This was by far the best elk hunt i have ever been on. two weeks before my season opened, i packed in my camp, grain for the horses, etc. My hunting partner took time off to join me for 5 days. The day before my hunt, the bulls were as active as i ever heard. There must have been 7 different bulls going off all around our camp. Hell they kept us awake all night. The next morning we went different ways and kept our radios on. Well i didn't get far and i was in between 2 screaming bulls, one was about 100yds and the other about 40. I could hear the closest one walking but it didn't show himself. this went on for 30 minutes, then everything went quite. i think they may have got wind of me since the wind was swirling. I didn't push them. I then went to the next bugle, same thing got close but no show. Later on back in camp my buddy said he was in some bulls also.
That evening we went to where he seen a bull and got set up, this bull was screaming something fierce, and you could hear him tearing into the small trees. We heard some hooves and looked behind us and a big bull was chasing a cow, i couldn't get a good shot and he kept going. Just then i saw a small 4pt running toward us and he stopped broadside 30 yards away. Wow the first day action. That night same thing bulls screaming all night long. The next morning the same thing hunted towards bugles and even though i was close, i couldnt get good shots. Since i was the only hunter in the area i did not push these elk, i backed out and went to another bugle or area. This went on for 3 days straight The 4th day i took a shot at a 5x6 and missed, this dam thing caught me off guard, had my gun on my shoulder which i never do, this was 100yds from camp--i new i didnt hit him but looked for blood all morning to be sure. If i had been paying closer attention he was looking at me up on a steep hillside as i was heading back, to camp, i could only see his head and decided not to go after him. He was a decent bull, but i thought i could get something bigger. That evening we were close to more bulls but they didn't show them selves. The next day i hiked 2-3 miles from camp and got into some small squealers fighting, 50 yards and a perfect shot if i wanted. Backed out of there and headed back to camp. I found an opening and decided to sit and listen, 30 minutes a nice 6x6 came into the opening and turned behind a small tree, which was blocking his front half. He sat there for 2 minutes, i had the crosshairs on him hoping he would take a couple steps to i could drop him. He knew something was wrong, he kept looking all around. Finally he went away from me and i couldnt get the shot i wanted, i actually hunted him but no luck. I was up there for 5 days and was into more bulls than i can remember. I have been hunting elk for many years and have been successful. Even though i didn't fill my tag, i left there feeling content, this was a true quality hunt for me, being in the high country pretty much having the area to my self and being able to hunt bulls in their rut. I learned a little more about my self, i found myself being being totally focused and patient, backing out and not pushing these animals knowing i would get another chance to fill my tag. I knew there were some decent bulls around, but one night we could hear sound of antlers we went outside and ther were 2 bulls fighting. The best was to come, we seen a stud in the meadow next to our tent screaming, the moonlght shining on his massive 7x7 beams, he was so impressive, majestic. i will never forget this expierence-----ever
