Been dealing with truck u-joints and heat and meat, but, didn't lose an ounce of meat and it looks and smells great. yahoo!
Last Sat. the 5th I came in from my hunt and once again studied the maps. And right there it was, a tiny public access to NoName on the side we like to hunt, about an extra mile hike, but what the heck, the Kid had the next day off before having to do about 12 days straight. We were going back in!
It's been pretty much cookie-cutter weather here, 30 at night, 70's in the day, might see a cloud or 2, no smoke. We arose about 4am, downed a 5-hour energy and bottle of water on the drive to our spot, got out, put our heads down and hiked. It takes about an hour and a half to get to the elevation where the elk usually are, and bingo, Jim sees the first one in a tiny park about a mile south of us straight across the ravine. Couple minutes later I spot a nice bull.
The Kid's like "let's go get 'em!" But the old "Flatlander" here was stilled gassed and said, "no no no, let's give a few toots on the horn around here and see if we can't get something goin' closer". We like to elk hunt the way I learned to turkey hunt, run and gun. Call, hike, call, hike. Find a hot one and work him. I got nothing against guys that sit blinds with decoys or treestands. But for me, I like buglin' em in. There's nothing like trying to put an arrow in a 6-800 pound beast that's huntin for you and wants to kick
your ass!
Well, we couldn't find anything after an hour or so. So it was time to go down our side of the ravine and back up the other side. ugh We've been using external reed bugles, but still keep a mouth diaphragm in so that when we make a loud, clumsy human crack or thump we follow with a cow chirp. Elk can be pretty loud too.
We got in close to where the elk were and Jim took off his pack to find a better sounding call. I think we both did a couple chirps and as he was putting his pack back on, I thought I heard a hoof hit a log, but the Kid, who has much better hearing, didn't seem to notice. Probably a squirrel dropping a pine cone.
I don't think we went 10 yards and there was a huge clamoring of elk fleeing noises about 50 yards ahead. Oops, shoulda said something
After we topped out on that spine and went over to the next ravine, it was time for me to have a sit in the shade. The kid gives a toot and thinks he hears a reply down the ways. So, he take his call and walks a bit up the hill to a better spot. I'm content to stay right where I am. Tough following a young dude through these hills.
I hear him bugle out 3 times in about a 20 minute time period. And here he comes back with that look in his eye, "I got one fired-up". "How many times did you call?" "2" Oh yeah, even I could hear that one. He points to a little bench where the bull is, 5-600 yards away and we start our maneuver.
I'm following close behind when he stops suddenly and I know he's seeing something. Bowhunters. Jim walks over and I see a sign of recognation on the other guys' face. They know each other.
Turns out this guy is the local self-appointed elk hunting pro and he proceeds to tell us to "Stop bugling. These are pressured public land elk that don't come into bugling, cow calls maybe, but never bugles. I don't even carry a bugle". Yeah, but you carry a pistol, and bear spray, and, this isn't even Griz country. And, a pack big enough to summit Everest. Whatever. We head back down the mountain and as soon as we're out of earshot we start recounting all the bulls we've bugled in in the past. It's all good.
Time for me to grind meat, more to come.
Topic: 5X7 WY BULL, rest of the story on 6 and 7 (Read 3557 times)
