What an evening

[Tony 270]

Didn't hunt this morning, but did go out in the evening. Since I only have a car I decided to peddle the mountain bike to the road I wanted, then headed up the mountain. So it took about 25 minutes to go down the road and get to the locked gate. Then up hill. And up, and up. This spot I go to there is no flat ground, only up to get there and down to get back.

So a little over an hour later I get to my area, tired, hot, sweaty and glass the clearcut. After a minute or less I spot a cow coming out of the trees and heading up a hillside. Have seen them do it before in this place so know about where to go at the top so I can wait. Only, this cow is all by herself, nothing else comes out. I watch and wait, and is only her. I go up to the top to wait anyway just to see where she comes up. Almost to the top, still alone. I watch for a few minutes, then take off in search of a bull.

Not far away on the backside I'm on an old road and give a few little bugles and cow calls. At one point I thought I heard a bugle in the distance, way back in the woods, but wasn't sure. Wait a few minutes, bugle again. Nothing. Go to a tree and start shaking it and breaking off branches, bugle once more. Nothing... until I hear him! And this time it was clear a bull was calling back. Sounded about 200 yards back in the sticks I guessed. Go down the road trying to get closer, which took me beside him basically and call. Nothing. Wait and call, nothing.

In the spot I was at the mosquitos were horrible! Couldn't get a break from them at all and it sucked. So while I was waiting to hear him or have him come out I'm moving around a little bit just to try and get a couple seconds of relief from these horrible insects. Bzzzzz! Bzzzz! Bzzzz! Just can't get away from them and the damn things are all over, trying to fly in my ears, I hate them!

The road I was on went up and to the left, but there was an old, grown over road that goes off to the right, kind of towards the bull. Expecting him to come out there (if at all) I walk up a little more and get in the brush on the right side, that way if he did come out I wouldn't be in front of him, but to his left side and have a good broadside shot.

Well I get over there and I hear some light crunching in the brush not up from the trail, but directly to my right and about 20 yards away. Oh no... he came in all silent on me and these mosquitos made me blow it and he's going to bulldoze his way out of there. Didn't happen. I crouch down in the grass hoping to still have a chance and hear something is certainly there. Get the bow ready, release on the d-loop, up, ready to draw back.

Hear some crunching, silence, crunching, silence. It was pretty thick brush between me and the noise, but there were a couple litte openings where I should have been able to see him. It keeps moving, but is starting to get behind me and will wind me soon. All I can do is wait and hope at this point. More movement and crunching, and I see a glimpse of it, but it looked like deer fur for the slight sighting I had. Now why would a deer come in to an elk bugle? Can't be... It keeps moving and I see a tan-ish/beige color and I'm thinking holy ****, a cougar is coming in for some elk dinner!!! Now this thing is only 20 yards away from me and getting downwind of me more. I have the Sportspac, I can take a coug or bear or anything, come on in.

So I've read plenty of stories of guys cow calling and whatever only to have a cougar come in looking for dinner. But when they finally see the cougar, it knows exactly that it isn't an elk, but a person, and it just doesn't care. Its now downwind of me and I'm expecting it to smell me and go, but it doesn't. Okay, it knows I'm here, what I am, and it just doesn't care. My heart is thumping, adrenaline going, I'm excited. If it really is a cougar I just hope when I stick it, it runs away from me and not towards. I'm about to draw back and wait... come on out, I'm gonna stick you, just give me a shot!

Few seconds later, more crunching, and I see it! There it is! Only, it isn't a cougar... it is a porcupine! You've got to be kidding me. A porcupine? Really? It comes walking out in the middle of the road, faces me, stands on its hind legs and looks towards me. Now I'm guessing they had poor eyesight cause it didn't seem to be able to tell what I was. Sniffed the air, stared. I stood up and waved at it, it just kept staring. I took two steps towards it, stares some more. Finally it gets back on all fours and walks away and I follow it. Then I get to thinking get your camera out, I want to take a picture. It keeps walking faster and so do I. So now it doesn't like me very much and puffs up, but keeps walking and off into the woods it went.

Never did get that bull to bugle again. Never heard any cows call either. But it is early, a lot of season left and it will only get better.

So went back to my bike and looked at the time, then double checked the time. Went cruising down the hill, not trying to break any speed records, was on the brakes most of the way, but clipped along pretty well. Got to the bottom and looked at my watch. No way... Looked again. Yep, it only took 5 minutes to get to the bottom. Over an hour up, five minutes down. Then another 25 to get back to where I started.

[carpsniperg2]

sounds like a great day in the woods

[BrandonWatts]

sounds like a good day to me. i had a really good even hunt as well expect i miss a nice 5x5 at 50yd i really hate tree limbs right now. got the bull chuckleing at us on the way out about 100yds in the timber just got a little to agressive with the calling and he turn and walk away. we chased the herd for about 4 hours had a cow at 20yds and  the bull between 50 and 85 yds heading back in there tomarrow evening but still a good night.

[h2ofowlr]

I like it when the squirrels drop the pine cones out of the top of the tree and it sounds like an elk rubbing it's velvet off its horns or raking a tree.  That can get the new guy going.

[wsucowboy]

sounds like a great night

[PA BEN]

Great story. If you don't mind I have a porcupine story and yes they don't see will at all. When I was a kid I was sitting by an apple tree bear hunting. A porcupine came out about 100yds away and started to walk toward me. I looked up to see the tree I sitting at had been chewed up by a porcupine. He walked right up to my feet, I moved my boot and he stopped about a foot away and stood up on his back feet, looked around and didn't see me. I waved my hand and said hi. You should have seen the look on his face

[dirty24d]

Tony purchase a refurbished thermacell unit and some butane and repellant pads from thermacell.com   i got a unit 4 butane cartridges and a bunch of reppellant pads for 37 dollars. best investment i've made as far as hunting goes! i went from being slayed by mosquitoes nightly to not getting bitten a single time since i ve bought it.  Works great and they have the earth scent pads which dont bother the animals...  

[Tony 270]

I keep hearing about Therma Cell, just need to go get it. Sounds like money very well spent.

[Stomper]

Tony,are you hunting Oregon this year?Or is this Washington hunting?Good luck!I hope you get a wall hanger!

[Tony 270]

I've been thinking of hunting WA, but that whole out of state price thing. Have my Sportspac from Oregon and mainly going from Warrenton to Cannon Beach for elk, might look past Jewell a little, too.

Deer I'm going to the south end of the state after those mul.... I mean blacktails  


You staying around your area this year?

[dirty24d]

I keep hearing about Therma Cell, just need to go get it. Sounds like money very well spent.

You'll wonder how you ever hunted without it.  Totally eliminates skeeters. i was skeptical at first but I'm a beliver now for sure!!

[Stomper]

Yep,I located some elk up here.I will be hunting the eastside for mulies,if I don't tagout early archery on a bull,I will be heading south for the late hunt.