well crap, hind sight is 20/20

[vandeman17]

Old man and I went down to NE Oregon for his any elk archery tag. Plan was to be there first few days of season to see if we could catch a bull still in summer mode and if no luck, be back for 10 days in middle of September during the rut. We had went down a few times this summer and had two cameras out with stands set at both. Plan was to have him in one, depending on what the pics showed, and me watching over a big deep drainage that we hunt. Friday night before opener we rolled in, set camp and each went to pull a card from the stand location. First card showed zero elk pictures the previous week but hammered with cattle. Second location also lots of cattle but herd of cows, calves and spikes came through multiple times. Easy choice to go set up there for the opener, or so it seems until we got back last night and looked at the other card....  Note date and time

[Stein]

Figures.   

[vandeman17]

Figures.   

Kind of like hitting on 12 and pulling a face card. Right call, bad beat

[theleo]

Luck is where opportunity and preparation meet. I'd say you got the preparation part rite, opportunity was just a little off.   

[vandeman17]

Luck is where opportunity and preparation meet. I'd say you got the preparation part rite, opportunity was just a little off.

For sure and who knows if we would have bumped him going into that stand, if he would have winded him before coming in or tons of other variables. Maybe he will still be around when we go back since its a spot that has many years of rubs and we have seen bulls in there multiple times.

[coachcw]

don't torture your self , plenty of time.

[vandeman17]

don't torture your self , plenty of time.

I totally agree, just frustrating for those few moments seeing the pictures after all the canyons we covered 

I told my old man it wouldn't have been as exciting as when I call a bull into his lap in a few weeks. Besides, I want to be there when he makes his first bow kill so I can see his reaction. If he would have killed this one it would have taken me a while to get to him and the adrenaline would have went down some

[blackpowderhunter]

crossing my fingers he's still around for your next trip 

[vandeman17]

crossing my fingers he's still around for your next trip 

Likewise. Its a very rutty patch and actually one of the few areas we hunt in the unit that wouldn't be an absolute azz kicker to get an elk out!

[Shawn Ryan]

Damn! But you'll get into them later.

[gasman]

Good luck to your pops, it will happen this year for him

[vandeman17]

Good luck to your pops, it will happen this year for him

Thanks Pete. If nothing else, we will have a hell of a good time trying

[pianoman9701]

You guys will score. Shoot straight! Good luck.

[elkrack]

That’s a good bull hopefully he shows for ya

[vandeman17]

We will be in there at least a few times to see if we can relocate and put an arrow in him!