No, the subject line is not a medical-update on my friend, who recently had prostate-cancer surgery ... it is in regards to the phone call that cousin Chris received, while on his central-Idaho Elk hunt 2-weeks ago. Apparently, after surviving Idaho wolves, coyotes and an entire Winter in the wild ... Chris's escaped pack-Llama (Woody), was �harvested� during the 2012 Idaho cow elk season, in the same unit where he broke free 11 months ago. This was in the Craig Mountain area, above the Snake river and the mouth of the Salmon River.
When the smoke cleared and the "shooter" went up to Woody, he thought the Cow-elk looked a little �wooly� ... then he spotted the halter still on him. So the shooter logged and reported the GPS coordinates to the Idaho F/G. They called another cousin (in Lewiston/Clarkston) who drove the 1-hr up there to check it out. Woody was found in a timbered area and he does have Elk-like coloration ... so, throw in a little snow, or a fogged scope ... a shaky trigger finger and a burning desire for elk steaks .... and the Legend-of-Woody ... is no more.
What ever happened to "Know your Target" ? .... or was it a case of ....
"If it's Brown and moves ... Shoot-it ... we'll sort the tags out later".
. . . Silver Bullet (suffering serious withdrawal, from not being in the Orygun Elk woods, 2nd season)
They used to spray paint orange x's on cows where I grew up. That sucks about Woody.
When the llamas are picketed out (near base camp), we usually hang orange vests in the trees around their perimeter ... figuring anyone approaching will see a hanging vest (first) and be a little cautious ... and not so trigger happy.
Chris had contacted Idaho Fish and Game when the llama had escaped during last years hunt and also put up some reward signs on local Forest Service information boards. There were 6 or 7 sightings of Woody over the last year. Two by outfitters working the area and 1 by one of their clients. Two other sightings were by loggers working the unit and one by a woman who had the llama walk into her hunting camp ... and she petted him ... but didn't think to grab his halter and a piece of rope and tie him to a tree.
I had suggested last Summer, that he haul another of his llamas up there and camp for a week (to leave scent) and since llamas are gregarious ... see if Woody might come in. Then, with a little rattling of the ole grain bucket ... he could be lured right in and grabbed.
... Silver Bullet
Launching 168gr TSX's ... just an Einstein below the Speed-o-Light
A llama in silhouette does look somewhat like a cow elk. The head is quite similar and they hold it about the same way. During hunting season, I keep mine dressed with wide orange bands around the necks.
If you've never tried to catch a 'free range' llama, it can be a real trick, best accomplished by bringing in another llama. If want a good time, try roping one. They have excellent eyes and can see almost 360 degrees. Before the loop is half way there, it will have it's chin on the ground.
I catch mine in the pasture with a 100' rope tied to post near a corner. Then I sort of 'corral' them with it. If they try to go under it, a little flip of the rope will back it off.
Rock Chuck - that rope-trick is how we capture them from the loafing field, prior to loading into the trailer.
- - -
The good-news for the 2102 hunt was:
A) Chris managed to Whack a 5x5 Bull opening morning. He was "still" hunting in a light rain on a backtrail and spotted two average bulls in the dark timber, about 150 yards uphill. The Elk were undisturbed, randomly feeding and slowly milling around each other ... but there were usually intervening tree trunks, blocking the path to their vitals. The light but steady wind was in his favor, so he ghosted over to a nearby tree, then peered out around the right hand side of the trunk, which he used as a rest. From this well-stabilized position, he chose the larger of the two Bulls and put the crosshairs of the Zeiss 3.5-10, just an inch to the right of the tree that was screening this bulls heart.
Ker-Pow ! ... he launched a single 180gr Speer Grand-Slam (from his Mark-X .300 Win mag) into the Bulls chest and after quickly cycling the bolt, both Elk had dissolved into the mist. Without waiting, he put a sneak on, up to where the elk had been standing. From there, he began to follow a single set of dig-out tracks ... that led 30 yards across the sidehill, then off into an older burn area ... but no blood. Back to the original spot, locate the other set and follow them ... as they broke right and headed steeply downhill. After just 40 yards, he spotted the Bull piled up below, antlers and legs akimbo, totally tangled up in the multiple trunks of some saplings.
(PS. I love reloading for this guy ... a box of 20 usually lasts him 7-8 years.)
They hunted 4 more days, before packing the Elk out with the 4-llamas they had along ... 7 miles (mostly downhill) on Forest Service trails.
- - - - -
B) On the way out, they ran into a guide who had a couple hunters packed into a basin below their camp (at 6,500 ft). One of the client hunters had earlier run across 3 wolves and managed to whack the largest (with very dark coloration) ... as the others scattered.
. . . Silver Bullet
Feeding the Trunk-Monkey ... for 4 more years ... <frown>
Too bad they couldn't round him up, but at least Woody didn't suffer an agonizing death from wolves or bears.