Khunter
Well-known member
So I hit a bull on the afternoon of he 21st. That leaves 5 hunting days remaining.
The 22nd was spent trying to track down the bull I hit to no avail. First thing in the morning I had the close encounters with the muddy bull I posted previously and the smaller bull at the waterhole just trying to get on 'my' bull's tracks.
Late in the afternoon and many miles logged simply trying to find and maybe jump the bull I hit yielded a ton of encounters with bulls. In one drainage, I literally got in bow range of 5 bugling bulls, one at a time, in a few hours. I would drop in on one, see that he was not 'my' bull or a shooter and then move up the ridge and drop down on the next bull that was screaming his head off. A few had cows and a couple did not.
It was simply the most extraordinary afternoon of elk hunting. I seemed to be invisible, sound- and scent-less. I saw 15-17 bulls that day with more than half within 50 yards.
On the 24th, I hunted the far SW corner of the unit hiking into a wilderness study area. Of course I found nothing but a raghorn down there but ended up barely hearing bugles way to the north, ended up logging 8+ miles and seeing sunset from a 2 track road and right on top of 3 great bulls I could have driven to. That was the afternoon I almost shot the biggest bull I would have a chance at (350+). I was not keen to hike even further from the truck but spotted a magnificent 5 point (yes a fiver) and decided I needed to see him up close (and maybe for the rest of my days). But before that I wanted to stalk in on a great sounding growling bull that was right on the way. First I stalked in to his occasional growls and got into maybe 100-150 yards and let out a tough sounding scream/bugle. That had him coming right in. Problem was he had 2 cows and they were leading the way. The cows passed by me at 20 feet and then winded or saw me (not sure since I crawled into myself and was saying my "I am a harmless bunny wabbit, no danger here mantra" I seem to think about in order to put out non predatory vibes when animals get way too close. I dunno what that is supposed to accomplish, jst telling it like it played out. Of course they know something ain't right and stutter step--knocking rocks around but staying close. This caused the big-ass bull I had finally seen and had drawn on to also stutter step briefly and away from the gap he was already entering and that I had ranged at 23-28 yards. The cows stayed on my side of the small/steep ravine so I cow called him and drew again as he hit 35 yards spot in partial cover and was coming. I ended up having to let down as he held up while using his apparently superior intellect to sort out how smart he was to be coming right in where the cows got jumpy. Letting down even when he was heavily ( I thought) screened from view seemed to bust him out and I lost that opportunity as he wandered up basin toward where the big 5 had headed a couple hours earlier.
I waited a bit, and heard the cows rejoin him up valley. Then I dogged them another mile, finally catching up to him and another 5-6 bulls bugling and a number of cows(at least twenty as it turns out). The big 5 had picked up some cows since I last saw him and was 150 yards out. A really cool and big bull that never grew thirds was 100 or so yards out. The big-ass perfect 6 point was 80 yards away, and another good 6 (that I posted the video of and that Oak said "I hope you woulda shot given a chance" was over near the big 5. All the cows I could see, along with 2 spikes, in this sparse PJ cover were well past my #1 bull that, again was at 80 yards. I was closing with a couple big Pinons giving me cover that could get me to 35-45 yards....
Then I hear what sounds like voices. Shaking that I off I keep moving and then hear these voices again. I look up ahead of me and to my right (the elk are dire4ctly ahead and aheads to the left of me) and there are two guys with blaze orange strapped on backpacking backpacks walking in the open and soon to be spotted by all these elk.. SHI%$%%#@$^!T!!! I whistle, and whistle again, and then hustle toward them a few steps and whistle once more flagging them and get their attention. I motion for them to STOP and get down. They come at me talking loudly. I do not hear their words as much as I hear crashing elk running for their life toward the monument. "Crud" and a few other words that roll easily off the tongue. End of stalk but the beginning of the nice video I have posted previously and the ones I am posting right now....
The really big 6 was with this large 5-point..Somebody tell me this 5-pt bull is not pushing 330+-inches and doing it the hard way...
Still photo from video camera
Another still photo
Video of the big 5 pt bull...Just really dig this bull.
I already posted the video of the smaller of the 2 6-point bulls. I did not get video of the really big bull. The elk restarted their rutting routine 1/3 mile away in a spot I could not get back on them that day so I was relegated to stewing (a good bit I admit) and getting pictures/video.
Here is a picture of one of the backpackers midmorning the next day. They were kind enough to drop back and camp while I tried to salvage my stalk but sure did not clear out 'by daylight' the next morning as promised. This man has white legs or what. Also said "I guess you would not likely shoot me" wiht a bow, to which I actually said "Ever heard of a sound shot?" and explained what that was.
The 22nd was spent trying to track down the bull I hit to no avail. First thing in the morning I had the close encounters with the muddy bull I posted previously and the smaller bull at the waterhole just trying to get on 'my' bull's tracks.
Late in the afternoon and many miles logged simply trying to find and maybe jump the bull I hit yielded a ton of encounters with bulls. In one drainage, I literally got in bow range of 5 bugling bulls, one at a time, in a few hours. I would drop in on one, see that he was not 'my' bull or a shooter and then move up the ridge and drop down on the next bull that was screaming his head off. A few had cows and a couple did not.
It was simply the most extraordinary afternoon of elk hunting. I seemed to be invisible, sound- and scent-less. I saw 15-17 bulls that day with more than half within 50 yards.
On the 24th, I hunted the far SW corner of the unit hiking into a wilderness study area. Of course I found nothing but a raghorn down there but ended up barely hearing bugles way to the north, ended up logging 8+ miles and seeing sunset from a 2 track road and right on top of 3 great bulls I could have driven to. That was the afternoon I almost shot the biggest bull I would have a chance at (350+). I was not keen to hike even further from the truck but spotted a magnificent 5 point (yes a fiver) and decided I needed to see him up close (and maybe for the rest of my days). But before that I wanted to stalk in on a great sounding growling bull that was right on the way. First I stalked in to his occasional growls and got into maybe 100-150 yards and let out a tough sounding scream/bugle. That had him coming right in. Problem was he had 2 cows and they were leading the way. The cows passed by me at 20 feet and then winded or saw me (not sure since I crawled into myself and was saying my "I am a harmless bunny wabbit, no danger here mantra" I seem to think about in order to put out non predatory vibes when animals get way too close. I dunno what that is supposed to accomplish, jst telling it like it played out. Of course they know something ain't right and stutter step--knocking rocks around but staying close. This caused the big-ass bull I had finally seen and had drawn on to also stutter step briefly and away from the gap he was already entering and that I had ranged at 23-28 yards. The cows stayed on my side of the small/steep ravine so I cow called him and drew again as he hit 35 yards spot in partial cover and was coming. I ended up having to let down as he held up while using his apparently superior intellect to sort out how smart he was to be coming right in where the cows got jumpy. Letting down even when he was heavily ( I thought) screened from view seemed to bust him out and I lost that opportunity as he wandered up basin toward where the big 5 had headed a couple hours earlier.
I waited a bit, and heard the cows rejoin him up valley. Then I dogged them another mile, finally catching up to him and another 5-6 bulls bugling and a number of cows(at least twenty as it turns out). The big 5 had picked up some cows since I last saw him and was 150 yards out. A really cool and big bull that never grew thirds was 100 or so yards out. The big-ass perfect 6 point was 80 yards away, and another good 6 (that I posted the video of and that Oak said "I hope you woulda shot given a chance" was over near the big 5. All the cows I could see, along with 2 spikes, in this sparse PJ cover were well past my #1 bull that, again was at 80 yards. I was closing with a couple big Pinons giving me cover that could get me to 35-45 yards....
Then I hear what sounds like voices. Shaking that I off I keep moving and then hear these voices again. I look up ahead of me and to my right (the elk are dire4ctly ahead and aheads to the left of me) and there are two guys with blaze orange strapped on backpacking backpacks walking in the open and soon to be spotted by all these elk.. SHI%$%%#@$^!T!!! I whistle, and whistle again, and then hustle toward them a few steps and whistle once more flagging them and get their attention. I motion for them to STOP and get down. They come at me talking loudly. I do not hear their words as much as I hear crashing elk running for their life toward the monument. "Crud" and a few other words that roll easily off the tongue. End of stalk but the beginning of the nice video I have posted previously and the ones I am posting right now....
The really big 6 was with this large 5-point..Somebody tell me this 5-pt bull is not pushing 330+-inches and doing it the hard way...
Still photo from video camera
Another still photo
Video of the big 5 pt bull...Just really dig this bull.
I already posted the video of the smaller of the 2 6-point bulls. I did not get video of the really big bull. The elk restarted their rutting routine 1/3 mile away in a spot I could not get back on them that day so I was relegated to stewing (a good bit I admit) and getting pictures/video.
Here is a picture of one of the backpackers midmorning the next day. They were kind enough to drop back and camp while I tried to salvage my stalk but sure did not clear out 'by daylight' the next morning as promised. This man has white legs or what. Also said "I guess you would not likely shoot me" wiht a bow, to which I actually said "Ever heard of a sound shot?" and explained what that was.
Last edited:
