Trad Gang
Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: wingnut on October 01, 2007, 09:10:00 AM
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We are back safe and sound. Well sound of body anyway. It was a great hunt with many adventures. Pictures are being downloaded and we'll try to get the show on the road later today. Gotta go out and get some blanks going this morning for some impatient customers. LOL
Mike
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I've got a slow day at work, so this is perfect timing. I'm kicked back and waiting.
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Cool, looking forward to the story and pictures!! Hopefully there's some bloody arrows in the mix. :pray:
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Can't wait for it to unfold. Last years adventure was a classic and I am sure this one will be as well. Bring it on!!!
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Glad ta have ya back "SAFE" :readit: :readit:
Thanks a TON for stoppin by. Short but VERY "SWEET"
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Ooohh! been waitin' on this! Glad to hear everyone arrived home safe.
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:bigsmyl: :bigsmyl: :coffee: ....
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Glad you made it back. This oughta be good. :coffee:
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Customers waiting for bows?!
I can't imagine that!!
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I was just wonderin how yall's trip was going. Was sitting in a tree close to where Jason shot his hog on my lease yesterday.
Can't wait to see the grouse pics!!!! CK
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Another great Wingnut story! I can't wait!! Been too busy here lately to read any stories, but I've got a pot of coffee brewing for this one and I'm gonna stay tuned in... Let the tales begin!
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One of my favorite threads from last year. Bring it on.
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Glad you boys made it home safe, now bring on the story. PLEASE!!!
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Hellooooo... Sleep is highly over rated! Story time! :readit:
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I think they are "too chicken" to tell the story! I bet Mikes wife said before there is any story tellin on trad gang You better get out in the shop and start bringin in some money to pay for that long vacation they just took. That is where the chicken part comes in aint it??? Now we know who wears the pants in the Westvang household!!! :biglaugh: Keefers <")))><
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The coffee is getting cold guys! Let the story telling (or teasing or milking or something) begin!
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Sorry guys!! The pics didn't get done today so we'll have to get started tomorrow.
Want to tell it fairly quickly this time and not draw it out for 10 days.
LOL
OK maybe 9 days.
Mike
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:campfire:
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Nine days sounds pretty good - that will get us throught the slow part of October :thumbsup: :goldtooth:
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Pictures did'nt get done? Like ya gotta have them developed or what? :D We can hardly wait for the hunting adventure. Not to mention how many arrows where lost at grouse. Hope they had them in the location move :D Thanks for sharing with us winers. Last years adventure was a treat!
Brent
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It was the best of times, it was the worst of time.....no wait that line was already used :) or the first lier never stands a chance. you have to keep you sense of humor when ya elk hunt :)
up at 5:30. we took turn getting up lighting the fire (mid 20's in the mornings) and starting the coffee. a cup of coffee and an energy bar, then off ya went. you would have a mile of tuff climb. One morning I was going up a small creek. 1/4 mile in I crossed the road as the road uses the creek's sides a switch backs. Another 1/4 mile and I was in fresh elk tracks going up the same ledge along the creek I was on. Now it was fair shooting light. not great but enough to shoot if ya had to. the climb was very steep now. in about another 1/4 mile I hit elk scat so fresh it was still steaming. the breeze was still into my face coming down the creek. I stop for a listen and to re-group (that is tring to stop breathing like a steam engine on a steep climb with a big load). I hear steps on the other side of the creek (now the creek is just a draw as it had flattened out a bit). I drop in behind some huckleberry bushes (now they are a beautiful fall yellow). I let things stay quiet a bit longer and still hear steps on the other side of the draw.
I get my bow set up with a arrow and me tuck in well with no bits hanging around to make sounds at the worst possible time. I have got my lightest diaphram. I let out a light calf call and wait with an increasing heart rate. No return call but now the steps are clearly closing on an opening 15yds to my left. to each other we are in a cross wind but the elk will hit my opening long before they cross my wind. It is a perfect set up. There are two elk moving to me. a cow and a calf I'm sure. I give them another light calf call. I think I hear a light return call (your imagination can play all kind of tricks on you). The step are now very close to the trail and hole thru the hucklebrerry whick is my shot window. one or two more steps....now at 1/2 draw...steps closing.........confusion.....i don't understand....black....BEAR!!
(http://www.trashwoodbow.com/elk07/payette074.jpg)
yep, just as I tought, a cow and a calf. :)
rusty
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More Rusty, more!
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Black bear Elk? Gotta a tag? What the
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Looks like the hind end of two moose to me Brent.
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LOL - Ah NO! more like Black Angus. Free range country and I didn't have a tag :)
Now in my defense. There is bird in the Western Idaho mountians, a flicker I think that can sound somewhat like a calf call if you are not paying close attention. It is easy not to pay close attention if you are a 500' flatlander at 6000' after a 1 mile of very steep climbing.
and a word of warning -------
always keep in mind (it is very important) that those elk closing on you (esp if they are answering your call) could well be the kind with two legs and an elk call. If the elk answers are too perfect, too often, and the line to you is too straight.......ya just called in hunters . Unless you have a tag for them don't shoot till ya verify your target. This happens all too often :) . Mike is good enough he can tell from the first note the name and modle number of the call. I still think it is an elk.
rusty
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Non-Tradtional Recurve Shooter
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To bad, that would been some prime freezer filler! LOL (the angus, not the hunter)
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I was hunting pretty slow this yr. Mike and Jason were working real hard and I didn't want to slow them down in their quest for the wiley elk. I took a hunting stool that Mike and I made two yrs ago and just poked along (if you call humping a mile up 45 degree slopes poking along). A couple of days after the Angus encouters I had a dandy mule deer encouter. Now I am a string walking traditional bow hunter. I like to know the range. thus the gall danged range finder :)
I dropped in to the middle of 3 avalance bushes halfway between two selves at about 6000'. there were fresh mule deer buck tracks just under the brow of the top shelf. i am 1000' above of small river in the Payette national forest. The 300' down the ridge is a cattle salt lick. there are more mule deer tracks around the salt lick than I have ever seen in one area.
It is evening, around 4:30. I tuck back into the the alavlance brush pocket to wait. At 5:20 (17:20) I see some movement (mule deer feet and legs) 10 yds under the brow move from right to left (the good way, since I am right handed). The deer was 55 yds when I saw him (range finder). At 45 yd when I got a good look at him. 3 points (western count) which would be an 8 point total. Good mass in the beam, shoulder and rump were well filled out. My guess is a good 3 yr old maybe 4. His path is going to take him behind a christmas tree that is 28 yds from me, I am going to use my 32yd string walking crawl and take him just as his head goes behind the Xmas tree.
He is five step from the Xmas tree. I have let my Leupold RX1 range finder fall free on the landard. 2 steps.....I look down at my crawl mark and reach for the string. I kept my bow pretty low even though I was on a stool. As I reached for my string my arm in my jacket push the RX1 (rough plastic hollow case) across the plastic buckle of my Bison fanny pack just as the buck head was one step from the tree. Two radar beam brown eyes lock on the RX1 in an instant. The big buck froze, moved his head left and drill holes in me with the radar eyes, move is head right my chest was getting hot from the beams. Jerked is head up and snortted me 5 or 6 times. He still hadn't fingered me yet but he know it weren't good, alot. He starts up and 1/4 away from me. gets 30 more yds angling to me on the quater and snorts my 3 or 4 more time.
Of course I knew it was over the instant I herd the RX1 scrape acorss of the back pack buckle. I stayed quiet and hide because I didn't want to move him out of the area. Of course, if ya hunted mule deer very much, ya know he circle around into my wind and stepped out about 80 yds behind me. Snortted twice and then all I saw was white butt heading for over yonder.
it was 15 minutes of maxium adernaline. I have never considered close encounters when my plan was coming together as failures if I didn't get a shot esp. on mule deer. My mule deer encounters average about 1 shoot in every 3 close encounter. I chose not to hunt them over the salt lick (not sure it would have been legal anyway). the salt lick was a gps mile from camp and a hellish climb down and up across the river. I am pretty sure my hunting buddies would have help hump out the deer but for the hump out it would have a dandy before I would drop the string. I had three more encounters with does on other days hunting the salt lick ridge but never tried to set up on them. Not that I have any against shooting a doe. I'd do it in a New York minute.....but much closer to camp
rusty
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Non-Tradtional Recurve Shooter
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Oh boy... here comes another classic! Keep it coming guys...
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This is gonna be a good one!
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I'm just warming the audience up for some remarkable tales.
(http://www.trashwoodbow.com/elk07/payette071.jpg)
If you are an old geezer one great thing to have in camp is a really good warm tent and at 25yr old Jason in good shape to split wood.
You go Jason :)
rusty
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Jason at the local singles bar looking for a date?? :)
(http://www.trashwoodbow.com/elk07/payette073.jpg)
rusty
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Good stuff Rusty! Glad you were there. Also, I don't see your not killing the buck as a failure but instead an awsome encounter! Carry on! CK
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I was hunting this yr with a DAS Elite 21" riser and Winstrom carbon ILF limbs
Now you might ask just how is a 21" DAS Elite riser colored flame red going to work with ILF limbs that are not camoed........I can tell ya just fine.
(http://www.trashwoodbow.com/elk07/payette072.jpg)
Here "RED" is paired up with a pair of Winstorm Carbon 44# shorts. I was shooting the limbs a 49#@28". Coupled with a pair of Tamrack limb skins, the Elite blends right in with the Payette forest.
I used Arrow Dynamics Nitro Lites with 125 magnus BH for a BH of 385gr and 195 fps. I got on line and read that Idaho had lowered the arrow weight to 380 gr.
I hit Idaho at the top of my form. I was putting the arrows on the spot :)
rusty
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non-tradtional recurve shooter
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Can't wait for the rest o' the tales. Keep it coming!
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Oh boy, this is gonna be great!
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Wow, Rusty, Yer typing and spelling got so good, I can't hardll read it anymore! :)
Them some mighty fine story tellin and great pics..n' it's just warmin up! Wow...thanks!
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Well dang the ol' geezer got us going. Cool!!
Well it was the best of times and the worst of times. Nope I guess he already used that one. Anyway, if you were paying attention before we left you know that at the last minute we had to change areas due to the big BBQ Idaho was having midstate. Let me tell ya this is a big deal when you have nine years invested in learning an area and now you are headed to a place you have never seen before. I tell ya Jason and I poured over topos and sat images for days to figure where to start.
The trip our was the typical 26 hours in the saddle. Dead butts and jacked up anticipation was too order. We left at 6 pm on Saturday to get a jump on the trip (usually leave at 0400) even though it ment spending two nights on the trail. Made it to Amarillo at midnight and sacked out til 0600. Then off we go again. Miles went by quickly as states began to be seen in the rear view mirror. Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Wyoming were blazing by. We gave Vance and Charlie a call and made a north swing to break bread with them in a little town that excapes my mind. It was cool to finally press the flesh with Vance after all these years of internet talk. We ate and drank tea for an hour or so while sharing stories of past experiences and off we went. Made it into Idaho before my eyes started slamming shut and it was time to stop.
On the road again at 0600 with Boise in our sights.
Breakfast is ready.
I'll stop in off and on today to add to the story
Mike
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Now see, you'd have one fine hero shot if'n you didn't have a range finder. :saywhat:
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Rusty's been talking about bucks and cows with calves. No bulls yet.
I keep waiting for the other shoe to fall. Chickens???
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The trip to camp after a stop at Cabelas in Boise was quite eventful. You see Jason and I had decided to camp "HIGH" this year and had a road that looked good to get there. We need to look at the fine print. Those itty bitty 4x4s don't mean that a 4x4 truck with a trailer should be going there. We soon found ourselves in a rock climbing competion and look very hard for a place to turn around. Finally we found a small turn around and were able to cross country a little to get back on the road headed down. Dang we really wanted to get up there too.
After a couple of hours lost on the hill climb we were back in the valley and looking on every side road for a camp spot. After a couple of blind runs we headed up a likely looking road. Ran across a guy bailing off of his four wheeler and look like a cat with a bird in his mouth as we rounded a tight corner. I couldn't help myself and stopped to ask him if there were any good camping spots ahead. LOL
Anyway he said there were and we headed out. We stopped at a crossroads and Jason walked down one as I headed for the creekbottom to answer natures call. As I hit the woods I could see a clearing ahead and after taking care of business headed over to investigate. WOW there is a great spot right on the stream with plenty of room for the new wall tent and the big kitchen. We found the access road and quickly started getting camp set as the sun dipped towards the west.
More later.
Mike
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Originally posted by wingnut:
More later.
Mike
When you said later you weren't kidding. Step up the pace.
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Mike must be out taking another nature call !!! We gotta relize he has been gone away from home a while and sounds like he had lots of good food at camp. Lets give him some thinking time for a few more minutes...........O.K. hours ! :D
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:campfire: :clapper:
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Here are some pics of camp:
New wall tent 16x20 with 5 ft walls and new shower on the left
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/idaho%202007/camp_1-1.jpg)
10 x 20 cook shack
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/idaho%202007/camp_2.jpg)
Inside the cook shack 5 burners, oven, and a propane grill
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/idaho%202007/camp_3.jpg)
Mike
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Here are some pics inside the tent:
5 dogs stove and coffee pot
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/idaho%202007/newstove.jpg)
Ol' geezer with laptop
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/idaho%202007/rusty.jpg)
Me enjoying the new stove
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/idaho%202007/camp_4.jpg)
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Was wondering when you'd get back. Nice looking camp with ALL the amenities. They know steep in Idaho, hope you shot something up hill from camp.
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For the last 4 or 5 five years I have been tring to get Mike to write a book, do a video, or series of articles on DYI Elk hunting. There is no two ways to cut it, Mike is very good at DIY Elk hunting. He has got the deal figured out.
This was the nicest camping hunting camp I have ever hunted out of.
rusty
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Teh first half of the hunt could really be classified as scouting. We put some tough miles on the truck and walked a bunch on gated roads and trails. What we found was a bunch of people hunting a few elk. This was not what we were looking for so we went to more vertical country and on day four we found elk. . . .real live, not tracks and droppings. .. ELK.
We lost light before we closed the distance but they were there and it was some dang steep and rugged country. No other hunters and real elk. Cool!!
We went back in the morning, it was a bugger of a one hour drive and a real early get up. But Jason and I were there before daylight and ready to do it.
We found fresh sign everywhere and had a bull bugling in a real hole. We tried to talk him out but no deal and we climbed back to the truck. Back to camp and some food and rest. We'd be back tonight unless Rusty found something in his walkabout camp.
We decided to hit town for a few provisions and a full tank of diesel. As we pulled out, the rains began to fall. this is a good thing!! It was way too dry.
We came back to a steady rain for the evening. We decided to not get that wet and to drive to another area for a look see and to check for grouse. The grouse were not that cooperative. these were roughs not the usual spruce grouse and they were very spooky. We found a lot but didn't get many first shots and almost no seconds. Only one had fallen to an arrow to this point.
We found a doe with twin fawns this evening and Rusty got a short stalk but the whitetail deer didn't hang around like the mulies do and it was game over very soon.
Headed for home and made some cookies in the oven for a snack before we hit the sack.
Mike
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Good stuff Y'all. It's next best thing to being there. Keep it coming!
Bill
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Keep it coming guys. Looks like a great camp but ya need Mickey there to organize everything for ya!
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Looks like some tall medicine bottles stashed under one of those cots... :biglaugh:
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...'specially the blue one, I'd recognize ole Dr. Bombay any where. :bigsmyl:
Looks like a great camp & sounds like a great time thus far.
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Man! Y'all like to camp in comfort, don't you! I've stayed in less well-appointed hotels than that.
Looks like a really nice place to spend a few days.
Great stories so far! :thumbsup:
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Well now the fun started to get rolling. I left you with elk found an hours drive away and the rain falling.
Well it rained all night and into the morning hours. We decide to walk from camp this morning on Rusty's observations. He said he had seen a herd of "mule deer" tracks going across the creek to the other mountain. Real big "mule deer" tracks. Hmmmm, can Rusty tell between a muley track and an elk?
We'll find out. My journey was to head north and loop the ridge to the west. Had to go a mile to get the wind right but it was finally quiet and I moved 150 yds at a time. Calling sparingly to see if elk were in the draws as I went. After a couple of hours, I found myself on top of the ridge in full sunlight and dipped over the west side. Now the wind was perfect as the thermal started moving down the ridge. As I moved slowly up the drainage, I started feeling the elk. They were here alright, but where? A hundred yards further and fresh track. Real fresh, looks like a cow, calf and maybe a bull track. Heading into a small blind canyon. Perfect!
I slowed my pace and moved from tree to tree, following the trail. Fresh droppings now. Still warm! Good! Finally a couple hundred yards up, I get a look at the small drainage. On top just under the ridge, is a small bench with large trees, bedding area for sure. But it's too early for bed. They should be feeding. Across from me and up higher is a steep slope covered in huckleberry bushes. Hmmmm, maybe.
I setup behind a large tree and called softly. Dang the diaphram has blown out. Got to get another out. I do and cow call softly again. Nothing! no sound, so movement! Yet I seem to know they were there. I decide to drop into the bottom of the draw for more cover. I step around the tree and a herd of 4 cows, 3 calves and a nice 5 pt bull step around a bush 60 yds out. They were coming to the call and now had me in the open. They waved and spun, I called and waved as they crested the ridge in a few minutes.
Dang we have elk in camp. Cool!!
Mike
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I don't think my lil ol v8 would pull the trailer it would take the haul all that stuff up there. Looks like you guys spent most of your time packing, settin up, tearin down, and unpacking. :scared:
LOL, woody & ozark...looks like they won't get sick with all that "medicine" around.
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Mean time, Rusty had moved up the other side of the mountain and crossed more of them "mule deer" tracks in the soft earth. Looked fresh so he headed back towards camp hoping to get Jason before he headed the other direction. They hooked up and headed back up the mountain. Rusty hung back and let Jason move towards where they thought the elk were. Sure enough a fickle wind swirl and a nice 5 pt bull showed for a few seconds, rounded up the cows and headed off . . .stage left at a brisk walk. We're not sure but think they were the same herd I'd seen earlier on the other side of the mountain. Anyway, we had excited conversation when we met in camp an hour or so later.
Mike
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Great story!! Keep em comming!
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Such a GREAT camp, :thumbsup: But ya ain't swallered nutin but cookies :banghead: :banghead:
When ya gonna break out the "DUTCH OVENS" :clapper: :clapper:
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Vance,
The dutch ovens were in full use throughout. I forgot that you need a bite by bite call on the hunt instead of a blow by blow.
LOL
Menu included:
Steak and taters
Wild Pork steak and dressing
Chili Mac with deer burger
Wild Pork fried rice
pork and rice cassarole with cream sauce
spagetti with elk sausage
Jambalaya with wild pork and chicken plus hotdogs from hell.
etc.
Mike
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Your so KIND....ThankYou... :clapper: :clapper:
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That evening Jason and I slipped in from the same side of the ridge he had come from earlier and we moved up to the top looking for the elk. It was a bit early and warm so we took up station on the edge of an open area overlook a large valley and leaned back glassing as the shadows started to lengthen. An hour later it was time and we were up and moving again. As we crossed into the pass that tops the blind canyon from that morning the wind was not great but we pushed on. Big mistake...never give up the wind. We made it 50 yds to an edge and peeked over to see two cows make tracks because they had smelled our sweaty bodies. Can't say that I blame them. . .showers tomorrow for sure.
LOL
We moved back around and got the wind right and heard birds making a racket down the hill in a tangle of trees. We'd been watching a pair of golden eagles in the area earlier so this was curious. We slid and tumbled down the steep slope. Soon the birds were in site and we knew that something was dead not too far away. Curiousity got the best of us and we moved in that direction. We found a nice forked horn mule deer that was about 3 days gone and half eaten. Couldn't figure out how it died but it looked like a bow kill to me from the blood under the shoulder. Too bad, it was a nice buck. Bear and coyotes were making short work of it.
It soon was dark and we headed towards the truck. About 150 yds up from the truck we encountered 3 bulls bugling above us on the ridge and had a starting spot for the morning.
Back at camp Rusty told of his encounter with the big buck and we told of the elk and promises of morning.
Mike
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The alarm went off and we were up and at them. Jason and I had some climbing to get done and headed off after a quick cup of coffee. Soon we were at the base of the ridge in the dark and started up. Fifty yards up, I realized that I had too many clothes on and slowed the pace. Our legs were strong from the months of walking everyday but controling the sweat was the problem. We just didn't want to blow out our clothes. So slowly we climbed until we got to the top and beautiful parks among the large trees. A few minutes pass as week watch and listen. Then a bull challenges with a bugle to our right and down the other side. We are off in that direction for 200 yds. Then I see movement ahead and stop quickly. It's a nice Mule deer buck feeding our way. We were lucky that he didn't see us coming and we kneeled behind a large tree in ambush. He came rather quickly and closed to about 30 yds before he took a trail to the right. Jason slipped out and behind some brush. After about 20 yds I saw him freeze and begin to draw. WACK I hear. Was it a rib or a branch. I move towards him as he watchs down the hill. When I arrive he is looking at a 1/2 inch branch that deflected the arrow up and between the bucks antlers and harmlessly over the edge of the ridge. The buck left a little wiser and we headed back after the bull.
We dropped into the flat below but were unable to get the bull to respond as the temps headed up to around 70. So up and out we came. The one thing I will not do on purpose is hunt in the bedding area. Quickest way to move game out is to push them where they feel the safest.
Mike
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After discussion that evening we decide to head up Rusty's trail in the morning. He'd seen a couple of cows moving up on to the flat that evening and felt that the herd may have moved to that side. But instead of an alarm in the early morning hours, I was awakened by Rusty saying "hey that was a cow call". We had elk in camp or real near. We were up and got ready to go quickly and quietly. Jason and I were going to cross the stream and road and head uphill, Rusty was going down stream.
But just as we cleared camp, a bull bugled downstream and the plans reversed. I don't know if I explained earlier but Rusty was hunting deer and didn't have an elk tag.
So Jason ran back and told Rusty of the change in plans and we headed down the stream. 400 yards later we were in a open flat with large trees and minimal cover. We took up in a couple of brushy spots and started to cow/calf call. Immediately, I hear a bull 200 yds or so uphill racking what sounds like a dead tree. Shortly there after Jason signals that he can see cows moving to our downwind. We break from cover and try to head them off before the smell us. 40 yds into the move Jason whispers "BULL!" and we hit the deck. The bull from up the hill has snuck in and is now at 60 yds and closing. He is looking hard for the cow he heard and on a line to run over the two stumps in the middle of the opening. One problem, we were the two stumps. At 35 yds he stops and looks right through us to the creek bottom. Hmmm, no cows? He turns to go and I gave him a calf call over my shoulder. Around he comes and he's really looking now. (remind me to get a Montana decoy before next year) He shys again and starts up the hill. A couple of cow calls and he is now circling down wind and will cross behind a few trees with a nice shot window. I whisper to Jason to get ready and that I will stop him in the openning. The bulls head hits the open and I call, jason draws and the bull stops with the tree covering the sweet spot. A few seconds and he steps again, the arrow is away and zips right over his back.
The 6x6 bull wheels and heads up hill but at 60 yds stops again. I cow call and he heads for us one more time. This time he steps into the open and looks down the creek away from us. Jason draws and looses the arrow. Zip . . .right under.
Dang!!!!!
Off he goes. Jason and I regroup and gather nerves. I tell him I will change strategy and go aggressive. After changing calls I bugle a spike squeel and follow with a mirade of cows and calves. Jason is moving 50 yds toward the last place we saw the bull. I close to 30 yds as I see antlers coming down the hill again. It's the 6x6 and he is headed for Jason. But wait. . . .more antlers a 5x5 is coming on the other side of the brush. Both are headed towards Jason and if they keep coming they will pass on both sides at about 10 yds.
My heart is in my throat as the distace closes. Then the 6x6 cuts across and cuts the 5x5 off of the trail. Just like a cutting horse would. The 5x5 wants to come but time after time the bigger bull moves him back up. I don't know if he was warning the other bull off or was waiting for the cows for himself. They moved off about 60 yds and the 5x5 squared off in front of the 6x6. The bigger bull moved up and locked up. The mock battled in front of us for a few minutes and moved off. We stayed in sight of the bulls for over 1 1/2 hours trying to close when they were pushing each other around. But finally the herd bull on the other side moved the cows up the hill and the young bulls followed. What a morning!!!
Mike
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Dang...my nerves would have been shot at this point! :knothead:
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They both came into camp white as sheets that morning. I knew the story was gonna be good. :) it was.
Hey I never said I was Mark Trail. the only thing I know is.....Deer are mammals belonging to the family Cervidae in the order Artiodactyla (the even-toed, hoofed mammals). The order Artiodactyla also includes pigs, cattle, goats, sheep, camels, antelope, giraffes, and hippopotamuses.
I figured I could rule out the hippos, camel, and girafffes. other than that the onwer of the track is in question ?????
OK OK boyz let me see ya do it.
how old is the track and what made it??
(http://www.trashwoodbow.com/elk07/payette075b.jpg)
rusty
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well the track is 2 tabs long that is pretty big. most be elk. center ridge is dring out asw well as the edges, must be around 36 hrs old.
here ya go
(http://www.trashwoodbow.com/elk07/payette076.jpg)
rusty
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hmmm only one tab long, knida pointy. Maybe a young mule deer doe??? Not as dry as the first one but clearly not fresh. maybe 24 hrs old.
one more
(http://www.trashwoodbow.com/elk07/payette077.jpg)
rusty
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Ooooo harder to identify?? deep track, more weight?? or wetter, softer soil??? 1&1/2 tab long with good weight and not qite as pointy as the second one. Mule deer buck? young bull elk?
hey, I told ya I weren't know Mark Trail, how should I know LOL :)
I'd ask Mike :)
rusty
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Hey my hunting skills are two!! I am a good shot and I never miss a meal :) that ain't all bad.
rusty
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Great story and super hunt...cool... :cool: :thumbsup:
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Wow that was some action!!! Keep it comin boys!!!
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now that scat that is a lot easier. If it is still green and steaming (scat turns dark after a few hours).....hide immedately and calf call. If the scat is green an cool. look for tracks and follow them. go slow listen a lot and call a little.
If the scat is dark.....keep on tracking.
as for the owner of the scat that is no porblem. just put a little pinch between your cheek and gum. Mule deer has a milder flavor, but full body with a piney after taste. Elk is stronger flavor with a heavy body and a huckleberry after taste :)
if the bear scat is fresh.....back out and watch you back :)
bear scat taste like dirty underware and has gold and sliver jewerly in it :confused: :eek:
rusty
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Yeah, and if it tastes peppery, its Grizzly Bear scat.
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I'm going with calf elk on the last one.
Mike
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:clapper: well I'll go with.
rusty
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On with the story.
We were real pumped when we got back to camp and told Rusty and planned to get back up the ridge without blowing out the herd early in the evening.
After dinner we headed out. Moving up slowly and keeping the wind in our face. We settled in and waited for the shadows to grow and the air to cool. As the sun dipped towards Oregon in the west, we started our play. First stop some soft cow and calf talk. 30 minutes and nothing, so up we go. Only 150 yds but enough to get a different audiance. Soft talk again. . . .Nothing. Up we go another 150 or so. Jason heads up to set up and I call once. A bull bugles downhill and to our right. We get together and head downhill and downwind quickly. This was not the spot to have him come. After we set up, I called once in my best cow talk. He answered with a tending grunt from about where we had come from. Good he is real interested. I waited a few minutes and called once again. This time he started to bugle but cut it off, did the tending grunt and then finished the bugle. Sounded like he yodelled. I think he's hot and on a line.
Then there he is 100 yds up hill and on a trot right at me. Usually I'll adjust my position a little to on side after my last call to keep the dang things from running over me, but5 this time I didn't move. .mistake. He came straight at me and finally at 10 yds stopped to look for the cows. He's a nice young 6x6 and I was already figuring where he'd fit on the wall. But I had work to do and he was burning a hole in my camo from real close quarters. I've got the bow up and ready to draw. My thoughts are turn, turn, please turn.
I can hear Jason cow calling from 50 yds to my right. He's trying to turn him for me. but no dice. He going to stare me down. Finally he takes a step to the right, showing a front quarter, no good, but better. Now one more, just one more. . .please one more. He steps and I come to full draw. He saw the movement and spins to show his butt and head. He's 10 yds and no shot and I'm at full draw with a bad shoulder. This is going bad quick. I have to let down, slowly, so slowly. He doesn't move. I renock the arrow as he turns to a quartered away position. He turns to look to Jason's call and I come to draw. The arrow is away and half way there it's perfect. Then he spins and the arrow screams by taking hair from the outside of the shoulder.
Off he goes. We called him back three times but couldn't get a shot before he left up and over the ridge.
We found my arrow and moved 150 yds across the hill. Here we could see up an avalanche shoot and there on top about 300 yds away was a bull. Another 6x6. I called to him and here he comes at a gallop. We can hear heavy foot steps and antlers hitting branches as he comes hard down the steep slope. Then to our right, the tending grunt. The other bull is on his way back too.
Well either will do but will they get here before the fading light is gone. Minutes pass like seconds as the light begins to fade and we can here the now walking bull coming hard on a line.
Then the light was gone. Not wanting to spook the bull we high tailed it downhill and downwing to the bottom and walked towards camp. In the moonlight we jumped a few cows half way home. I'm sure it wasn't our footfalls as we were just floating along.
What a day!!
Mike
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this is by far one of the best hunting stories i have ever read!! my nerves are shot just reading it! thank you so much for sharing as hunts like this are not possible for me yet and i LOVE reading about them!
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Wheweeeee! I like it when things get really close and exciting! Carry on! CK
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Mike is the distributor for Helle knives as you may know. He and Jason gave me a new model field dressing knife that I unfortunatly did not get to try out the is going to make a dandy. He has got another new knife that I ask him to order me. It has a cork handle is actually a 6" (as I recall) fillet knife that has a fair backbone to it. It is going to make the best boning knife I have carried. since Mike doesen't hunt the road that means ya gonna hump the elk out. He bones the elk on the spot. If you use a knife that is thick enough to make a good field dressing knife. it is too thick to cut thru hams and behind and under loins well. this fillet knife has more width than a usual fillet knife, perfect for boning knife.
I, getting to geezer age, usually bone out the pigs I shoot in the boggy bottoms. The new Helle fillet knife is gonna make short work of them. this way I can shoot one in the 100# class and carry less weight out than my usual 80#ers.
rusty
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You guys might have lost your last spot to the fires, but you sure found a new honey hole! This is first rate stuff! :thumbsup:
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here is pic of the new Helle field knife. 3&1/2" long blade, 7/8" wide. hollow ground with the Helle sandwich of harder steel. the handle has a slim neck opening quickly into a fuller grip. this produces a lot of purchase from the handle if ya need it and a lot of finesse if ya need it. the best thing is you don't have $250+ in your pack waiting to get busted, lost or stolen but it is of the $250 quality IMO....but cost way less than that.
(http://www.trashwoodbow.com/elk07/fieldknife.jpg)
I'll post some pics of the the boning knife when Connie gets it in.
rusty
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Stuff like that is what makes hunting those critters so addicting. What else makes men travel thousands of miles, hike themselves to the brink of a heart attack, with an average chance of success 15% or less? Close encounters with bugling bulls is all it takes!
Great stories - keep it coming!
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OK.....got to page 3....gotta get more coffee...
:campfire:
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Man! I'm pumped & edgy just reading this! AWESOME tale so far.......
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The alarm couldn't go off early enough the next morning. We were all up and coffee'd in a hurry. Even Jason who is a tough get up in the morning. LOL We slipped back down the creek like yesterday and setup. Anticiaption was running high as we set up and started calling. I was careful to change reeds from the previous encounters so as not to train them to the same sound. All was quiet. Up we went again advancing only 100-150 yds at a time and slowly. Setting up and calling softly. Listening for the sound of the sparing brothers. But there were no elk sounds. Again we advanced, predator faces were on solid this morning. The lessons of the misses yesterday still hot in our memories. Soon we approached the top of the ridge. Jason gives me the get down motion with his hand and I hit the deck. He's giving me hand signals that I finally understand. Mule Deer bucks ahead. He drops into the draw for cover and starts to stalk.
I get a bead on them with the binos. Four bucks, two forkies, a young 3pt and a 4 yr old heavy beam 3x3. They don't know here and are 100 yds up the hill feeding. Jason moves slow and closes to 50 yds. Unfortunatly, they decide it's time to head for bed about then. They line out and walk over the ridge and down into the little flat with the big trees I saw a couple days back. We move to the top and down the ridge. Mostly looking for elk track. The herd moved out of the drainage but where did they go?
As the sun got high in the sky and we stripped clothes for the long walk back to camp we spotted elk track going back into the drainage I'd originally found them. We'll be back tonight.
Mike
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One thing I've neglected to tell is our encounters with ruffed grouse. These are not near as patient as there spruce grouse cousins and are very difficult to hunt with a bow. You get one shot if that before the flush. And they don't go to a tree but usually down the creek bottoms. We saw 2-3 a day but only put one in the bag on the first day. We will have to alter our grouse technique in future years if we are to eat the fine bird in camp.
Rusty dubbed us "half grouse smart" after we were out smarted time and time again.
Mike
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After a cutting some wood for camp and a fine dinner, we were once again on the trail to hit the top of the ridge. There is a front approaching and we don't know how long our wind will hold so we get in position early. Sure enough just as the sun hits the western horizon, the wind switches and we have to make an ajustment. We expect the elk to be coming up and out of the basin (we are on top of the ridge) but the wind is now blowing down to them. We cut under the hill and try to get some space to let the herd through then attack from behind. Dang the front has really heated the air this afternoon and the elk won't be moving till near dark or after. We set up and call into the draw. Nothing. I know they are there but not moving yet. We'll be patient. Set down in the late afternoon sun and wait. I reflected on everything that has already happened and a smile creeps across my mind. What a hunt and more elk lessons. The more I know about elk, the less I know that I know.
We call softly every once in a while and finally get up to move as the last 30 minutes of light approach. It was quiet right to dark. Jason and I headed for camp. It would be a little over an hour in the moonlight before we saw the light of the tent. When we hit the bottom of the ridge, a bull bugled from our spot on top Yep just too warm. I knew he was there. I bugled back from the bottom, just to let him know that I took his cows. LOL
Mike
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Cool story .... I guess I do get to go elk hunting this year! Vicariously is better than nothing!!! Keep it comin!
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We are quickly running out of time on the hunt. Rusty needs to be back at work on Sunday and it is already Wednesday evening. We decide to hunt the Rusty trail in the am and start packing. If all goes good, we should be on the road by early afternoon.
The walk up the trail to the salt lick was uneventful but absolutly beautiful. A mild climb up the creekbottom. We stopped and called for elk a couple of times but didn't hear a thing. Until we got to the lick and moved further up the ridge. Man I haven't seen this many deer track in one place in a long time. Then we setup and called. Bang a bull bugled from above and we were off. Rusty backed off to the crossing down the trail and Jason and I went off in pursuit for one more time. It ended as fast as it started. I could hear them moving in the heavy cover but he never showed. Must have been a little call shy at this point. Anyway we headed down and picked up Rusty. We walked and talked about the adventures of the hunt and the good fellowship. Our group has been together long enough that sometimes we walk in silence and share the beauty of the surroundings. A grouse flushed from cover and we laughed. Yep "half grouse smart" that was us. LOL
Back at camp we worked slowly to get packed up. Even though we had to go, we sure didn't want to leave. After we packed and hooked up, off we went. A mile down the road, a grouse flew into a tree at window level. All the bows and arrows were packed and it just looked at us from 6 ft. Finally we flushed it and pulled out. It would be two days on the road before we hit Texas but heck we had a months worth of storys to tell and retell before we got there.
Thanks for coming along.
We'll get some more pics posted this afternoon.
Mike
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Ok, What about the chickens? You can't throw something like that in the title and then not even mention it. The only mention I saw anywhere of chicken was on the menu.
What gives?
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I hate September hail storms. Here I sit in Fargo, ND working hail claims to pile up filthily lucre when there are memories to be made in the mountains. Thanks for sharing yours Mike, Jason & Rusty.
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Thanks for taking us along. That was a grea story. Here in Michigan Ruffed Grouse is all we have. Them dang birds sure are tough to hit with a bow that is for sure!!
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Thanks guys fantastic story. I feel the same way about the story being over as you guys felt packing up the camp. Can't wait for next years adventure.
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Shaun,
How long are you in Fargo?
Jason
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Awesome hunt guys, thanks for sharing it with us..... :campfire:
David
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Here is a pic we took one evening from a ridge top.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/mwestvang/idaho%202007/sunset.jpg)
Mike
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sounds like a wonderful hunt and great story telling as usual!!
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You guys grace us with your words and pictures. I feel like I should send money toward your travel fund for the privilage of vicariously sharing your adventures...
Thanks a bunch.
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Mike, Jason, and Rusty, thanks for taking all of us along.
Mike, I can really relate to your feeling about backing off from the hunt at times. I have had most of my elk hunts ruined by other hunters chasing elk in/into their bedrooms. Anybody who hunts, or wants to hunt, elk (or most other critters for that matter) need to remember your advice:
"The one thing I will not do on purpose is hunt in the bedding area. Quickest way to move game out is to push them where they feel the safest."
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Look at that tent, man. That thing's huge.
:)
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Great, great story Mike - thanks so much for sharing!
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Yup, what about the chickens Mike. Bill G.
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Great story Mike, I felt like I was there. Very exciting hunt and sharing it with Jason and Rusty I'm sure was fun too. It was fun from here. Many thanks for your sharing it with us. Great getting that many chances with the bulls!
Absoposidadgumlutely great story. Bill
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Great story; thanks for taking me along. Sounds like you guys have a lot of fun!
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chicken is a name of fondness for grouse.
rusty
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How SWEET it is :notworthy: :notworthy: :clapper:
Ya had me on the edge right with ya Bud!
It's always so much sweeter when ya come back to camp and can share with Family and Good Friends.
Now start makin ready for the "08" continuation
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Great story guys! Thanks for taking us all along... Sounds like you all had lots of fun.
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Thanks for the story, good to be back chasin those ID bulls through your stories. Well done!
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As always, a great read and great adventure. Thanks for taking the time to write it out. I know that takes great effort when you've got piles of work to catch up on. Good to see you around Rusty! Hope to see all of you very soon! CK
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Sittin and readin about your adventures is almost as good as sittin down to supper with you guys.
:wavey:
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Great job on the story guys. I miss some parts of elk hunting, other parts I'll leave to younger guys with stronger legs and healthier lungs.
Thanks for taking us along. :notworthy:
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Thanks for all the kind words. Yep those few encounters at close range are what keep ya going back every year.
Can't wait til the first bugle of '08.
Mike
BTW we'll get some more pics up in a little while
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Great story! Thanks :wavey: ...Van
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Super story wish I were there. Thanks, Ben
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Nice, thanks for sharin. Yep Mike, those few close encounters I get every year up in the high country keep me goin back, plus its better than a gym membership and I lose 5 lbs everyyear! :thumbsup:
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Hey guys, thanks for taking us along while your finishing your Masters degree in Elk. Lots of good stuff for guys wanting to hunt elk in your writeing Mike :thumbsup: :notworthy: :campfire:
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I found it rather telling that the local hunters we talked to all commented on the lack of deer they were seeing. Now it is true that we did not see the deer number we saw at our old hunting area but I did see a number of deer. The noteable difference was that most of the locals hunted from an ATV (I got nothing against them). A number of these hunters hunted from the roads while driving their ATV's.
Mike has a rule - you hunt at least one mile from the road. Hmmmmmmmmm all the deer I saw were.......about one mile from the road. Most of the elk that Mike and Jason were into were....one mile from the road. :)
So if you get to a hunting area and find a flock of ATV's, don't guss them. This be thankful becuase you now know exactly where your query is....one mile from the road.
rusty
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We got a "hunter tent" from The Wall Tent Shop in Moscow, ID.
The overhangs were real nice during the extended rain storm.
Mike
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Mike, Jason and Rusty....Once again THANK YOU. First for taking the time to make the meeting happen. Rusty is a VERY good cook. For me this was another milestone for this season.
And secondly, I know just how much time these little tales take to produce for us folks, so we are able to be there with ya. Thanks Buds lets do her again
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Cool hunt and cool thread.
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Rusty,
I have a coworker who hunted in Montana a couple of years in a row for elk. He hunted from the top of an ATV. He was disgusted because none of their group got an elk. I told him that he needed to get off the ATV and walk (in an indirect way). He didn't think the ATV was a problem because he had seen a few deer.
My experience this year in Western ND was that if you got at least 1/2 mile off of the road you saw mule deer and they were actually about 1 mile off the road. When you watch all the stuff on TV about ATV adds, it makes you think it a good way to get animals. I guess that's fine with me as long as they stick to the roads/trails, because they leave the deer to me.
Jason
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Oh Dang! Wingnut Hyatt Regency Hotel with deluxe accomodations, 5 star restaurant and wi-fi hot spots, located practically on top of elk! Where do I book my vacation?
Actually, I just got back from TX myself fellas. Feels good to be back from 91% humidity. Brother tells me he's been seein' plenty of deer on our new hot spot. He passed on a 9 point the other night with 5 beautiful points on one side and scrawny 4 on the other. Deer had no signs of injury. I told him he needs to come out of the herd!