New Mexico Wapiti Wanderings

[Whip]

After months of research, planning, reading, dreaming, and praying for the draw to come through, the annual pilgrimage west finally began in mid September.
 
Four of us had put in as a group for the chance to chase elk in the mountains of northern New Mexico.  Joining me on the trip was Norbert Shulz (Beachbowhunter) of San Diego, and two of my longtime hunting partners from home, Wayne Hoffman (Smiley) and Ohne Raasch.  

When the draw results were announced in June we had extra motivation to pick up the pace of our workouts.  The transition from the low levels of Wisconsin and San Diego to the 10,000+ elevations of New Mexico demands a Wannabe elk hunter get into some semblence of physical condition before heading to the high country.

Wayne, Ohne, and myself loaded the truck and trailer to capacity and hit the highways west on September 13th.  In spite of some less than clear directions to our camp, Norbert would eventually rendezvous with us on Friday.  

As always, it is good to see the mountains again!

 

 

[knife river]

Oh, this is going to be good.  Let's hear all about it, guys!    

[hormoan]

Dang it, I so love these trips. But almost wish I did'nt start the story at the opening          :D  Now I won't sleep tonight    So go ahead Joe   :D  

                     Brent

[SKYLER W]

Can't wait to hear this one! Let's see them pics and tell us a story........

[Tim Fishell]

Man I just love how everybody starts their hunting stories and then goes off and finds something better to do....  We will all be patiently waiting your return Joe...

[Whip]

New Mexico can be a tough tag to draw, so to improve our odds a bit we booked our trip through an outfitter. The package we worked out included a fully set up camp, and two guides who would accompany us on our first two days of elk hunting.  Neither had any experience guiding for bowhunters before, but that was fine with us.  We were more interested in the knowledge of the area they could share, and help on how to best get into some difficult country.  

Our home for the week was a 16x20 foot canvas wall tent complete with cots and a wood burning stove.  First class comfort all the way!

Here's Beachie looking very Californian.....
 

We arrived in camp a couple of days ahead of time, and had purchased deer tags as well in the hope of finding a mule deer to two to chase prior to the elk opener.  Most of our time though was spent trying to locate elk, and talking with hunters who had been hunting the first season.  Reports from the field were not very encouraging - the elk weren't bugling, and locating silent animals in such vast terrain is a challenge to say the least.

[Whip]

The first morning dawned clear and cool, and I teamed up with Norbert and Trey Wackman, one of our guides.  Walking through the forest into the Cruses Basin wilderness area we hadn't covered more than a half mile from the truck when we were slapped hard in the face by a barnyard odor - strong!  If you have ever smelled a rutting elk in the woods you know how unmistakable and overpowering it can be.  We froze in place.

Daylight was still indistinct shades of gray, but through binoculars Trey picked out a leg and a bit of antler just uphill and behind a screen of branches.  Quietly backing downhill, Trey set up to call while Norb and I spread out on the flanks.  Seductive esterus whines soon brought the raghorn bull down hill on the run.  And that was the problem - he came too fast, and blew right by Norbert without stopping to offer a shot.

The bull circled below us, and of course soon had our scent, and the game was over as fast as it had begun.  But hey, Norbert's first 20 minutes as an elk hunter, and he nearly had a shot at a bull - that is one heck of a way to start a career!

[Missouri CK]

 

Can't wait to hear about your trip.  Pictures look awesome!

Norb always takes the best dressed award or the most stitches award...which ever comes first.

Can't wait to see how this plays out.  Remember to pace yourself Whip. I want some good reading material for at least a few days!

Chris

[Steve O]

I was just thinking yesterday; " I wonder if Joe is back?"  

This should be a good story even though it will be told in the dreaded TradGang teeeny, tiny, give them just a little bit begging for more fashion      

[cjones]

Great start Joe. I can't wait to hear the rest.

[smiley]

You are a good story teller Joe. You must have been busy if you didn't get to start this story till monday nite.

[smiley]

One thing I learned on this trip is not to get up in the middle nite to relieve yourself and get caught in middle of a hail strom it hurts.  

[tippit]

Ahhh morning coffee and a Whip story!  Keep it coming guys    Doc

[Whip]

We worked along the top edge of a deep draw with the sounds of distant bugles echoing from the ridge tops.  At one point we could see a herd of elk across the canyon working their way up the opposite slope.  The cows were escorted by a very vocal bull singing love songs to them as they fed.  But the deep canyon between us, the wind at our backs, and the fact the elk were feeding up the opposite slope convinced us to look for a better opportunity.

The hillside we were on was almost entirely aspens, and as the sun crested the eastern slopes it took on a magical feel like we were walking in some sort of enchanted forest.

 

More bugles ahead drew us further along the ridge, around a corner, and into an adjacent canyon.  We dropped lower and lower as we went, eventually coming to an edge that dropped off so steeply we decided to take a stand where we were, hoping the herd might feed up to us.

What goes down in these mountains eventually must go back up.  There are times in elk country when one must consider not only how you would get yourself back out of a spot, but also just what would happen if luck did shine on you and had to bring an animal the size of an elk back out.

The wind also was wrong at the moment with the morning thermals pulling our scent down toward the sound of the bugles.  Soon enough that would change if we were patient, as the sun was quickly warming the slope we sat on listening to the music coming from below.  
They were down there somewhere.
 

[rabbitman]

Joe...If you're going to drag out this story, pass me one of those Bud Lights sitting by the tent...then carry on.

[Drew]

Great story and pics so far Whip...

[Whip]

I don't really know how long we sat there, but it had to have been nearly two hours listening to the challenges, taunts, and threats coming from below.  What sounded like the biggest baddest bull I have ever heard seemed to be very upset with some of the higher pitched and more melodic sounds of what sounded like at least two other bulls.  The big boy screamed and grunted and chuckled and called those lesser bulls every name in the book.  

As the thermals swithed in our favor Trey picked up the pace of the cow calling from behind us.  The estrus whines again seemed to ellicite responses from below, but they just didn't seem to be getting any closer.  I kept thinking that sooner or later the elk would want to head uphill, and thought if we could just remain patient eventually they might work our way.  

Were else in the world would I rather be anyway?  To be sitting on a mountainside in the fall, sunlight filtering through aspens, and the sounds of rutting bulls echoing from below.  I dream of exactly that all year long, and finally, after 11 long months, I was living it again.  I was in no hurry to go anywhere else.

[Whip]

Dick, you're welcome to my beer anytime you like buddy, just help yourself!  

I have to apologize here - unfortunately the return from a hunt includes a return to work, and it's that time now.  I'll get back to this as soon as I can.....  

[Marvin M.]

Looking forward to the story.  

Aren't you back from work yet Whip?

[Shaun]

Joe, I'm carried along with your tale. Love these Tradgang campfire tales. Clear your desk and get back to the real work (story telling).