Elk Day 3:
Waiting until daylight before I headed out the main horse trail, I soon heard some bugles and found the herd headed to a small but nasty side canyon...
The same herd bull was with the cows, and he bugled much, even though I kept my calls in my pocket...
I just watched, as they were in the open and had the wind in their favor, and I would only spook them if I tried to follow. However, another bugle betrayed the satellite bull, and I did have a good chance to ambush him because he was following the herd on a trail by a noisy creek with the wind at his back. If I could get ahead of him and next to the creek, I would have a close shot...
Unfortunately, he beat me to the spot I wanted to use, and spooked. Here is another photo of him yesterday, before the snow melted. He is a fine bull elk!
The bulls were active until mid morning and the last several hours before dark. I headed back to the truck, taking the scenic route so that I could check out a spot where Don had seen some elk. The wind was good and I saw lots of fresh elk sign as I walked along the edge of the timber - maybe I would return later today. I accidently dislodged a big rock, and as it rolled and made noise, I decided to bugle to cover this noise and see if any bulls were nearby. Being a long-time turkey hunter, I should have known to get set up and ready to shoot before calling, but I had acted quickly to cover the noise from the rolling rock.
My shrill bugle wasn't even complete when a bull roared back and immediately I saw a big set of bull antlers coming from about 50 yards inside the timber. Oh no! I dropped down next to a small pine, removed my pack, and nocked an arrow with trembling fingers, all the while watching the bull rapidly approach. I was still trying to figure out how to draw my recurve unseen when, in order to pass through some small pines to get out into the open with me, he closed his eyes and turned his rack sideways to get through and I yanked the bow back to full draw! He popped out at 12 yards and looked right at me - I expected him to bolt away but he began turning, from straight on to quartering and finally broadside, but with every step he was staring at me. I was aware of that fact, but was concentrating the crease behind the shoulder and when the green light went off in my head, released. Unfortunately he dropped and bolted in reaction, then took off quickly in a tight circle back into the timber and now heading back the way he came from. I bugled again and he stopped - now my heart sank as I saw the arrow was buried nearly to the fletching but way too far back and high! Oh no, again - a bad shot. He looked around for a minute, then walked away and I saw that it was 11:15 am. I was really feeling sick when I took up the trail at 3:00 pm, and found about 10 drops of blood before losing the trail at 100 yards, where he had made a sharp turn downhill. A golden opportunity, and I had blown it. I should have realized that he could react, even at 12 yards, unlike the moose that was oblivious to my presence. I searched until daylight without any sign of the bull.
Elk Day 4:
The ridge was about 1/2 mile long and I searched every trail all day, even out in the open areas but found no sign of him. Ironically, after lunch the same elk herd came through and I had the same "stubby" herd bull broadside at 22 yards, but couldn't shoot. First of all, I still hoped to find "my" bull, and secondly, I was so disgusted with myself that I didn't think I could make the shot. I was feeling about as low as possible, but after talking with Don back at the truck about an hour before dark, I decided to check out the drainage that he had recommended. I saw this small herd there but they were several miles back in......
It was another long night in the truck.....
Elk Day 5:
Walking in the new trail at daylight, I realized that this bear poop wasn't there last night....
I found the elk herd and followed them around all morning and into the early afternoon, but just couldn't get a shot at the herd bull. Too many cows and swirling wind kept him safe. I walked many miles that day, and that evening after supper, decided to try one last time for the "stubby" the herd bull in the morning.
Topic: Wyoming 09 elk and moose adventure (Read 3932 times)
