huntcrazyinCA
Member
- Messages
- 68
Well... wow what can I say so many ups and so many downs..... I got it done though...diy...solo... on my first elk hunt!!! was it hard hell ya but I would not tade a single sweat drop for nothing!!! Till this hunt I hadnt had the pleasure of hearing a bull screamin his head off.....and now I can say it is a beautiful sound indeed....and I though Jonny Cash was music to my ears!!!!!...I will sit and listen to those bulls sing all day any day!!!!.... well here it is.... got up on the mountain thursday morning and drove around to find a good place to set up camp.... got camp situated and was headin out for the afternoon to drive around and get some ideas....well glassed up a bull a few hours later and I was off...got down to where he was and let out a few cow calls and there it was my first bugle and boy was he singin.....I had to sit down and just smile!!!! I went in after him but it got dark and backed out...not a bad first day!!! So saterday morning I went into a spot that looked good...got down there and went off the left side of the mountain and let out a few cow calls and had one scream back to me down the canyon a bit so I took off in his direction....got to about where I though he would be and sang some more of the cow sing blues and he went off right away.... he sounded like he was a good 400-500 yards strait below me.....I quickly took a few step to a bush and took off my pack and set my bow down when out of the corner of my eye I see movment...it was him he was on me so quick..... he was 8 yards away to my right just grunting and looking now Im lookin at him thinkin....holy ######!!! I try to get an arrow knocked and as soon as I grab my bow and stand he busts....I cow call to him and he stops at 40 yards and as soon as i was thinkin shoot he must of been thinkin RUN!!!...the shot was high and back.......I sat there for two hours before starting on the blood trail...got about 20 yards into the trail and it started to rain and I mean by the buckets......I took cover and waited it out and tried to get back on it to no avail! I spent the rest of that day looking for him......no dice!!!...that evning I climbed out and met a few gents that aagreed to go in with me the next am and help look for him...we spent all day looking for him and found nothing at all.....I was hurting....phisiclly and most of all mentally!!!!....mondayI went into a spot I glassed a few good bulls in and was in there before light...and sure enough they were singin....I went as close I though was good enogh till the thermal changed and sat down and waitd for them to change before I went in there after them....and as I was sitting there I hear ###### breakin and what do you know...two outher hunter come walkin up to me!!!!...great there goes that idea....so I decide to side hill all the way out of the canyon and begin my 8 mile hike out....going a few ridges over and cow callin hoping to get a response.....i did this for a while when I finally got a response...he was even with me in elevation and ahead of me...so I climbed high in elevation and got closer and set up for the set....I cow called to him some more and about 10 min later I see movment heading my direction....its a cow with two calves.... they were comin in perfect when she deicided she would turn and go up hill abit and get behind me...she winded me and that was it....I never did see the bull but I know he was there....so later that nigh I climbed out of the canyon and decide I need to find a new spot AWAY for outhe hunters....I go to a good canyon and listen...and hear them singin...so it ON!!! I decided to take tusday morning off and sleep in I needed to head into town and get fuel and ice.....found a flyin j and took a much needed shower....ow how nice it was!!!! I got to camp and geared up for the after noon...I got up to the new canyon at about 12:00 and made the hike in got to a spot and was deciding where to go next when I hear them singing off the righ side of the mountain in the bottom... so off I went.....strait down.....I get down into the pines when I see movment...it a bull and a good one too!!! I decid toside hill abit nd cut him off, I got to a spot that I though would work and start on the cow call.....BOOM!!!!........bulls screamin....one right below me and to the right another one across the canyon about even with me...I call back to them lettin them know Im here for the party!!!! and get ready....I hear logs brakein branches crashin and he is comin in below me.... when out of the corner of my eye I see movment comin from my left to my right and there he is another bull!!!...he walks out into the open and i freeze...he then walks behind a bush and continues on hes route...I have a liitle window at 25 yards to shoot through and move my pins to that spot...and when I seen brown in that spot i touched the trigger...I whatched that orange knock bury its self into his side...he busted out of there and I called to him on the cow call to relax him a bit and just sat down and wait began.....it was a long wait to say the least!!!...I went over to try and find my arrow and never did find it...so I started on the blood there was little blood and it kind of scared me a bit but when he crossed the bottom and tried to go up hill a bit.....there was blood everywhere!!!...I looked up and there out of the top of all the green brush was his horns....I ran up to him and could not beleive it there he was my first bull on my first elk hunt...I just sat down and took it all in and said a prayer and thanked my maker for the blessing he provided me with!!!! I got him all quartered out and got everything put into game bags and into a cool place...made the long hike out and got on the phone to call in the clavery...The gentle men that was going to come up with his horses was stilll in Idaho and said he would not be back for another day.....he told me to hold on and he will make a few calls....half hour later I get a call for a man sayin they will be there first thing in the am and will help me get him out.....I didnt sleep a bit that nigh!!! I got up to our meeting place well before the agreed meeting time.....the sound of that clunkin deisal comin around the corner with that horse trailer made me smile!!!! A fellow by the Scott jumped out and I greated him egerly....He got the horse saddled up and asked me if I would like to ride one down the mountain.....im thinkin holy ###### I have not riddin a horse in proubly 10 years.....i answered with a ...ow...ow..ok????...... So with Scott in the lead a pack horse behind him and me on his sons horse bringin up the rear we were off....we get down the trail and get to the spot I droped off when I tell Scott that my bull is down there at the bottom......now im thinkin he is going to be like ok well lets side hill and just work our way down there.....WRONG!!!!...he looks at me and says down there..... and with out missin a beat.... he turns his horse and the pack horse right on the side of the hill and it is STRAIT down.....im in shock and next thing you know my horse is in tow not wanting to be left out of the fun......all that is running through my mind is im going to ride this horse down this hill scramin my head off the whole damn way and were both going to crash into the bottom of the canyon andf DIE!!!.....That poor horse was probly wondering why my legs were wraped around her so tight....and she though the saddle was on tight!!!!!...neddles to say I didnt say a word alll the way down!!!!.....those horses handled that hill with the utmost gace and rode me right up to my bull.....we got my bull all packed up and thankfully Scott found alot easyer way out!!!!....I can not tell you the feeling I had as we came up to the top where the trucks were.....I was done....my first elk hunt had come to an end...I did it....by myself....finally I had my first elk!!! I do want to thank a few people that took the time to help me out i am forever gratfull to you all...and you all know who you are...THANKYOU!!! Some of you started as people online or on the phone just helpin me out and some I did not meet till it was time to pack out my bull....but I have made friends out of all this that I hope to keep intouch with through the years and some day be able to meet again and share a hunt with!!!............................so how about some money shots!!!
