Well Saturday was opening day, I was walking in on a gated road that was open to walk in hunting and as I was walking I heard a cow call from down the side of this steep canyon that was a clear cut. I hurried down the road to the edge of the timber and started my way down just inside, it was dark and I had no light as i tried to be quiet slipping through the brush. every time i broke a branch I let out a small calf cherp and got down to where I thought the elk were. I slowly slipped back into the cut and nelt next to a stump I heard a little bit of cow talk coming from just above me and it was getting light fast. I dropped to far down into the canyon but the elk were headed down and my way so I thought this was going to happen. well 15 minutes later a big cascade Cow was at 11 yards right below me. I started to draw when I noticed a second elk to my right. BULL!!! BIG BULL!!! 50 yards and closing. _____________ what to do________ dam antlers!!!! Well I let the cow walk and the bull got to 30 yards but I didnt have the shot and he turned off the traill and went to the creek in the bottom and was gone. I backed out as I didnt want to spook him and went into the timber and headed down to the creek. It was now about 0930 am and I found a well used wallow so I quickly made a ground blind about 15 yards from it and sat down. about 12 I figured they were beded somewhere so I headed up and out. went home and changed to oil in my boat motor and ate lunch. about 4 pm My son got home from work and he wanted to hunt so we put on the camo and headed back to the honey hole. well he stayed high and I went back to the ground blind on the wallow. I was there for about 30 minutes and here comes the bull from the morning He came straight in to the wallow at about 15 yards giving me a frontal shot and then he looked right at me. nosterals flairing. He smelled me and spun and hauled up the hill. lesson for the day! Gear oil stinks even if you was with scent less soap= Dont work on the boat if your going hunting in the afternoon you big dumby!. Im heading out tuesday night through thursday. Time to put MR. brown on the Ground!
Days like that are hard to swallow, but it makes you wanna come back for more! You will get him. Best of luck
11 yard shot at a cow elk is mighty tempting but then you would always wonder about the big bull you saw :archer2:
Im getting back out after work tonight and will be hunting till Saturday. Maybe I'll get him.
"dam antlers!!!!"
Great line. That is why we do it though.
I always look at these experiences as "trophies". I have shot some nice white-tailed deer over the years, but I seem to think about the ones that got away more. That cannot be a bad thing.
Good luck.
Stick with it you'll get him.
Good luck,keep us posted.
Sounds real exciting. Go get him.
Good Luck brother. God Bless
Went back in thursday and the herd moved out. I relocated to the coast range to try for a rosie but didnt see a darn thing but steep thick god awfull country. heading to the blues. this thursday and will stay till 8 days.
good luck and enjoy your time outdoors
Sounds like a neat experience! I hope you get one next time out. I am headed to CO on the 13th and can't wait. Been elk hunting a few times and have never taken a shot. I hope the stars align this year.
Good luck to you,
Bisch
Good luck, be safe and God bless.
Sounds exciting! I still get pumped at ground level with little whitetails. I'can only imagine the rush on an elk-sized creature . . .with antler, to boot!
Kingsnake
Good luck. Hope to hear your follow up story after you get him:)