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.

  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".



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!

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.

       

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.



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.

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!  

Some great late season elk action!  I love it!

Looking forward to more Tracy!

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".

Your killing me, I'm working midnights and I'm gonna have to wait until I get up and see what's going on!!!

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!

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!