bcnorth
FNG
Last years elk hunt was a bit frustrating but for a unique situation...
We named her Barker. She barked while we slept, she barked if you got up to take a leak, she barked if you were upwind, downwind, no wind. Barked mid-day up the mountain, we started thinking no way in hell thats us!! Actually scared the crap out of us one night right beside the tent while the herd was moving by too. After hearing the cows filter by mewing softly - me thinking ok.... were all good here.... then BARK!!! BARK!! and on for another 5 minutes or so.
The other elk would panic and run for a distance, some would join in the barking but then it would go quiet. I think they all knew she was a nutty Nancy and didnt take her seriously. Any other time cows have barked more than once in my experience - its gone quiet and elk are gone.
I caught of glimpse of Barker trying to get the attention of the herd bull, it sounded like a herd of elephants taking a bath so i ran toward the sound thinking it was the herd bull. But no, it was a very large cow with seemingly huge monobrow going bananas in a beaver pond, water flying everywhere. Next i hear a bugle right above her just inside the treeline and i prep for a possible shot...... then yep she suddenly stops splashing, looks toward me and BARK! BARK! and on and on and on for about 10 minutes. Elk panic and run, lost shot opportunity. This time though, fair enough, themals were switching and i think she caught a little wiff of hunter stank.
Why!? hypersensitive cow? more highly evolved senses? or just plain nuts? Why the elk were running for a bit and/or barking then just stopping and continuing on like normal? i think they knew.... she was crazy
How do i know it was the same cow? It was very distinct, very loud, echoed like no other bark, and rattled your bones. No other bark like it.
Anyone elk experience strange cows like this?
We named her Barker. She barked while we slept, she barked if you got up to take a leak, she barked if you were upwind, downwind, no wind. Barked mid-day up the mountain, we started thinking no way in hell thats us!! Actually scared the crap out of us one night right beside the tent while the herd was moving by too. After hearing the cows filter by mewing softly - me thinking ok.... were all good here.... then BARK!!! BARK!! and on for another 5 minutes or so.
The other elk would panic and run for a distance, some would join in the barking but then it would go quiet. I think they all knew she was a nutty Nancy and didnt take her seriously. Any other time cows have barked more than once in my experience - its gone quiet and elk are gone.
I caught of glimpse of Barker trying to get the attention of the herd bull, it sounded like a herd of elephants taking a bath so i ran toward the sound thinking it was the herd bull. But no, it was a very large cow with seemingly huge monobrow going bananas in a beaver pond, water flying everywhere. Next i hear a bugle right above her just inside the treeline and i prep for a possible shot...... then yep she suddenly stops splashing, looks toward me and BARK! BARK! and on and on and on for about 10 minutes. Elk panic and run, lost shot opportunity. This time though, fair enough, themals were switching and i think she caught a little wiff of hunter stank.
Why!? hypersensitive cow? more highly evolved senses? or just plain nuts? Why the elk were running for a bit and/or barking then just stopping and continuing on like normal? i think they knew.... she was crazy
How do i know it was the same cow? It was very distinct, very loud, echoed like no other bark, and rattled your bones. No other bark like it.
Anyone elk experience strange cows like this?