Oh so close!!

[flinter]

This week I've been hunting Roosevelt elk on the north coast of Oregon. I wanted to share Tuesday evenings hunt with you guys. The week started slow with no elk spotted the first two days, then Monday evening I got busted by 7 cows and calves. Tuesday evening I was about 3 miles in on a walk-in road when I heard a bull bugle a few hundred yards away, here we go!! I slowly hiked up the logging road trying to spot the bull when he crossed the road up ahead a couple of hundred yards, Darn, he was just a spike. I am hunting in a 3 pt or antlerless area. As I get up to where he crossed there is a clearcut with about 10 elk in it, Things are looking up! There are two nice 5 point bulls that start fighting. I've seen many bulls spar a little but these two guys were really going at it. There isn't much I can do but enjoy the show, no way to stalk in the open cut with all those eyes. After about 10 minutes the cows started to feed out of the cut leaving the bulls alone to their battle. Now's my chance, every time they went at it I slipped closer, I got to about 150 yards, when they just quit fighting and followed the cows up the road. I followed as quietly as I could. Both bulls stepped just inside the brush and started fighting again, here I go nothing to lose now!! I got to 15 yards and knelt down and waited! 15 YARDS I can't believe I'm so close, I can see the brush moving, hear them breathing, horns clanking together! Any second I know one is going to be pushed in front of me, My Northern Mist Classic is shaking a little, not sure why, A razor sharp Woodsman is waiting to be called to action, several minutes the action continues, then like so many times before I feel a slight breeze on my neck an it's over in seconds. Elk are crashing away, gone! Even though no arrows were shot, this is one of the highlights of a lifetime of elk hunting for me, hopefully I'll have another post with pictures before the seasons over. Thanks for reading.

[Stump73]

Man that was a exciting read. Thank you.

[maxwell]

Sounds like a good time, keep at it.

[Mud_Slide_Slim]

Good on ya for putting in a great effort.  Everything you had control over, you handled well.  The wind is sometimes your friend...sometimes not.  Roosevelt elk is a dream hunt for me.  Keep at it.  I would really like to read a part 2 of this story.  One with an elk on the ground.  Good luck.

Bill-

[Caughtandhobble]

Wow, now that's exciting.  

[KyStickbow]

Sounds exciting!

[arrowbuster]

Awesome hunt, its not always about the kill. I can feel your adrenaline pumping just with your story. Id say you wont soon forget that one.

[CoachBGriff]

Sweet!  My favorite whitetail hunt memory had no shot... just 3 different bucks coming crashing in to the sound of rattling.  Sometimes those are the most heart-pounding!

[Basinboy]

Great hunt! Thanks for sharing it with us  

[Cavscout9753]

Awesome hunt!

[Burnsie]

Way cool

That sounds like an awesome experience! While getting a shot is always cool, it is not always necessary to make the hunt a success.

Good luck for the rest of the season!

Bisch

[jwhitetail]

Wow!  Exciting and really what its all about with Trad gear... getting close enough to hear em breathing!  Get back out there and good luck getting after them!

[maineac]

Sounds fanastic to me, congratulations on a great hunt