I had a hard time going to sleep that night, with all those mixed feelings keeping me awake. I was really missing my wife and kids. I had already missed my son's birthday, and his first home run in baseball. Both daughters had asked how soon I'd be home, and my wife let me know that the basement had flooded, the mower was broken and that she needed some help.
Then my selfish side reminded me that I might not get back to Montana soon, that I had found the elk and they were active, that I had permission to hunt a 5000 acre ranch on the Mussleshell River in eastern Montana, and my tags for antelope and deer were unfilled.
Although I didn't HAVE to report to work until October 2, I could tell that it was almost time to head home. I had tried to include too much hunting (never thought I'd say that) and I was wearing down.
Sleep finally came and I easily awoke at 4:00 am and peered out to a brilliant, starlight sky and no wind! I could easily see the full Milky Way, Big and Small Dippers and even several satellites crossing the sky. I ate a quick breakfast, filled my backpack and headed east for the 90 minute walk to the high point of the ridge. If I was going to fill my elk tag, I had to do it today.
Initially I was expecting lots of
bugling at dawn, but I didn't see but 2 cows way off in the distance and didn't get a response to my bugle until the sun rose and it was from Idaho. I bugled again 5 minutes later and he was hot and coming fast. I scrambled some and left those darn binos behind. The big bull and several cows came blasting close by and into Montana. It was then that I reached for the binos - gone! I had to spend the next
15 minutes hunting binos instead of the bull elk that was chasing a cow, screaming and snorting. Yes, I am pathetic but I found them and was off
after the bull! So began my most exciting day of elk hunting ever. On the way after the first bull, a satellite bull screamed at me and then
responded to my cow calls. He was on a open sage covered hill and I cut the distance in half, cow calling. His next bugle was closer and I got ready behind a pine tree. Then I saw his BIG 5x6 antlers floating over a pine tree only 20 yards away - he stopped, the antlers swiveled left and right, time stood still as I willed him to take 2 steps forward and
expose his chest.......but instead he raised nis noes, inhaled deeply and whirled away from my scent. I slowed him down with cow calls
and covered his bark with a bugle, but the game was over for he and I.
Then I moved after the first bull, who was in the pines with the cows. I slowly approached and soon caught glimpses of the cows and eventually him. I got to within 40 yards of the bull, before 2 hunters behind me began calling and bugling - this got the elk alert and moving and I following this good sounding bull all morning, along with several satellite bulls
that I'd see and try for occaisonally. I love this game...
The highlight of the day came after lunch, after a lull in activity. I was laying on my back, enjoying the view.....
and resting some.....
when the I bugled and the big bull finally answered several hundred yards away, followed by one and then another bull. I closed in and my next bugle was answered first by the big bull, within 50 yards, followed by another big-sounding bull 100 yards to my front, and then another bull who only chuckled (at me???) behind me. I could hear all 3 bulls walking and breaking brush as they converged on me, and fully expected a shot.......I could even
hear the big bull breathing, they were so close.....but nothing happened and I decided to wait them out. Somehow the magic spell broke and they all drifted away. It was late now and I had about 2 hours walking back to the truck, so I headed out, seeing 2 moose and a pine martin chasing a squirrel around and around a tree, along the way.
What a day, I was considering staying another day but killing an elk in that drainage meant a full day or more of packing. Instead I took one last look......
and headed out of the mountains. The aspens were turning golden....
I finally got cell phone reception and after talking to my family, decided that I had had my fun and needed to get home, instead of spending several more days antelope and deer hunting. I was relieved to know that I'd be holding them tight in my arms in two days. Two days of hard driving, but I enjoyed seeing the land change from the mountains of Montana, to the rolling plains, to the fields of the midwest, and finally into the hills of the Carolinas.
What fun I had. I love Montana. Wish I had moved to the second drainage sooner. I called the rancher friend and cancelled my hunt there, but we talked about bringing my son, who will turn 12 next September, back out to Montana in 2007. The new longbow in my truck, specially made by a Tradganger from Washington for the rancher's sons, will be mailed in time for Christmas. I can't wait to return to Montana!
I hope you all enjoyed the photos and stories.
Jeff
Topic: Yet another western adventure (CO/AK/MT) (Read 8736 times)
