Wapiti lessons

[Tav]

This year's elk hunt was very frustrating.  The elk were very call shy and there was very little bugling anyway.  The only way to get these elk would be to get in their house with them which is very common for this area and extremely difficult.  We had one fortuitous encounter where we found ourselves trying to push in between a bull and his cows.  We spotted the cows at daybreak then heard the bull bugle sounding off his call to rally up.  Perfect situation.  Unfortunately they rallied up just before we could get there.  We were just a little too careful and should have pushed faster not worrying so much about noise.  Elk are noisy too.  We got almost to the peak of the ridge when we heard elk scattering just on the other side.  We hit the mark exactly where we should have, just seconds too late.  There was no wind, they couldn't see us and we were quiet so what happened?  I sprayed my wind indicator and it ever so gently floated up and over the ridge top - unbelievable, it was too early in the morning for the thermals to rise dang it.  Just one more lesson for the ever growing elk hunting text book I keep in my mind.  The hunt didn't produce an elk but they always produce memories and I wanted to share with you folks.

Unfortunately this hadn't been used for a while.
 

This always makes you excited.
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Elk Country
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In memory of John Gottshalk, maker of Rampart Longbows and Recurves
   

My daughter and why I do this stuff --
 

I am extremely fortunate to be able to chase the majestic Wapiti every year.

[Amberjack]

Thanks for the post, and for the lesson. I'll be chasing wapiti in another week just south of the Snowy Range south of the Colorado line. This will be my first season to take the bow out so I'm already chalking it up to experience.

Beautiful pictures and a beautiful little girl.

God bless,
AJ

[kadbow]

John made a nice bow.  Great pics!

[centaur]

I know the feeling. My elk season was very much like yours. There is always next year.

[fnshtr]

As I was beginning my hike into an area to hunt elk, I met two hunters with Rampart recurves coming out with meat. They took a nice 5X5 that morning.

I had never seen one of his bows... it was nice.

Thanks for posting... really love the pics!