Another elk calling story

[boneaddict]

bored of stories yet?
I was up in the NE corner and out for a little midnite bugling.  It was the dark of the moos, and I mean dark.  I couldn't see squat.  I somehow managed to get in the middle of an elk herd, and apparantly smelled ike one because they didn't seem to care.  I swaer I had them walking by me so closely I could feel the air movement.  That ended when a Spike barked about 2 feet behind me and about sent me to my maker.  I packed her up and headed home and returned at first light with my wife.   I gave one of my power bugles and got an answer up on the ridge.  It was evident that he wasn't going anywhere, so off we went.  We slipped up into the middle of this old clearcut, and I gave a couple cow calls.  Here came the first bull.  He stopped several times to rip trees, along the top of the clearcut.  he got about to the middle and then veered our way straight at us.

[boneaddict]

.

[boneaddict]

I'm pretty excited at this point.  He came straight in.  My wife is excited beyond all point now as she is clenched to me "thats close enough" The young bull puased right in front of us for a bit and was beginning to be a bit uncomfortable as he heard a cow there, where is the cow.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/boneaddict/bonesbucks/ec7.jpg

[boneaddict]

He started to slip away, so I teased him a bit with another cow call.  he did not want to leave.  About  this time he kind of circled around us and almost got below us, and did a wonderful pose out on a littel upright finger, overlooking the area looking for that seductive cow.


then one of my favorites.

[boneaddict]

he's listening to something up on the hill.  WHAT IS IT?

[boneaddict]

I think I have had enough.


he starts to "ghost" off and I do another cow call, about this time another bugle RIPS from up on the ridge where this gentleman was at. I had snapped my last picture of this fellow and start to dig into my pocket for some more film.  the bull goes exactly on the same path as this guy, stopping at each ripped tree to give it another good polishing.  he didn't miss a tree.  He came to the point where this small bull turned down the hill.  I'm still digging frantically for film.  NO FILM.  Its sitting on the seat of my truck.  So, we get to enjoy this fellow.  This story could almost be part of that haunting.  Honsestly he wasn't that big, but boy did we have fun that day.  This was the first daylight bull I ahd called in for my wife, and we have a couple 8x10s on the wall to remind us of that day, everyday.

[boneaddict]

I think  a highlite after this picture was taken was when he stabbed the ground and threw dirt everywhere and blasted us with a dirt clod.

[Elknut1]

  Good Stuff!!! I've taken my wife on many of those excursions in early Aug. to scout before the season starts & all the pressure hits. It's great to get among them as they're more relaxed & in large groups! Staying with them till dark & past is a great experience for sure, this helps my wife to see why I have such a passion for elk & elk hunting! (grin) It's great to see your wife takes the time to do these things with you!!

  I truly love seeing elk act naturally & not constantly sneaking a peek before committing as they do during general season so many times! -- I noticed in your encounter with the bull that as he was coming your way towards the cow calls that he stopped & raked a bit before getting to you. That's awesome, many guys would not know why he'd do that? Many times during cow calling sessions a bull will stop short of this cow & start "displaying" for her, he does this by raking & rubbing anything close by to show himself off to her, he certainly was not challenging her! (grin) This is supposed to impress the ladies!!! That's a great moment for you & your wife to experience, thanks for sharing! By the way, you have a special Lady there!

  ElkNut1

[Slider]

Bone where where ya when I had that Peaches Tag last year??........LOL

[Bigshooter]

Bone do you have a lucky rabbit foot i can have.

[boneaddict]

I'd love to have helped you out Slider.  I love that Peaches Ridge country.  I bugled that 400 inch bull that was dumped up there about 3 years ago in for my mother one night in the full moon.  Funny chit there.  She was like "Thats close enough". "Would you stop that".  He came in with an agressive bull call, and he was rippin and tearin'.  I brought in 5 bulls and never moved, him being the first, and he literally sat out about 30 yards rippin trees and chuckling the whole time.  MAN that was fun.