Trad Gang
Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: wingnut on October 04, 2008, 09:24:00 AM
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Well I finally got the pics loaded and am ready to tell the story and I promise to get the whole 10 day adventure told before Monday.
A long year has finally passed since we left the mountains in Central Idaho and we are flying low headed north. Unfortunately as we left the little storm in Houston has hit our area and we buck 40 mph winds all the way to Oklahoma. Not a problem for the diesel, just a problem for the mpgs.
Our departure was timed so we would end up between Amarillo and Denver the first night and so that we would make it into Idaho the second. We like to arrive in camp around noon. It gives us time to setup and go out that evening to glass and listen from the high areas.
I won't bore you with two days on the road so we will fast forward to arrival in camp. The spot we had last year, was occupied by a trailer, no hunters just a trailer. But the bigger and better spot 250 yds up the road was ours for the taking.
Here is camp as we unload our gear:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0002.jpg)
Two hours later, we are set and Jason is splitting some firewood that the previous campers left for us.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0005.jpg)
Here is the small kitchen:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0006.jpg)
and the shower:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0007.jpg)
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We decided that we still had time to hit the hill at 5:30 and saddled up and headed up the skid by camp. The plan was to climb the hill to the top where there is a 360 degree vista and lots of elk country to watch.
We didn't make it that far, 200 yds out of camp, Jason whispers; DEER!!. And then BIG BUCK!!. I look up the hill and there stands a beautiful 4x4 mule deer about 26" spread and long tines. He is maybe 22 yds and did I say uphill. Anyway after one slow crowhop, I had a shot. Now I swear I was looking at the crease of the shoulder, but Jason said the shot was good. . . .if I was looking at the rack. I hit both sides of antler and went flying up the hill. The deer followed shortly. Dang it's not right to test a guy only 15 minutes out of camp.
We looked for the arrow and tried to relocate the buck until darkness fell. It was only a short walk back to camp though. LOL
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Cool Beans......keep 'em coming.
Winterhawk1960
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Now that would have been too easy! L.O.L.!
Can't wait to see the rest....
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The alarm went off at 5:30 and I was up building a fire and getting coffee on shortly there after. As soon as the coffee boiled, I kicked Jason and rolled him out. We are hunting out of camp today and headed down into the bottoms. This is where we had multiple bull encounters last years so a good place to start. We don't have shooting light at around 7:15 and headed out about 6:45. A quick walk down the road past our old camp and we were headed down the river to the bottoms.
We set up just off the river and started to call as it got just enough light to shoot. Nothing!
Moved up the wind and hill 200 yds and setup again. Nothing again!!
We repeated the process til we hit the ridge 600 ft above the river. Not one response and no fresh sign.
We worked back towards camp and cut a few deer tracks and some really big bear sign.
Back at camp we fixed some chow and talked a bit about what we saw this morning.
Here are some pics from on top of the ridge:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0023.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0025.jpg)
Mike
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Thanks for taking us with you on your hunt. I am enjoying this tremendously!!
Paul
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Everything, including the kitchen sink. Just like your fly out moose hunt, lol.
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Looking forward to the rest Mike.
:wavey: :thumbsup:
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Been looking forward to this one! Can not wait to hear the rest of it.
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I have been waiting for this post. I am sitting in my reading chair awaiting the rest of the story.
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WE headed back up top in the evening but took the truck this time and went over to the back side on a road we'd never taken before. About 400 yds down the other side Jason whispers "GROUSE" at the top of his lungs and we slide to a stop. Bailing out of the truck and grabbing bows and flu flus in a well oil routine. We almost cut bow strings and throats. There were birds everywhere and they were booking for cover. I almost got drawn on a large male before he ducked into the berry bushes, another eludes Jason and we try to sneak them up the hill. First you'd spot one and then it would flush. Jason drew on one going straight away but it veared behind a tree before he could loose.
I counted 7 birds flushing out and not a shot. We went down to the truck and Jason said that the birds he'd seen were below the road. So we got grouse small and snuck into a good spot to only miss seeing one 10 yds away. It finally flushed and 3 more went with it.
We drove on down and found that this road was a pass to another creek road access. We drove uphill til the road petered out and turned back. It was time to get back too the top and hike up to see if the elk were there. On the way back we found about 20 doug fir rounds someone had cut but left behind because it was a little punky. We filled the truck and as we were finishing two guys pulled up on one of the quad things.
They were shooting funny looking bows and I noticed they both had exactly the same equipment.
Anyway we talked a bit and they said their group of four had already taken 3 bulls and were out after the fourth this evening. Off they went and we headed out our way. I asked Jason where he wanted to go and he said that we should follow the quad tracks and see where they were headed. The roads only go to a few places up there and the guys were not very clear when I asked where all the elk were. LOL
We followed the tracks up til they turned up a dead end track. We knew they were hunting high so we went high too. Very high! After parking the truck we headed up and in the next 500 yds gained 600 ft in elevation. No lie, Jason checked the GPS from the crown (not the top) and found the truck 500 yds away and 600 ft down.
We started into some pines on top and saw lots of fresh deer and elk sign. We set up and cow called a little. Waited 30 minutes and decided to climb a bit further. After 300 or so yards we jumped a muley and setup again. We repeated the routine til darkness fell on the mountain. We grabbed the headlights and checked the gps for the route. An hour and 1/2 later we hit the road and start up to the truck.
On the way down the mountain we ran into another fellow that was hunting the ridge. His party of 5 had also taken 3 bulls and the other four guys went home. He was living out of the truck up on the mountain.
He also said that a couple of guys riding a quad had pushed the herd over the top the day before.
We headed to camp to fix a dump cake for desert.
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WE decided to hit Rusty's ridge behind camp in the morning. He had hunted last year a lot and saw deer, elk and bear nearly everytime out.
We left camp in the twilight of early morning and pushed up a quad track on the other side of the river. A half mile up it turns up the ridge and climbs fast. I was trying to get to Rusty's hide half way up before light and to start calling from there. Jason split and went down the ridge to setup on the wind and I slipped behind the brush that Rusty used last year. As I went to sit on his stump, a cow barked towards where Jason was. Then another to my left. Dang it we had stumbled into the herd in the dark. I saw two cows cross in front of me at 25 yds like ghosts through the mist.
Jason came up as I calmed the herd down with cow and calf calls. They were answering now about 75 yds up the hill. The wind was good so we decided to dog them a bit and see if we could get close.
The hill breaks into a large timbered flat. Nice country with thicks and breaks. Almost ideal for a bow and call. The elk were feeding now and we could hear them crunching and walking ahead. The wind was not as good on the flat so we tried to circle down to get a better setup. When we slipped back up, the elk had moved down and winded us. Game over!!
We headed back over the flat to meet the 4 track and ran into a covey of ruffs. Again the spooked out of a tree before we could shoot. Dang I think we have figured where we fit on the grouse smarts chart. We can shoot spruce grouse (fool's hens) but the ruffs and blues have our number.
Down the hill we walked watching for deer and birds. I rounded the corner and there he was about 16 yds broadside. I had a BH on the string and drew to anchor. The arrow was away and it was a center kill zone hit. Off down the hill it goes and Jason and I just looked at each other.
We waited a few minuted but could here flopping in the woods about 20 yds ahead, we knew he was down. Jason quietly stalked over and put another arrow in as it tried to get up.
Here is our prize:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0008.jpg)
and the posed pic with the bow and stuff
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0011.jpg)
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Way to go guys! Looks like fun!!
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Forgot to mention; don't leave a ziplock full of granola bars out on the kitchen table overnight. A coon got into ours and ate 5 of the 200 cal bars. I bet he had a buzz going for days. LOL
After getting back to camp I cleaned up, fixed some b'fast and settled in for the heat of the day. Temps had been hitting 85 degrees and boy the elk don't like it any better then I do.
Jason was laying on the bed listening to a book on his ipod and I was puttering around. Decided it was time to hit the facilities and walk out of the tent. I saw something move on the other side of camp about 25 yds away near the shower. Then saw it again. . . .BEAR!!. I got Jason's attention and he grabbed the camera.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0013.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0020.jpg)
We decided even though he was small we should run him off so I did my big bear routine and he did this
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0022.jpg)
We backed off so he could come down the tree and threw a few rocks in his direction to move him along.
He was in camp every night after that. He's a second year cub but too young not to have mom around. The bear dogs were working the area hard and I think they got mom without knowing about Jr.
Mike
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We spent the afternoon bear proofing the camp. He would find odds and ends at night. Once I made a apple dumpcake and forgot to put the can in the garbage in the trailer. He had fun licking the can clean.
He's a beautiful chocolate bear and will be a great one to have around if he makes it. There are some huge bear in this unit that is trophy managed. (draw only)
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With the wind being difficult in the afternoon, we decided to go high again. We parked and started to climb. The wind was really coming up fast and when we cleared the trees and could see. Jason said "LOOK at that!!"
Out towards Hells Canyon was a wall of white and it was coming fast. We said to head for the truck and almost made it before the sleet and 40 mph winds hit. You get wet real fast when a storm hits in the mountains. A change of plans headed us across the unit some 20 miles to a place we'd seen a lot of deer. On the way, jason's cellphone beeped as a text message came in. That was weird cause there isn't cell coverage anywhere on the mountain. Well there is now about a 100 yd area with one bar. We both made calls home and I called Rusty.
Then off we went after deer. The rain was letting up a little as we reached the breaks.
Working down the road, you cross open ridges and stop and glass the berry and young tree filled draws. Stop, glass for 30 minutes, move to the next and repeat. As we neared the end of the road and the last draw, we spotted two mule deer does feeding. Game on. Jason slipped down into the draw and closed the distance while I watched through the binos. Finally he is in position, above one doe and accross the canyon from the other. Looks like both are under 25 yds. He slows way down and I see him pull an arrow from the quiver. Draw, pause, release. Looked good from here, but I can't see the closest doe now. She runs off and he grabs another arrow. The doe accross the draw is looking his way but not alarmed. Draw, pause, release. Again looks good and the doe jumped. Maybe. . .but no thumbs up. He grabs another arrow and heads down into the draw. Soon he is near where the 2nd doe was and is looking accross the hill. Draw, pause, release. . .dang how many arrows does he have?
Still no thumbs up and I see the shoulders sag. Time to go help find arrows.
We locate the arrows and he tells me that he shot over the first one and under the other one. . . twice. He said he thought he was peeking to see the arrow fly causing him to drop his arm.
Well we hiked back to the truck. The road wound through the draw and back out the other side to a water hole. As we got 60 yds away we glassed the area again and there was another doe. Jason piled out and off he went again. This time the deer booked before he could get the shot.
And it was dark soon after. Not a bad way to spend the rainy afternoon and Jason got some good practice shots in. . ..LOL
We did work on keeping the bow on target til the arrow hits in camp the next day.
Mike
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Terrific read, Mike! The ruffed grice are tough, that's for sure. That gray phase you got is a beauty! Where I hunt, they're red.
Killdeer :) :wavey:
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Next morning we head up Rusty's ridge again this time we headed up right at camp and topped out before daylight. We headed across to where the elk left the day before and worked slowly into the wind when we had light to see and shoot. We called and glassed then moved, covering 1/2 mile of the ridge. Lots of track and droppings, huge bear sign ( close to 5# piles)and turkey sign everywhere.
We topped out at a cattle salt lick Rusty found last year. The area was tore up but had quad tracks there too. Around 11 we headed back down the trail to camp for some food. While getting camp squared away two quads and a 2 wheel bike came down the trail and exited right through our camp. I was not a happy camper and was wanting one of those strips the cops use to stop cars to put in the river.
Anyway they waved and motored past the tent and up the road.
Jason settled me down and we started watching the horizon, weather was coming.
We casted wider that evening checking some water holes for elk sign. A couple showed use but not recent. We had a nice walk in the woods that evening and spent a lot of time stump shooting with our flu flus. We both made some great shots and had some bad misses. But we were smiling as we headed back to camp.
We decided to go to the base for Rusty's ridge in the am, so we need to get up earlier so we can drive down the road a couple of miles.
We also are going out midday now to the cell zone to make calls to home and too friends. Called Brent Rudolf a couple of times to rub in he was not in camp. (invited but couldn't make it) and kept Rusty posted on the events.
Mike
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Fine telling Mike. Looks like a great part of Idaho with minor 4 wheeled mosquito problem. Nice shooting on the grouse!
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MORE! I need MORE...!
:)
Great story so far. Looking forward to the rest of the saga soon...
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Great story, I feel like I'm almost there. I'm curious, what bows are you guys shooting?
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2 fletch,
We built matching Orion recurves, 58" 50#. Shooting Vapor carbonwood, with 60 gr inserts, 100 gr adapters and WW BH. Three 4.5" custom cut feathers top the deal.
Mike
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This story is going to be good!!! Mike, how would you compare this year's crop of grouse to last year's, or is it too soon in the story to tell?
John
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Great read so far guys, looking for more :thumbsup:
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The alarm went off early so we could make the loop and go up the ridge from the bottom. The tracks we saw yesterday put the elk lower on the mountain or off the ridge and gone elsewhere. Well we will soon find out. A quick cup of coffe and a granola bar and we are off. As we headed down the road in the truck, there was a new excitement in our voices. I think both of us thought this would be the day.
We gathered our packs and stuff after parking and headed up a trail. After 500 yds our so we slipped up to the top of the ridge. Our first set was just after we ran into fresh track. Going up the ridge this time.. . Good.
Not a sound though. After 15 minutes, we eased along the tracks. Watching, listening and smelling the wind. Another 100 yds and a faint wiff of elk. We stop and watch. . .. nothing. 50 yards slowly, staying in cover, senses on high alert. In this mode, you can hear a chipmuck pass gas at 200 yds and it sounds like thunder. Then, ahead, a tan ghost moving through the trees about 60 yds out. ELK!!!
We ease into a setup with me calling and Jason 15 yds down wind.
I calf called once and the woods came alive. Elk were talking back in front to the left and right and too our right behind a screen of brush. The ones to the right, were close, real close.
Every time I calf called everybody answered. The little lost calf that has served me so well over the years is going to pay off again. Then mixed into the cow and calf calls, I hear a tending grunt by a bull. Dang my heart is racing and we hear the heavy footfalls of an elk coming from up the hill. The elk to our right are concerning as the thermal running down the ridge will swirl to spill over the sides as soon as the sun arrives. And that is only a couple minutes from now.
One more calf call, five or six elk answer and one is moving our way. Then a puff of air on my neck and the game is over. They slip quietly over the side and are gone. Jason and I are looking at each other going "what happened?". But that's hunting in the mountains. You can do it right and hunters luck doesn't hold. A lot of ifs in this one. If only we had seen an elk before we got that close, we could have circled and been downwind of the whole herd. Yep a lot of ifs. . .dang that was close.
Mike
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I bet Brent could have made it if he hadnt gone and moved so dang far away. Some people are so selfish...with no concern as to how there life decisions are going to effect the rest of us. :bigsmyl: :wavey:
Lookin forward to the rest Mike/Jason.
P.S. I miss-im.
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Mr. Wingnut Sir, could you please drop everything you are doing and finish the story as soon as possible. I have chewed all my fingernails off with anticipation and I am starting to chew on my dog's nails. :knothead:
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and, and ,and what happened next grandpa, Please tell the rest of the story!
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Come on Mike,
The kid is watching Sponge Bob... I only have one TV...MORE!
:)
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Well can't stop working but the story will push on.
That evening we decided to go up on top again and back into a hidden basin, we saw while glassing.
You can just make out the head of it on the right of the pic
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0024.jpg)
We came in from the ridge where the pic was taken and tried to find a spot to glass from. As we worked the edge, dropping into the deadfall filled canyon and moving towards the top, we began seeing lots of elk sign. They were there all right, now just to find them and not bump them before we can get it going.
As we hit the top and things started getting interesting, over the hill comes a thunderhead. We quickly got the raingear out and got suited up before the worst hit. It was soon raining in buckets. Not bad for hunting but I hate shooting an animal in the rain and having the blood go away so fast. We liked what we had seen, so we backed out and looked for deer and blue grouse on the way back out. It was 2 miles to the truck so we had a nice easy walk.
Got back to camp and started the fire. It was 42 and raining outside and stayed that way for the next 24 hours. We spent some time out and about but generally scouted roads for tracks and looked for grouse. Made it back to the cell zone to make some calls and ran to town to do laundry.
When the storm cleared the river had come up a foot and the woods were now quiet.
The next morning we headed back to Rusty's ridge before daylight. We made it almost to the top of the ridge just short of where the elk were a couple days before when we heard hounds on the track and closing. Soon the went by in a blur 100 yds uphill from us and went right up the ridge. We bailed out and headed back to the hidden basin. Coming in from the bottom this time to work the wind. We started up the 2 mile long draw and made it half way before we hit elk sign. We setup and started with calf calls. Almost directly after the first call, I hear something coming from the creek bottom 50 yds below. . .fast. I shifted to point down instead of up and readied for the shot. This was a big animal and it was making a bunch of noise coming through the brush. Elk? I don't know.
At 20 yds there was an openning for a shot, if only he would keep coming. The cracking and busting kept coming at a good pace, until he stopped and growled loudly short of the openning. The wind got us again, only this time we were kinda glad it did. If it was the bear we'd seen the scat from on top. .well we didn't want him that close.
Up we went, until we were just short of the head. We decided it was time to get more aggressive. An elk hissy fit was in the making.
We try to sound like a bull with a cow in heat that won't stand. Well there are bugles, cow calls, crashing, breaking of branches, running around. You get the picture.
It worked!! A bull bugled from up the ridge and I answered defiently. He called again and was moving up. We were chasing again. This time playing a cow and calf that left the other bull and was looking to hookup with the new guy.
The race to the top was won by the bull. . of course and the tracks showed 8-10 animals. No wonder he was making tracks. We followed til they dropped into a big ravine that is bedding area. We don't like pushing elk in bedding this early in the hunt. They are too hard to find after you bust them out.
We headed back up the ridge to intercept a 4 wheel track and headed back towards camp.
Dang we had done about 5 miles and 1500 ft this morning. Here are some pics from the top.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0027.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0028.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0029.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0031.jpg)
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Thanks Mike, sure enjoying your tellin. :campfire:
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Keep it coming, excellent so far to say the least!!
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Great story Mike. I can't wait for more.
Dennis
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Hurry back, I just made another pot of coffee!!!!
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We were right back up in the basin as the sun started to fall in the sky that night. Other then one cow that crossed in front of us at 60 yds and a couple of blues to keep our interest. It was silent. We'd guessed wrong on the herd and needed to do some casting to find them or others.
We went back to the day one spot in the bottoms in the morning to find a lone whitetail spike buck as we crested the ridge nearly 4 hours later. Still no fresh sign down there.
The ridge was just as barren and the little box canyon in the back was empty also. We circled the top and headed back towards the river. As we got 1/2 way down, I spied a cow and calf on the otherside headed towards the river also. We dropped almost to the bottom, found a fairly open shooting lane and calf called. Both answered and we could here them coming about 40 yds out. The brush was thick so it was easy to follow there progress and the calf now answered my calf every call. Could it be this easy? Less then 100 yds below the road.
Nope as the started to get into sight, the wind did it again. DANG IT ANYWAY!!!
We laughed about it on the way back to camp down the road.
Breadkfast was good with some hot coffee to wash it down. Or temps are now 60 for high and 20s for lows. Why are the elk still quiet?
A nap and some shooting in camp and we were ready to head out again.
We decided to take the evening off from elk and try for deer again over in the breaks.
Here is a double rainbow we saw on the way over:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0033.jpg)
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We decided to use the same technique. Drive to the point of the ridge, get out and glass the canyon and draw for deer. Move around the other side and repeat as necessary.
On the second glassing point we see deer. Five that we can see and Jason was off again on the stalk. He had about 400 yds to cover before he would be in them but the cover was good so he made real good time. I kept the deer in sight so I could signal him when he got there.
Finally I have him and the deer in the binos as he makes the final approach. The deer I see are above him with the wind blowing from them to him. They are alert but are eating too. As he get there I realize the lip of the hill is block the shot. He will have to go up to see the deer and as soon as he did. .they headed up.
I see his focus change to below and see a young buck come up into view just beyond him. Jason keeps look down, must be more coming. He creeps slowly into the brush and I think I hear an arrow hit something. . .THUD. But heck I'm nearly a quarter of a mile away. Then I see a doe come up from the brush and stop on the hill. This time I see him draw and release. The doe bolts up hill and joins it's buddys.
Dang branch was all he could say when he got back.
We kept at the glass and stalk mode with us trading off til dark. In all we saw 14 deer with 3 bucks in the groups. I never got close enough for a shot, but had a ball trying.
In the morning we went back to try them again. With only a couple of days left we figured a deer or two would be good in the cooler.
On the way out in the dark, we passed a water hole and had elk running everywhere in the headlights. Hmmm. . been meaning to check that waterhole.
We only saw 2 deer in the breaks and they were migrating at full speed.
We stopped at the water on the way back to find it tore up with elk and deer sign. A quick survey showed a good spot for a brush blind and a down tree to provide the parts. An hour later we had a really good blind about 15 yds across wind from the water. Forgot to take a pic.
That evening Jason decided to put his gillie on and sit the blind. I found another area on the map that I wanted to look at including two water holes. We said out "good lucks" and headed out.
I circumnavigated the top of the mountain that feed the breaks and only saw 3 muledeer and no elk. Jason sat the blind til after dark and had a bird land on his head but no game.
Here's a pic form where I was hunting:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0034.jpg)
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We gave Rusty's ridge another look in the am and found that the elk had moved on. On the way back we found our little buddy walking down the road. You could almost here him whistling. I pulled up about 10 ft behind and gunned the engine. I ran off the road in up a tree.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0036.jpg)
When we got back to camp to start packing; we found that he'd been there too.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/elk%20hunt%2008/IMG_0040.jpg)
After we packed the gear and loaded up for home; we took the remaining chow out of the cooler and packages. I put it about 20 yds above camp where we'd seen him the first time. I hope he found it and had a good meal. He was a wild bear but at times you just wanted to scratch his head and talk with him.
We made it into Wyoming that night and home at midnight the next.
No elk, No deer, only one grouse and we had the time of our lives.
LOL
Mike
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Great story and pic's Mike. Glad you and Jason had good time hunting.
Chris
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Great story Mike. Thanks for sharing all the fun and excitement here with us.
:thumbsup:
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John,
the bird population was a bit higher then last year with lots of young birds. They were still the spookiest grouse I've ever encountered.
Mike
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Looks like a wonderful trip.
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Time spent in the mountains with father and son, chasing deer and elk, close encounters and shot opportunities. That's a successful hunt! :thumbsup:
Thanks for sharing the story :clapper:
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Great story. Thanks for sharing.
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Well at least the Bear got fed :rolleyes: :biglaugh:
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Good pictures, pretty place, nice looking camp and great weather, hard to beat that.
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Mike,
I know how you feel exactly. Just got home from Idaho two weeks ago. You can't fully explain to someone else how it could be a great time when you come home empty handed. But it looks like you guys had a great time. Where is the closest town to where you were hunting if you don't mind me asking?
Wonderful pictures too.
Chris
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Chris,
Council, Idaho is the closest town. We are probably going to change areas next year and go back to where we used to hunt. The fires 4 and 2 years ago should be offering great feed next year. Gotta do my homework with the wildlife folks after the season on game counts and winter kills. But right now I think we will be back in the McCall unit next time around.
Mike
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Mike,
Thanks for sharing, what a great time you both had!
RayMO
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Great story, Mike. Thanks!
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Thanks for the kind words guys. We sure missed Rusty in camp this year. Maybe we can get him back to chase the deer and elk and the willey grouse next year.
Mike
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Thanks for sharing Mike. I enjoyed that.
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Mike. Don't know when the last time was that you hunted around McCall, but I hunted about 30 miles north of there 4-5 years ago. Absolutely overrun with hunters, 4-wheelers and trail bikes. I had hunted that area a few times before about 15 years ago. Then, on a 25 mile stretch of road between Warren and north of Bergdorf, there were three camps, other than our own. The last time I went, there were 43. That's not a guess, that's an actual count, and I think I missed a few. For what it's worth.
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Great story and pics, thanks for sharing!
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Actually, we hunted the McCall unit for years up til last year when the big fires forced us to change. The unit we hunted last year and this has about the same elk numbers but deer and grouse are not even close. And the bear are not included on the nonres deer tag in the one we hunted this year.
All and all we think the quality of the hunt and the additional game oppurtunities will move us back to the old area.
The wolves are our main concern. The McCall unit is over run.
Also thinking about checking out Colorado. Sure is a lot closer to home.
Mike
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Mike, Thanks for sharing your hunt.
Lee
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Great story and photo's -- thanks for sharing.... JDH
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I live in Idaho; and the story is not a surprise in many ways. I love the place so much I live here.
But the ATV and motorcycle hunters in combination with the wolves are ruining the hunting here.
The elk I saw this year were down low 3700 feet; and on the river beds at night; and in the day up higher.
I did have shots; and did get a nice cow elk in the middle of September- within a couple hundred yards of the Salmon river. I saw an average of 7 or 8 deer a day; missed a trophy muley and a trophy whitetail. The wind is not your friend here; as it switches a lot; but the gravity swells don't help either ( thats why your buddy missed the deer).
Do not underestimate the power of atvs and motorcyles to move elk and deer out of an area. These elk are used to living on alert because of the wolves; and the sudden and fast noise and sight of an ATV or motorcycle puts them in flight; while they will feed in the open with the highway or road in sight with cars and trucks moving past. If a vehicle stops - they are off to the races.
Hunting up high; I found lots of wolf sign; and some torn apart elk. I did not find any sign that they had been bow shot; most of the bones were there - the back legs had the tendons torn.
One was a nice 5x5 with a sticker on it; and I could tell from the place its legs were torn what killed it. most of it was there; albeit rotting.
In the summer and winter; the bulls group up; and stay up higher. I often will have every day from 300 to 500 elk in sight of my cabin. But big bulls are by habit staying up higher; and that makes them more susceptable to the wolfs.
If the wolves can corner one; or a herd of bulls; they are going to get wounded at a minimum. The wolves push them up gullies with deep snow and then the bulls are at their mercy.
When a herd finds a spot where they can see around them for a safe distance; they have better chance of surviving. But then again; when atvs and motorcycles come zooming up- they have to leave; and that tires them; and makes them susceptable to the wolves.
I saw good numbers of elk on the riverbed; because the elk can feed there; and then take off across the river or just stand in the river; and be safe from wolf attacks.
Then too; being close to roads is safer- because quite frankly the wolves know that there are people here- that know we will not be able to manage the wolf herds legally... for years and years to come.
I have friends that have flown airplanes to monitor the wolves; and they can cover 60 miles in a day. So; they have the capability of surprise. Elk that are considering themselves 'safe' can find themselves in danger real fast; and that means they are more alert than ever.
I saw many small herds of elk - like 5 to 10 in a herd; with no bulls. I saw herds of over 60 with spikes and 5 pointers-- but no big mature bulls.
I have a friend with a sheep tag; and he has been glassing his area all summer; and wolves? yep he sees them; and elk? very few; and lately none. And deer- very few. He is sneaking from one vantage point to another to use his spotting scope- and not disturbing the areas; waiting for a big ram to join the sheep he is watching.
The wolves kill sheep; but its a hard kill; as sheep have the advantage when it comes to being able to get to slides and steep country.
I drive the road where sheep are; and this year I even got a picture of a baby sheep nursing its mother - smack dab in the middle of the road. With tall steep hills the sheep can run up - they are commonly seen on or right next to the roads.
The good news - perhaps - that is hopefully - is the new travel plans that the forest service is coming out with that will restrict motorvehicle use to specific areas; and close roads. And it will be the job of the guy on the atv or motorcyle to know if the road is open- no longer will they be able to pull down 'road closed to motorized vehicles' signs and then go down them.
So- check for areas where atvs and motorcycles will be restricted - before coming out to hunt next year if your thinking of an Idaho hunt.
The stock market and the price of gas might keep the rifle hunter numbers down; and subsequently the numbers of atvs and motorcycles this month- we shall see. That will be good news for the deer and elk.
I am not against ATVs and Motorcycles - in their place... but not off road; or just to replace leg power. It is ruining the hunting here ( there are over 90,000 registered atvs here alone- not counting out of state atvs).
Iam glad you had a good hunt; and I am sorry that Colorado seems a better bet; but I think your right. Until we get things under control here; we are going downhill.
I am interested in how many elk will be here this winter where I have been seeing elk every year winter for the last 6 winters. That will be telling.
I still have great adventures here; and see elk and deer; and have a great time; and yet- its getting to where you don't now where you can sit down and absorb the beauty of this place without someone driving off roads and legal trails and interupting your connection with nature.
Let alone the wolves - and for those of you that support wolves not being controlled for whatever reason- I challenge you to watch the wolves pull the legs off a live coyote and listen to the coyotes screams and still support uncontrolled wolf populations. Or to see elk walking around with magpies pecking at the wounds left by wolves- which often take chomps out of the back legs and let the elk go.
Glad you enjoyed the hunt. Keep the pictures and memories; because its getting harder and harder to get them here.
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Oh goodness I missed the elk hunt this yr. "Rusty's ridge" was pretty easy to get to the game trails and not a bad walk/climb from last yrs camp. I knew that I was in some amount of trouble last yr. Before I left for Idaho I got on beta blockers and ace inhibitors. Had to take it very easy on the hikes. When I got back I went to the cardilogist. Had five heart by passes....hey it weren't my dang fault is was Mike's cooking.
glade ya guys made it back safe and sound. can't wait till next yr......i'll be back
rusty
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Thanks for taking us along....great pics and great memories.
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Well being that you are back healthy, you need to get your butt in gear and get ready for next year.
Got a great group going that you will fit right in with.
LOL
Mike
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Man that was a hunt...thanks for taking me along.
Great stories and pics.
Quinn
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Great story and Pics, I'll have to catch you kids on your way up I-25 in Fort Collins next year...
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Nice post Mike. Looks like a good time.
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Thanks for the phone calls "rubbing it in" Mike. Sure would have enjoyed being along. Dang job. Anyway, done talked to the boss and said if I was out of sick leave next year, I would be calling in dead so I can come along this comming season. Thinking about coming down to chase a hog this winter, wanna?
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Yep we could be convinced to go hog hunting. Let me know and I'll set something up.
Mike
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Finally got to read this thread this afternoon. Great stuff like always Wingnut! Feels like I have been in your elk camps the last couple years and that is just awesome! Great job with the pictures and the stories!!! :thumbsup: