Back at the point, a couple of soft moans using the call. A faint glugh comes from up the side valley. It is 9:22; the entire encounter lasted about 20 minutes. Start the stove, the water is warming, once again.
Now starts what is for me called the Lessons Learned Process, or better known by most, the second guessing. How could the encounter been played different by me? The beginning, especially the wind, is reviewed, can't see any better way than how it worked out. It was fortunate the encounter wasn't stopped at that point
another, not quite so faint, glugh from up the side valley. Let’s play this guy the same as you would a bull elk, let him know, that you know he is there, but you got the woman. Act as if you don't care, as long as he stays away. A couple of long soft moans followed by four or five glugh's spaced five seconds apart.
The water is boiling, turn off the stove and pour the water into the waiting cup with the tea type coffee bags. These bags are a great improvement over the old instant coffee; tastes much better. Whoever came up with the idea should get the food version of the Nobel Prize. Swirl the bags, it smells good.
Glugh...glugh....glugh... That is louder, he is coming back in, probably a hundred yards out now. He is getting close to the saddle.
Quickly the lid is put on the coffee cup then place an extra cap over it to keep it warm. Grab Pigger and quickly move down wind and downhill about thirty yards.
Glugh....glugh....glugh....he is on the far edge of the saddle now.
A soft moan and three glugh's, then shift position twenty yards side hill, towards the side valley, setting up between two groups of birch trees.
Glugh....glugh...glugh... Thirty yards out his antlers are seen moving from right to left above the trees headed along the saddle towards the point.
He enters my shooting lane at thirty yards, too far for me and Pigger, we need him closer. The arrow has been knocked sometime during my movement, cannot remember when though. Pigger is raised, tension applied to the string, the bull enters the shooting lane. A single low glugh is made by me.
Glugh...glugh...glugh... He makes a hard left turn, heading directly towards me. The eyes have taken on the glazed-over look, the body, head, and antlers sway side to side in unison with each step.
CRUMB! What a stupid mistake! You idiot! Placing yourself in the only opening between the bull and the make-believe bull. Nothing but a frontal shot....you are screwed.
Glugh...glugh...glugh... Twenty yards....fifteen yards.
Hold your ground, do not move until he is within two maybe three yards....make him turn.
Glugh...glugh...glugh...twelve yards...glugh...ten yards...glugh...he veers to his left, my right, between an opening in the trees.
Whew! CRUMB, have to switch body positions. Time the movement of the shift with the swaying of his head. The front right leg moves forward, the head sways left, the feet, body, and bow turn forty five degrees to the right. He is at eight yards quartered towards me. Be patient...
Glugh...glugh...he takes another step with the right leg, sways the head left, the feet, body, and bow turn another forty five degrees.
Glugh...glugh...glugh...he is at six yards, still quartered to me and a tree between us. Pick a spot! A hair is picked four inches behind the crease, mid body. At four yards he is broadside....An arrow appears, and then enters the body half an inch from the intended hair. It looks slightly angled back, penetration is good, about three inches from the fletching; twenty inches total. Probably hit an off side rib.
All heck breaks loose as the bull veers left and is at a full run downhill. Several quick cow moans are made and the sound of his footsteps stop. A couple more soft cow calls then silence for the next minute. Suddenly there is the sound of trees and limbs breaking, a loud thud accompanied with a grunting moan, then all its quiet. He is down, give him half an hour just in case. Though the arrow entered near its mark, its angle of was slightly askew, angling back 5 degrees. He was too close, four yards is not enough distance for the arrow to have fully recovered from the archers paradox after wrapping around the selfbow without a window.
Wonder if the coffee is still warm? There might be time for some oatmeal too. Forty yards later, back at the point, the clock says 9:32. The coffee is warm and the bags had enough time to saturate the water, it is still hot, it is good....very good. Life is good for another thirty minutes, and then the work begins.
Topic: Pigger Went North (Read 7681 times)
