One month countdown for Oregon Elk hunt PICS ADDED

[vandeman17]

When you're done with this PM me on your travels. I had a change of plans, got freed up from work and now I'm packing some buddies in towards Ukiah. Leaving here in a few minutes.

Take lots of pics!

Will do!

[vandeman17]

Heading home to throw all my gear into the rig and hit the road! Hopefully when you guys hear from me again I will have pictures of a bull or two. If anything, I am sure we will have a great time and it will be awesome spending some quality time hunting with just me and my old man! 

[jackelope]

Good luck, man...keep us posted!!

[Curly]

 

Good luck.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Good luck! After looking at that NOAA map that was posted looks lime a killer area to elk hunt and the weather should help!

[hogsniper]

Well??? How did it go?

[vandeman17]

Well we made it back in one piece from our elk hunt. We didn't get an elk in camp but we had a great time and saw a bunch of elk. We got to Oregon and the lodge about 8:00 Friday night. After going through all our gear, we tried to get some sleep before the 11 mile horseback ride in the next morning. The ride in was pretty and took us about four and a half hours. We arrived at our camp spot about 2:30 and got all set up. We decided that we might as well take the last hour or two of daylight and explore a little bit. Our camp was tucked back in the timber with a little meadow next to it. I was standing out in the meadow waiting for my dad to go back to the tent because he forgot a hat when I heard a bugle back over camp and up the hill. We headed off into the deep, dark timber and closed the distance. I got back behind him about 75 yards and started a sequence of calling. A few minutes later I heard something bust back up the hill. Turns out the little bull came into about 40 yards but had my dad pegged and they had a stare off until he turned and went back up the hill. Not bad for being there for only two hours or so and already having an close encounter.

The next few days the bulls were pretty vocal and we made a few stalks and tried calling them in. My first close encounter was on the second night. I was set up way up on a ridge where we had seen a good bull, a smaller bull and a bunch of cows. I set up my dad a little down the ridge and behind me. I was periodically giving a few cow calls and soft bugles and then suddenly a little 5x5 popped out about 75 yards down below me. He walked by me a bit then headed up the hill right at me. There was a bunch of trees behind me and him so I had no shot. He got to within 9 yards and had me locked down but still no shot with the little trees. He finally trotted back towards the way he came and I was able to stop him at 44 yards but of course, he stops right behind the one little tree and then moves along over the ridge.

I had my fair share of mistakes on this hunt but learned a lot from each of them. The first mistake I made was on an evening hunt about mid week. I was way up high on the ridge when a rain storm moved in. I put on my rain jacket and made my way side hilling towards the spot we had heard a few bugles a little earlier. I started to work up a good sweat so I stopped to strip down some layers and go with just my rain jacket. About 20 minutes later into my hike I came into a little timber and saw the tips of horns over a little ridge. He had no idea I was there so I nocked an arrow and flopped my wrist around to get my release in my hand. My heart sank when I didn't feel it on my wrist so I quickly felt all my pockets and it was no where to be found. I started thinking if I could shoot without it but knew that it wouldn't happen. I backed out slowly to try to not spook him and backtracked to try and find my release. It sure is crazy how all the trees on a hillside start to look the same. After about 30 minutes of cruising around and I finally was able to locate it and felt a huge sense of relief. Not sure I will buy a camo release again. 

My other "mistake" happened on the last morning of our hunt. I was slowly making my way along an area and doing some calling when a group of about 6 cows and a satellite bull caught my eye about 100 yards above me walking single file in the opposite direction I was going. I turned around and tried to get in front of them. I got to the edge of this little meadow that turned into a rock slide and posted up. I was sitting there for a bit when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye behind me and to my right. It was one of the cows and the bull working their way down the hill about 50 yards to my right. I spun around on my knees and waited until he got even with my. I slowly stood and gave him a little grunt to stop him and came to full draw. He stopped right behind a little tree so no shot. I stood there at full draw for about 10 seconds and then let down. He started a fast walk again and I saw another opening so I grunted him to stop him again. He stopped perfectly in the opening and I drew again, settled my 50 yard pin and let it fly. As soon as I hit the trigger I heard a clunk and saw my arrow come out knuckling and hit the rocks under his belly. It turns out that my arrow and come off my rest when I had to let down from my first draw and I didn't notice it. Needless to say I was really bummed!

Overall, we had a great time and we estimate that we saw about 15 different bulls and about 100 head total. We saw some beautiful country and made some awesome memories. During the full moon clear nights, it was pretty cool to just lay in bed and hear bulls bugling all around us. The trip was everything I could have asked for without actually harvesting an elk. My dad is now hooked on bow hunting and we are already planning our next trip. 

Thank you everyone for sharing in our adventures. Our computer crashed so I can't get any pictures off my camera but as soon as I can, I will post them.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Sounds like a fun trip!! Gotta love the 'caps!

[Elkrunner]

Sounds like a good time!

[vandeman17]

We had a great time. A little sad to come back empty handed but that is all part of hunting. I was just happy to be out there, seeing elk and spending quality time with my old man

[Curly]

   Great story.  Thanks for sharing.

[gasman]

Thanks for the report Adam 

Glad you got the old man hooked 

[vandeman17]

Thanks for the report Adam 

Glad you got the old man hooked 

Of course Pete. He is now hooked and really looking forward to late season whitetail in the NE corner. Once I find a way to upload my pictures I will do that so you guys can see some of the beauty we got to experience.

[gasman]

Thanks for the report Adam 

Glad you got the old man hooked 

Of course Pete. He is now hooked and really looking forward to late season whitetail in the NE corner. Once I find a way to upload my pictures I will do that so you guys can see some of the beauty we got to experience.

Awesome 

[low97ram]

Glad you guys had a great time, Adam. 

 

Pete