Post by: WapitiTalk1 on January 17, 2017, 09:46:22 AM
Date/Time: 15 September 2017/11:00 AM
Location: Somewhere in the elk woods
Hunt Pressure Status: Minimal
Hunt: Solo hunt today
Tag: Archery season; any bull
After an action packed morning two draws over (crawled into a nice alder thicket screamer but no clear shot), you head to where you had heard a distant bugle right at daylight, a few ridges over. You've worked your way up the back side of a semi flat ridge, heard a lazy bull bugle on the other side, and are now stopped at the place you see the "H" (hunter) on the uphill side of the blowdown. Now, you hear some light, social cow chatter down the side of the hill maybe 60-80? yards in some sparse timber and berry brush and holy catfish, there is a pretty nice set of antlers rotating slowly left and right below you about 45 yards! From your position, you're really not sure if the bull is bedded or not and you cannot see the cows. H = you/hunter, W = wind/thermal direction, and C = the ladies. That's all you get and yep, these situations do occur if you use cover, concealment, and the wind to your advantage when moving towards vocal elk. Now, what's your game plan to try and bring a bull home for dinner?
Oh yah, if you decide to "shoot" in any of these scenarios, reminder that if you save the picture to your desktop and open in MS Paint, you'll be able to place a spot, X, or whatever on the critter before you save it back to a jpg or png and add the marked up pic with your post.
Post by: treeclimber2852 on January 17, 2017, 09:55:09 AM
Post by: lamrith on January 17, 2017, 12:31:53 PM
That said, I would take my time and look very carefully for any movement from where cows are bedded as well as 180* around the bull, never know where that ninja cow is bedded down. If I have a clear shot to get to heart and at bare Min Double lung him from location H I will take the shot. I do not like how narrow the lane is, but moving to the right in the image puts me more behind him and when he gets up will likely (murphy's law) end up facing directly away from me.
Wind is in my favor for now, If no shot I wait him out a bit, they like to get up and check the harem and will be ready when he stands up. Worst case if the thermals might start to swirl, I may go to full draw and put out a really soft cow call and see what happens, he should at least stand up and if clear the splinter. I would rather spook them out from sounds/sight than let them get wind of me in their bedding area.
Post by: jrebel on January 17, 2017, 12:46:04 PM
Post by: coachcw on January 18, 2017, 09:12:24 AM
Post by: Tbar on January 18, 2017, 09:37:31 AM
pass missing eyegaurd .:yeah:
And short thirds!