a little more story...
Opening day was very windy. Saw only 2 elk, both bulls; a 5x6 & 6x6 traveling along the trail together. Headed for their hidey holes no doubt. Lots of pressure this year.
2nd day: 9 cows and a 3pt bull come trotting out, across the trail and making for unit 356. Immediately followed by a dandy 5 pt bull. An hour later, a few more cows (one with yellow collar) move by very quickly, spooked by hunters on the other side of my stand (well my dads ol stand area anyways). The spike appears at 175 yards and this guy was motoring back to Hindoo creek. A good off hand shot, behind the shoulder, effective heart-lung area and the Browning 300 win mag & Nosler Partition 200 gr does its job. And still he keeps going but stutters and stops after another 40 yards. 2nd shot to the neck puts him down and the work/ pack out begins!
The woods gets pretty quiet after Tuesday but we continue to encounter elk, hunting the heavy, dark timber. Great hunting when the crowds give up and leave. Ran into many hunters during cow season, complaining about not seeing elk...need to get off the roads and out of the vehicle into the woods. And I don't mean just a few hundred yards.
Having hunted this unit since 1968 with my dad and learning from the now departed old fellas has helped me now score bull elk in successive years; 2 branched permits filled (2000 & 2008) and 8 spikes. Just in the right spot at the right time, some luck, knowing the country & elk habits and being able to shoot accurately.
Of course ol' Jack, Loren and Glenn's spirits and several others are with me in the field, I can sense their presence & still hear their advice from years back as a young boy. And if their sons are reading this, the 09 spike is my 21st bull elk. Should have kept coming fellas, your fathers are the angels on my shoulders, continuing to whisper their advice and expertise.
hunting partner gets two chances thru this season but doesn't connect on his spike bull. Clean miss. Oh well, always next year.
a true elk camp....with elk hanging.
