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Coach Potter

Coach Potter

Legend
Less than 5 days ago I was floating a river in Montana...this morning I was 85 yards from the biggest bull I've been close to with a bow in my hand. I'll be honest, I wasn't ready for that. Sunday was the opener here in Idaho and I got out for half the day. I fumble farted my way around and stumbled into a couple of bedded bull's mid-morning of the opener. I was moving way to fast and not paying attention to the sign I was seeing. I was seeing it but there wasn't anything telling me, "Hey dumbass, this sign is pretty fresh". I'm not in mid-season form by any stretch. I wish I could be sharp right out of the gate but I never am.

The herd I caught up to this morning, at first lite, was already on their way to bed. I just happened to be close to their path but not in it. I would have LOVED to launch an arrow at that bull! Fortunately, the best part of the season is still ahead of us and by then I might be a little more in tune. It's forecasted to rain every day for the next week. Maybe this change in weather will keep the animals on their feet a few minutes longer in the morning and get them back on their feet a few minutes earlier in the evening. The bugle fest we all hope for is still a week or more away. The bull this morning was pretty comfortable with the three rag horns that were hanging around his cows. He bugled very faintly bugles once at a cow but other than that they were pretty quiet. I'm guessing that he won't be so tolerant by this time next week. I didn't even bother talking to him this morning. I'll save that for a day when it seems more appropriate. I would prefer my cow call to be the last cow call he hears.

Good luck to everyone who is out chasing ungulates! Football is rolling and hunting season has begun...hard to beat that combo. I know my wife is over the moon excited about all of this:ROFLMAO:.
 
I love a person who is humble “while fumble farting their way around…….”😅😅

Consider it a pre-season game and learn from it coach. My over/under is 10 days before we read a positive outcome.
 
Well…to Vagabond’s point..I learned something on Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning I used it to put myself in a great position for multiple opportunities. I found them before first light and was 10-150 yards from the herd for the next 2 1/2 hours. It was as much fun and prolonged adrenaline as I have ever experienced.

It culminated with me in the middle of the herd at full draw on a decent 5 point after being anywhere from 10-150 yards of the herd for 2 1/2 hours. I didn’t end up with the shot window I expected when I drew my bow. The brush was higher on his body than I was hoping…his vitals were slightly obstructed. I held tight for what felt like an eternity, but he didn’t take the step forward I needed for him to clear his vitals. Instead he turned and faced me. I don’t love that shot to begin with, and I hate it when I’ve been holding as long as I had. At that point I knew I wasn’t taking a shot but I didn’t want to him to see me let down. Finally he turned and walked off far enough that I could let down. Unfortunately, the cow 10 yards behind me had seen it and she barked alerting the herd but they didn’t bust…just started moving off.

I spent the next 30 minutes in and around them but I wasn’t able to get another shot opportunity. This is a big herd. There are 13 bulls counting the 8 spikes. There are probably twice that many cows and calves. So man eyes to deal with. A herd that size tends to be really spread out and the bells tend to be toward the back. A herd that size can easily span 100 yards from the lead cow to the last bull. If all goes right, you are eventually going to have elk all around you and you can’t see the animals behind you. Lots of challenges and it’s hard to make decisions.

I couldn’t hunt today but I’ll be back after them tomorrow morning. Hopefully they maintain their current pattern.
 
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