Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: WapitiTalk1 on April 02, 2015, 10:27:39 AM
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Hunting journal: 5th day of your 10 day NW Montana hunt, 18 September (bull only tag), buddy hunt. This is your second time hunting this particular spot this year which is a saddle between two main draws. From your previous trips to this spot, and, from a distant listening post at night, you know there are elk and vocal bulls that arrive at this spot right before dark and promptly leave right after daybreak and head down into the deep draws on either side of the saddle. The draws are literally un-huntable from the bottoms. OK, you’ve decided to side hill a semi open, upper portion of one of the draws and arrive at this spot right at daylight and see what damage you can do to the indigenous population. All is working fine as you work onto the saddle and no less than three bulls are screaming (sounds like one herd bull and two upstarts). You work the wind, set your buddy up close to, and below the small herd, and right before you insult the herd boss’s bullhood with some brush bashing and a loud challenge bugle, the herd decides it’s time to move off the saddle and head down into the abyss (of course, they choose the draw on the other side of the saddle..not the draw you’ve set up on). They’re moving slow but deliberate and still vocal as the cows single file march down an elk trail with the herd bull pushing them and the satellites hollering around the procession. You haven't seen any of the elk yet but can certainly hear them chattering and moving down the hillside below the saddle.
Call, crawl, charge, cower (wait it out), or other plan. What's your plan of attack to arrow an elk? There they go, slowly but surely, and at this point unspooked……what are you and your buddy gonna do to try a get a shot at one of the bulls?
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flank them and haul ass . they walk faster than we run !
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5 more days in the hunt, try again tomorrow.
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Stay just close enough to hear where they bed down. Get above them once the thermals are steady uphill. Drop in within 100 yards, and call him in. Byl far my most successful method.
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Since its day 5, I'm not going to sneak into their beds. I'll agree with buglebrush that I'm waiting until the thermals change to uphill. Then I'm getting closer. I'm also doubting that the bulls bed for long. All three will be doing some moving around over the next few hours. In my experience, somebody will be moving by 2:00. The satellites may mill around the perimeter or may settle for awhile, so I'm keeping aware of them.
Somewhere in there, if I get close enough and the herd bull seems anxious enough, I'll stomp, bust brush, and give some grunts, maybe followed up by a full screaming, in-your-face bugle as if I'm here to steal some cows. If the herd bull is worked up enough, he'll take the challenge and come looking. Maybe even a satellite will come over silent to size up the competition. Since its a buddy hunt, one of us is down hill closer to the bull.
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I'm probably going at this all wrong but, I would rather blow an opportunity by being to aggressive, rather than wonder "if" by not being aggressive enough. With that said, I'm charging in and hitting him with a challenge bugle. :dunno:
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You can't turn a herd that isn't already headed your way. You can't outrun them and get within bow range in that timber. If you follow them, then the swirling wind around 10 or 11 will blow them out. Back out 400 yards at the same elevation they bedded at; take a long nap next to the water they'll possibly use; if you don't kill him at the water, then have your buddy in the edge of the saddle before they get there that evening and you can call to pull the bull to the saddle from just over the opposite side. You won't pull him down off the saddle any, but he will go to the saddle without too much trouble.
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Ya, this is a precarious situation, but, you have options. As Tood_ID mentioned, you're not gonna turn this bunch once they've decided to head towards their bedding area. I threw in the three vocal bulls for a reason. If you're not dead set on getting a shot at the herd bull, this is a prime opportunity to pull a satellite into your partner's lap! As many have mentioned, working the wind is paramount here. The downward sliding wind is not your friend at this point in time so you've gotta consider that first and foremost (particularly if you're gonna try to make a play this morning). Perhaps run down the ridge a few hundred yards and then dump straight down, pausing periodiclaly to try and keep track of the small herd. Dog the group, staying parallell to them but a bit farther down the sidehill, constantly checking the wind until within 80 yards or closer of their directional path. Once you're close, set up your partner and throw out some suttle, sorta whiny cow calls.. not too loud, just loud enough for one of the satellites to hear. He'll probably come visit you. This is similar to what buglebrush mentioned. Not ready to play the odds and head down in and after them? Todd_ID mentioned waiting on that saddle till evening.. "they'll be back". I agree with this also as I've been in this spot (yep, it's a real place) and did just that and almost got a shot at a very nice bull. Thanks for chiming in folks. Just trying to keep the elk thoughts percolating.
