Well after 3 consecutive years of killing bulls in our Idaho spot that came to an end this season. First week was super hot following week dead of winter and no longer access it. I made a short trip to Montana where I had bow hunted this past Sept in hopes elk were still around. I pull up and glass on way to camp and sure enough there's 150 elk feeding right below the public boundary! Set up camp and watched elk that night and about an hour before dark they spooked. I then found out why as a hunter was above them. A little discouraged I went to bed and got up and started my hike a hour before dark. As I approached where I may see some elk, I could see the skyline was moving about 300 yards of skyline! it was the herd of elk, and they were all on public land. They were 700 yards skylined and no way to shoot, so I hurried along the fence line down a draw and up the other side to 400 yards but no way to shoot and I could only see 1 elk and she saw me..crap! I could see her trot over hill and thought she took the herd into private land. I continued along fence line getting closer to where they were and I had once again a cow staring at me at 150 yards and all I can see is her face, but I can hear the herd talking. She trots down the hill and I hear elk going well s^&%! I follow them down to a draw I know they like, and they are there at 350 yards all 150+ holy cow! I can't shoot due to sage brush, so I start crawling down the hill to where I can get a rest and clear view. I get set up and part of the herd is jumping fence into private! I have a 5 pt bull standing at fence broadside and decided to pass in fear of it going over fence. I notice about 15 elk going up and away from private, so I go to range them and during my crawl I had packed my rangefinder in snow and could not get a range! finally did at 510 and they were headed to fence, and I did not want to risk an elk jumping into private. I watched the herd feed on private and noticed they were angling up hill and were moving at a steady pace up the hill back to public, so I moved over a ridge and waited and an hour later 15 elk popped out above me on public land, but too far to shoot. I moved up the hill into range, but no elk. I circled around and nothing. I sat a while and glassed and picked up 3 elk below me on private. I cut over to head back to camp and crossed the tracks of the 15 elk and it was a different herd and they had joined the big herd below. Finally at camp after 11 miles I drive back down the road and see the big herd right below the public land boundary feeding up. Tomorrow, I had high hopes, and I would just repeat my walk. Another single digit morning I was off with hope into the dark. I glassed and hiked 6 miles with no elk seen. I made it to camp as the winds were picking up and saw the weather report for that night and morning and decided I would head home. Forecasted 60mph winds, 1-3" of snow and 7 deg. I hopefully will return before season ends on my way back from my Utah hunt if all goes well there.
