Post by: fishngamereaper on September 04, 2018, 07:46:25 PM
Tempurature is changing
Leaves are turning
Cams have been working overtime
Boots to the ground every two weeks since June
Plan A, B and C are in place.
Bowtech is tuned
Easton FMJ's are flying straight out to 60yds. (self imposed limit)
Rad broadheads are tuning well, probably start with the Rival but the Madman 4 flys true to.
Base camp is being organized.
Spike camp will be ready on standbye for a high mountain death march if necassary.
Calling practice while driving is going good.
At this point Im rolling solo, its going to be a blast....12 days, Im going to feel like Jeremiah Johnson by the end of the season.
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 04, 2018, 07:47:15 PM
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 04, 2018, 07:48:02 PM
Post by: jagermiester on September 04, 2018, 07:50:02 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on September 04, 2018, 07:50:18 PM
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 04, 2018, 07:51:18 PM
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 04, 2018, 07:53:25 PM
Post by: WAElkhunter89 on September 04, 2018, 07:56:10 PM
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 04, 2018, 07:58:28 PM
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 04, 2018, 07:59:24 PM
Post by: WAElkhunter89 on September 04, 2018, 08:08:00 PM
Post by: hunterofelk on September 04, 2018, 08:14:35 PM
Post by: elkoholic1 on September 04, 2018, 08:30:22 PM
Post by: MADMAX on September 05, 2018, 06:42:52 AM
Still kills me that I ate this tag a few years ago during MF, one day I will draw again :chuckle:
me too and quite a few others on here did the same that year 2015 for bowhunt , hard to hunt if they dont bugle
Post by: X-Force on September 10, 2018, 01:45:00 PM
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 14, 2018, 02:22:29 PM
I'm doing this solo and the bulls are hanging up on me..I call, run forward, range, clip release, wait and repeat.. first world problems I know...
I'm out of the hills for a shower, family time and re charge the batteries. Back at it Sunday afternoon..man I wish I had an elknut... :chuckle:
Good time's though...
Post by: slowhand on September 14, 2018, 02:27:56 PM
Tag
Post by: Jonathan_S on September 14, 2018, 03:44:37 PM
Hard work pays off. Keep it up.
Tag
Not always in the elk woods but what else can we do?
Good luck!
Post by: Hoythunter on September 14, 2018, 04:44:02 PM
Post by: N7XW on September 14, 2018, 04:48:01 PM
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 14, 2018, 05:06:03 PM
And Im having nightmares about bulges :chuckle:
Post by: Jonathan_S on September 14, 2018, 05:17:55 PM
And Im having nightmares about bulges :chuckle:
Yikes bro
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 14, 2018, 06:41:06 PM
And Im having nightmares about bulges :chuckle:
Yikes bro
:yike: :o
Bugles...... :chuckle: Im so dang tired today..
Post by: drk9988 on September 14, 2018, 08:48:47 PM
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 14, 2018, 08:59:20 PM
Your inbox is full
Cleaned, I think.
Post by: jagermiester on September 15, 2018, 12:06:07 AM
And Im having nightmares about bulges :chuckle:
[/quote]
Dude those aren’t the nightmares. The nightmares are the nights you don’t hear bugles in your sleep ;)
Post by: Vandal44 on September 16, 2018, 08:00:49 AM
Best of luck to you
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 16, 2018, 08:19:47 AM
Post by: 4fletch on September 16, 2018, 08:49:50 AM
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 20, 2018, 07:53:46 AM
No, sadly I did not fill this tag. I sit here, the last day of the season drinking a cup of coffee at home, eating humble pie and licking my wounds. Obligations would of made it nearly impossible to chase bulls today and get home when I needed to be.
What a season. I think back on what could of been. Will probably have nightmares about missed opportunities and small bulls I passed on. But then who am I to say what should of been or could of been. For whatever reason the stars didnt align and It just wasn't meant to be. Chasing animals that can hear better, see better, smell better and move 5 times as fast...….ya, I lost a fair fight. Maybe someone out there needs a bull more than me and can find success in what I learned in my failures.
I could right a book on my 12 days in the mountains solo. But I will keep it short and to the point, I mean who wants to read about my day to day close encounters right :chuckle:
Cliff notes:
12 days solo
Over 120 miles on foot
Vertical elevation gain and loss (don't ask)
Well over 400 elk encounters.
Probably heard over 1000 bugles( lost my voice towards the end because of bulging back and forth)
I worked in on at least 40 bulls.
Of those about half seemed interested in what I was doing but hung at 100 yds.
Of those I had 8 under 50 yds but no clean shot opportunity. I think with a caller behind me I would of had solid shot opportunities.
Of all those bulls only 1 came in on a string screaming like a maniac.
In the end it was a wild ride. I saw some bulls that probably have never seen a human before. Mashers for sure. Had 3 of them under 40. Sure I could of let arrows fly, but I feel I owe the animal a clean as possible kill. And didnt want to chance chasing a wounded elk.
Things I noted. Half my time was in wilderness areas. The bulls where pretty much screaming all day. My other days I worked areas with no real trails but off random spots in the road. Those bulls went silent after 10 and didnt start again till about an hr before dark. Only a few of the bulls where running cows. Most of them where just wandering around screaming "look at me"....the next two weeks should be awesome for hunting.
I found a lone set of wolf tracks.. :bash: Just outside the wilderness. The wilderness elk where really skittish. More so than they should of been.
I didnt see a single person while I was hunting. :tup: Just a lot of guys driving roads before light and after dark.
Well that's it in a nutshell.
Words of wisdom. My calling isn't really that great but it kind of worked I guess, so learn to call really good. Good bulls sometimes are not to far off the road. Set up camp along the river so you can sleep, otherwise the bulls will keep you awake all night(learned that years ago). AND most important ......Friends don't let friends ELK HUNT ALONE. :chuckle:
In the end success if what you make of it. Did I harvest a bull, NO. Would I have loved to and been one of those guys...heck ya. But overall I had a quality experience. There are no guarantees in life, escpecially bow hunting.
So ya, I guess I was successful .
Now Ive got some deer tags to fill and still have late season bow for elk if someone would kindly tie up a cow for me it would be much appreciated. :chuckle:
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 20, 2018, 07:57:36 AM
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 20, 2018, 07:58:52 AM
Post by: jstone on September 20, 2018, 08:00:08 AM
Post by: slowhand on September 20, 2018, 08:08:59 AM
I have had the peaches Tag just once but during Rifle season. It was an incredible adventure even without filling My tag. I will never forget it. I fully understand how You feel and I can't wait to pull the tag again.
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 20, 2018, 08:17:43 AM
Thank You for sharing Your adventure.
I have had the peaches Tag just once but during Rifle season. It was an incredible adventure even without filling My tag. I will never forget it. I fully understand how You feel and I can't wait to pull the tag again.
Its only the second draw tag Ive eaten in over 30 years. Guess what the first was......Peaches Bull in 98 :chuckle: :'( Oh the curse of the fruit.
Post by: slowhand on September 20, 2018, 08:20:30 AM
HahaThank You for sharing Your adventure.
I have had the peaches Tag just once but during Rifle season. It was an incredible adventure even without filling My tag. I will never forget it. I fully understand how You feel and I can't wait to pull the tag again.
Its only the second draw tag Ive eaten in over 30 years. Guess what the first was......Peaches Bull in 98 :chuckle: :'( Oh the curse of the fruit.
Oh man that would suck to enjoy peach flavored soup twice.
I guess that's why they call it hunting.
Post by: Birdguy on September 20, 2018, 05:22:33 PM