Sending out a huge Thank You to Wrongway for providing his warm hospitality and camp site for our group muzzy cow elk hunt in 556 Toutle. I can't say enough about the caliber of his generosity and hospitality in making us feel invited and welcome to enjoy his little slice of heaven in the heart of the woods. He is one of the most welcoming persons I have ever met in my life and he truly made our hunt very memorable with his generosity and accommodations for our camp.
Thank you Lance!
And now the hunt;
We were fortunate to take my hunting partners first elk, a nice sized cow calf one hour into the opening day.
The plan came together with my son and I sending the small herd of about 13 animals and one big rack bull crashing down the hill to Josh, I hear his gun boom in timber 100 feet below me followed by another shot half a minute later, a solid boom, thud, final kill shot. Shortly thereafter a loud Whoooo Hoooo echoed through the timber and I knew he had his first elk under his belt. Eighty yards of mule tape were deployed into the timber and a half hour later with a few casual tugs of the Suburban she was topside and we started with the gutting crew.
My hunt was an oddity to say the least! I was busted by a calf that was standing 60 yards inside the timber edge as I walked casually down the middle of the grade with no cover in sight, calf mewed once, Momma barked once and off they went, nothing more than crashing snapping under brush filling my ears. Next day in the same spot hoping for redemption I got the sneak on a nice fat doe using the same trail system only this time I was the wiser one. She went free and I felt redeemed knowing I learned something.
Next chance came when we had elk on a small ridge and a dividing grade, one elk comes to the calls and pops into the middle of the grade, I pull up and squeeze until the front sight is a good foot off the vitals, looking down I have the first bolt safety hot only the thumb slide safety is cold safe! Cow is over the side and gone !
Knights have two safety's DUH!! GRRRRRR!
Redemption at another chance follows when the second cow steps to the grade......all safety's off, looking down to be sure, the cow stops in the middle of the grade, first cow over comes back to the calls and rejoins second cow, settling in for the shot on the bigger second cow when out of nowhere squirts a calf who stands directly between both cows in the tight knot they all to well know how to tie and keep me from firing. Not wanting two dead animals due to a pass through I pass on the shot, once you send it you can't call it back. Good lesson to learn.
Third chance was way up the hill almost to the end on a lower grade with one part of the group above us on another grade making a push through. I hear cow talk, so I start talking back when a very angry bull lets loose with his bellows pulling his cows together and then pushing them side hill through the basin and down the canyon away from us. Busted again!
I had my chances, I learned some new tricks and I am extremely happy for my partner on his first elk. We spent quality time together with Wrongway, also I enjoyed time with my son who had two days overlap deer with us. I even ran into a friend I had not seen for some 23+ years and we caught up on old times. We are now planning for the late season with friends we met last year while lessons learned are still fresh on my mind and friendships begin again. See you in the woods.
Anyone know the back story about Mom and Pop I would be willing to listen to it. Someone must have really loved them to place them in their final resting place on top.
Soady
