I'm hooked! Never hunted archery or elk. I think it was a total success???
Played cat and mouse with this guy, a 5x5 and a spike for six days.
Day 1. 1800ft elevation gain to tent site. Only level spot in 3 miles. See bull moose for 10 mins at 70yds at 7, 500ft. AWESOME!
Day 2 Choke! Still hunting, midday. Thick pines. Spot 5x5 at 50 yds. I draw as he works his way to my only lane at 30yds. He stops, broadside for me in the lane!!! All I see is fur on all 5 pins? Does not compute, no bullseye? As I spot the crease, he bolts! I'm still devastated!!!
Day 4. Close encounter 200yds from a saddle with my game camera, I spot 6x6 at 50yds, draw. Can't see my rear peep. Bull in attached photo, winds me and slowly moves toward my camera. Curious but not bolting. Spot him one more time at 100yds as he meanders over the saddle. Note time stamps on two pics (me playing bullwinkle in 2nd photo with moose shed)
Day 5. 15 yd encounter. 7:20pm, Still hunting, up hill into the wind, thick pines. Stop to scan behind me and empty the bladder. Hear a crash behind me (upwind) and turn to see the ass and balls of a spike hightailing it uphill, no more than 15yds away!
Day 6. Busted approacing a wallow. 50yds away...angry bugle and hear an elk bust away from the wallow. Couldn't entice him/her back. Hike out at sunset and 14 hous back to San Diego.
Bottom line - total success. I learned a lot! Had an incredible 6 days of experiences I wouldn't trade for anything...well maybe a redo of the 30 yd encounter I choked on!
Good luck to all! I'm now focused on archery and rifle deer in San Diego.
Played cat and mouse with this guy, a 5x5 and a spike for six days.
Day 1. 1800ft elevation gain to tent site. Only level spot in 3 miles. See bull moose for 10 mins at 70yds at 7, 500ft. AWESOME!
Day 2 Choke! Still hunting, midday. Thick pines. Spot 5x5 at 50 yds. I draw as he works his way to my only lane at 30yds. He stops, broadside for me in the lane!!! All I see is fur on all 5 pins? Does not compute, no bullseye? As I spot the crease, he bolts! I'm still devastated!!!
Day 4. Close encounter 200yds from a saddle with my game camera, I spot 6x6 at 50yds, draw. Can't see my rear peep. Bull in attached photo, winds me and slowly moves toward my camera. Curious but not bolting. Spot him one more time at 100yds as he meanders over the saddle. Note time stamps on two pics (me playing bullwinkle in 2nd photo with moose shed)
Day 5. 15 yd encounter. 7:20pm, Still hunting, up hill into the wind, thick pines. Stop to scan behind me and empty the bladder. Hear a crash behind me (upwind) and turn to see the ass and balls of a spike hightailing it uphill, no more than 15yds away!
Day 6. Busted approacing a wallow. 50yds away...angry bugle and hear an elk bust away from the wallow. Couldn't entice him/her back. Hike out at sunset and 14 hous back to San Diego.
Bottom line - total success. I learned a lot! Had an incredible 6 days of experiences I wouldn't trade for anything...well maybe a redo of the 30 yd encounter I choked on!
Good luck to all! I'm now focused on archery and rifle deer in San Diego.
