I finally took the new Mosshorn for a hunt yesterday. I couldn't sleep the night leading up to the hunt due to the hightened anticipation of the mornings test to come. After waffling on the decision of where to hunt I decided to hunt where I know the terrain best. The problem with this decision is I did not leave enough time to get there by first light.
I left my Jeep parked where the family elk camp goes every rifle season at 7:30am and started my slow stalk up the draws and ridges. Temperature leaving the vehicle was right above freezing, 34F. The forest had that painful silence of a stranger met in passing, except for a background of the buzzing of flies and hornets above the trees in the sunlight. I had not made 300 yards before I jumped a whitetail at 25 yards and chastised myself for going too fast. Wind was in my face while I worked uphill on a gradual incline sidehilling my way to my favorite bedding ground and wallow. Fresh elk sign in the dust, green and wet sitting in the tallow soft duff. Solitary elk track on my trail heading in the direction I chose. I remind myself to go slow and be alert, my range is 15 yards or less.
Every few minutes a squirrel drops more food for his winter storage, each cone sounding like an elk kicking a tree root or an antler rubbing a tree. I remind myself to stay calm and to listen for the "real" thing. My solitary elk veers downhill and into the wet bottom of the valley floor, I decide to continue on and circle above him on an intercept route. I continue on stalking and listening, eyes wide with anticipation and the silence continues. The elk are not rutting yet, but I decide that I may get some curious passerby with a little calling. I start with a few Eee-ooo's and follow up with a timid whaarrrrumph or two than I listen and watch. About 5 minutes later a ghost appears 30 yards uphill and to my left, than another and another, I just keep watching and waiting for the last in line for I know it will be my bull chasing his harem. Five cows in a spread out line and no male escort. I muffle a few more calls and try to become part of the tree I am leaning against. The lead cow starts my direction while the others meander there way to the bedding grounds above. She circles to my right and paralelles my position working in the direction of the wind. I do not want her to bolt and run just before I reach my prime hunting area, but all I can do is wait. She gets closer and closer, 15 than 14 on towards 12 yards. She steps into a tighter crcle and she is just inside 10 yards and directly downwind now. SNAP goes her head, eyes looking right at me trying to see the intruder she knows is near. I stay still and avert my gaze trying to become my tree and hoping what I say about elk and no need to wear camoflage or a scent block is true(commercialization of our heritage). She has my location pegged but has yet to zero in on me directly, than she takes one more step and blocks her line of sight to me. At this moment I turn and come to full draw hold right behind her right front shoulder and I decide that I won't shoot a cow today, the freezer is full of meat and I don't want all this fun to end so soon. I let off and wait. Eventually, it seems like hours to my knees and ankles, she finally moves off and I get to continue my hunt. This was the highlight of the day but that is what hunting is about for me, the moment where you fit in the way a man should in the woods. Invisible with all your senses open to the world around you while shedding off the unimportant layers of the day to day world. Speaking of unimportant layers it was 94F when I finally got back to the Jeep at 3:30pm, a SIXTY degree shift and let me tell you I felt it.
Thanks for listening around the fire, I wish I had pictures to add flavor. Well, I can get those the next time.
Topic: Daily Hunt pics and Stories 2006 (Read 41603 times)
