I skipped out early from work and decided to head out to a spot near home to try and get an animal this year. I have had plenty of close encounters but never managed to close the deal. The place I usually hunt is out in the prairie so the deer are fairly predictable. The spot I went this afternoon is much less so.
After a quick lunch and kissing the wife goodbye I set out with a plan to still hunt into the gentle breeze and then out on the thermal that descends the hill. This is a fun way to go in the alberta foothills! You just never know what you run into out there. I have seen Moose, whitetails, elk, black bears, cougars and even the odd mule deer in this patch of bush. We had a huge wind storm on sunday at it looked like a bomb went off. Every 5th poplar was missing a top and there were trees all over the ground (in places there was none before). familiar trails now had big widdowmakers laying accross them like mousetraps. It was eerily quiet and calm in the woods as the sun came through in small breaks to warm the cool air. We are expecting a storm front so I hoped to catch something on the move before they hunkered down. Having spent the morning at work I was pretty wired to start and I decided to sit down in a draw and just soak up some of the silence - not something you get much of with two kids at home either.
I could see and hear plenty of mice and small birds moving around and I made a deal with myself that any legal animal that presented a shot would have an arrow sent forth. Feeling refreshed, I stood up to move a bit deeper into the woods and down the hill. I spotted a few rubs and scrapes and as my eyes moved around I caught sight of some very fresh elk droppings. Normally, I pay little attention to this but it was easily only a few hours old. I pulled out a call that I threw in my pocket just before I left. The thought behind me taking it was that I would potentially get away with making a bit of noise by calling.
As I moved down to base of a draw I heard what I thought was an antler on a tree. just then I saw a patch of rump moving in a small clearing up ahead. I could make out 3 or four elk bedded and moving around on the edge of the meadow. I found a clump of trees, nocked an arrow and let out a couple of soft chirps. Moments later I could hear the whole herd responding to my call!
I was releived there were none downwind as they would have busted me. I figured the herd was sizable so I decided just to wait and see what they were doing. A couple of small bulls sounded of and started to spar. I admired their enthusiasm and I couldn't help but wonder if they would learn a hard lesson with our coming winter. I had a choice to make get closer or back out and move further downwind. I decided to get closer (carefully) I watched the herd start to move into the clearing and I made a realization that the lead cow was headed for a pinch at the end of the clearing. I came to the grim conclusion that if she got to the far end she would catch my wind and they would be gone. I moved quickly down a draw trying to head her off. I had almost made the edge when I could see her moving only 50 yards to my left. Shoot - I had waited too long! I watched in agony as she stopped suddenly, barked and turned the whole herd back toward the hill. I let out a few chirps and they stopped for a moment. A few minutes later the old girl made a wise decision to move the herd away.
In the end my decision to get closer cost me the opportunity but I am grateful for the lesson. I wish this story ended with a hero picture but it feels like I'm on the verge of a breakthrough. Too bad the season is over today! ...but instead of answering emails and mucking around in spreadsheets I was having an experience of a lifetime. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
I hope everyone had a great season.
To all you elk hunters out there. - what would you do differently?
Do you call to locate the herd or others around you?
Topic: last ditch elk hunt (Read 356 times)
