Location: Somewhere in the elk woods.
Hunt: Solo archery hunt. Tag: Any bull.
Date/Time: 20 September; 0900.
Situation: You've worked in close to a bull with cows...within 80 yards. You've dogged these guys for a bit over 1/2 a mile uphill in some pretty steep terrain (pretty brushy but with some relatively open timber… Lodgepole Pine). You’ve stayed off to one side while moving, as mid-morning thermals are pushing down the mountain, in an attempt to remain undetected by the multiple noses in the group. The bull responded to one locator bugle you threw out earlier with a throaty bugle and grunts, telling what he thinks of you in his part of the mountain. For the last 25 minutes, you've kept your mouth shut as you've determined, by sound, that the bull or the lead cow is moving the herd up the sidehill away from you and to the bedding area. As you get closer to where you think the small herd may be bedding, you detect movement above you, to your 1:00 as you face up the hillside. It's a cow and she has locked eyes on your movement. You freeze and know she has seen your movement, but you have the wind in your favor, and you're in good cover so she really is not too sure what you are. She throws a single “bark” in your direction, no more than 40 yards away, turns and looks over her right shoulder uphill in the direction of the herd, and then looks back at you. You're pinned down for the most part. What should or do you do at this point? Geez, I've never been here before.
I know it's tough to answer without being there and knowing all the variables but again, it's just a medium to offer suggestions and share some ideas. Back on topic.... You're close to the herd with a bull/cows and a cow (perhaps a sentry) has kind of pinned you down. What should you do with the information provided? Remember, bull only tag.
