Zeke
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 10,603
LAST EDITED ON Apr-17-12 AT 03:13PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Apr-17-12 AT 02:42?PM (MST)
LAST EDITED ON Apr-17-12 AT 02:29?PM (MST)
LAST EDITED ON Apr-17-12 AT 02:15?PM (MST)
My oldest daughter has turned out to be an excellent hunting partner! I'm pretty lucky by having my son (oldest) and all 4 daughters involved in hunting, both with their spouses and with me.
It was an exciting day when we discovered that Jess had drawn her coveted Wasatch rifle elk tag. We had anticipated her drawing but it's always fun to finally realize the tag in hand.
With her husband stuck out of State for work, the "chore" of scouting and guiding fell to me. I'm lucky to have friends and family willing to help.
We followed our plan and backpacked into our #1 area the day before the hunt. The weather was bad and it rained all night.
We spotted a good bull at first light and a stalking route was planned but we never could make the decision to take the bull. We let him go and some other guys busted their arses to cut us off. haha. They shot AT the bull but the shots were not true.
We might have made a poor choice since we hunted 2-3 other areas without finding a bigger bull.
Fast forward through several days and lots of bulls.
On Thursday night, I had Jess on a good bull. With the hunt slipping away I asked what she wanted to do. She replied "what would you do?" We walked away. I was proud! She had hunted hard and just walked away from a good bull.
Mid-day Friday we met up with a good friend who is a back country elk lover. We'd made this plan previously for him to transport us into the high back-country using his horses, after which he'd leave us to hunt. We'd then hunt the last couple days and backpack out.... make some calls for meat help if we got lucky.
As we rode into the last high-mountain pass the bugles were already starting. We looked at each other and said "let's hunt, camp can wait".
Jess and I made a mad dash into the trees and our friend set up to be the caller. We hoped this would distract the bull while we closed the distance. We had not seen the bull at this time, only his cows but we knew by the bugle we needed a look at him.
After our dash, then walk, then stalk, we were within easy range but we had yet to see him. Our friend kept coaxing the bull and finally he'd had enough. The bull came marching past us at 60 yards and 1 well placed shot and the bull was rolling down the hill toward us. I had to judge the bull and whisper shoot, all in a matter of seconds. We'd worked too had to make a mistake.
ELATION! The beast is dead, long live the beast! haha
It was getting dark by the time we returned to the bull with knives, cameras etc. Jess sent a photo to her husband (damn technology) and everyone was please and satisfied.
Afterfully skinning and quartering the bull I was way past ready for bed. We set up camp, ate and went to bed. My friend agreed to stay the night and help pack meat to the horses the following day. Sweet!
Enough to say, the horses could only carry so much but, boy, am I glad for my friend! Late on the following day, Jess walked out leading a horse. I backpacked out with the cape and antlers. Man, I was pooped but happy to end the hunt in this manner. The haul was tough on the old man but it was all worth it.
Many thanks to GREAT friends and family who helped with the scouting and were prepared to pack meat on short notice.
I hope it gets you guys excite who draw or hope to draw great tags.
Thanks for taking time to look.
Zeke
(I wish my spelling was better!)
LAST EDITED ON Apr-17-12 AT 02:29?PM (MST)
LAST EDITED ON Apr-17-12 AT 02:15?PM (MST)
My oldest daughter has turned out to be an excellent hunting partner! I'm pretty lucky by having my son (oldest) and all 4 daughters involved in hunting, both with their spouses and with me.
It was an exciting day when we discovered that Jess had drawn her coveted Wasatch rifle elk tag. We had anticipated her drawing but it's always fun to finally realize the tag in hand.
With her husband stuck out of State for work, the "chore" of scouting and guiding fell to me. I'm lucky to have friends and family willing to help.
We followed our plan and backpacked into our #1 area the day before the hunt. The weather was bad and it rained all night.
We spotted a good bull at first light and a stalking route was planned but we never could make the decision to take the bull. We let him go and some other guys busted their arses to cut us off. haha. They shot AT the bull but the shots were not true.
We might have made a poor choice since we hunted 2-3 other areas without finding a bigger bull.
Fast forward through several days and lots of bulls.
On Thursday night, I had Jess on a good bull. With the hunt slipping away I asked what she wanted to do. She replied "what would you do?" We walked away. I was proud! She had hunted hard and just walked away from a good bull.
Mid-day Friday we met up with a good friend who is a back country elk lover. We'd made this plan previously for him to transport us into the high back-country using his horses, after which he'd leave us to hunt. We'd then hunt the last couple days and backpack out.... make some calls for meat help if we got lucky.
As we rode into the last high-mountain pass the bugles were already starting. We looked at each other and said "let's hunt, camp can wait".
Jess and I made a mad dash into the trees and our friend set up to be the caller. We hoped this would distract the bull while we closed the distance. We had not seen the bull at this time, only his cows but we knew by the bugle we needed a look at him.
After our dash, then walk, then stalk, we were within easy range but we had yet to see him. Our friend kept coaxing the bull and finally he'd had enough. The bull came marching past us at 60 yards and 1 well placed shot and the bull was rolling down the hill toward us. I had to judge the bull and whisper shoot, all in a matter of seconds. We'd worked too had to make a mistake.
ELATION! The beast is dead, long live the beast! haha
It was getting dark by the time we returned to the bull with knives, cameras etc. Jess sent a photo to her husband (damn technology) and everyone was please and satisfied.
Afterfully skinning and quartering the bull I was way past ready for bed. We set up camp, ate and went to bed. My friend agreed to stay the night and help pack meat to the horses the following day. Sweet!
Enough to say, the horses could only carry so much but, boy, am I glad for my friend! Late on the following day, Jess walked out leading a horse. I backpacked out with the cape and antlers. Man, I was pooped but happy to end the hunt in this manner. The haul was tough on the old man but it was all worth it.
Many thanks to GREAT friends and family who helped with the scouting and were prepared to pack meat on short notice.
I hope it gets you guys excite who draw or hope to draw great tags.
Thanks for taking time to look.
Zeke
(I wish my spelling was better!)
