Successful ??
No, sadly I did not fill this tag. I sit here, the last day of the season drinking a cup of coffee at home, eating humble pie and licking my wounds. Obligations would of made it nearly impossible to chase bulls today and get home when I needed to be.
What a season. I think back on what could of been. Will probably have nightmares about missed opportunities and small bulls I passed on. But then who am I to say what should of been or could of been. For whatever reason the stars didnt align and It just wasn't meant to be. Chasing animals that can hear better, see better, smell better and move 5 times as fast...….ya, I lost a fair fight. Maybe someone out there needs a bull more than me and can find success in what I learned in my failures.
I could right a book on my 12 days in the mountains solo. But I will keep it short and to the point, I mean who wants to read about my day to day close encounters right
Cliff notes:
12 days solo
Over 120 miles on foot
Vertical elevation gain and loss (don't ask)
Well over 400 elk encounters.
Probably heard over 1000 bugles( lost my voice towards the end because of bulging back and forth)
I worked in on at least 40 bulls.
Of those about half seemed interested in what I was doing but hung at 100 yds.
Of those I had 8 under 50 yds but no clean shot opportunity. I think with a caller behind me I would of had solid shot opportunities.
Of all those bulls only 1 came in on a string screaming like a maniac.
In the end it was a wild ride. I saw some bulls that probably have never seen a human before. Mashers for sure. Had 3 of them under 40. Sure I could of let arrows fly, but I feel I owe the animal a clean as possible kill. And didnt want to chance chasing a wounded elk.
Things I noted. Half my time was in wilderness areas. The bulls where pretty much screaming all day. My other days I worked areas with no real trails but off random spots in the road. Those bulls went silent after 10 and didnt start again till about an hr before dark. Only a few of the bulls where running cows. Most of them where just wandering around screaming "look at me"....the next two weeks should be awesome for hunting.
I found a lone set of wolf tracks..
Just outside the wilderness. The wilderness elk where really skittish. More so than they should of been.
I didnt see a single person while I was hunting.
Just a lot of guys driving roads before light and after dark.
Well that's it in a nutshell.
Words of wisdom. My calling isn't really that great but it kind of worked I guess, so learn to call really good. Good bulls sometimes are not to far off the road. Set up camp along the river so you can sleep, otherwise the bulls will keep you awake all night(learned that years ago). AND most important ......Friends don't let friends ELK HUNT ALONE.
In the end success if what you make of it. Did I harvest a bull, NO. Would I have loved to and been one of those guys...heck ya. But overall I had a quality experience. There are no guarantees in life, escpecially bow hunting.
So ya, I guess I was successful .
Now Ive got some deer tags to fill and still have late season bow for elk if someone would kindly tie up a cow for me it would be much appreciated.
