!!! The heart sure pounds when you nock that arrow.
No elk or fresh signs. Heard bugles while scouting last week but all is quiet today (except squirrels >:( )
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A contrary and uncooperative critter is Cervus canadensis. They have an annoying tendency to not be where you expect. We put in about 13 miles in the Wind River Range on Monday, only to find out that a kid shot a six point about 400 yards from our camp!
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Look forward to going on more hunts with you.
Bjrogg
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Sounds like a great day. Stalking a black bear with a bow is definitely an adrenaline rush. Good luck on your next adventure.
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Day 1
P.M.
Well, went up 1000 vertical feet in steep terrain...and couldn't crest the hill. Trail ended at an impenetrable wall of thorny locust and young aspen a couple hundred feet from the top. Which was all for the better I suppose since I have no idea if I could've got help up there for a pack out and I sure as heck couldn't have done it solo.
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I always like hunting diary like yours :OK
they can also get better with pictures >:D :OK :OK
best luck for your hunt
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Day 2
A.M.
Elevation 9000 feet
Made a brilliant discovery on where not to go. Scrub oak, locust, and young aspen provide zero visibility. Looked good on the map.
Drove down the road a little way and the area is crawling with hunters. 8 or more campsites with a dozen RVs and travel trailers. Maybe can use this to my advantage. Going to check out another area while I'm out.
P.M.
Climbed up a steep ridgeline, crested at about 9200 feet.
Saw lots of fresher scat today, most of it was dry but some was still a little elastic. Found a spot that smelled like a scent marking...detected a very strong urine musky smell that I've smelled on bulls while skinning. First time I've smelled it coming from foliage. A few fresh tracks, too.
Stupid GPS is lying again...tried telling me my ascent was only 450 feet...had to be a thousand if it was one...or maybe my scrawny legs are getting wore out from all the hiking, but I think it's the former ;D
Side note: the heat has been ridiculous. We'd already gotten our first snow a year ago last week. Everything is very dry and even some springs are dry. Making this a big challenge.
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Sorry, pics gonna be huge, I'm image posting challenged.
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/a44a9277cb3593613b0abed364efadbb/09a0f61cacd235ac-61/s2048x3072/155e3291cc441df3b42ca7295bccc4c1f3e47539.jpg)
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/fc0be2458f3d5a014653609b565fbbf1/4b4f90426530a4a1-b5/s2048x3072/6b20a5a5b76337fe02f57beb76630e236fa6a6b1.jpg)
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Day 3
A.M.
Hiked up a mountian at zero dark thirty, forgot to reset the GPS trip computer so I don't have any data like ascension or mileage. Crested at 9900 feet though.
A week or two ago this would've been a happening place. Lots of elk scat, still black but dried out. Bed sites in various locations. Lots of older tracks from a week ago when we last had some rain and the forest floor was damp.
Dang heat wave has really screwed with things, 84°F !!! Way too hot. Might change things up, skip this evening and get some rest, and then get up at 0300 and drive to the northern most part of the unit tomorrow. Lots of sign up there and bumped a few cows last weekend scouting. But can't do an over night and its 3.5 to 4 hour drive.
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Keep after them! Good luck!
Hawkdancer
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4th day (? too tired to keep track)
Up at 0215 drove north with a buddy at 0300. Arrive in the AO at 0515 to 0530.
Temperature in low to mid 40's, elevation 11100 feet.
The minute we get out of the Jeep we hear calls from 3 different bulls along with some cow locator calls. Pretty sure a solo satellite bull is moving thru the trees 70 yards north.
Not legal hunting until 0615. Its friggin cold and I'm shivering both from the temp and excitement. I unfortunately didn't bring the right clothing since it's been so hot lately.
At 0615 buddy starts calling from the forest above me. No answer calls but we got action where we heard the satellite bull.
My adrenaline is pumping and I'm doing deep breathing to try to control my heart rate. Excitement is off the charts as I hear this large creature moving through the trees...still too dark to see anything in the trees.
Bugles some more, more movement. I'm shaky enough at this point it was difficult to nock an arrow. Sun is coming up a little more and visibility increasing.
One half of my brain is in a fight with the other. Side A says this no good, we're shaky, nauseated, heart pounding, and light headed. Side B is saying AWESOME!!! Side A says it won't be awesome if we pass out and our buddy teases us forever. Then a third part, side C says both of you shut up, relax, and deep breaths.
Sun comes up a little more...and...
Friggin bovines in the trees!!!
Satellite bull probably winded us then went to follow the closer heard we listened to earlier.
We did eventually find lots of track (elk and turkey) leading to a stock pond. As well as sighted turkeys a couple hundred yards across a meadow but the herd of elk was way too far ahead to catch.
Will be solo hunting tomorrow, so I'll probably stay closer to home where a packout won't be so brutal if I get lucky.
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/30460e886ce83243fe0472dfcb922128/1d9a918b90792db3-62/s2048x3072/6fa791cb402d11aea57535b23bd54e841192c64c.jpg)
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(https://64.media.tumblr.com/65ffc7038d11d2cacbe9f426d0dcaf32/66440356362ff509-80/s2048x3072/d84cb951e9de4b09f6c0ce69c0426ab5293bbd67.jpg)
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Keep it coming.
Used to live in Colorado, and I know that it takes weeks to truly get those thighs used to climbing mountains.
Best wishes on your hunt.
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Keep it coming.
Used to live in Colorado, and I know that it takes weeks to truly get those thighs used to climbing mountains.
Best wishes on your hunt.
Thanks!
The elevation isn't too hard on me, my house sits at 7400 feet.
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Elevation approx 9200 feet, early a.m. temp low 40's
Was raining this morning when I got to the AO, my neck hurts something fierce to the point I can't hardly take a drink. I'm tired and cranky.
So I drove around a while. Stopped the Valles Caldera to watch multiple herds...hundreds of head of elk bugle and spar...awesome experience. And old Marine I met at the pull-out let me look thru his spotting scope to watch elk way on the other side playing their elk games.
So after the rain I let up, I decided to check out a mountain side hoping some stragglers would wander down to the caldera to join the party.
Get a quarter up, and sure as flies on stuff I see two spikes about 150 yards away.
Wind in my favor, I beat feet to the other side of a finger so they can't see me, hauling my butt up a 30°, sometimes 45°, incline, going up about 450 to 500 feet to the crest.
Instinct told me they'd come right to me if I pull this off. Powerful motivation.
Peeked once in a while and sure enough, 60 yards away headed in my direction.
Heart racing from the climb and full of adrenaline!!!
I top the rise an pause and wait impatiently...holy stuff!!! the lead spike comes up...25 yards!!!
He's quartering toward me, his head comes around one side of a large burned tree trunk and his body hidden by the tree with his butt poking out the other side of the tree. Such a magnificent animal up this close.
Buuuuttt...I got no shot!!!
I'm holding deathstill like a hipster wearing skinny jeans in a biker bar.
He's looking at me but doesn't really see me, though he knows something isn't quite right.
Come on...two good steps...you can do it!!!
Heart racing!!! Just pounding out of my chest. Hands shaky. Anticipating the shot.
The wind swirls and he bolts. >:( :-\ :'(
Vanished like a ghost along with his buddy spike.
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Dang! I was hoping this one would be a red arrow post!
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Took a quick pic with my phone...I can only find one of the two spikes in the frame. Bonus points to whomever can find the 2nd one ;D
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/3202607b72cf6333d68ae0793f77223b/037d45ef01601677-a1/s2048x3072/6d956d9606000dd370f6f150db74cee83f0b9615.jpg)
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I counted 21 head in this herd alone.
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/e436aa4e0514b9178dac6da6db9bac8b/693984a129b04fd3-c9/s2048x3072/281a3f2578299af8809eb77c254787ce3747c668.jpg)
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This bull was amazing to watch. He locked horns with a bull to try to take his herd. Broke part of his antler off and lost.
As he walked away, he kept looking back at the herd and you could almost feel the thoughts and emotions going thru his head.
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/30e6efb4b987214fa25695b560d5f985/c374802c3098def4-c3/s2048x3072/a94d015c95703744a7a03cb62eecb1895d7605a9.jpg)
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Dang! Got to agree with JW! Maybe next try!
Hawkdancer
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Thanks guys, I'm reinvigorated for the evening hunt.
By the way, Valles Caldera is National Park and off limits except for a select few tags each season.
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beautiful country
This bull was amazing to watch. He locked horns with a bull to try to take his herd. Broke part of his antler off and lost.
As he walked away, he kept looking back at the herd and you could almost feel the thoughts and emotions going thru his head.
life is not always good :NN
Really hope you will connect :OK
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Some bad news.
I don't know how I did it but somehow I injured my upper back and lower neck area. Maybe I bounced in the truck or the Jeep wrong on a rough road...I really have no idea. I can still get around, if I walk a bit stiff, but there's no way I can field dress and haul out a large animal solo. I've got pain radiating down in to my shoulder and all up and down my spine, and didn't sleep for nothing last night.
My buddies all have to be back at work this a.m. so I'm on my own.
Going to take today off and see how it goes. Still have until sundown Friday for this hunt.
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Sounds like you need a trip to the chiropractor. That probably won't go away on its own - at least that hasn't been my experience. You would think that if you threw something out, it could be thrown back in...
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I agree with TimBo - get checked out, then worry about the hunt! Even with a rare tag! Good luck!
Hawkdancer
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Wow, that story with the spike IS elk hunting with a trad bow. So many, so many, so many close calls, but no kills. Hope you can get your back sorted out and stay on the hunt. Be safe, be smart, and live to hunt another day!
T
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Thanks for taking us along. WB has it right. That’s a huge part of hunting this way. I guess I’m surprised how much I like that part.
Hope your back gets better. I’m plagued with a bad neck and back. Sometimes I almost want to cry. Hopefully yours recovers when you get back to your own bed.
Bjrogg
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WB has it right. That’s a huge part of hunting this way. I guess I’m surprised how much I like that part.
It something I've really made peace with this year. Hunting with trad gear, especially in the open west, means making a kill much less often. I would have killed several elk by now if I were using modern gear. After passing a shot at a six-point bull that would have been a chip shot with a modern cross bow (legal in Wyoming >:( ), I came to the realization that I'm just choosing to limit myself and place the experience above the kill.
I might get myself a crossbow someday if I just need the meat in the freezer. But I doubt it. I love hunting with my stick and string, and if that means I eat my tag most years, I'm reasonably OK with that. :) (SH)
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Thanks for the encouragement, guys.
Day 8 (I think?)
Still sore and achy but feeling better so I got out this a.m. Went out with the attitude that I'd only take a shot if things were perfect since I'd be packing out myself.
The weather finally cooled off. As I drove past the caldera there was only a handful of elk grazing and doing elk things but it's still a beautiful site.
Further up in the mountains there were patches of frost and I was regretting not bringing a pair of gloves.
Took my time and climbed up about 500 feet. Lots of bugling around me, I love that sound...its so primeval. A couple calls sounded man made, but I've heard some pretty crappy calls from real elk so who knows.
I just sat up on the hill enjoying everything for a while.
Walked the crest after a while and found scat piles that were still a little gooey. Guessing that the elk crossed during the night and I missed them. Saw a doe browsing across the hill from me and just watched her for a while till she scented me.
Tomorrow I'm thinking I'll take my big camera and see if I can get some neat pictures if I don't cross paths with elk.
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Glad to hear you are still in the hunt. Good Luck.
Bjrogg
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2nd to last day of the hunt
Got out climbing up 500 to 600 foot hill this morning, just about the time it was light enough to see without a flashlight.
Up at the military crest I hung out for a while. Did hear some bugles off in the distance. Went around to the backside of the peak and just stood next to a tree enjoying the sunrise.
I heard some twigs snapping and rustles down the slope a ways so just stayed there to see what was going on.
Out pops a doe, followed by a fawn. Then along come more doe and fawns. It was neat to watch and they weren't in a terrible hurry, giving no acknowledgment of my presence. Then I heard something heavier chrunching twigs and brush.
I thought it is probably going to be a nice size buck and I'm going to regret not toting my DSLR up the hill. After a little more waiting it turned out to be a solo cow elk.
Well now, any elk just happens to be on my menu so game on.
The mountains made a horseshoe shape, wind blowing perfect. So I moved around the hill where she'd walk right to me and waited for a while. Nothing.
So I moved lower down toward where I had originally sighted her. Stopping and waiting regularly. Still nothing
Eventually I get the the approximate spot where she was walking when I sighted her and she's not there. Watched the hillsides for a time before moving on.
What gets me, is how a big animal, who was obviously making a bit of noise crunching on twigs and rustling through bushes, can vanish silently like a ghost.
Still got tonight and tomorrow.
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2nd to last day evening
Wind was aweful and constantly changing directions. Bumped a doe with two fawns. The bulls are still buggling in the caldera but no action in the surrounding mountains.
A bunny ran out in front of me but he/she was little more than a baby so I let it go.
Fingers crossed for tomorrow...last chance.
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Last day
A.M. shift
Elevation approx 9000 feet
This mornings hunt was so much fun. The elk in the Caldera were extremely active and vocal. Watched a big ole stud bull trying to talk the ladies in to some fun time, chasing them around and trying get to the baby making (hope that's family friendly enough)
We hear bugles from the east, from the west, and from the north. I had a partner today that does some pretty good calls. He got a bull talking to the east of us. I'm posted up with some cover listening to all this action, trying not to get too excited.
My buddy is blowing some great bugles, and just the right cow calls. Responding to him and each other, just a fun and amazing experience to be a part of.
After a bit of back and forth this bull from the east is getting closer. Can hear him snapping twigs and pushing through brush. No visual yet but he has to be less than a 100 yards by now. It's all I can do not to leave my cover and try getting closer. But no, I have discipline, let's see this through and enjoy the show.
And then...
A car stops at a pullout down by the caldera. They get out with cameras and start blowing really crappy bugles and cow calls...
...and chased off the elk in our area >:(
Not optimistic about this evening, they've been getting active well after legal hunting hours. But that being said, this was an awesome hunt and I thank the Almighty for my health and ability to take part, the opportunity and experiences.
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It was a great experience, wish I got a chance to loose arrows at something other than rabbits and squirrels.
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/87c7e78140e548d7db728b7e0b47d97f/97d4d1ae323983d3-ff/s2048x3072/eb0f3c3071d9d6f33b77c89bca0339e68763a975.jpg)
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Enjoyed your exploits whilst elk hunting. Felt like we were there. Best of luck on your next hunt.
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Thanks for sharing.
Having the car pull up and disturb the animals, well, been there with a partner, and hate it...
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Great story! Most of us had hunts like that, close but no cigar! Too bad about the "photographers" >:D! Maybe they had some bad luck, too! Always next season!
Hawkdsncer