I didn't get a deer this year (so far) but, I did have a highlight moment. The first 2/3rds of my trip it was just my 6 and 8 year old and myself. Because they were more interested in playin in the fire and shooting their slingshots, I couldn't hunt the way I wanted. When my wife and oldest son finally showed up, they let me out of my cage. I decided a 10 hike was the only proper choice. I started out my "death march" (its what my wife calls my hikes) on the steepest, bushiest side of the hill I could. About 3 miles into it, I stopped on a rock hill with 100 yards of visibility. As I'm diggin thru my day pack, a deer wonders up the hill at 90 yards and stops with ONLY the head covered. We have a 10 minute stand off thru my scope until SHE walks away. 5 minutes later, another doe wonders up and stops at the same spot. We staired deeply at each other for a few moments till she decided it was time to go. 4 more miles into my trek, I'm on the east-side of a small but steep ravine and a deer busts out up the west-side of it (of course) but, the head was covered. The deer walked off at its leisure will I slid on my ass down the ravine and climbed up the other side, no deer in sight. A few moments later, found me sliding down a short but steep hill. Just then I I heard a stamped. Figuring it for some free range cattle, I wasn't worried. I looked up to see one of the "cows" standing there but, it looked like a deer except WAY bigger. I look thru my scope...it isn't a deer...or a cow. Horses? Out here??? Nope. It was a cow elk...it was a band of elk. But, there's no elk in the okanogan! There is now. I wouldn't. Have believed it if I hadn't seen it. After I bumped them again, I was off to camp. At mile 9.5, legs burning, rain poorin, I jump a couple whitetails that want to run up a steep hill. I considered chasing them and....of course I did, with no success. I finished off my walk by belly crawling under a cow fence, in the mud. For me, a very successful still hunt. The highlight being the "nonexistent" elk. They were amazing. It is a memory I hope to never, ever forget.
My first thought is a horse. A heard of horses out here???
