Thanks everyone for the offerings. Guess it wasnt meant to happen early season. I missed twice in the thick stuff. One I was out of breath and had a 3 inch gap between trees that was about 20 yards off between me and it and I was really winded and offhand, so yea, I hit solid on one of the trees. Passed up a cow the first day, was kind of a long shot for me and I knew there was a bull close by. Missed a second one through the thick stuff again. Was really winded again and the soft dirt under my feet gave way and my foot slid about 8 inches down right as I went to squeeze it off. Then finally got on the herd with the nice 5 point, in the thick again. One of those stupid squirrels barked at me as I was sneaking. Which made a calf to my right (that I haddnt seen behind a big ol log) lift its head, see me and spook, along with the rest. That group was 10 yards onto the public land from private posted "no hunting" property, and of course where did they run straight to... haha. When they all took off, it kicked up 2 of the biggest blacktails I have ever seen. One huge fork horn, looked like a mulie fork horn, had an old grey face and everything, just watched me from 30 yards for about 10 min. I was thinking "why cant today be saturday haha" then right as he left a nice big 4X4 + eyeguards walked past at a trot, probably about 15 or so inches tall and a couple more than that wide. The fork horn was the crazy one, it was a good solid 18 inches tall and wide. I got a few pics but it was such thick brush and the rain on the lense make it so you can hardly see his face let alone his antlers. The elk had come up from the private property to that spot at least once at some point during every day this week, so friday I decided I would just sit and wait all day, which is hard for me to do, esp for elk. Didnt hear a peep or see a thing, it was one of those silent days in the woods with no wind or anything that when a bird chirps you jump haha. Thanks everyone for the offers to help. I thought for sure I would need it this time around. But I will let ya know come late season, have a late season coweeman cow tag. Thanks again, it is awesome to know theres so many good people out there willing to help.
