Blowing into the embers of my campfire, I tried to rouse them back to life.  As they erupted, some sparks singed my mustache and brought tears to my eyes.  I winced from the smoke and ash as the flames started to consume the log that I had placed in the fire pit.  Grabbing a lawn chair to steady myself, I eased my aching body into a sitting position.

Some things never change and this was one of them.  Every year on the first day of elk season, I tell myself to take it easy for a couple of days and start out with some short, easy hunts until I get acclimated to the high altitude and rugged terrain.  But each year I act like a throughbred breaking from the gate, only to return to camp crippled with leg cramps and a sore back.  I've heard it said that the mountains continue to grow.  Well, these old hills must have had a banner year because this year they are much steeper and all my old haunts are farther away from camp.

Before rekindling the campfire I had washed off my face paint and eaten a quick sandwich.  It would be at least another hour before Paul arrived.  He had to work a half-day shift and he couldn't get here in time for the morning hunt.  As I sat there rubbing the knots from my calves I enjoyed the scenery.  These autumn days were beautiful.  With just a touch of early morning frost the aspen were beginning to turn to gold.  The scent of pine filled my nose as I inhaled the mountain air.  It would be a good season - a time to relax and put my job behind me.  I was already unwinding from the cares of the world.  Reaching down I picked up my recurve with its quiver full of arrows.  Laying it across the arms of the lawn chair, I gently stroked the feathers of each shaft.  This was an old friend; it had taken me on many adventures.  My hand followed the graceful lines of the limbs.  There was something primitive and magical about shooting a bow.  Watching and arrow in flight was something you couldn't explain, but felt in your spirit.  Leaning back in the chair, I closed my eyes and listened to the wind sighing in the treetops.  A little nap would be refreshing _ I'll just slip off my boots.....

to be continued

OHHHHHHHHH YEAAAAAAAAAAA!

Reading that put me there too!!!

As I moved along the well-worn game trail, my eyes searched the forest depths.  The fresh elk tracks were leading me into a deep, wooded drainage.  Every few yards I stopped and listened.  In camo clothing and face paint, I had become one with the forest.  Only movement would expose my presence.  As I continued toward the bottom of the ravine I decided to try my elk call.  If an animal answered, I would plan my stalk.  Leaning my bow against a tree, I pulled the diaphram call from my pocket.  At the same time I grabbed the hollow grunt tube that hung from a string around my neck.  Blowing the call into the tube gave it a throaty resonance of a bull elk.  I imitated the call of an inquisitive, satellite bull and waited for a reply.  After several minutes and no answer, I called again.  This time I added several cow elk mews.  There was an immediate answer - a deep, hoarse bugle.  The bull was in the bottom of this drainage and only 200 yards away.  I grabbed my bow and started down the game trail.  Moving like a shadow, I closed the distance by 100 yards.  Kneeling in some brush I cow-called several times, each time at a different octive, trying to sound like a herd of cows an calves.  I had scarcely finished calling when a bull returned a bellowing bugle, followed by several grunts.  At 100 yards the sound sent shivers down my spine.  I carefully eased from tree to tree, watching for movement or anything that resembled the colors of an elk.  As I neared the creek bottom I could see a shallow pool the shade of rich, dark chocolate.  As I inched closer, it became evident that elk had recently used this wallow.  My feet unexpectedly slipped off the spattered grass and disappeared into the wallow.  With a sucking sound I pulled myself free, and with mud-covered boots I backed away.

Pulling up a seat ......... Keep it coming...... Terry

Crouching down by a fallen tree I tried to determine the bull's location.  I gave several cow and calf calls again.  The next few minutes seemed to pass in slow motion.  Suddenly, there was a loud bugle to my left, and then the sound of breaking limbs and a scream from another bull to my right.  I was sitting between two bulls and both of them were rapidly converging on my position.  I hunkered down in the dead boughs and nocked an arrow on my bowstring.  I was about to have company.  Another bugle came from my left - I could see movement throught the trees.  Before the sound died away, there was a thunderous charge from my right.  The bulls appeared just 10 yards away from me.  They sized each other up with blood in their eyes.  Steam poured from their mouths and nostrils like a pair of run-away locomotives.  I had the best seat in the house for the clash of these two titans.  They slowly lowered their heads, twisting their massive antlers.  I wasn't prepared for the collision that followed.  I nearly dropped my bow as I recoiled from the explosive impact.  With the crash and clatter of antlers the two bulls fought for dominance.  Small trees were flattened and destroyed in their anger.  Brush and sod flew in all directions as the muscled contestants battled on.  The air was full of their musky odor.  I soon relized that I would have to do something before I became a trampled part of their battleground.  As the monarchs locked their antlers in rage, I raised my bow.  Which one should I shoot?  As the biggest bull circled toward me, I drew back.  I watched for the bull's front shoulder and a good shot at his vitals, and then my arrow was gone.

Very nice!!! Waiting for the rest!

A truck door slammed.  "Are you going to sleep all day?"  I started to rise and my bow slipped to the ground from my lap.  Walking around to the front of his pickup with a grin on his face, Paul asked, "Hey buddy, where are the elk?"  Then Paul got a good look at me.  "Boy, your're raring to go - you've already got your face paint and camo on.  Shaking the cobwebs from my head and still in a daze I asked, "What time is it?"  "3:00 o'clock," Paul answered, "let's go."  As I started toward his pickup, Paul remarked, "You wouldn't believe the dream I had last night... Say, how did you get so muddy?"  I looked down at my boots:  the mud was still wet and dripping.  Paul continued, "I dreamed about a big wallow and a fight between two huge herd bulls.  I sure wish I knew where they were."  I turned and stared at Paul for several seconds, and then down at my filthy boots.  Seeing my stunned expression, Paul asked, "What's the matter?"  "Grab your bow and pack," I said, " I know exactly where those bulls are at."

Just a story, but based on fact.  Will be heading for the heavy timber again in Sept.  This time with a father and son that are members on this site.  It will be their first elk hunt.  I am looking forward to it.  Sharing an elk hunt with someone is the best of time and what memories are made of.

A great story Gene. Gary and Jordan will be with one of the best I know this elk season. Gene your a great man.

There is a shoot up here this weekend if you can make it

Maybe it's the time of year the Aspens changing the frost in the morning? Or maybe it's the majestic animals themselves?
   But there's nothing like Elk hunting.
 
  Thanks for taking me away from work for a couple minutes Gene.

   Can't wait for September..!

Great story!!

This looks to be a good one!

Gene you got me chomping at the bit already. I
drew a great tag for this year's elk hunt in the Green Mtns of WY, you got the goose bumps going with the thought of close in bugles. Going home tonight and starting of some special arrows for the hunt. Good luck to you and all in your camp.

Wow, what a great story!

Oh Yeah - can't wait, only 45 more days.

Great story, Gene. After reading this, I can't wait for "story-time" back at camp. Plus, my new longbow needs to be properly christened with a walk in the mountains...sounds perfect to me. Like many others here, I'm really looking forward to September.

Good stuff right there!  Good luck this fall!