I really haven't seen much this season. Prior to this outing I'd seen a cow and a bull. Total. Had only heard one bull bugle and had heard zero cows calling. Slow... and less than a week left.
Went out Monday night just to check out a new spot, wasn't really even that serious about going there. Gave a couple bugles and heard one in return way off in the distance. Peddled over in that direction only to find some logging equipment and a big clear cut. Bugle sounded like it was near the equipment and near the tree line. Okay, who is sitting over there bugling? Sounded terrible too. I just sat on the bike and looked around for anything in other directions and listed to the occasional bugle. Only now it didn't sound so terrible, it actually sounded pretty good. Then some chuckling. Head on over there and don't see a person. Give a bugle and hear one in the woods. Then again a few minutes later deeper in the woods. Great job, you just let one go.
Tuesday morning went out to an area I had planned on originally. There are two herds that join into one in the summer and I have a general idea of where that is. Didn't see anything but more logging equipment and recent clear cuts. Did come across an area with lots of tracks and sign, but nothing fresh.
That evening went back to the same area as the night before. Hit up that same patch of woods, cow called, bugled... nothing. Gave it a shot for a while and headed off towards a different area I'd never been to before. Peddled along, gave a call here and there with no return. Got to the point where it was starting to get dark, I wasn't hearing anything, lets go back. Am also getting pretty discouraged. Not hearing much, not seeing much... what am I doing wrong? Wrong area? Wrong technique?
Head down the hill. On the way back (was almost 3 miles in) I'm looking up at the treeline and what is that... an elk! Finally I see an elk! Only problem is they're way up on the treeline, I'm on the road below and there is nothing but slash and fresh clearcut between us. No possible way to get up there.
Now, even worse, I spot a cow and calf staring right at me. Okay, I'm busted, they're starting to leave. Only the other two with them are a ways off and have no intention to go back into the woods. Take a good look, a raghorn and a cow. Keep looking around and spot some more elk coming out. Few more cows and another raghorn again. In all, saw eight. One bull was 327 yards, the other 297.
So I'm sitting on the road below watching the two that spotted me and they're just standing at the tree line, but the other keep coming out. The sun is going down, they're very slowly making any progress coming down the hill, so I figure why not.
Grab my Baby Hoochie and call. The closer raghorn returns with a small bugle and looks my way. Wait a moment and give another call, he comes back yet again. I wait a little longer, call again and he takes a few steps. Start mixing it up with my other call (the kind you bite down on with the rubber band in it) and the Hoochie. Now he starts walking down the hill. No way...
So I'm behind a stump hidden from them, pointing my calling behind me to make it sound like I'm farther away. Also thinking he was 297 yards I need him to get to 50 or less, ideally, not going to happen. He stops a few times on the way down and I keep giving a few calls here and there to keep him coming. After a couple minutes I range him at 80 yards, but he's moving to my right and now I'm out in the open to him. I'm crouching down on the sloped bank, on my knee and foot. He's staring right at me... great he's going to bust out of there. But I'm wearing my camo shirt, lucky beannie that I've taken many animals while wearing, and have the bow right in front of my face.
Surprisingly he starts walking again, but is continuing to my right and heading downwind of me. I'm sure he's going to smell me and bolt. After a few steps he gets behind a big brush pile and I can't see him. Given the opportunity I change my angle and sit down on the slope. He's still not coming out so I give a call behind me to try and turn him. I get my release on the loop, have the cam resting on the ground while grabbing the string guide and holding the rangefinder in my left hand.
After another minute he comes walking out in the open, still heading down the hill, still getting closer to catching my scent. Out in the open, looks right at me and stares. Same thing, crouched down, bow in front of my face, holding still. Do have the RF up to my face as well and range him at less than 50 yards now. I'm expecting him to bolt any second and be gone, but he doesn't. He starts walking again so I range him one last time, drop the RF, grab the bow, come to full draw. Of course now he's staring at me again and just my luck, he stopped where some thick brush is covering his shoulder and just behind. Damn... but I look for another second or two and I have a shot. Little farther back than ideal, but there is still enough there. At 42 yards, put the 40 on him, let it go... smack!
Cleared the brush, got him. He falls down, tries to get up, falls, gets up. I grab another arrow and send it. Just happens that he was kind of circling and falling when I did and it went just over his back. Grab another arrow, let it go and hit him again. Now he laid down, I give him a few minutes, he's still looking around and calling out. Figuring it might take a little while and don't want to chance pushing him, if he's able to get up, I take off down the hill to drop off my stuff and hopefully borrow a game cart from a friend nearby to tow behind the bike. He wasn't home, go back to the gate, head back up the hill.
At this point it's way past dark, I'm tired, clear night, should be cool enough. Gut him out (boy did that take a while), prop open his chest and leave him overnight. Shot wasn't too far back and didn't get his stomach or anything nasty. My hopes were to just drive in whe the loggers open it up, but get the big negative on that. Ride on up, man I'm sore, get back to him and start the big job.
I'm thrilled with my bull. I couldn't believe it actually played out like it did and he came all the way in. Now I'm really glad he was only a little 3-point cause I don't want another 200+ pounds of elk laying on the ground. I decide I'm making one trip, I'm not coming back up again. Those Alaska game bags are awesome! Roasts, straps, t-lions went in those and into the Badlands 2200. Stuffed full, am surprised I was able to zip it shut. Come time to go I grab it with one arm and try to lift. Yeah right, here's your sign... Grab a strap and the top and try, lol keep thinking. Then grab one strap with both hands, get my whole body into it, fling it up to have it come thud down on my back. This is going to suck! Everything else went into my game bags that I wrapped around each side of the handlebars and left hanging below. I'm so glad I had that bike cause that would have been at least two trips in and out to carry that all on foot. Also luckily most of it was downhill except for a few portions.
Got my meat out, chilling in cooler now. Tired, sore... don't want to think about elk till next year
My hunting rig
Now or never...
They were way at the tree line
Very hard to see him, but he's there. The shot...
My bull
Must have been a funny sight
Done!
