Post by: Machias on February 06, 2012, 11:53:30 AM
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The first place we stopped at, got out of the boat and walked up the hill and found some melted out wolf tracks.
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Then we headed down the reservoir and started setting up camp. This turned out to be a real butt kicker of a chore. The water level was so low it made the hike up to camp with all the gear a real chore. After several trips my legs were toast and I was soaked with sweat. Great campsite though. After camp was set up we headed back out on the lake in the dark and called from several places on the water, no howls were heard back. We did get two groups of coyotes fired up. A couple of yotes about had a tizzy fit and barked and howled at us pretty much non-stop for 20 minutes.
That's the boat...waaay down there :)
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That night the temps dropped down to the lower teens. Pretty cold.
Next day we split up and hunted most of the day. I found a nice clear lion track following some elk tracks. Saw about 12 deer and 3 elk, but no wolf tracks. Todd found several wolf tracks up higher. I did not make it all that far or high. I should have taken the snowshoes with me that I had left down at the boat. The snow wasn't too bad untill I got a ways from camp and then it was crusty on top, just enough to start to support your weight and then you'd punch through. Really kicked my butt.
Lion track
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While calling at the meadow above, I heard something running through the woods headed right for me. Three elk popped out and if I'd of had the camera ready would have had some great footage of all three of them as they were running right at me. As it was I only got the last one. The first two were only 20 yards when they noticied me. Then I was wondering what had spooked them, heard something coming up behind them and started to get a little excited, but it was only Todd. He'd jumped the elk 4 different times coming down the mountain and they kept moving straight down from him, until they ran into me.
Got back to camp, had another great Dutch Oven meal and settled in early for the night. It was a looooong cold night. I could not get my feet warm, they were ice blocks all night. The temps had to be down in the single digits or just above 10 degrees. Woke up shivering a couple of times. I'm pretty sure it was because I didn't have a pad on my cot.
Next day we broke down camp and packed it down to the boat. Headed back to the first spot and called a couple of hours. The wolves were a no show. But it was a great three days. Probably saw 60 deer and 13 or so elk along the reservoir on the way in and a few on the way out.
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I have a couple of short videos to post shortly.
Post by: Caseyd on February 06, 2012, 12:05:26 PM
I see Todd was trying to get a wolf with the .50 ;)
Post by: Hornseeker on February 06, 2012, 12:22:09 PM
Post by: jackmaster on February 06, 2012, 12:29:53 PM
Post by: Machias on February 06, 2012, 01:19:51 PM
Post by: Machias on February 06, 2012, 01:28:25 PM
Post by: Machias on February 06, 2012, 01:49:13 PM
Post by: GoldTip on February 06, 2012, 02:01:11 PM
Post by: JohnVH on February 06, 2012, 02:02:50 PM
Looks like quite the trip!
Post by: jackelope on February 06, 2012, 08:17:23 PM
Thanks for sharing the pics.
Post by: bearpaw on February 06, 2012, 08:24:07 PM
Post by: elkaholic on February 06, 2012, 08:49:50 PM
Post by: rippinlips22 on February 06, 2012, 08:50:12 PM
Post by: Machias on February 06, 2012, 09:22:05 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on February 06, 2012, 09:24:20 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on February 07, 2012, 08:51:23 AM
Post by: mulehunter on February 07, 2012, 09:23:59 AM
Post by: Machias on February 07, 2012, 10:13:05 AM
Beats the carp out of sitting on the couch! Thanks for the sharing, Machias. Cool weekend for you. Get some battery operated socks.
A pad for the cot would have done the trick. :)
Thanks everyone, it was a blast. Going back in a couple of weeks, but going in by snowmobile this time.
Post by: FALFire on February 07, 2012, 12:59:30 PM
I am trying to put together an Idaho hunt for next season.....if there is one. :dunno: But at any rate, I have a good friend that lives in Idaho and another friend that has family there, we are planning on perhaps 5 of us getting together for a week long hunt, just need to get the particulars worked out for rooms and travel, ATV's is all we have now for getting around so it will have to be sometime when the snow has as little impact as possible on the backroads. Idaho is unfamiliar territory to us and we want to be as prepared as possible for most unsuspecting possibilities.
Post by: Machias on February 07, 2012, 01:47:56 PM
Good luck Fred,
I am trying to put together an Idaho hunt for next season.....if there is one. :dunno: But at any rate, I have a good friend that lives in Idaho and another friend that has family there, we are planning on perhaps 5 of us getting together for a week long hunt, just need to get the particulars worked out for rooms and travel, ATV's is all we have now for getting around so it will have to be sometime when the snow has as little impact as possible on the backroads. Idaho is unfamiliar territory to us and we want to be as prepared as possible for most unsuspecting possibilities.
Let me know if I can help in any way.
Post by: FALFire on February 07, 2012, 06:01:40 PM
Good luck Fred,
I am trying to put together an Idaho hunt for next season.....if there is one. :dunno: But at any rate, I have a good friend that lives in Idaho and another friend that has family there, we are planning on perhaps 5 of us getting together for a week long hunt, just need to get the particulars worked out for rooms and travel, ATV's is all we have now for getting around so it will have to be sometime when the snow has as little impact as possible on the backroads. Idaho is unfamiliar territory to us and we want to be as prepared as possible for most unsuspecting possibilities.
Let me know if I can help in any way.
Thanks Fred,
Soon as I can confirm the number of hunters, then I can plan for the rest of the trip, I would like to have 3 teams of two so one old fart can keep tabs on the other old fart :chuckle: instead of each of us just wandering around lost from the pack.
It's nice to have some company when you go crazy :yike:
Once I get things going I'll look you up and pick yer brain, perhaps we can suck down some coffee in Cheney one of these days.
Post by: Machias on February 07, 2012, 07:14:33 PM
Once I get things going I'll look you up and pick yer brain, perhaps we can suck down some coffee in Cheney one of these days.
:tup:
Post by: ribka on February 08, 2012, 08:15:50 AM
Post by: Todd_ID on February 08, 2012, 08:52:50 PM
The wolf tracks were there, but they just weren't having any of what he was offering. I hiked hard enough the second day that I was plumb worn out, but I never saw anything except deer and elk. I know the wolves were there somewhere, but they are still there....somewhere.
CaseyD: you're right about me trying to get a wolf with my .50 Beowulf! I can't wait to see one go end over end down the mountain after getting thumped by a 400 grain slug.
Like Fred and many others have said: it was a very successful hunt; we just didn't get to notch a tag. I think the best part was that I made a new friend for life.
Post by: gramps on February 11, 2012, 03:07:25 PM