So, Here's one of the highs and lows that happened to me during the Wa elk season. with 5 men in camp and 3 Hunting. Here's what one of the highlights during 2010 elk. The afternoon of the 8th. I left camp around 3:30pm. I headed east as i was going down toward the east end of bottom road to hunt area we called Memorial, The wind was 7-8 mph and coming from south to no. So i decided to drop in shadow creek. I Made very little sound going down the steep and thick hill side to the bottom. While crossing the creek at the bottom i made little more noise than i was hoping for. So I sat down on a stump and made a few cow calls. Had a smoke,waiting and listening. I could here people up Buggling up on the tamerack road. Well trying to anyways. [Not the gun turret road]. Wondering if they really could get down to me, from there steep slope which is layered in deadfall trees like pick-up sticks. Wondering if they too had it in them to get down here. With every way in every direction being a brutal up hill trek. I got up and started to go and i heard movement getting closer. I then froze in place with the wind steady to my face, And the hair on my neck already going the other direction. Wondering which thick patch was going to move. Right in front of me about 4-5 Yards there were about 6 rep rode trees about seven ft tall all bunched together. I was certain the guys up above heard the cow calls and quartered the wind right on top of me. Debating on how to be quiet and let the guy or guys know it was me. Being fully camoed from top to bottom. Not wanting to give someone a heart attack and pack them out of that canyon. Just then And big black mouth ripped the top of the tree off with another type of brush grow in between Still. froze in place, Now knowing it was not the guys, and were elk. My heart was racing and legs shaking. With steady windy i watched a cow to my left and to my right 12-15 yards grazing. Hoping and waiting for the one in front of me to step out either left or right. With minimal shooting lanes. I continue to see patches of grey and black moving on both sides. As for the one in arms reach, I Easily could have used my bow as a bat and crack the elk up side the head. This now after about 18-22 mins later from the beginning of the stand off, Still in a upright crouched position. I accidentally moved the bow from keeping it at probably half draw this hole time. and the elk seen that little movement of my top limb and pushed back up hill 8 or so yards. Wondering what that was that moved, the two elk are as still as i have been. My Eyes moving like watching a tennis match. I then see a large rack,, top portion any ways. From the elk in front of me. Without a branch bull permit, He now is out of the question for my tags. The elk to my left was know returning on the same path she took down about 30 yards and she stopped with her head down. With only one lane to shoot threw, her body filled the hole lane. I then drew my Whiffen Comet 53#@28 to full draw and released the arrow, on the right side just where i placed her heart to be. The arrow was on its way,,,My Bow and arrows in bow quiver had collected a lot of water from the weather we had been having, and shot water in my face upon releasing the arrow. Hearing only a few stomps i immediately cow called and was on a super rush then. Waited a few mins to collect myself, I Ribbon ed off and moved out with the wind as silent as i moved down there.. Part one of two.. Part 2, I make my way up the road. I had flash back after flash back on what just happened. The duration of time i was froze in place hearing and seeing these professional animals at work. As i reach the top of the hill, now knowing its time to explain what happened. I explained briefly what happened and knew there were only a hr or so of light. Ward {BOWDOC} and I thought it be best to take Cody and Gary down there to see only impact area and no further. Wind was the same as the hour before at the bottom crossing creek. I showed my help quietly what and were this had unfolded. With the combined help of these two men were about 5 yrs, and no blood trails. We briefly did a 20 yard search of the impact area. With no sign of my St Charles arrow, and bear razor head. The shot i made was at 24 yards from me to her. With night fall quickly coming upon us, and no arrow in which all three of us quietly looked for. I made the decision to quietly move out. We made your way back to camp with very little info than before. The night went very slow with very little sleep.At the crack of dawn I choose to go and meet the faint alone. Crabby, tired, and with no answers. I returned to the impact area. I stood in place this all accured. Hoping, wondering, looking for additional possible shooting lanes. Nothing was out of place, every thing was as explained. I got to were there the possibly 3-4 yr old elk was standing. This part was simple, it was a well groomed game trail. Only thing i didn't know was there was a slight depression or washout area maybe 7 yrs in a oval shaped in which she was in the middle of. I got on my hands and knees and start looking over every leaf for the next few hrs. For those that have been there to many lefts and rights you easily get turned around. Now confident there were no arrow and no blood in the impact area. I start going her direction after the shot. Moving as quietly as ever before and trying to put this puzzle together. At this point the feeling of emptiness is starting. I have no answers, no arrow. And no crows or turkey vultures making this cut and dry. I followed the paths, grassy patches and deadfall tree's. In a quiet microscopic manner. I sat down had a cig. Asking and hoping for answers I didn't have. I continued to follow what i thought her path might have been in several directions. I'm now in the canyon with the gun turret between me and camp. My mind racing still,, over and over i replay the day before. As the sun starts to reach closer to noon. I decide to return to camp and get my metal detector that has found arrows all over camp. Even from many yrs being under surface, Also ones from the Bowdoc prior to my ten yrs hunting with him. Now wondering if i had shot over her back. As most animals frantically taking off. They must go down before darting off. Loading there legs for blazing over or threw anything in its path. Making it back to camp still with no additional info. My brother agrees to give me a hand back down in the dark thick canyon known as Shadow creek. I sweep every square inch possible with this detector waiting for the buzz of metal. Nothing. With time leaving my side. Now the pride of traditional hunting still weighing me down. Running out of time, and knowing full well i owe it to the animal to exhaust every option to recover her quickly. Still no crows and vultures flaunting there find. By now I Am a mess, mentally, physically, just flat bankrupt. Drinking every drop of water from my hydration pack.Laying on my back, wondering what now/. My moral is about as low as the canyon I'm surrounded in. Sitting in a vast wilderness, with nothing more than tears and questions. I then return to camp. Spending the next few days wondering what happened as i try to continue the season. Still refusing to give up on her or my arrow. I believe we should not take from nature, and only take what nature gives us. Still to this day same feeling of unanswered questions.The typical mountain weather, hot,cold wet and dry and wind that can tear your tent in half with ease. I really don't know what i could have done differently. Want to thank my brother Cody, and Gary for helping. I will continue to look for my arrow until the snow fly's. Seems the admission to the quality of time i got to spend with these elk. froze in time. Came at a high price. Wish more than any reading this, there were a different out come. I believe i exhausted every option. I gave it everything i had. then some more. Thanks for reading. and those that helped. First time putting events on the computer instead of writing it.Rookie writer at best. Any suggestions? Thanks Again, Warberg
Topic: What went Wrong? Camp Bowdoc 2010 (Read 276 times)
