Trad Gang

I've just returned from an incredible hunting trip to Montana and Colorado and had the time of my life.  I've always really enjoyed the stories of others trips that they have shared here and want to try my hand at sharing my adventure through pictures.  

After a LONG day at work on September 8th, I finally hit the road headed west.  My destination would be Winnett Montana, where I would meet fellow Trad Gangers Norbert Schulz and Leo Schmaus, along with his freinds Jordan and Jim for a long weekend of chasing antelope.
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I drove as far as I could that night, and caught a few hours of sleep in the truck.  The next morning found me back on the road.  The North Dakota badlands to me are the first real sign that I have found "The West".
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/CopyofP1000234.jpg)

Rendevous were made, and camp was set up.  Antelope country has its own special appeal, and it felt good to be back.  The wide open spaces provided our "Home On The Range".
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nice looking camp Whip..... can't wait to read & see more of your trip....

Leo was the point man for this operation, and had made plans for us to hunt a Block Management Area, which is private land enrolled in a State program to provide access to the public.  Thousands and thousands of acres of land were available for our explorations.

Our modus operandi would consist of spot and stalk, and using a decoy in an attempt to lure bucks with love on their mind.

Norbert demonstrates his technique.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/CopyofP1000245.jpg)

Hey Norb!  I think it might be more realistic if you bend your knees a little!

We head out to find the quarry.  Binoculars are constantly at our eyes checking on the possibilities and planning an approach.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/CopyofP1000248.jpg)

Sometimes antelope could be spotted from the road and an approach planned.  Other times we had to walk to check the other side of a ridge or in fields that weren't visible from the road.  

This buck was spotted as we drove, and we turned around and parked out of sight.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/CopyofP1000261.jpg)

We stayed in the bottom of a washed out draw, and worked our way to where we thought we could intercept him.  It was a great plan, but a minor miscalculation resulted in a familiar sight...
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/CopyofP1000260.jpg)

Another stalk found us following a creek bottom to circle around behind a buck bedded by himself out in field.  In the middle of the stalk we were startled when we jumped a group of deer.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/CopyofP1000240.jpg)

An approach was made, and everything went perfectly.  Wind was in our favor, we were within about 100 yards of a bedded lone buck, and we got the decoy in position. When he finally stood, he saw the decoy, and started to walk our way.  But when he got within about 50 yards, he got nervous, and circled away from us.  

It seemed that the rut had not kicked into high gear yet.  Many times we saw groups of does and fawns with no bucks in sight, or maybe being tended by small immature bucks.  The bigger buck antelope seemed to still be by themselves, and the smaller ones were thinking they were big shots by having all the does to hang out with.  I'll be they really thought they had the world by the tail this year!  Little did they know that the big boys were just saving their energy for when the time was right, and they would be in to take over when it mattered.  

Unfortunately for us, the decoys didn't seem to draw much interest.  We could have tried other methods, such as sitting on water holes or fence crossings, but we were enjoying each others company and having fun hunting together.  I just didn't feel like sitting in a blind by myself when we would only have a few days to enjoy together as it was.

Great looking camp Whip,Looks like a good time.Can't wait to hear the rest.

Tracy

Thanks for sharing Wip. Always good to read your threads and just love the white plains style tent.


In Oz,alan

Great to see ya made it back to your BRIDE  :)  

Good Story and Photos Joe DON"T WEAKEN Keep it comming!!  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Nice camp

The area of Montana we were hunting is remote and beautiful, yet it is also a harsh, arid environment.  Evidence of hardy settlers is everywhere, and it is difficult to comprehend the struggles they must have gone through to carve a life out of the land here.  Old homesteads serve as reminders of much harder times.
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I really found this old rotted log on a cabin interesting.  The entire outside of the log had rotted away, leaving the inside heartwood intact.  It almost seemed the original sapling was shedding its skin to reemerge from its capsule.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/CopyofP1000284.jpg)

Vance, I know you're going to be really disappointed with me, but I didn't take any pictures of the meals we had!  I can tell you that we ate like kings.  Leo whipped up some great evening meals, including a fantasic Jambalya one night, and ribeyes as big as your head the next.  On Monday evening Joseph Myers drove over from Livingston for a visit and brought along a smoked pork shoulder roast.  Leo added grilled pork tenderloin.  "The other white meat" never tasted so good!

Sure the hunting was the excuse to be there, but to me the real treat was having a chance to meet and share a camp with other Trad Gangers.  My only problem is that apprantly I was enjoying myself so much I forgot to take pictures of much of the camp life.  Norbert will be back tomorrow, and I hope he will pitch in to help bail me out there.

Game is abundant, and in addition to our main quarry of antelope, it is home to what seemed to be large numbers of mule deer, and suprisingly, numerous elk.  This isn't what I typically thought of as elk country, but it did have numerous timbered ridges that the big deer called home.  According to Leo, hunting pressure often drives them out of the hills, and it is not uncommon to see large herds out in the middle of the prairie.  Most of the other hunters in the area seemed to be elk hunters.

Montana also has to be considered the cottontail capital of the world!  Rabbits seemed to be everywhere, and at times it was hard to keep our focus on the task at hand. Our first evening in camp Jordan walked up in the hills in pursuit of mule deer, and ended up shooting eight rabbits instead. Another evening I couldn't take it anymore, and spent some time flinging judos at bunnies.  
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Leo did declare the camp rabbits off limits.
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nice pic's lot of history in them.... Nice looking bunny you got there.... must have been good eatten's

Great stuff, Whip!  Keep it coming!!!

Whip,

Great to hear about the adventures of three fellow sweat veterans.  Great pictures.  Sounds like you guys had a good time.

Chris

Hey Chris, Good to hear from you!  Would sure love to share a camp with you and Andrew again sometime!

Tuesday morning found Norbert and I head back to the north end of the BMA we were hunting.  This area always seemed to have some antelope roaming somewhere on the property.  Maybe this morning we would be able to catch them in a vulnerable spot.  

On the way there we actually saw our first elk.  We had seen sign of them, and I even had found a small shed antler from the previous year, but on this morning we saw a nice 6x6 bull all by himself heading back into the hills.  I would sure hope to see more of those next week!

Arriving at our parking area, it wasn't long before we spotted a group of antelope in a far field that we had blown a stalk in a couple days earlier.  This time we knew the terrain better and how to move in it without being seen.  

Before even reaching that group, another bunch was spotted moving crossways to us.  We approached as close as we could through a draw, crawling the last yards to get into position.

The goats saw the decoys, and although it drew stares, they made no real move to us.  In decoying, it is important to be as close as you can in order to provoke a buck to defend his girls.  We were still over 200 yards away, and it didn't seem the bucks were all that interested in romance anyway.  

While we played with them, norb gave me a sign to look behind me.  A third group was approaching from our rear!  The decoy we had is only painted on one side, so I tried to spin it to face the newcomers, but they caught me at the trick and quickly left.  

We still hadn't made an approach on the original group we had spotted, and they had bedded near the base of a hill, but out in the field.  We made a big swing to get behind them and planned an approach that should bring us within 100 yards of their position with the wind in our favor.  Everything was looking great!  Almost!  Next theng we knew this is what we saw.
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Another group, presumably group 2, had come into sight, and the buck from group 1 had gone in to join them. They had us pegged, and the jig was up.  

It had been a great morning though.  We had literally been surrounded by antelope, and had nonstop action all morning long.  We walked back toward the truck, and there was a group of goats in the field near it.  We tried one last desperate set up with the decoy, but again were too far away to do any good.  Norbert took matters into his own hands, held the decoy up in front of him and made a dash toward the herd!  They were so involved in feeding they didn't even notice him until he had gone a couple hundered yards!  Why hadn't we tried this earlier???
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Praire flowers and sunsets always catch my attention.
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Good on Ya BUD  :notworthy:  

Great story and Photography......Keep it commin

Thanks for the great pics and story Whip. Hope to hear and see more.

Due to work commitments the rest of the group had to leave Tuesday afternoon.  I needed to be in Denver Thursday evening, and my original plan had been to keep after the antelope until then if I hadn't filled my tag.  But the apparant lack of romance in the air left me feeling like decoying was not the method of choice for this trip, and I decided I would rather stick with my backup plan and take a drive through Yellowstone Nat'l Park on my way to CO.  This would also allow me a chance to stop by Vance (Iron Bull) Brewers place for a visit with him and Charlie Lamb.

Camp was broken, good byes were said, and promises of future hunts were made.  Then I pointed the truck south with the goal of getting to the entrance of Yellowstone by nightfall.  The dust of the Montana roads left an interesting outline on the back window of the rig.

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My first close up encounter with the mountains was sure a welcome sight, although the smoke from all the recent fires in Montana cast a haze on everything.  I sure couldn't complain - the folks who live out here sure had a lot more to worry about than the quality of the view.

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My route took me over Beartooth Pass, from Red Lodge to Cooke City Montana.  I had traveled this road once before and it is one of the most spectacular high country roads I have ever been on.  Even with the constant haze, the views were breathtaking.
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Life is a struggle in the high country.  Some trees just put down roots wherever they can and hang on for dear life.

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:thumbsup:

I had never been through Yellowstone before, and I figured September would be a good time to see it.  Although it is definately a pretty place, I guess it was still a bit to "park like" for my tastes.  Even this time of year there were too many people, and it wasn't long before I was looking at the map for the shortest way south.  

This bear was spotted close to the side of the road.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/CopyofP1000331.jpg)

Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one to see him.  Kind of reminded me of rush hour in Chicago.
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Sheeshh... Those people obviously don't have a clue of what it is like to really see nature up close and personal.  This felt more like being at the zoo.

There were some pretty spots though, and it was great to see the the quakies were at their best.  

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Yellowstone was devastated by fires some years back, but there was evidence to show that life goes on, and the recovery was well underway.
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Whip, Great story and best of all--friends to share it with...Doc

Gotta jump in with a little bit...
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We had a ton of fun with Leo (HoodoArrow) and Jordan (Albertakid). Those two have only known each other for a couple of years and they go at it like brothers already. Joe and I laughed ourselves silly at their stories about growing up as ranch hands.

:bigsmyl:  Sure wish I could have been there with you guys. I can hear the conversation already!  :D  CK

Here's a pic of the gang..We ran Joseph's battery down listening to my Chargers HUMILIATE the loathsome Raiders on national television. The operation on his truck was a success....
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From left to right, Joseph, Leo, Jordan and Joe

Norb, that mountain/cabin pic is breathtaking...coffee table book ready for sure.

Joe Ghillie'd up for the final push after our lone buck. This was my favorite stalk. We followed a coullee from about a mile downwind of him, and had to belly crawl a few times to get into another drainage to get close. Three hours of sneaking...man was that fun!

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/beachbowhunter/MT%20Antelope/IMGP0568.jpg)

Up north of camp, Joe and I had patterned a couple of small herds that we chased around. One morning we came to the sudden edge of the drainage. Leo says there are a few buffalo jumps in the area.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/beachbowhunter/MT%20Antelope/IMGP0596.jpg)

Joe and I took a side trip to visit Dick Robertson. We didnt pose for pics but we shot a bunch of bows! Luckily I escaped with my credit card balance in tact.
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Dick and Yote had made up this lovely young lass of a decoy (they have a much more disparaging name for her) out of a real doe and a 3D target. They said it worked so well they felt like they were cheating! Wish we had known about her before we started...

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/beachbowhunter/MT%20Antelope/IMGP0605.jpg)

Tools of the trade...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/beachbowhunter/MT%20Antelope/IMGP0623.jpg)

The end of a great day...

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/beachbowhunter/MT%20Antelope/IMGP0578.jpg)

Fabulous stuff, guys!  I'm greedy, though -- more, please!     :D      :thumbsup:

Cool pics Norb!  I knew you'd come through with some.  I was feeling bad because I missed out on so many great photo op's.  Thanks for filling in the blanks.

 The Montana backroads had chewed up and spit out one of the tires on my truck.  Monday afternoon we had left it at the local shop to be repaired.  The owner had kind of looked down his nose at it and commented "Wal thas jis a car tar... s'posse I kin try ta fix it"  Apparantly they don't consider our "highway style" pickup tires to be real "truck tires", and hardly worth the effort of patching up.  

Anyway, instead of waiting around for him we decided to take a little road trip to see Robertson's shop and shoot a few bows.  I'll tell you, I was more that a little nervous driving there and back without a spare - they live in the absolute middle of nowhere!   A long, long ways down another one of those tire eating gravel roads.  But it was well worth it, and I definately have another bow on my "Got to have one" list.  Certainly a few hours well spent.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/beachbowhunter/MT%20Antelope/IMGP0581.jpg)

Wow!  Great stuff, men!  I have saved a few of these shots for desktop backgrounds.  Thanks for sharing!

Whip...from the photos, looks like you had a great trip.  Was also great meeting you at Compton last summer.

Thanks for sharing guys......great pics...yeah, coffe table book quality.

Pretty hard to pick which one of those picture is best.  They are all great.

I'm still partial to the picture of Norb's good looking bow....especially since I've got a zipper on the way.  

Actually with a backdrop like the Western landscape its pretty hard to be disappointed about not harvesting game.  Actually it seems only natural that the hunting would be as tough as the country. Being in a place that beautiful makes up for a lot.

Keep the pictures coming. I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out. It's a great thread.

Chris

I headed through Jackson, WY and toward Vance's home.  I had the pleasure of meeting and hunting with Charlie before at the Texas Sweat, but had only met Vance online here at Trad Gang and talked to him on the phone.  I was looking forward to, as he would put it, "shaking his paw".  It truly amazes me the friendships that can be made through an impersonal medium like the internet.

I met Charlie at a store in Daniel, and he gave me an escort the rest of the way to the ranch.  This is what greeted me as I turned into the driveway.
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After a tour of the ranch we loaded some gear in the truck and headed for the hills.  I was given a first rate tour of the mountains, and saw loads of game, including deer, antelope, and moose.  I was amazed at the sight of antelope at elevations over 9,000 feet.  When told there were goats up here, I thought he meant white ones!
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Vance puts on a stalk.
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We stopped for a photo op at a scenic spot, and since we had bows in hand, a fine round of stump shooting broke out.  This afternoon had been a highlight of the trip for me.
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Returning to Vance's, we found a feast laid out for us - a true smorgasboard of Mexican delights, washed down with an appropriate beverage... Now I know why Vance is always wondering how we're eating on the adventures - he is certainly used to good cooking!
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The master at work in the "mens room".  This is where "The Way West" epic saga story is being told...
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After a restful night, all too soon it was time to hit the road again.  Charlie had a rendevous to the north, and I needed to head for Colorado.  I sure was glad I made the desicion to stop by on my way though.  The opportunity to spend time with two gentlemen as fine as Vance and Charlie doesn't come around often enough, and I was honored to have had the chance to do so.

Well alright! Thanks for sharing the pics and stories fellers. Man, I can't wait to get after mule deer next month in the Badlands. Keep this coming until then...  :campfire:  

-Brian
www.bowyersjournal.com (http://www.bowyersjournal.com)

Hope you did not let Joseph near the food! Rather handy on the tooth that lad...lol

Thanks for all the pics. Saved a few to the puter for desktop stuff.

IN Oz, alan

Man, you guys are killing me!   :bigsmyl:   Can't wait to get home to the late season and hopefully share my first trad story with ya'll.

Whip, Beachbowhunter: Thanks fellas for sharing your adventures. I was there with you everystep of the way, if only in my mind and heart. Take care and straight shooting!

I made it to Denver Thursday evening and picked up my good friend from back home, Ohne Raasch.  He flew out to meet me for the next leg of my trip - elk hunting in southern Colorado.  Ohne and I had been applying for preference points in the Colorado elk draw for a number of years.  We finally took advantage of our accumulated points to draw tags for unit 76, which is a limited entry unit near Creede.  Our research told us that there were good numbers of bulls, with an excellent chance at some real nice ones.

After saving preference points for so long we wanted to give ourselves the best chance we possibly could at success, so we booked with an outfitter.  The one we chose was Sammy Fraizer, and we would be packing in to a remote valley by horseback.  

We had originally been scheduled to pack in on Saturday, but since Sammy's muzzleloader clients the previous week were all successful early, we were able to go in on Friday instead.  We met at the trailhead and loaded gear onto the horses for the trip in.
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Not long after begining the ride it began to rain, and it was wet the whole way in.

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Camp consisted of a comfortable wall tent with a wood burning stove for the main gathering place and cook tent, and seperate dome tents for sleeping.

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Bob, a hunter from Connecticut, would be in camp with us.  The rest of the party consisted of Sammy, the outfitter, Pat and Bob, who would serve as guides, and Kate, the cook.

Wind threatened to blow down our dome tents during the night, and combined with anticipation of starting the hunt in the morning, made sleep difficult.  We woke early, grabbed a light breakfast, an climbed on the horses in the dark to begin our hunt.  The cold wind blew snow that stung our eyes and made glassing a challange.
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We spotted a couple of elk early, but it wasn't long before it started snowing harder and harder, and soon we couldn't even see across the valley.

With visability down to less than a couple hundred yards, we made our way along the top edge of the black timber above timberline.  Coming to a slide area, we spotted a small lone 5x5 bull.  Ohne had his heart set on something bigger, but I was more than willing.  This would be my fifth elk hunt, and my stated goal was to take any legal bull.

The bull was below us, and I circled back and down to get to his level, with the guide following behind me to call when I was in position.  As a crept to the edge of the trees I saw antler tines and part of an elk.  I could tell immediately that this was a much bigger bull!

This new bull had been bedded, and for whatever reason, he now stood and started walking into the woods directly below me, and his path would bring him to less than 25 yards.  He lumbered up a small bank, passing behind a small deadfall, and giving me a chance to bring my bow into position for the shot.

As he stepped out, I drew and released, and watched my arrow sail harmlessly 3 inches over his back!  I couldn't believe it! The opportunity of a lifetime, and I had just blown it!  This bull was the stuff dreams are made of - extremely heavy mass, long tines, width - he had it all.  

Bob, my guide, watched the whole thing and was dumbfounded when I missed.  He estimated the bull would have scored in excess of 300 points.  I didn't care.   I just knew how badly I wanted him and now I had blown it. I had made the classic bowhunters mistake.  As soon as I released the arrow I knew I had failed to pick a spot and focus on it.  All I saw was this huge beast lumbering through the timber so close I thought he could hear my heart pounding.

To say I was devastated is a huge understatment.

I feel for ya brutha. When I missed a chipshot this past summer at an oblivious hog I was seriously thinkin bout gettin me a couple of tattoos.....all with "PICK A SPOT" in various obvious places I can see as I draw my bow  

LOL  Not a bad idea JC!  BTW  Great story guys and I'm really enjoying the pics!!!

Joe, those dang antelope in WY look like they're living in a freaking jungle compared to where we were chasing them!

 :mad:

JOE !!!!! After the spanking we took on the stump shooting...My money was on you ALL the way. I did forget to consider the SPOT issue.  :bigsmyl:  

This is a real treat BUD  :thumbsup:    :notworthy:


It's very easy to want to share our home with the likes of fellow Trad gang, when they are  ALL like the ones I have been BLESSED with this year. My family has growin 10 fold this fall and we LOVE IT. Door is ALWAYS open and TECATE in the frige.  :campfire:

Vance, I'd love to come and visit for a spell. And when I do I'll bring the GOOD Mexican beer...  :bigsmyl:  Around these parts, Tecate is right up there with Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Great stories and pics!!  

I feel like I was standing on the mountain with you on that hunt.  

Thanks for sharing.

Day two found me up in the same canyon, this time we split up with Bob and I going one direction, and Ohne and Pat another.  Right away we spotted a couple small groups of elk, each with a medium sized bull and 4 or 5 cows/calves.

We were spotted trying to sneak on the first group, but that just cleared the way to the second.  This bunch was higher on the side of the mountain, and we made our way up to their level in front of the direction they seemed to be feeding, and found a well worn trail.  

Here we made a costly blunder.  Bob, the guide, had me circle back away from the direction the elk were coming from and set up above the trail.  I hadn't been there 10 minutes when I heard a stick break.  Something large was in the timber.  It took awhile, but before too long I could see cows working their way through the trees toward me, directly on the trail I was watching. A nice 5x5 followed close behind.

As they came out in the open they hit the spot Bob and I had stopped at and it was obvious they knew something was up. Although the wind was in our face, the cows smelled the area we had walked shortly before, and turned around suspiciously.  The bull turned broadside at 40 yards, but that is just too far for me, even if my confidence hadn't been shaken the day before.  All I could do is watch them walk away.

Another leason learned.  I had thought to myself when we were setting up that we should have moved in closer to where we expected them to appear.  But hey, he's the guide, and I followed blindly along.  As I have mentioned, this guided hunting was new to me, and I wasn't sure what to expect.  They did a good job for us in getting us into areas and knowing the best way to approach animals based on the terrain. And they were nice guys and fun to be around. But when it came to crunch time I think they were more aclimated to rifle hunters than bow hunters - short range traditional shooters like myself in particular.  

I wouldn't be quite so passive the next time an opportunity presented itself.


The view from the "front porch" at camp.
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This is the main valley, and our hunting was in side valleys off of it, mostly just above timberline.

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Me and my best friend, Barney.

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Joe, which Predator pattern is that? Sure looks like it worked in that terrain.

I love Predator just about anywhere - next best thing to a ghillie or ASAT leafy suit.  The one I had out there is fall brown.

Ummmmmm, I think you are forgetting something, like THE REST OF THE STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 :banghead:    :banghead:    :banghead:    :banghead:

Good stuff Joe. Keep after em, we're with ya.

Awesome story! Keep it up.

Sorry for the delay... Now where was I again....
On day 3 Pat took Ohne and I up to a spot they called the Golf Course, which was a series of wide flat benches above the timber.  The ride up on the horses was exciting to say the least!  The moon hadn't risen yet, and even when it did, was barely more than a sliver.  Imagine riding a horse up a steep mountainside trail, winding in and out of large pines, when you can't see your hand in front of your face.
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All I could do was hope Barney could see better than I could!  We left the horses and hustled the rest of the way up the mountain on foot.  Arriving at the top, Pat parked me in a group of trees and took Ohne to a spot up a bit higher.  There were two bulls within sight as dawn broke, and a third was bugling just over a rise.  Up to this point we hadn't heard much for bugling, so it was music to my ears.

There bulls I could see appeared to be feeding away from me, so I cow called a few times and got ones attention.  He turned and began drifting my way.  The bugling bull also sounded like he was getting closer, and eventually appeared followed by a cow and calf.  They were coming, and looking at my position, but eventually drifted by too high on the mountain.
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They also ended up going past Ohne at about 80 yards, going right up over the top rather than drifting down toward the timber as we had hoped.

We saw a large group of elk, including a couple of very nice bulls, head into a small stand of timber about a mile away.  They didn't come out, so obviously this was where they would spend the day.  Ohne and I decided to head over there and take stands on trails leading from the timber in the hope that when they decided to move they might give us an opportunity.

We spent the entire day on the side of that mountain, and never saw an elk.  But the sun was warm, and the scenery breathtaking, so it didn't matter much.
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Hard to image how this rock could balance for years like this.  We often would hear and even see rocks randomly falling and rolling down the mountain.  My stand for the day was very close to this one, but I calculated carefully that it should miss me if its time to move happened to come.

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Thanks for sharing Joe  :thumbsup:  . How in the world did that rock get there  :D    :D

Day 4 found us headed back to the Golf Course area, but a further east of yesterdays spot.  Same scary ride up the mountain, but I sure appreciated having a horse under me rather than having to do it all on my own.  The oxygen at 12,000 feet is not nearly as plentiful as I need it to be!  I have asthma, and as a result my lung capacity is not what it should be.  Pat, our guide, did a great job listening for how much I was gasping for breath and stopping when I needed a blow.  Once I caught on to that it was easy to stop him when I wanted just by breathing hard     ;)      I prefer to take my time - I'll get there eventually.

When we reached the top this morning we immediately saw a lone bull about 200 yards away raking his antlers on a small tree.  The morning thermals carried the wind strongly from him to us, and there was a small group of pines between us.  Ohne and I worked up to the group of trees with him taking the left side, and me on the right.  Pat stayed back in the treeline to call.

A couple of cow calls got his attention, and he bugled at what he thought were unseen ladies. After about 10 minutes he couldn't take it anymore and took a couple of steps our way.  I remember thinking this is going to be the one!

Cautiously the bull made his way down the hill toward us.  He was obviously looking for love, and just knew it was waiting for him just inside the trees.  He stopped about 20 yards out in front of our little group of trees and let out another screaming bugle.  One of us was going to get a shot - it was only a matter of which way he would turn.

The bull turned to his right, which would take him away from me.  Ohne waited for the bull to get perfectly broadside, and when Pat stopped him with a cow call, let the arrow go.

At the hit the bull took off.  Ohne wasn't sure of the shot, thinking it might be too far forward.  But to me it sounded good.  Deep penetration, just up from the leg. That has to be lungs!

We waited 1 1/2 hours to give the bull time, and then went to inspect the site of the hit.  Blood was very sparse.  I climbed to the top of a rise so that I could look out ahead of Pat and Ohne as they tracked in case they might jump him.  This was the view I ended up with.
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Bull Down!  And the celebration began!  It was so cool to be a part of this.

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In his last slide down the hillside the bull broke off the brow tine on his left side.  We looked and looked, but could not find it.  He was still a very nice 6x6 bull, and the taxidermist can always put the point back on.

Great pics Joe and Norb....looks like an excellent trip!   :bigsmyl:    :thumbsup:

:bigsmyl:

What an adventure!!!!!

Great pics Whip. I feel for you in that thin air...I've had asthma myself since birth. Meds help, but still lower capacity. Somewhat of a blessing sometimes, when I slow down is often when I see pretty sites I would probably not notice otherwise....like that pretty flower pic you took.

Thanks for the story, really enjoyed it and your photos.

Really good stuff!!!!! Your "best friend" Barney????? Ugg!   :bigsmyl:  

Thin air is something I certainly can relate to.

Glad to hear about the Elk!  :thumbsup:   CK

You're right JC.  On our first day out I didn't use my inhaler right away and started wheezing.  Our guide Pat said later he was thinking to himself that this was going to be a long week...
After that I hit the inhaler before starting out each morning and didn't have any trouble other than needing to stop more often than the average guy.

Oh, and CK, anybody who will carry my butt up hundreds of feet of evelvation change can be my best friend.   :bigsmyl:

Great stuff Joe!!  :thumbsup:

:D   I see your point Joe! Most Barney's just try and see how far they can throw me.......     They like to kick me too! CK

Great job and a nice bull.

Another benefit of hunting with horses was soon apparant - they carry dead elk too!  All we had to do was quarter and bag it, and our work was done.  Ohne packed the meat out to the truck with the outfitter and guide.
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As a reward for his success he got to spend the night in town - motel, shower, big dinner.

I grabbed lunch and headed up the mountain behind camp.  Sammy had given me directions to some wallows that had been getting hit and I wanted to find them.  I think Sammy missed telling me about a creek I needed to cross or something, but in any case I didn't find the wallows.

I did find elk though.  Moving slowly along the top edge of the timber I spotted two elk bedded just below me.  No good way to approach, so I backed up and set up near a trail I hoped they might use when they got up in the afternoon.

I hadn't been there more than an hour when a bull bugled one ridge over from where I sat.  I continued to stay where I was, while the bull continued to bugle.  This went on for another good hour.  It didn't seem like he was moving at all.  

I couldn't take it anymore.  I wasn't even sure there was a bull with the group I was waiting on.  And the bull I could hear kept throwing insults at me.  I decided to take one more peek from a different direction toward where I had seen the bedded elk earlier.  As I approached the edge of the woods I saw an antler sticking up from behind a log not 40 yards away!

This one was in a very approachable position.  But as I studied the antler something just didn't seem quite right.  It appeared to be held at an odd angle.  I watched for awhile, and it never moved.  It soon became apparant I was watching an antler on a dead bull.

Slipping down to him I found a skeleton of a bull that had died the previous year.  Just a pile of bones, but a very nice set of antlers.  I considered it a gift, and loaded them onto my pack.

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/CopyofP1000471.jpg)

Joe,

You are not kidding about having horses to haul out an elk, especially a big, mature bull.  If I ever do backpack again for anything bigger than a caribou, I am going to have a packer on call  ;)  

Now get on with the story  :p

This is world-class stuff, Whip!  More, please!    :thumbsup:

The bugling bull was still at.  Not often, but he let go with one often enough for me to make a move.  I eased my way down through a deep ravine and back up the other side.  As I crested the top I spotted some cows not far ahead, and they were moving my way!

I crawled to a postition behind two large trees, and let the elk come to me.  Three cows feed to within 25 yards, and stopped for a drink at a small seep.  The bull, a heavy 5x5, was following behind.  The wind again was in my favor, blowing strongly downhill.  If it would only hold until he got in position I knew I would get a shot, and said a silent prayer asking for help in picking a spot and shooting a good arrow.  

At 50 yards the bull stopped and raked the ground with his antlers, and then lay down on the spot.  He bugled to his cows and surveyed his domain.  My eyes were glued to him as I felt the dreaded puff of breeze on the back of my neck - NO!  Sure enough, when I looked back to the cows in front of me one of them had her head held high, and within seconds the retreat began.  So close again!  But the show was over.

The next day would be my last day hunting.  Pat and I skipped the horses and headed up on foot to where I had been the night before.  It was a lung busting climb, but we made it just as dawn was breaking.  Immediately we spotted a bull and 3 cows within 150 yards, but as we discussed where to set up swirling winds gave us away - the bull barked and moved off with his girls.

We could see two other small herds of elk on the mountainside, maybe a dozen in each, and a lone bull near the one on our left.  We liked the idea of the guy by himself, and moved toward him.  Another bull soon joined him, and they started moving our way.  I'm not sure if it was the wind again, or he was just suspisious of the calling, but they turned and headed away.

We sat and watched the larger group feed and loaf as the sun rose higher.  Eventually we figured they would either come toward the timber on the ridge we were on, or on the next one over.  When they decided to move, of course it was to the other ridge, and they were coming fast!

We slipped off the back side of the ridge and ran as fast as my lungs would allow to get over to the next one.  Going downhill wasn't so bad, but when it came time to climb the next ridge I wasn't running anymore.  It took all I could do to move along at a fast walk.  

As we moved higher and higher into the timber we couldn't be sure if we had made it in front of them or not.  Nearing the top edge of the timber I slowed down so that I could watch ahead better and hopefully not bump them.  We were right at the top edge of the trees within 50 yards of where Ohne shot his bull yesterday when we spotted todays bull standing 30 yards away, with only the back half showing behind a tree.  He followed his cows away from us, presenting no opportunity to even draw my bow.  

This had to be the most action I have ever had on a morning in the elk woods.  It had been incredible!  But it wasn't even over yet!  As I sat to catch my breath Pat moved to the top of the ridge, and within a minute was back, signaling another bull - Game on again!

This bull was herding a group of cows down an open valley toward the dark timber, bugling as he went.  The valley turned into a relatively shallow, but very steep draw.  The elk would almost have to pick one of the ridges on either side of the draw to work their way down.  I crept into position on the closest one, and moved slowly through the scattered trees, scanning ahead.  

Within minutes I spotted two cows headed my way.  I set up to allow them to come to me.  But then I saw other cows on the other ridge, and by the sounds of the bugles the bull was with them.  It wasn't long before the cows from my side had turned around and headed back to follow the others.  Getting an opportunity at this bull had seemed like a 50/50 deal, and I'll take those odds any day.  But once again, I had come up tails.

Whip,

I noticed my heart rate rising as I read you story.  That is definately a sign of a well told hunting tale.  I had my fingers crossed for you.

Chris

What a morning it had been!  I was exhausted as much by the constant adrenaline as I was from the mountains.  I wanted to spend my last day on the mountain, and Pat helped me locate the wallows I had been looking for the day before, and left me alone.  

Guided hunting does have its benefits, but to be completely honest, I think I enjoyed my time alone as much as anything.  I can move at my own pace, and when the mood hits me.  I make my own decisions, good or bad, and live with the consequences.  I also tend to notice the small things more when I'm alone.
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The afternoon drifted away, and I didn't see or even hear an elk.  It had been a clear and sunny morning, but now clouds were drifting in, and I could feel a change in the weather coming.  I set a limit of 3pm to sit at the wallows, and when the appointed time came, moved toward the top again.  

On the other side of a small draw I saw a group of five cows and calves.  No bull was in sight, but on the last night of this trip a cow would be perfect.  I used the terrain to work into postion, and eased my way up behind some trees to provide cover.  Nothing was in sight.  I suppose my old nemisis, the wind, had betrayed me one more time.

Small snowflakes started to filter down thround the trees.  The wind had calmed, and the exercise had warmed me.  The snow continued to get heavier and heavier, and soon I found myself in a winter wonderland.

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/CopyofP1000482.jpg)

This little guy let me approach within 5 feet.  All he had on his mind was last minute provisions.

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/CopyofP1000481.jpg)

I wandered the mountainside for a long time, just enjoying being there.  It was snowing so hard I couldn't see far, but that didn't matter.  I didn't cut any elk tracks, but that didn't matter either.  I was just in awe of where I was.  

Eventually, I decided to call my hunt complete, and head back to camp a little early. The snow was accumulating rapidly.  Even if I saw an elk, I was a little concerned that if I would have been fortunate enough to shoot and hit one, I would soon lose any trail it may have left.

On my way down the mountain I caught a glimpse of a large bird winging through the trees.  A little further down the trail, I found I had interupted dinner.

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Goshawk?

Neat picture!  One less flicker in those woods...

Whip, reading about all your close calls brings to mind the saying "infrequent rewards are the most addictive."  That's sure the case with elk hunting!  Add the beauty of the Rockies and a guy doesn't have a prayer of beating that combo.  Then again, who would want to resist?    :D

The warmth of the woodburner in the wall tent was welcome, and we enjoyed another great meal before hitting the sleeping bags for the night.  The following morning dawned clear, and the views were enough to take our breath away.  Pictures can never do justice to what we saw.  I honestly know what it feels like to walk around in the middle of a Christmas card.

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Camp was packed up, and the horses loaded for the trip out.  We saddled up and started the trip back to reality.  All I could do was look around with a grin on my face.

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My adventure of a lifetime was over.  Actually, I hope it is not the trip of a lifetime.  Every trip I go on seems to be better than the last.  I hope that trend continues.

Yes, I wish I had kept my head and not messed up my shot on the first day.  But I was headed home with a nice rack of antlers from the bull I had found.  My freezer would be full thanks to the generosity of my partner Ohne and his offer to share his elk meat with me.  And I had enough memories to last me a lifetime.  Can it really ever get any better than that?

What a trip it had been!  Thanks for coming along.

Helluva hunt Joe.  Thanks for sharing it with us.

Thanks for taking us and congradulations on a great adventure.

John

Joe,

What a great trip you had, thanks for sharing.  I bet you got some good meat out of the deal from your buddy to ease the pain of the tag you still have.  I bet you will be gathering points for the next trip as fast as the law allows  :D

Awesome hunt Whip! Thanks so much for taking us along.

Joe... some hunts are better, but never by much!! Well told buddy.  :thumbsup:    :)

Thanks for the great story and pic's.  Sounds like you had a great time.

James

Great story and hunt.  Thanks for sharing.  :bigsmyl:

Thanks for sharing  :thumbsup:

Joe
Very well told story. The pictures you took were excellent, they brought back lots of memories of hunts past, thanks for sharing!   :bigsmyl:

Awesome picture's, and a I was there feeling. I was really wishing I had been. Great story and thanks for taking us all along on the trip.  :campfire:    :archer:

knowing what elk tastes like, that was a tremendous gesture on the part of Ohne to share his take with you.

Nice photos..good story.

Thanks for sharing with us.  Awesome pics, and story.  Thanks
    MATT

Really appreciate you sharing the story and pics with us Joe. Hope we get to share a camp someday.

I've got that on my "To Do" list as well JC.  Thanks

I know where ALL those things are possible  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :campfire:

Awesome story.  Thanks for taking us along!  Beautiful pics.  Thanks again.

Real cool! Thanks! CK

Wow, great story and photos.  This is fun, tagging along on other bowhunters' adventures!

How many points did you have to draw in Unit 76?  I have six and intend to hunt there some day if I can accumulate enough points.

John, I drew with 7 this year, which from what I understand was the minimum to guarantee a tag, although I was told that some with 6 drew as well.  Hard to say how the changes in NR CO tag allocations will affect future preference point needs for this unit.  76 at this point is not subject to the reduced allotments for NR.  It is currently a 65/35 split for residents vs. NR, and Sammy says that split has been promissed for the next two years as well.  But with many of the other popular units going to 80/20, I am guessing there will be some people who choose 76 instead in the next couple of years.  That is exactly what motivated us to do it this year instead of continuing to build points.  It just seemed like I wasn't gaining any ground on the number of points needed to draw in any of the other units.

Whip-
Great story and pictures.  Even though I just got back from elk camp, it made we want to go back.

Bryan

pretty sweet. Thanks for the hunt!

BTW, did you steal Charlie and CK's horses and that's why they're on bikes?   ;)

:bigsmyl:  

Thanks Whip, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I've taken my share of successful trips which ended up with an empty meat cooler, and it didn't change the wonderful time I had. A lot of folks can't understand that. Just having the opportunity to spend time in country like that with the hopes of a shot is enough to keep guys like us going back year after year. I love to see guys bring down a trophy with their stickbow but I also really appreciate a great story filled with wonder and awe even when an arrow is never loosed. Congrats on a great trip and thanks for sharing what it truly is all about.

-Brian
www.bowyersjournal.com (http://www.bowyersjournal.com)

Yes Sir it was fun "being there" Thanks Joe  :thumbsup:

Thanks Joe, it was a great ride!!!

Great stuff Joe....thanks for ride bud... I hope I can share that camp with you and JC sometime   :campfire:   I look forward to meeting you someday...