Preparing to Hunt Peaches Ridge...My Journey. Updated 9.6

[Odell]

I think your cow call will pay off much better than Bull calls! Too early IMO for challenge talk.

That matches what a few others have told me as well. I was hoping to locate bulls using a bugle at night and in some other scenarios but maybe the cow call will work just as well.

[rtspring]

Try to walk 50 yds, slowly, stopping every ten feet or so. At every 50 yds or so cow call.  When you call stay still for 5-10 mins. Listen and look!!!!

Try to be quiet but remember elk are noisy animals! I almost always hear them before I see them. 

If elk are vocal, even just the cows, you will hear them calling back and forth. 

As for the bugle, when bulls are screaming, any bugle thats close to what an elk does will work.  Its the days when they go silent that you really need to bugle well.  Dont try to sound like the biggest bull on the mountain either. 

Good luck

[wildmanoutdoors]

Try to walk 50 yds, slowly, stopping every ten feet or so. At every 50 yds or so cow call.  When you call stay still for 5-10 mins. Listen and look!!!!

Try to be quiet but remember elk are noisy animals! I almost always hear them before I see them. 

If elk are vocal, even just the cows, you will hear them calling back and forth. 

As for the bugle, when bulls are screaming, any bugle thats close to what an elk does will work.  Its the days when they go silent that you really need to bugle well.  Dont try to sound like the biggest bull on the mountain either. 

Good luck

Im with RT.
I have had more Bulls come in too Cow calls than any other call, especially early on.
Like he said, move slowly, call, wait! Sometimes they come in so silent. Keep your eyes peeled for movement, and watch your backside!
It'll scare the crap out of ya the first time one comes in from behind. You wont know it till you move and he friggen crashes the woods to get the heck out of there.

[bowhiker]

 Nice to see an update on your journey. Keep your focus on Sept and what you need to do. Your body will rebound with stretching and exercise. Determination and attitude will get you through. And I'll third what RT said.  Good advice.

[Odell]

With the thunderstorms up there and my neck still being hurt I pushed this weeks scouting off until next week. I do have my base camp narrowed down and have seen a lot of elk, due to my limited skills I am not targeting any specific bull, just areas with bulls and we will see what happens when hunting starts. Any decent bull that presents me with a good shot I will take. "decent" will probably be a fluid definition by day 3!

Maybe this bull will be considered decent halfway through…

[robertsjd]

Awesome thread I'll be following along aswell been putting in for peaches for 3 years ! Best of luck to you man !

[rtspring]

Gonna be around up there sat or sunday.  Keep up on the scouting!!  Its almost go time for some..

Rtspring

[Odell]

Gonna be around up there sat or sunday.  Keep up on the scouting!!  Its almost go time for some..

Rtspring

I can't believe how quick the past few months have gone. One more scouting trip for me early next week and thats it…

Good news on my shoulder and neck, feeling almost 100% today and plan on shooting tonight. We will see how it goes.

[WALLEYEGUY]

Great thread    Still many ups and downs, sucsess is ussually dictated by those that don't let the downs get to them

[Odell]

Well guys, its go time! Sorry I haven't provided more updates but i will update during the hunt provided i have good reception. I cannot believe how fast summer went. For all you who train year round, who hone your skills constantly, I understand why you do! 12 weeks is just not enough prep time for a rookie like myself. I have learned a lot and hope it is enough. I knew going into this I would need some luck and some help and a good attitude and thats is still true.

Here's where I am at.

Gear: Think I'm dialed in though my pack is a bit heavy going in.
Weight loss: I wanted to lose 40, I lost 30
Scouting: I wanted to get 10 scouting trips in, I only got 5.
Calling: I wanted to learn how to call. I'll let the elk be the judge of that but safe to say I won't be entering any contests! My cow calling using the Mellow Yellow is probably what I'm best at. Bugling? Still sounds more like a whale than an elk.

I went in Thursday for a last look. Hiked 15 or more miles and am still recovering! Yikes. Decided on my plan A and chose a new access point. Pretty steep going in but fewer miles and should be easier coming out.

There are lots of elk in the area. Hopefully I can find a stupid one!

My current goal is to try to get a mature 5 or 6 point week 1. I won't shoot any bull, no matter how tempting. We will see if I can hold to that. I don't want to pack out a rag horn on my back when I still have 6-7 days to hunt. Week 2 I will be hunting from a base camp with a nice cot and canvas tent. We will see how much energy I have left but it will be nice to have a comfy bed and some real food.

Thanks to all who have added tips, encouragement and offered help. I have at least 4 people who have offered to help pack an elk out. Hopefully you will be getting a phone call!

I can't believe its time…hitting the trail early monday morning and spending this nice rainy weekend with my wife and daughter…and carb loading…lol.

Thanks again everyone!

David

[BOWHUNTER45]

If you can run a cow call that's all you need ! Bugle is nice to locate them but then you need to move in close and cow call ..Hopefully someone with you can cow call too ..That ups your odds dramatically    Good luck !

[kevinlisa06]

Good luck to you on your hunt stay safe out there!


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[CoyoteCowboy]

Good luck!

[Vulcan]

Tagged!

Can't wait to see your update! Good luck!

[4fletch]

Bulls will bugle back to a cow call  so at night cow call first. Then if no answer bugle