Two days ago I decided to try a different spot, so I called the Rancher who grazes the area.
He told me where he saw elk.
So I went that afternoon on my Polaris quad. ( I rather ride a mule)
I couldn’t get to where he suggested where I rode my Polaris, and I wasn’t sure I could get it back down so
I figured there may be satellites about. I worked the area some and WOW ! I found a beautiful shaded dirt ( not gravel) logging road going into some grassy ( even clover) benches.
I wasn’t in a true stalking mode, ( I often suffer from negativity) Thump, Thump, Thump, a small bodied rather heavy beamed 5 point trotted off. I mashed my butalo cow call a few times , and started foreword.
I should have glassed (they were on my hip), I should have moved SLOWER. Anyways it’s image appeared in some small lodgepole no more than 30 yards. Thump, Thump, Thump, I started calling, down the mountain it went. No more than 100 yards below out of view it started giving warning barks.
So I gathered my Carlton 2,5 reed, and my woods wise hyper hot. And I put on a little session jam.
About 400 yards away maybe more a deep throated bull started whistling!
Then the little bull below me started half ass bugeling. No way could I get to the bigger bull and the thermals were soon to change so I left and walked to where I could listen and look some into the canyon the rancher suggested. There was a bull bugling but I couldn’t get it to come in. ( probably a herd bull) I never saw elk.
This morning I went back and came into the bowl. ( more like a slide)
I knew that I was crazy, and I knew I couldn’t win, but it all seem the thing to do when the bull chimed on in! ( Willie Nelson)
So I was above the bugger, strong down draft thermals. So I waited silently. It went quite, I wondered if I came in too hard and was directly above him. So I bugeled, nuthin, bugeled again, nuthin, mashed the butalo, nuthin. Waited………shucks before I go let’s try the hyper hot.
He answered. He was above me!
I moved as much as I dare……tooted the hyper hot
He answered farther away.
I moved again, this time I tried quite and softer.
He answered , closer!
Then nuthin.
I kept calling.
Should have moved, I didn’t. I went silent.
Rustling above, I see an elks back 40 yards directly above me.
I whispered “ There he is” ( I was amazed how loud I was).
Then nuthin…..
I finally tried to move towards the spot I saw the animal and I nearly fell backwards. It was so steep, and my knees were shaking so bad.
This bull was gone, no sound , like it vanished. I finally lit my bic lighter…….the thermals had changed.
They hear U 3 times.
See you twice.
Smell you only once!
Got only tomorrow left…….gonna try that other bull.
Last edited by Angus1895; 09/29/23.