ismith
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Ive been reading some accounts of people having some really close encounters with Cervus elaphus and decided to share my own encounter from the night of September 6th. I guess I should start at the beginning though.......
There is a patch of public ground that im pretty familiar with that is surrounded by a large ranch. A public road crosses the corner of the public ground at its highest point, meaning that any hunting to be down here could result in a long pack back up the very rugged mountain. To top it off, there is a very healthy local population of rattlesnakes that call this place home. I begain hunting this place during the 900 series archery only season August 15th. The antelope were not fooled by my novice attempts at stalking and decoying them. I did get to know some really nice whitetail bucks that bedded in the rocky junipier choked draws.
So, with the begining of archery season, I decided to focus my attention on chasing the largest of the bucks, a 5 point with a forked back tine not unlike that of a mulie. I named him fork. Me and fork have had numerous encounters, including a shot that I fudged at 40 yards. I begain to feel like Id figured out this old bucks habits enough to lay an ambush. So I hunkered down on the edge of a large grassy opening and waited for the large buck to make his appearance. As the sun begain to dip behind the mountains I begain to think that this trip would be a bust. As begain to think about the long hike back up to my truck I heard the sound of hooves on the parched earth not far away. I watched in surprise as the elk trotted single file in front of me. As the lead cow came towards me I begain to think about my coveted Missouri Breaks elk permit that I was very lucky to draw. Still, the lead cow was 30 yards away, and a raghorn bull not far behind. The cow was walking in a direction that would lead her downwind of me and the game would be done for sure. Then unexpectedly she changed course, walking directly towards me! I mentally counted down the yards as she angled closer and closer, 25, 20, 15, 10 , 5! I though for sure she would catch my scent and blow outa there at any time! Imagine my surprise and fear as she stood right beside my cowering form and commenced to sniffing the back of my hooded neck! She then NUZZLED ME! Dumbfounded I turned my head and looked straight into her eyes. Our eyes met and hers got as big as saucers. She bolted and stopped about 15 yards away and looked back at me, giving me a perfect broadside shot. I dont see how anyone could have shot in my possition though. I kinda felt indebted to her for not stomping the crap outa me. As the days last light began to fade, I heard the sound of an uneasy elk herd and overzealous young bull fade into the distance.
So.......how close has everyone gotten to a wild elk?
ismith
There is a patch of public ground that im pretty familiar with that is surrounded by a large ranch. A public road crosses the corner of the public ground at its highest point, meaning that any hunting to be down here could result in a long pack back up the very rugged mountain. To top it off, there is a very healthy local population of rattlesnakes that call this place home. I begain hunting this place during the 900 series archery only season August 15th. The antelope were not fooled by my novice attempts at stalking and decoying them. I did get to know some really nice whitetail bucks that bedded in the rocky junipier choked draws.
So, with the begining of archery season, I decided to focus my attention on chasing the largest of the bucks, a 5 point with a forked back tine not unlike that of a mulie. I named him fork. Me and fork have had numerous encounters, including a shot that I fudged at 40 yards. I begain to feel like Id figured out this old bucks habits enough to lay an ambush. So I hunkered down on the edge of a large grassy opening and waited for the large buck to make his appearance. As the sun begain to dip behind the mountains I begain to think that this trip would be a bust. As begain to think about the long hike back up to my truck I heard the sound of hooves on the parched earth not far away. I watched in surprise as the elk trotted single file in front of me. As the lead cow came towards me I begain to think about my coveted Missouri Breaks elk permit that I was very lucky to draw. Still, the lead cow was 30 yards away, and a raghorn bull not far behind. The cow was walking in a direction that would lead her downwind of me and the game would be done for sure. Then unexpectedly she changed course, walking directly towards me! I mentally counted down the yards as she angled closer and closer, 25, 20, 15, 10 , 5! I though for sure she would catch my scent and blow outa there at any time! Imagine my surprise and fear as she stood right beside my cowering form and commenced to sniffing the back of my hooded neck! She then NUZZLED ME! Dumbfounded I turned my head and looked straight into her eyes. Our eyes met and hers got as big as saucers. She bolted and stopped about 15 yards away and looked back at me, giving me a perfect broadside shot. I dont see how anyone could have shot in my possition though. I kinda felt indebted to her for not stomping the crap outa me. As the days last light began to fade, I heard the sound of an uneasy elk herd and overzealous young bull fade into the distance.
So.......how close has everyone gotten to a wild elk?
ismith
