Week 1 elk hunt synopsis

[centaur]

I'm back, a little skinnier and dirtier but still elkless. The past week was full of elk encounters that just didn't add up to a good shot. Among those, I had a big bull chasing a cow through black timber, and her route took her directly to me, but she turned broadside at 15 yards due to deadfall between me and her. Otherwise, she might have stepped on me. She either saw or got a whiff of me and bolted before I could raise the bow, taking the bull with her. I have hunted 22 days ( I think, I am getting a bit froggy), and have seen over 100 elk in that time. Considering that I am hunting deep timber, that's a bunch of elk to not offer a good shot, but that is hunting.
I did manage to put a grouse from his tree perch into my hunting pack yesterday. That is the first grouse I have seen in this area in a long time, so I was pleased to get this wonderful table fare.

  I still have a couple of days to hunt elk, so I will be back at them.

[Tree Killer]

Enjoy all the time afield Pat, it's a LONG winter!

I was in elk camp living in a wall tent for 25 days straight. Loved every minute of it, but the days start running together. Kept asking my hunting partners what day it was.

Congrats on the grouse!

[elkken]

Always enjoy your posts Pat ... good luck and keep those pics coming !!

[Sockrsblur]

Love your photos and hunting stories Pat... good luck, keep at em!

[Jan Brown]

Thanks for letting us tag along... interesting read so far! All the best, please keep us posted as to your adventurees!

[Jan Brown]

Thanks for letting us tag along... interesting read so far! All the best, please keep us posted as to your adventurees!

[Tsalt]

Beautiful country Pat!  You are a gifted photographer and bow hunter.  Congrats on the grouse!  I'll be looking forward to the next update.

[centaur]

Well, folks, it's over for this year. I left the mountain this morning to a pretty good snowstorm, and the elk are still intact.

My last night, I saw several elk, including two very good bulls, but all were too far for a shot. This season showed me a bunch of elk (over 100), and these weren't far off on some park, but within 100 yards and often much closer, in black timber, so it was a good year, even if I didn't bring home any elk meat. I was figuring that if I had been rifle hunting, I probably could have had easy shots at well over 20 elk, and if I was hunting with wheels, I would have had numerous shots in the 40 yard range. We limit ourselves on purpose, however, and I drew on one elk, killing a lodgepole rather than the elk. In retrospect, I might have had one other shot at a cow, but she was highly alert and I didn't feel right about taking the shot.

So, I am happy with how my season went overall. I saw lots of elk, lots of great country, put in many hours and spent some 150 miles in boot leather.

Now, it is on to turkeys and whitetails. Life is still very good, and the sun rises in the east each morning, whether or not I have an elk on the ground.

[Dan bree]

Nice hunt pat  and good luck on the white tails.

[recurve3]

Sounds like a great season Pat.

Good luck on the whitetails!

[huntnmuleys]

you certainly did have a good season.  always look forward to your pics and stories, so bring on turks and deer!!

[Caughtandhobble]

Sounds like a hunt of a lifetime to me. I would wish you better luck next year on bringing home some meat but I have a feeling you're very content. God Bless.  

[Matty]

Bummer man!  But yes it's all about those experiences. As you know. Ours ended this weekend too.  Could have shot a few if .... Yes we shot compound bows. But that's the choice we make. At least you have other critters you can keep chasing!
Best of luck looking forward!!

[elkken]

Sounds like a fine elk season to me, thanks for sharing Pat. Good luck with the remainder of your seasons and I will be looking forward to more stories and those good pictures.