A Different Kind of Elk Hunt

[Guru]

[Steve O]

Ahhhhhhh, I have been wondering when we would hear from the Whipster...this is going to be a long one!

     

[BlkDog]

Looks like an incredible trip Joe!  Congratulations and good luck in BC too!

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Glad you made it back safe and sound Joe.  

Great picks!!

Tracy

[upatree]

I am loving this thread.  I can't wait to read the rest of the story.

[Charlie Lamb]

   

[Walt Francis]

This is a good one!

[fatman]

keep it comin', Joe!

 

[IB]

SWEET "COOL WHIP"

So didga EAT well  

[BMG]

loving the story so far.  where were you in NM?

[Chris Surtees]

   

[tradtusker]

Great stuff Joe sounds like you had a really successful trip, very pretty area and some great photo's  thanks for sharing      

[Kevin Bahr]

Excellent photos and tale so far!  And...?

[RayMO]

 

Just waiting for more.  :D

[Whip]

The days continued to roll on by, and close encounters with elk were a nearly daily occurrence.  It seems there are an unlimited number of ways to mess up opportunities, and I got the feeling I was going to try out each one personally.

Walking along too fast and running right into elk feeding in front of me.  Busted.

Set up 40 yards downhill from an unsuspecting 4x4 feeding bull with the decoy 30 yards behind me.  Strong morning thermals in my face.  Perfect! Sudden puff of breeze on the back of my neck as the rising sun warmed the hillside.  Busted!

One day I followed a small group of elk, included a bugling bull, into a nice draw with the wind in my face, closing the distance to about 100 yards and nearly ready to set up to call.  All of a sudden they came crashing down past me and up the opposite hillside sounding like a freight train.  

As I sat there trying to figure out what had gone on all I could come up with was that another hunter must have been coming in from the top and they winded him.  

I stood to gather my gear and leave, only to look up and here was the whole group walking up the trail silently 30 yards away from me.  As the lead cow and I locked eyes I'm not sure who was more surprised.  Even after she turned and ran off, the bull stayed behind for a few minutes trying to figure out what all the commotion was about.  Perfectly broadside. But of course with brush obscuring any possible shot.

Another day I was in good position with two cows and their calves feeding up the trail right toward me, wind blowing strongly in my face.  If I could only get behind that bush two yards to my left I can end up with a less than 10 yard shot!  Even as I tried to move as slow as ice melting, one of the cows caught me.  Busted again.

This guy seems to be saying "They went that way!"

[Over&Under]

Awesome Country!!!!!!  You can almost smell them from behind the screen.....

Looking forward to more!!

[Whip]

On the 10th day of hunting I only saw one cow.  Once again, I managed to make a movement to warn her that something was wrong behing that bush.  She was very unappreciative of my gesture and pranced back and forth at 40 yards yelling insults in elk talk at my hulking form.

The next day brought no elk sitings at all, the fresh droppings which had seemed to be everywhere last week were few and far between.  Everything I found was days old.  No bugling or cow talk could be heard.  

As good as things had been in this spot close to camp, it was time to try something new tommorrow.

[hormoan]

Great to see you made it back home safe, and that you and Irene had a wonderful trip!! And have the story to share  

[Talondale]

Wonderful pictures and story.  Thanks for sharing.

[BMN]