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The elk area I drew this year last's a long time. I needed the time since I didn't fill my tag in September.
The elk are down from the high country and living on their winter range, and are tough to hunt. They like to stay in the wide open country where they can see all around.
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:coffee: oh yes!
Shedrock, I'm your fan!
One morning I counted 57 bulls on the ridge I'm hunting. They were in groups from 4 to 15. With less eyes in the smaller groups, those are the one I chose to put a stalk on.
My first stalk got me only to 75 yards when the wind swirled a bit, and the bulls stood up, put their noses in the air and just walked off. These were bigger bulls than I thought, 3 big 6x6's, one being in the 370's class, and a big 7x7 that would easily make the 360's.
They didn't seem very spooked as they just walked away. I gave them time and got on their tracks in the fresh snow. I kept glassing ahead hoping to find them settled down in the next drainage or two ahead, but that was not the case. I ended up following them at least 3 miles toward, then up and over this mountain called "Beer Mug".
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I hunted them untill dark, and never saw them again. I guess that's why they are big.
Hey you cant just post a few pics and leave me hanging!
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The following Saturday found me back on the ridge. There is a bedded bull in this pic, can you see his antlers? Look lower left.
Well, there was more than just him there. I made a 3 hour stalk slowly sliding down the ridge on my back trying to stay low. Not much cover here as you can see.
:campfire: :clapper: :clapper:
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Temps were well below zero, I was froze, my shooting fingers were numb from the biting wind. That is my poor excuse for missing low. You can see the bed and my VPA tipped Douglas Fir stuck in a rock. I could not believe I blew a 20-22 yard shot. What is wrong with me I wondered? That is a chip shot. At least I didn't wound the bull.
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I went to grab my arrow, but the tough VPA never came with it. It was stuck in the rock! I got the head out and found it undamaged.
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Later on I found some more bulls, made a stalk from below them. This hill is pretty steep, I made it up to the rock there, then the bulls stood. They must have seen my orange hat. I drew back, let go, and watched my arrow fly over one of the bulls. I was sick! But I knew I rushed it and didn't pick a spot! :banghead:
Some great late season elk action! I love it!
Looking forward to more Tracy!
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I did find these on my long, depressing walk back to the truck.
I got home that afternoon and shot my bow to check my sights. ;) I shot one arrow at 20 yards, and one at 25 yards. Both were right in the bullseye. Now why can't I shoot an elk?
What a grand adventure!
Thanks Shed for all your great posts! Sitting seat edge waiting for Paul Harvey's "rest of the story".
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Your killing me, I'm working midnights and I'm gonna have to wait until I get up and see what's going on!!!
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Tracy this is awesome.
Great pics thanks for taking us along. You sure don't know how lucky you are to be able to do that. Not much action like that in WV. LOL!!!
Your stories by "pictures" are amazing! Really enjoying the scenes of the land and terrain, keep at it, thanks!
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The next day with high hopes I found these bulls. I stayed with them as they fed hoping they would bed down in a good, stalkable spot.
Man its like an Elk zoo! Come on where is the picture of the blood trail!
Beautiful pics and I bet you are just beating yourself up missing twice.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020359.jpg)
More bulls joined the bunch and they put on a good show right in front of me about 75 yards. They fed, raked the trees, and even sparred a bit. I was hoping they would work my way. I was out of cover and could not move to them.
They ended up bedding right there and I was stuck waiting. I watched and waited for about an hour when suddenly about 15 deer came running over the ridge toward the bulls and me. I knew trouble was coming. The bulls knew it also, got up and trotted off to my left, and still way out of range. They stood there looking at the deer, then a rifle shot rang out. The elk took off behind me another 100 yards and just stood there. I looked back up the ridge to the west and saw the gun hunter. I was a little ticked, he should have seen me right there as I was wearing orange, and in the wide open.
The bulls worked around downwind of me, ended up smelling me and took off. The gun hunter missed, and I was kinda happy about that!
You've got me hooked, now the rest of the super hunt!
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The following Thursday, Dec 15th was the last day of bull hunting for this month, so I skipped work and headed back to the ridge. It was really cold that morning.
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This a very good hunting thread :thumbsup: :archer: :coffee:
thank you very much for sharing the story & photos!
I'm cold lookin at the pics! Great hunt Tracy, at least you have snow and the elk are down :)
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I found these bedded bulls, but not stalkable. Wind coming from right to left, plus them guys are facing every direction possable. I knew I would get seen or smelled, so I let them be.
:notworthy: :campfire:
Wow! Awesome country!
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020420.jpg)
Later I found these 4 still up and feeding. I dogged them into some junipers where they bedded. I only got to about 35 yards and had to stop the stalk. One bull was facing my way, and I was stuck waiting again for them to make a move.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020416.jpg)
After a while, they got up and started feeding again, but in the wide open where I didn't have a chance.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020428.jpg)
I kept after them, but it was pretty hopeless once they got out in the open.
Sweet pics. Alot differant then most elk hunts, looks like a blast.
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Busted!
The end....until Jan 1st when season opens again until the 15th. Wish me luck! I really need it when it comes to elk.
My friend asked me if I wanted to borrow his rifle. I told him, "I don't think so!" The bow way, or no way!
Thanks for looking everyone. Very fun hunt.
I'd be wearing a Ghillie suit and belly crawling in open country like that. Ever try that on them?
GOOD LUCK! Thanks for taking us along. Can't wait till Jan to see what happens! :campfire:
Thanks for taking me along. Enjoyed it
Awesome pics and story! Good luck next time!
Cool story... I mean really Cold.!
Good Luck in January, hope the wind isn't blowing.!! Oh that's right the wind never blows in WY....... :laughing:
Wyoming....Heaven on earth not matter the month or the temp!
Very cool story and pictures, thanks for sharing! Good luck in January!!!
Good luck! I sure was exspecting to see a blood trail.
Good luck! I hope you get your bull in Jan. What a way that would be to start out the New Year!
Bisch
Getting a nice bull would sure be a great way to start the year, good luck and keep at it.
Luv that frosted over tree. Goodluck in January!!
Great photos and hunting story.
Wow! Tough terrain for a bow shot.
Can you carry one of those Montana cow elk decoys to hide behind while stalking? Or maybe your Christmas tree. :)
Good luck in Jan. Awesome pics and story.
good luck!!!!!! liked the photos,now show us one with you and an elk down
:thumbsup:
Awesome Post! :clapper:
There looks like no shortage!! Good luck I hope to see of you holding ones head up in jan.
Awesome. Some of those pictures looked COLD!!
Joshua
Thanks for takin time to post your hunt Tracy!
Good luck in Jan.!
Great hunt, thanks for sharing. Only can say I wish I was there!!!!! Good luck in Jan, keep the story going PLEASE!!!!!
Great story and pictures. This reminds me of an area of Idaho where I used to hunt mule deer. Lots of critters and not much cover. Best luck to you on the remainder of the hunt, some fine looking bulls to chase. Look forward to the finishing story and pictures :campfire:
Thanks!! Great post!
Bob
Thanks for sharing bud ! Great pics and story. Good luck come Jan 1 !
"The bow way or no way"....love it! Keep at them. That looks like some hard hunting without any cover. Put that snow camo on and do the belly crawl to a point of intercepting their movement. It is sooo easy being an armchair quarterback! haha
QuoteIt is sooo easy being an armchair quarterback! haha
That's a mouth full, so true.
;)
What cn I say?Great drive,tough hunter!Hat down. :notworthy:
This is the way I love to hunt!
You the man. That reminds me of hunting elk in the Rindel Buttes area. You have to hunt them like antelope and I swear they have 9 power vision just like lopes when they get in the open like that. Those pictures make me want another sip of whiskey and to move closer to the fire. Keep after them and good luck.
WOW! That post made my day! Beautiful pics. Good luck in January :campfire:
Looks a lot like the country sw of Rawlins. Course much of that country is similar.
Do you have any time left. Hope to see you with more stories.
Tracy, Great read. Great pictures, cann't wait for the rest of the story. Good luck.
Wonderful pictures as usual from beautiful Wyoming. One of my favorite states to visit. Good luck as you continue your hunt next week!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
I love the picture of the bed and arrow. I said "Dohhh!" out loud! My wife heard it and shook her head. Thanks for taking me along.
Cool
Good stuff! Kind of a memory lane trip for me minus the cold weather. Keep after'em and Good Luck!!!!!
Great pictures.
Best of luck come January!
Thanks for the nice story and pics. You wouldn't have had this great adventure with a rifle in your hands, now would you? That's why we bowhunt! Good luck in January.
Great hunting post - I was praying while I read it that the story ended with a bull :pray:
Thanx Tracy...I'm sure glad Randy showed you how to post pix!!
Good luck when it opens again :pray:
Thanks for the great story and pics! Good luck to you in January!
Kenny :archer2:
Wow,
what wonderful pictures and what a great hunt.
Thank you for sharing.
Time to break out the snow camo.
Absolute amazing potographs!!! Best of luck to you next month.
Can't wait for the read & pics come January..Good luck & Thanks
wow tracy, awesome hunt! would be fun to hunt a place where ya get to see so many. good luck in january!
Awesome pictures and story! Good luck on your return trip, and hopefully one of those big boys will slip up so you can slip up on them!
Great story and pictures. Good luck when you get after them again.
-Jay
Great post you had me hooked. Good luck in January .
Awsome pics and story..always love your post. I dream of one day living in Wyoming.
QuoteOriginally posted by Shedrock:
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Love the story but wish it had a different ending...maybe in January you can get even with them!
The above is an awesome photo...in B&W it would be amazing also!
What camera are you using?
Looking forward to the next round you have with them!
Josh
Great hunt. Thanks for sharing. Hopefully the bulls will be a bit more cooperative in Jan.
I had a late season cow tag. Tried to shoot in my parka and couldn't get past it. It was a full moon and we saw elk only at sundown/dark. Freezing up in our mountains too, but no snow. You gave it a great shot, and I admire you as I KNOW how you felt up there
Thank you, Tracy! I really enjoyed what you've shared with us.
Looking forward to the next "chapter," and hopefully a bloody arrow!
Thank you so much for the wonderful pictures and story!!! Good luck first of the year!!
Hope you get one of them!
Wow that looks like fun ! Reminds me a bit of caribou hunting. Thanks for a nice narrative during the shortest days of the year. Hope you do well when you get after them in January.
I've seen enough, I moving... :laughing: :deadhorse:
Tracy thank you that was awesome!!!!!
Thanks for posting that Tracy, excellent thread!
Good luck and a great hunting story!
AWESOME PICS!!!!!! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Good luck on getting your elk! Layers layers layers as grandpa would say!
You lucky dog! Who cares if you didn't stick one!? You saw a mess of them and put on a few good stalks. In my book that's a pretty successful hunt. I've half a mind to quit my job and move to WY for the elk! I look forward to more posts in Jan!
Extraordinary adventure & pics. Thanks for taking the time to share your story, felt like I was there!
This is a great story and great pics :clapper:
You didnt bagged an elk but you've hunted a lot!
thanks for a great post!
NCR
Amazing pictures,the memories most be incredible!!!
Looks like the Jarbidge Wilderness area of Nevada. Just beautiful, and you captured it in all its beauty and difficutly in closing for the shot. Well done, Sir
Love this thread. It take a lot of skill determination and patience to hunt elk in that country and Tracy is the one who can do it.
can't wait for more. I share your pain with not always being able to pull off a perfect shot when you really need to, even though you know you can. Glad i'm not the only one. Persistance will prevail.
Thanks a bunch Tracy. Great photo's. I just got off the phone with my son, trying to decide where to go next September.
I enjoyed it a lot.
Gary