what a hoot... opening weekend

[Aric_W]

I have unsuccessfully rifle hunted for about five years now.  I would see bulls with a cow tag or cows with a bull tag or only mulies or moose with an elk tag.  This year I'm archery hunting for the first time.  Saturday, within the first half hour I had 10 -15 cows within 40 yards of where I sat.  I was just getting set up.  I had a nice spruce behind me and a low rock in front of me.  I set my bow down to get situated, knelt down, and heard a single cow call.  I picked up my bow, and before I could look up I glimpsed a cow moving silently through the trees across from me.  I held absolutely still, and noticed about a dozen more following the first one.  Trying to see through my eyebrows, as my head is still pointed down, I see two younger cows leave the trees and feed my way through the opening. One of the cows ends up perfectly broadside to me at about 20-25 yards.  I'm  surprised they can't hear my heart pounding, and I'm trying to stay calm and still.  After about two minutes, I try to slowly raise my head, and one of the cows in the trees to my right alarms and the entire herd is gone in a blink....

[old_goat2]

Aint it a hoot! I got busted drawing last year, let me tell you, I was able to hold that 62lbs back a heroic long time, but the shot after that was less than heroic, luckily all I wounded was a pine tree! I've never even seen an elk during the couple of rifle seasons I've gone!

[jwhitetail]

Ha!  I feel your pain.  I was busted long before first light about a dozen steps from the rig on my way into a really hot tree stand... not elk but a bunch of nervous whitetails.  Oh well some opening mornings are like that - LOL.  The evening was better - no meat but a hairs breath from a nice buck.  Keeps us coming back for more I guess.

[LB_hntr]

That's what it's all about. No other feeling like it. And a feeling that very few rifle hunters will ever experience. Nothing like being right there in the middle of it all at close range with a bow in your hand.
Gald to hear the season is starting off well for you!

[Aric_W]

Twenty minutes later I am sitting on the edge of another clearing further up the ridge, and I watch another herd of five to seven elk, one a bull, bugling repeatedly.  They are across the gulch and up the ridge on top of a rocky outcrop and talus slope.  After a few minutes, they retreat into the trees...