Bone is back from Idaho

[boneaddict]

was I in Idaho or the Margaret?

[boneaddict]

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[boneaddict]

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[boneaddict]

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[elkaholic]

great pic....

[bowsandhose]

very nice

[Todd_ID]

Hmmmm.  Bone, I think you and I hunt the same in different parts of the state.  I went in once this year to find seven camps, not including mine, in a 1 mile stretch of the road.  However, in the holes I always hunt, I never saw another soul.  Talking to each of the guys in the camps out there I have learned that nobody gets quite far enough back: "So did you make it back to the second fork of the creek back in there?"  "Oh, no, I hit the bugle hard from the trail where the first fork is.  That second fork is way too hard to get back to.  I tried once a couple years ago, but I gave up after an hour of fighting the brush."  "Hmph, well, good luck the rest of the season." "Thanks, you too."  Meanwhile, I have a trail brushed out that only I know into and beyond that area.  Hunting hard is very important in popular areas because the bulls know exactly how far they have to go to not be harrassed by hunters.  That's the distance you have to go every time.  Getting back to camp before dark is rarely a good option if you are serious about consistently killing a bull.  That being said, I punched my tag on an average-to-good six point that was 4 miles in through brush that you had to walk on top of to move for most of the way (man, I need to start hunting with my buddies or closer to the road).  I think I have found the limit of what one person can physically accomplish in the elk woods, and I don't plan on doing it again.  That hole is a big red X on the map for me from now on because it is too tough to get a bull out of without a small army to help.  But it is fun to have 5 bulls screaming every time you go in there; maybe another 11 months will remove that X off the maps.  We'll see.

By the way, great pictures!  I wish I would have had my camera with me several times.  I was 5 yards from 4 cows for over 5 minutes that would have made a great video.

[Elknut1]

 Bone, thanks!! In my opinion you had a very successful season, fortunately success can be measured in many forms!!!! You experienced one of the best forms!! It will build lasting memories no one can take away!!! Thanks!

  ElkNut1

[billythekidrock]

 Bone, thanks!! In my opinion you had a very successful season, fortunately success can be measured in many forms!!!! You experienced one of the best forms!! It will build lasting memories no one can take away!!! Thanks!

  ElkNut1

+1

[WDFW-SUX]

Love that cow pic she looks tasty

[Skyvalhunter]

Its all good Bone you got one of those coveted Wa derr tags. Its early yet.

[boneaddict]

Thanks guys, indeed I felt like I had a good hunt.  Hard to explain to everyone that I didn't notch a tag.  THey are so used to it I guess.  Simply, my freezer is still full, and I have killed enough bone not to be too ancy.  I had my goals on those big ones.   I didn't need to kill to be successful.  I admit, a couple times I questioned that line of thinking but held firm.  Yep Todd, thats exactly it about the holes.  You can sit there and stare down into it all day, but odds are, he isn't coming out of it.  I had the exact same thought process when I came down a whole moutnain and don't think I ever saw the ground.  I thought what the hell am I going to do if I shoot him down here. 
Paul, I enjoyed employeeing some of your techniques and thought of your words alot while on the mountain.  THere were a couple times I wish I had listened a little better as I just couldn't get that big *censored* to commit.  Thats hunting though.  Its hard to compete with 30 demanding cows, when you are one.  Had a great time and enjoyed carrying that Trad bow along.   I could have nailed a couple shots with the compound that I didn't think I could do with the Trad, but that is ok too. 
You are right Sky, I have two great hunts still to go with alot of photography.  I was serious about my hunting, so didn't take near the amount of pics I could have or maybe should have, but I figure I didn't have time to be screwing around when the big guy was giving me that chance.  Hopefully I painted enough pics for you guys to paint your own mental shots of the hunt.