OK, my early season came and went w/o a bull. I learned a lot, being out for my second season elk hunting(first archery), and got to know a new area a little bit so I have something to build on in more than one way. I didn't see any large groups (about 15) was the largest but I got in close to BIG bulls twice. The first was under ten yards but it was so thick I only saw the brush moving over head and heard his nerves movements and snarls then he filled his nose with my stink and.... chew..chew, the freight train was off, clearing brush like only someone who has heard the spectacle understands. I was on high, highhhh.. receive.He took off and groaned and bugled, and barked every 300-500 yards and the square mile or so came to life with several other bulls chiming in. I felt I just joined a club and my season had taken a real pleasant twist. The second bull I saw was on the following day, only I got a chance to see the rack on this one, unreal, it was at least a large six by six maybe seven and the mains were tall and wide, I didn't have enough composure to take a closer look, I was shaking and felt what elk fever was,I had drawn by bow for the first time during my season(I think you need to have your bow drawn to know if you've come down with the fever) and couldn't really sense the top portion of my body, and I seriously didn't know if this animal was going to come over the top of me or decide on another route, he was searching for me but didn't appear to know my location. He left the other way, I followed him down to a pasture I didn't realize was near, and off he went onto private property where his heard was, which I also didn't realize was near, the end. Lessons learned!
