Chris, we did the "gutless" method. We got everything except the internal tenderloins. The slope was a killer and it was hard to keep your footing while tugging on hide and holding legs!
.....anywho...Joe and I followed up the slick, steep trail, sometimes on all fours. There was fresh sign everywhere and the aroma of a bull snuck in and out on the breeze.
We got to the top of the ridge, probably around 10:30 or so. Sun was up strong. We stopped for a snack and to let our feet settle down. This late in the morning and after probably 3 or 4 miles of hunting we were thinking that the morning was about played out. For fun, we both let loose with our best bugles. I think I got you beat there Joe!
We chose our return path to camp (one was steep, the other long). We chose the long way. We walked slowly along the ridgetop generally toward camp which was relatively open with some aspens and more spruce. We had the breeze in our favor and we'd walked a 100 yards or so and both stopped dead in our tracks. STRONG elk aroma filled our nostrils.
I set up about 30 yards ahead of Joe, kneeling at the base of a big spruce with juniper bushes at the base. There was an open passage that passed in front of me in both directions. Joe let out a couple of estrus whines and within seconds the sound of galloping hooves came from my left.
I couldn't believe my eyes as a beautiful 6x6 came roaring in to about 15 yards and stopped with only his head and shoulders exposed behind a large spruce. His head was raised, eyes bugged out and nostrils flaring. He cautiously stepped out into an open shooting lane. I had about 5 yards of space before he would pass behind another tree. I made the slightest movement to try to bring my bow up from my knee as he neared broadside. He caught the movement and turned inside out and bolted back about 10 yards between two spruce trees. DAMN!
Topic: New Mexico Wapiti Wanderings (Read 14168 times)
