Wednesday morning we hit the roads before light, tried out a morning hunt area that produced nothing. Back to camp early for cleanup and pre-pack. Afternoon took us to one of the ranchers "tips". Found his hay lot with decent green regrowth and some breaks within a half mile. Passed a dead cow (beef-style) on the drive and looked at the clock. Not enough time to drive back to the rancher's house and tell him and make it back to set-up. Sat there for ten minutes deciding what to do.... Go tell him about his dead cow, or hunt our last night? Bit the bullet, turned around and drove out to let him know. Stopped in, knocked on the door, gave him the news - he had found it in the morning. He remembered that it was our last night, checked his watch, mentioned that we didn't quite have time to get back where we were going to go. We agreed. Then he asked us, "What excatly are you guys looking for?" "Tag filling, MEAT" was our reply. So he follows with "Ya know the spot down there, past the tree, where it's green on both sides? Not the big one, the little one? There's been three raghorns coming in there right before dark. Why don't you go and get 'em..." Drove down, set up 2 decoys and hunkered down behind a big tree alongside the two-track. Surer than $hit, with about 15 mins of shooting light, way back at about 150 yds. strolls 1 bull, followed by 1 more bull. They walk up to and into the brush row along the creek bottom where they should emerge at 75 yds in full view of our feeding decs. With 5 mins of shooting light left, I see them meandering back to where they came from. Cow called, started them getting interested, both of us focused directly on these two bulls moving between 120 and 80, just not committing. I was the "shooter" that evening, my buddy was backup. My bow was hanging on a limb, in easy reach, his was leaning on the tree in armslength reach. Almost time to pack it up. Now, with me looking straight away at these two bulls, my buddy turns his eyes to our direct right. Two bulls standing there, at 8 yards, broadside, staring straight at him! Very interesting. He can't reach for his bow, and he can't speak loud enough to tell me! That lasted about 30 - 45 seconds. Then they busted out. Scared the $hit right out of me! I did get a look at two decent bulls, probably decent 5 points, just bailing straight away from us, through the brush and meadows. We laughed it up and called it a pretty good ending to a partial-letdown of a trip. Guess it might have been our best decision of the week to give up the evening hunt and drive back to let that rancher know about his loss. Closest we'd been all week.
Overall, it was a good adventure. We did some hunting. We saw some elk. Saw some decent bucks. We learned that when the sweet clover grows it's time to change the plan. We met some really nice people. Had a good drive out and a good drive back. Definitely would do it again. Thanks to all who helped out - thanks for all the info.
My advice for all heading into the breaks with a tag in hand - Find where the prarie meets the timbered hillsides. Start there. Work towards the prarie, not the breaks. Expect a tough hunt, but have some fun. Good luck to all.
EdPre
