CO 2013 Elk hunt

[Michael Pfander]

This is a pic of one of the creeks that feed the bigger creek the elk were on.  Behind that square rock it's 300' to the next one.

[agross1]

Great thread,  love the pics.  Keep it coming.

[gregg dudley]

Awesome stuff!

[Michael Pfander]

At this point we were about 200 yds. behind the herd.  At this point they had dropped back into the swamp and were feeding up wind.  We slipped down the trail they used and began to move towards them.  The brush is about 6'/7' high so it doesn't take much to not be seen.  It's the crazy wind swirls and the noise that get's you busted.  What I always try and do is find some slightly higher ground so I don't have to fight the muck.  In this case it was the old creek bank.  Many times the bank is 4' above the creek.  It usually stays above the swamp.  The other advantage is that spruce trees can survive on the higher ground[better cover] they are easier to move thru.  My partner took the left side and I moved along the right.  We ended up further apart than I realized.  We were now separated by about 30 yards.

[Whip]

I'm suffering badly from elk withdrawals. This thread is helping to ease the pain.
Waiting for more!

[Talondale]

Originally posted by Whip:
I'm suffering badly from elk withdrawals. This thread is helping to ease the pain.
Waiting for more!

Just load a small block engine on your back and walk up 30 flight of stairs.  That should ease the withdraws some.    

[Michael Pfander]

Turns out that the creek forked, so the trees made a small Y.  When I got to the end on my side I was 50 yds. from a nice 6x6.  When he bugled again a cow raised her head.  So now I had a cow between me and where I wanted to be.  As we all know there are times to wait and times to push.  With all this cover I figured time was on my side as long as the wind held.  I knelt in place, arrow on the string, and slowly raised my head again.  Good, she's starting to move away.  The bull is standing almost belly deep, grazing and raking the bushes.  He buries his rack in the muck and bushes and then slings bits and pieces to all sides.  The third or 4th time I check on the cow she is almost to a place where I can close in on the bull.  As I lower my head I catch movement to my left.  I see 3 cows all fixed on something.  Then I see Darren raise up slowly while drawing his bow, thump and they all flush like a covey of quail.  The bull wastes no time and crashes up hill until he is 300' or above the swamp.  He starts to bugle like mad trying to get all the girls to join him.  The swamp is a chorus of mews and chirps as all the cows and calves try to get back together.  It's not long before they all move off towards the bull.  This was our last evenings hunt tomorrow we pack out.  What a blast we are still buzzed an hour later when we get back to camp.  Here are a few more pics to close out with.  

[fnshtr]

Nice. Thanks for sharing.

[cacciatore]

Thanks again for sharing your great hunt and such beautiful pics.

[Herdbull]

Well done so far Michael!! Love those swampy elk holes.

[Stone Sheep]

Sounding really good!!

[neargeezer]

Great pictures and story!