Opening morning we went to our scouted spots and got on Elk right at light. One thing I love about elk hunting. Is the scenery and the way your body feels after a 9 day hunt. OUCH is all I have to say. Anyway, my bro and I were walking up a 4 or 5 year old clear cut when I see brown. Like I said it was early in the morning. Couldnt even see my pins. So we waited and of course the damn things came closer and spotted us. Took off like a bolt of lighting. We tried to keep up with them. But its there home, and they are in way better shape than I am. Plus can traverse that country like no man can. We ended up loosing them.
The rest of our hunting party showed up and we decided to hunt down lower. Ran into a cool guy by the name of Brian. He sayed he put some elk to bed that late morning and needed more bows in the woods. Plus it was on the border of toutle and he knew we had toutle tags. We get in there around 4pm and can here them down in the steep/thick stuff getting off of beds. So we got into position. There was about 12 cows. 4 calfs a nice 5x6 and a spike in the herd. We moved around trying to get into position/wind in our favor so one of us could get a shot. My buddy got within 25yards and the damn brush prevented him from getting a shot. Around 7pm the bull starts buglin. Then we realized that it wasnt the only herd there. In total there were 5 bulls and still dont know how many cows... The bulls were are competing against each other. Something that always raises the hair on my neck and makes my blood pump. None of us ended up with a shot that day.
On Saturday my bro, friend and I spot elk while riding our bikes in early in the morning. We watch them go up the clear cut and into the timber. We knew exactlly were they were headed. So we hauled ass on our bikes to the end of a spur road, then hiked up the steep/thick stuff. Before we knew it, we were on them. Let me tell you how steep this is now. When I was at full draw my left knee was on the ground and my right leg was standing....
I could hear the elk in front of us. The wind is perfect, right at our face. I look up the hill and see horns coming down. Then I see brown. I trying to be as still as possible without sliding the down the damn MT. There is a little knoll between my buddy and I. He is off to my left. My brother went another 80 or so yards farther to the left. So I dont know exactly were he is at. All I know is he is off to my left somewehere. The bull is coming in slowly. My bud has no idea he is there. My bud whistles at me. Then the bull came charging down hill and is 17 yards from me. I have no shot because of brush. Plus he is standing straight in front of me. im thinking to myself. "2 more steps and you are dead buddy". He ended up spooking and headed up hill. Off my buddy and I go up the hill after him. Realizing the whole herd just spooked because my bro took a shot at a cow.
After all said and done. According to my GPS we biked/hiked close to 60 miles. To say the least. My feet hurt my legs hurt. But my mind is at ease. I still have late season in the toutle to look forward to. Once I get some rest and pics down loaded. I will post some pics. Thank you all for the help.
