Whip, I could almost hear the brush popping and fell the cool air.  Great story. Good Luck.

Won't be be long now Joe.
Jack

Excellent Joe! We're ready for the shot!  Keep us posted.

Great updates. Thanks for taking the time and effort to give us the feel of the elk hunt. I'm just amazed you have cell service, when we head over the Bighorns we never get a signal. Good luck.

Whip, I check on this thread six or seven times a day.  Looking forward to the hero pics with a big stinky bull.  The smart money's on you, friend!  Enjoy (I know you're soaking it all in) and be safe!    

       

Remote hillside... middle of nowhere... cell service...
You better not be sitting in some Starbucks, snapping your spandex and clacking your Birkenstocks!  

This thread is about all that is keeping me sane these days. Whether you get the bull (oh, Glory!) or not (more believable, and just like my hunts) I thank you for the excellent writing, and the pure adventure of your hunt. I have a hard time imagining seeing that many animals in a day!

Killdeer  

QuoteOriginally posted by knife river:
 The smart money's on you, friend!  Enjoy (I know you're soaking it all in) and be safe!      

Absolutely!!

Joe,
My money is riding on you,keep at it and keep us all posted on your progress !!

Hope that bull enjoyed possibly his last night with the cows.... Mr Whip is about to disconnect his pump station ! Hope you issue him a parking ticket in the morning Whip ! Thanks so much for taking us along.

After a long day at work...This is very cool and exciting!! Thanks Whip!!!!

Benjy

This really is a great thread!! Thanks a bunch for taking us along with you. Too hot to hunt here so this has become my fix the last couple of days. Keep it coming!!

There were supposed to be some new pics from Joe, but there must have been some technical difficulties.  All that showed up were some doubles.

I think he (Whip)  is getting closer to the moment of truth!

Shoot straight, Shinken

It's about 9am as I type this update. I'm sitting in a small sun soaked meadow resting my weary bones.  The crazy bugling of the morning has finally died down. Seems that happens a little earlier each day. Maybe it has something to do with the full moon.

Last night we took a longggg ride on the atv to get back to the head of a remote valley.  It's the back side of the mountain top I got myself rim rocked on last week.

I walked out to a narrow saddle between two large draws figuring it would be a great spot to listen from. I was right.  I was on an open ridge top overlooking the dark timbered bowl below. I couldn't see down into it, but I sure could hear.

As soon as I got there I heard a great commotion of crashing and banging of breaking branches down below.  My first thought was elk, but then I could plainly hear loud and unmistakable grunts of a bull moose.

Just to see if I could get a reaction I let go with a couple of plaintive cow moose moans. Boy, did I get a reaction!

Immediately the crashing and grunting started heading my way. I ducked behind a small spruce and gave a couple more calls. On he came straight toward me, grunting every step of the way.

At 80 yards I could see a massive rack coming through the brush. He stopped a couple of times to listen, but I didn't make another sound. On he came right at me grunting emphatically with every step.

He stepped out from behind one last spruce and was on a track that would bring him within a few yards of where I stood. At 8 yards I snapped a picture and then quickly waved my arms. That was cloe enough!  I thought all they might find is my stomped up corpse but at least there would be a photo to recover.

Fortunately, he bolted away instead of fighting. He stopped at 30 yards and turned back to see just what the heck that thing was. Satisfied that I wasn't a cow (lucky for me!)  He continued walking around me, still grunting as he went.  

I have some absolutely incredible pictures, but none on the phone, so'll you'll just have to wait.  I don't know a thing about judging moose scores, but this boy was immense. Big wide palms and extremely long points up front. I can't wait to show you.

This morning of course I was back to "my spot". Before I even got there I heard bugling down below in the same meadow as yesterday.  I didn't even bother trying to get to a point where I could glass them.  I knew exactly what to do.

Today they were coming up to bottom side and I found a great spot to sit with shooting lanes in three directions. The elkj were out of the meadow early and into the timber below me.  There were at least four different bulls screaming insults at each other. One to my left, one straight below, and two to my right. Grunts, screams, bugles, chuckles, glunks - they were making every sound in the elk vocabulary.and it didn't sound like they liked each other!  

A few cows popped up to my right, and a couple more directly below me. If this can hang together it is the perfect set up I have been waiting for.  

I first heard the cows to my right suddenly turn and crash away and then noticed the puff of breeze on the left side of my face. Just one little swirl and they had me.  They ran back to what sounded like the loudest and baddest bull. He and the others continued to carry on for awhile and seemed to be trying to keep pushing the cows up the hill. But they would have no part of it and it wasn't long before the bugles got further and further away.

It wa still early so I went up anbd over tghe ridge into the next draw hoiping I could catch that one boy on his way to the bedroom. I saw one large herd far below feeding on a hillside. But well out of consideration for me. A bugle from the opposite ridge had me headed that way.

I worked my way just above the bedroom, but didn't hear anything else from below. Working my way uphill a bull sounded off straight above. The wind was dicey for an approach from that way so I circled around to at least get it quartering for me. I eased up as close as I dared and he continued to bugle from the same spot. I hoped he might move downhill, but eventually he went quiet.

Had the wind given me away again?  I waited 15-20 minutes with nothing. I tried some gentle cow calling and breaking of branches with no response. I figured it was over and he had snuck out for parts unknown.

Easing up to the area I last heard him I hadn't gone 70 yards when he exploded out of a tangle and crashed away. I think he had already lain down for the day and had simply stopped calling when he did.

It's been 45 mintes here without a sound, so I guess time to head back toward the truck. I'm getting real tired of saying this. And I'll bet you're tired of hearing it.

So close!!!!!!!!

Good luck Whip, persistance is the name of the game.  

Keep after it Whip!!!    It'll happen soon buddy and in a blink of an eye too  

Joe your time is drawing near.
Jack

Good luck! We are still pulling for you. So close will eventually be real close! Go get 'em!