Back from elk hunting and meatless, as usual. I missed two shot opportunities, both by misjudging distance and angle. I've been doing a lot of reading on HuntWA and listening to Elknut's CDs regarding calling and tactics. Jason Phelps' cow call was all I used on this hunt, other than the Primos Bugle. When setting up for our trip on Sunday the 1st, I couldn't find my Phelps call and emailed Jason. He had one to me in time for the trip - thanks Jason and Co.!
I've learned here, talking with some guides, and Elknut that even if the elk aren't calling, you should be and aggressively. Also, that only predators are trying to be quiet in the woods. Elk make a crap load of noise and if you aren't using a decoy and they can't see any other elk, if they hear you running around and stomping, it puts them at ease.
The first was a call set-up for my friend Bruce. I sent him out about 50 yards and sat down to start a small bull bugle and cow/calf sequence. Immediately, a young bull responded and a calf came running down the hill, stopping 25 yards away broadside and not leaving no matter how much I moved around and got ready for the bull. The young bull went behind me and I stomped like a cow might over nearer to him. He continued to bugle but he went away. I stomped again, still calling like crazy - hyper cow, scared calf, mews, small bull squeals - and headed toward Bruce. He turns to me and points the other way. There's a big bull right across the dry creek from him. I stomped back to my calling place 50 yards away and laid it on again. This time, the bull crossed the creek and stood 5 feet away from Bruce , facing him and bugled, chuckled, and growled. He then turned to his left and walked down the other side of the creek, coming to a stop behind some bushes directly to my right, facing an opening. I drew back and held. He stepped out and I put it on his shoulder at 30 yards and released. He was at 45 yards and the arrow went right under his brisket. He jumped at the noise and started running back uphill. I cow called again and he stopped behind small trees about 50 yards above Bruce. I stomped back up to Bruce and looked at him through the binos. He was staring right at us. He turned to his right and I ran to my left to loop around him and smack him as he crossed the creek bed. 4 or 5 minutes pass and no elk. I look over my left shoulder and see an elk butt with antlers on it. He had looped around me further up the creek and was now downwind. They don't get that big for nothing. He barked, which was more of a roar, and ran straight up the hill. Gonzo, baby. Game over. This was incredibly exciting and Bruce was beside himself. It was the first time he'd been close to an elk, never mind and really nice and mature 5X screaming at him from 5 feet.
My other miss, about which I'm truly proud (not) was at ten yards! I was walking down through some big timber and ran smack into a cow. She barked and started running. I immediately hit the calf calls, distress calls, one after another, rapidly. I also stomped down the hill about 20 yards, breaking stuff as I went. She stopped and turned and ran right back at me. She was about 5 feet lower than me on the hill and at ten yards, behind three little trees and I came to full draw. When she stepped out, I aimed at the shoulder with my twenty yard pin and dropped the trigger. The arrow sailed over her back. Damn! She ran, I called, and she stopped. But never presented another shot. Eventually, she walked away unconcerned. I tried to follow but she trotted and left the area.
I spent 9 days with three guys and had great time. After the bull, I never went out without the range finder and never started calling before ranging some landmarks at my stands. I won't forget about having to aim low, low, low shooting downhill, either. We really worked the woods hard every day and probably put about 35-40 miles on our boots while there. I lost almost ten lbs in a little over a week. I'm completely bushed and quite satisfied that I had opportunities, even though I blew them both. I won't make the same mistakes next year. Great vacation!
