Is someone in that blind in the background?
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- Thread starter Coach Potter
- Start date
Coach Potter
Legend
If only you could attach sound to a photograph…
When I snapped that picture, I was just a few minutes, and about 200 yards below where I had parked my rig. I didn’t know it at the time, but the first bull of the morning was about to pipe off. He was across the canyon and above my elevation when I heard him the first time. His bugle set off a chain reaction from other bulls within proximity. The next bull to bugle sounded like he was up the drainage and above where I had just come from. Then there was a a third who was below me and on my side of the drain.
I have waited a year to be back in this place. I stumbled into hunting the area last fall. I was with a college kid who I had coached in high school. He wanted to take me into a drainage he had hunted the year before. He was so dejected when we pulled up to a tent city at the trailhead. We audible that day and discovered an elk Mecca.
I spent 5 solid days in here last year. I was just starting to get my head wrapped around the place when the season ended. It’s a bit overwhelming and intimidating at first. Christian and I “dipped a toe” in on that first day. We never went below mid slope even though all the herds seemed to be in the bottom. The bulls bugled almost all day down there. The second day we jumped all the way in and got the full experience. The last 3 days I hunted it by myself as Christian was back at school. Every time I’m in there I learn something new. On this day, I learned that last years wind storms have made a challenging hunt into a meat grinder.
I got close to two different herds but never saw an elk. I got winded both times and started stampedes. I was able to expand on my knowledge of their travel routes and how their trails connect to a couple of key bedding areas. I don’t have many days left in the archery season so I’m going to heave to use them wisely. I was less than 50 yards from my pickup when I stumbled into another herd and started the 3rd stampede of the day…go figure.
I was spent when I crawled out of there that night. It was the first time in my life that I truly considered the number of seasons I have left hunting places like this. I quickly buried that thought and started the drive off the mountain.
When I snapped that picture, I was just a few minutes, and about 200 yards below where I had parked my rig. I didn’t know it at the time, but the first bull of the morning was about to pipe off. He was across the canyon and above my elevation when I heard him the first time. His bugle set off a chain reaction from other bulls within proximity. The next bull to bugle sounded like he was up the drainage and above where I had just come from. Then there was a a third who was below me and on my side of the drain.
I have waited a year to be back in this place. I stumbled into hunting the area last fall. I was with a college kid who I had coached in high school. He wanted to take me into a drainage he had hunted the year before. He was so dejected when we pulled up to a tent city at the trailhead. We audible that day and discovered an elk Mecca.
I spent 5 solid days in here last year. I was just starting to get my head wrapped around the place when the season ended. It’s a bit overwhelming and intimidating at first. Christian and I “dipped a toe” in on that first day. We never went below mid slope even though all the herds seemed to be in the bottom. The bulls bugled almost all day down there. The second day we jumped all the way in and got the full experience. The last 3 days I hunted it by myself as Christian was back at school. Every time I’m in there I learn something new. On this day, I learned that last years wind storms have made a challenging hunt into a meat grinder.
I got close to two different herds but never saw an elk. I got winded both times and started stampedes. I was able to expand on my knowledge of their travel routes and how their trails connect to a couple of key bedding areas. I don’t have many days left in the archery season so I’m going to heave to use them wisely. I was less than 50 yards from my pickup when I stumbled into another herd and started the 3rd stampede of the day…go figure.
I was spent when I crawled out of there that night. It was the first time in my life that I truly considered the number of seasons I have left hunting places like this. I quickly buried that thought and started the drive off the mountain.
Elk. Elk everywhere, but not a one to shoot...
We're all pulling for you.
Reminds me of 2 similar spots my old Montana hunting partner & I enjoyed for many (but not nearly enough) years. When he passed suddenly I just quit hunting those spots; it just didn't seem right. Both basins were alive with Elk & their music though.
Enjoy your remaining hunts. I relive some of mine every year at this time. I even strung my favorite longbow yesterday. It's still sweet in my hand and fits like a glove. Goats were my passion even if I never managed to harvest one with an arrow.
Enjoy your remaining hunts. I relive some of mine every year at this time. I even strung my favorite longbow yesterday. It's still sweet in my hand and fits like a glove. Goats were my passion even if I never managed to harvest one with an arrow.
Coach Potter
Legend
Well I appreciate that!
Coach Potter
Legend
Right now my plan is get up there tomorrow afternoon and observe from mid-slope for the evening. If a shot presents its self then that's great but the objective of the mission is to gain information. Monday after work I'll head up there and spend the night so I'll be right there Tuesday morning when the lights come on. I'll hunt all day Tuesday and Wednesday...the last day...and "let the lay where they fall" or however that saying goes.
