OK folks, this is # 1 of 4 short chapters! This was a very memorable archery elk hunt with my Son! I think you'll enjoy it & I won't drag it out! (grin)
The morning started out innocent enough! We were heading out 45min before light to a pre-determined spot we had been into elk 2 days earlier. It was just my Son & I. We had covered about 1 1/2 mile into the Idaho woods when we heard a bugle just north of us 400 yds+ out. We had not called at all to this point so this ole boy had sounded off on his own, he bugled several more times but we could tell he was in hot pursuit of something, such as a herd of elk with a possible hot cow. We followed his bugles the best we could but he was moving fast through the heavy dark timber! At this point we could not see him.
You must appreciate the country we hunt! It's steep in many areas & very rugged. There are tons of downfalls in it from years of burns. Alder/Chaparral type brush grows rampant in every direction & is in the 7' to 15' high stages, it's nearly impossible to see over or get through it; you must find seams via game trails here & there & do your best to maintain a reasonable direction. In this case we were trying to follow this bull’s bugle as we felt he would lead us to the real herd. You will cover 3 times the distance as needed because of the terrain & it's steep including where he was taking us!
We are in pursuit of this bull but his bugles are becoming faint as he's moving much quicker than we can follow, we know the area well as we've taken roughly 25 elk off this mountain range over the years. After about 45min of following & weaving our way straight up this miserable mtn side we hear a bugle above us aprox 1/4 mile away, we are now more excited as it sounds as though we are finally closing the distance, meaning this bull is finally where he wants to be or bed. We now hear a 2nd bull to our left; he's 500yds off & a bit below us in a downfall hell. Almost un-approachable! We know his spot well & hate it!! (grin) He's no doubt a very good herd bull by his sounds but today he is safe from us. We do have a stroke of luck as these 2 are keeping each other entertained vocally.
ElkNut/Paul
To Be Continued!
The morning started out innocent enough! We were heading out 45min before light to a pre-determined spot we had been into elk 2 days earlier. It was just my Son & I. We had covered about 1 1/2 mile into the Idaho woods when we heard a bugle just north of us 400 yds+ out. We had not called at all to this point so this ole boy had sounded off on his own, he bugled several more times but we could tell he was in hot pursuit of something, such as a herd of elk with a possible hot cow. We followed his bugles the best we could but he was moving fast through the heavy dark timber! At this point we could not see him.
You must appreciate the country we hunt! It's steep in many areas & very rugged. There are tons of downfalls in it from years of burns. Alder/Chaparral type brush grows rampant in every direction & is in the 7' to 15' high stages, it's nearly impossible to see over or get through it; you must find seams via game trails here & there & do your best to maintain a reasonable direction. In this case we were trying to follow this bull’s bugle as we felt he would lead us to the real herd. You will cover 3 times the distance as needed because of the terrain & it's steep including where he was taking us!
We are in pursuit of this bull but his bugles are becoming faint as he's moving much quicker than we can follow, we know the area well as we've taken roughly 25 elk off this mountain range over the years. After about 45min of following & weaving our way straight up this miserable mtn side we hear a bugle above us aprox 1/4 mile away, we are now more excited as it sounds as though we are finally closing the distance, meaning this bull is finally where he wants to be or bed. We now hear a 2nd bull to our left; he's 500yds off & a bit below us in a downfall hell. Almost un-approachable! We know his spot well & hate it!! (grin) He's no doubt a very good herd bull by his sounds but today he is safe from us. We do have a stroke of luck as these 2 are keeping each other entertained vocally.
ElkNut/Paul
To Be Continued!
