deerhuntr4885
Active Member
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The next morning Bob and I headed back up the trail in the dark. It was really clear and cold. As I rode in the dark I kept glancing up at the crystal clear sky admiring all the stars. At times we could just barely see the moon coming up over the horizon through the trees. Moonrise was supposed to be around 4:30 AM I believe.
We reached the first meadow and found several fresh sets of elk tracks coming off of the mountain and heading down hill. They had not been there the night before when we headed for camp.
Suddenly I heard Bob yelling behind me. I wheeled my horse around and found Bob on the ground in the snow, along with Sassy. Sassy apperantly dropped to her knees and then tried to roll with Bob on her. She has never done that before. I kept yelling at Bob to grab her head and pull her up. Suddenly my horse decided to do the same thing. As soon as she dropped to the snow I started pulling her head up. She stood right back up before she could roll. Sassy then also stood up. Luckily she rolled on the side opposite his rifle and there was no damage or injuries to anyone.
I got off my horse and examined Sassy's saddle. I believe I cinched her too tight that morning and she was experiencing some pain. I found that the saddle was tight so I loosened it a bit.
All of a sudden Bob started throwing up. After a few minutes he said he was ready to go. I was very concerned that he was getting sick. He thought it might have been a bad Packpackers Pantry meal he ate the night before. He then thought he might have been getting motion sickness on the horse as he had no headlamp and the rocking of the horse was getting to him.
We reached the spot we tied the horses the day before just as the sun was breaking over the horizon. We rode a few minutes further up to a different stand of trees and tied the horses up.
I walked about 50 yards ahead while Bob was still getting his gear together. I threw the binos up and after only a few minutes I spotted one lone bull about a half mile further up the ridge than the day before.
Although this photo was taken on the way down, the far clearing is where I spotted the bull.
I called Bob over, dropped my gear and headed right at him. All I took was my range finder, camera, radio and rifle.
When I reached the first hill I found the same five wolves staring at me from about 100 yards away this time. It was beautiful to see that big black wolf standing broadside looking right at me. Suddenly it dawned on me...These things take down 1000 pound moose and elk for a living. My scrawny 210 pounds would be no match. I wondered how wise it was for me to be running straight at them. I kept running at them and they turned and ran up the hill and into the timber.
I made it into the next canyon and across the really crunchy snow. I snuck around a large stand of timber and stepped out into the open. I could see the bull at the top of the opposite ridge. He was feeding up hill and was only about 20 feet from the top. The sun was shining on him and I knew it was only a matter of minutes before he headed to bed. I knew that if I crossed the canyon and headed up the hill he was on I would not be able to see him through the trees on his side.
The only shot I had was from where I was standing. I pulled out the range finder. It read 608 yards. About three months ago I sent my Leupold scope in and had the bullet drop compensating turret installed on it. I had only taken it out to the range once since then and only fired it a few times. I was able to hit a target at 535 yards on the first shot on that occassion.
I looked for the other bull for a few minutes. My mind was racing. I was not sure what to do. I considered Bob's condition. If he was getting sick he would probably not be able to make it back up here. It was day three and this was the only chance I had at an elk. I also considered that in three days we had only seen these two elk, not even a cow yet. The weather was not supposed to change for the week and the wolves were working this basin hard!
I decided to take the shot. I rested my rifle over a rock. I caught my breath and squeezed it off. After the recoil from my .300 Weatherby Utralight I saw the bull on the ground! I fished out my radio and called Bob. When I told him I got the bull he said he saw the bull drop.
I started climbing the hill towards my bull. When he came into view I stopped and pulled out the camera. I started taking "As he lay" photos for all you guys who really like them. Here is one:
Here is a better one as I got closer:
Bob went back for the horses. Thank goodness he was in an area we could get the horses to. While waiting for Bob I started taking more photos of the scenery. I took a photo looking back down through the meadows. In this photo you can see Bob leading the horses up. We had started from the stand of trees back and to the right of where he is at.
This one shows the entire valley. The sunny spot waaayyyy down around the corner is where we first spotted them from.
I drug the elk down hill a bit to a flat spot. When Bob arrived we took some more photos. Here is my bull.. He is the four point. I wish I had spotted the bigger one again but I am happy with him. I have only taken two spikes before this elk.
We skinned and quartered the elk. We packed half on my horse Missy. She took it with no objections. Sassy started acting up. She was snorting and stomping and did not want anything to do with that elk. She has packed four deer and two bears and I never saw her object this much to packing any of them. I forgot my mentholatum this time.
I tried to put a quarter on her and she reeled and kicked me into a tree. Another first! I know it sounds like she is not a very good horse but she really is. She will go anywhere and cross anything.
Anyway, I decided to try to old blind fold trick. It worked like a charm! We put my hunting vest over he eyes and loaded her down. She did not object at all and stood completely calm. I was half expecting a rodeo once we removed the blindfold but she was fine, even with the head. Here she is:
Here is a pic of me and the girls headed down, loaded. We walked out and made it back to camp by 3:30. We found that the camp next to us had pulled out. They were disgusted with the lack of elk spotted and decided to leave. They had a big camp with about 10 people, 2 or 3 quads and four horses.
In part three I will tell the story about Bob's success. I will also have some more beautiful scenery shots. I hope you have enjoyed this so far and do not mind the length. This is how I document my hunts and love sharing them with all of you.
Take care and good luck!
Mike Henne
We reached the first meadow and found several fresh sets of elk tracks coming off of the mountain and heading down hill. They had not been there the night before when we headed for camp.
Suddenly I heard Bob yelling behind me. I wheeled my horse around and found Bob on the ground in the snow, along with Sassy. Sassy apperantly dropped to her knees and then tried to roll with Bob on her. She has never done that before. I kept yelling at Bob to grab her head and pull her up. Suddenly my horse decided to do the same thing. As soon as she dropped to the snow I started pulling her head up. She stood right back up before she could roll. Sassy then also stood up. Luckily she rolled on the side opposite his rifle and there was no damage or injuries to anyone.
I got off my horse and examined Sassy's saddle. I believe I cinched her too tight that morning and she was experiencing some pain. I found that the saddle was tight so I loosened it a bit.
All of a sudden Bob started throwing up. After a few minutes he said he was ready to go. I was very concerned that he was getting sick. He thought it might have been a bad Packpackers Pantry meal he ate the night before. He then thought he might have been getting motion sickness on the horse as he had no headlamp and the rocking of the horse was getting to him.
We reached the spot we tied the horses the day before just as the sun was breaking over the horizon. We rode a few minutes further up to a different stand of trees and tied the horses up.
I walked about 50 yards ahead while Bob was still getting his gear together. I threw the binos up and after only a few minutes I spotted one lone bull about a half mile further up the ridge than the day before.
Although this photo was taken on the way down, the far clearing is where I spotted the bull.
I called Bob over, dropped my gear and headed right at him. All I took was my range finder, camera, radio and rifle.
When I reached the first hill I found the same five wolves staring at me from about 100 yards away this time. It was beautiful to see that big black wolf standing broadside looking right at me. Suddenly it dawned on me...These things take down 1000 pound moose and elk for a living. My scrawny 210 pounds would be no match. I wondered how wise it was for me to be running straight at them. I kept running at them and they turned and ran up the hill and into the timber.
I made it into the next canyon and across the really crunchy snow. I snuck around a large stand of timber and stepped out into the open. I could see the bull at the top of the opposite ridge. He was feeding up hill and was only about 20 feet from the top. The sun was shining on him and I knew it was only a matter of minutes before he headed to bed. I knew that if I crossed the canyon and headed up the hill he was on I would not be able to see him through the trees on his side.
The only shot I had was from where I was standing. I pulled out the range finder. It read 608 yards. About three months ago I sent my Leupold scope in and had the bullet drop compensating turret installed on it. I had only taken it out to the range once since then and only fired it a few times. I was able to hit a target at 535 yards on the first shot on that occassion.
I looked for the other bull for a few minutes. My mind was racing. I was not sure what to do. I considered Bob's condition. If he was getting sick he would probably not be able to make it back up here. It was day three and this was the only chance I had at an elk. I also considered that in three days we had only seen these two elk, not even a cow yet. The weather was not supposed to change for the week and the wolves were working this basin hard!
I decided to take the shot. I rested my rifle over a rock. I caught my breath and squeezed it off. After the recoil from my .300 Weatherby Utralight I saw the bull on the ground! I fished out my radio and called Bob. When I told him I got the bull he said he saw the bull drop.
I started climbing the hill towards my bull. When he came into view I stopped and pulled out the camera. I started taking "As he lay" photos for all you guys who really like them. Here is one:
Here is a better one as I got closer:
Bob went back for the horses. Thank goodness he was in an area we could get the horses to. While waiting for Bob I started taking more photos of the scenery. I took a photo looking back down through the meadows. In this photo you can see Bob leading the horses up. We had started from the stand of trees back and to the right of where he is at.
This one shows the entire valley. The sunny spot waaayyyy down around the corner is where we first spotted them from.
I drug the elk down hill a bit to a flat spot. When Bob arrived we took some more photos. Here is my bull.. He is the four point. I wish I had spotted the bigger one again but I am happy with him. I have only taken two spikes before this elk.
We skinned and quartered the elk. We packed half on my horse Missy. She took it with no objections. Sassy started acting up. She was snorting and stomping and did not want anything to do with that elk. She has packed four deer and two bears and I never saw her object this much to packing any of them. I forgot my mentholatum this time.
I tried to put a quarter on her and she reeled and kicked me into a tree. Another first! I know it sounds like she is not a very good horse but she really is. She will go anywhere and cross anything.
Anyway, I decided to try to old blind fold trick. It worked like a charm! We put my hunting vest over he eyes and loaded her down. She did not object at all and stood completely calm. I was half expecting a rodeo once we removed the blindfold but she was fine, even with the head. Here she is:
Here is a pic of me and the girls headed down, loaded. We walked out and made it back to camp by 3:30. We found that the camp next to us had pulled out. They were disgusted with the lack of elk spotted and decided to leave. They had a big camp with about 10 people, 2 or 3 quads and four horses.
In part three I will tell the story about Bob's success. I will also have some more beautiful scenery shots. I hope you have enjoyed this so far and do not mind the length. This is how I document my hunts and love sharing them with all of you.
Take care and good luck!
Mike Henne
