Well I'm back home. What an experience!! Where I was the bulls seemed to be in a hot/cold mode. Weather wasn't accomidating. Had one frosty night and a couple nights with sprinkles.
Passed on a bull on the weekend. Hiked in behind a gate on Monday and had one standing in the crosshairs at 30 yards. Couldn't get a clear look at horns and hesitated. The bull didn't. Seen a nice buck further in but was packing the rifle at that point.
Tuesday I decided to go high where I had watched the bulls with YellowDog and his brother. A 10 mile hike with 3000' of elevation gain didn't give me any opportunities other than to stretch my legs.
Wednesday, I was a little slow getting out and decided to scout some other areas. Another member prompted me to relook at an area I had been thru. At 1:30 in the afternoon I was at 5000', blew a bugle and got 3 responses. I concentrated on the closest but couldn't draw him out into the open.
Thursday I was back an before daylight listening to him talk to his ladies. Tried hard to talk him into any little clearing but it wasn't to be. Thursday afternoon Rtspring came up t help and drug me back to "the ridge of impending doom"
He was nice enough to show me a route without all the blowdown to climb over. Nothing showed up so I had the opportunity to show him my route on the way back out.
Friday we decided to return to the bull I had located on Wednesday. The idea was to call him out, kill him, and go have breakfast. The bull and his ladies had other ideas. By 1:00 in the afternoon, we had 3 close encounters from 30 - 50 yards. I had just as well been packing the bow. The bull was hot and mad but had no intentions of stepping into an opening.
The wind was constantly swirling. It would be in your face one minute, and a few seconds later come blasting over your back. We were 5 drainages from the truck when they busted us one last time. We stayed in the area the rest of the day hoping we could catch them. As the sun set, we watched this huge black cloud coming in from the north, hopefully bringing weather and better conditions for the next round.
I never actually seen the bull at any time, and am wondering maybe if it actually was a ghost
I have challenged a couple other hunters to send me a picture when they kill him
So I didn't get my bull, but I did have my quality hunt of a lifetime. I met some great people from HW and had a great time. I can't thank Rtspring and the entire Getsum crew enough. To everyone that offered information and help, I hope I can repay or pass forward a small part of what I received. I fell in love with the area and do plan to be back. Thanks to everyone.
Now I,m repacking and regrouping because I'm late for heading to WY. But that's another story yet to come.....
