Roy
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LAST EDITED ON Nov-07-14 AT 03:39PM (MST)[p]
My brother Grizz drew the rifle tag for Wyoming Area 45 this year and paid the extra $30 to hunt the archery hunt too. I tagged along with him for that one during September and we had a great time.
So, I thought I would tell story and share some of the pics. Hope you enjoy...
First - I flew from Texas to Utah on 9/19 and spent 09/20 visiting family and sitting around while my brother got everything ready (hey - it was HIS hunt after all!! ;-) )
On 9/21 - we were ready to go. Next stop - the Bighorns.
It took us all day on 09/21 to get there, and we weren't sure where to go the next morning - just had a few tips, but found some country that sure looked like it would hold elk.
That was the same day we watched this happen - truly one of the highlights to the trip:
http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID11/20012.html
That day we saw a small herd with a good 300 inch 6 point. Too early to settle for him, so we left the area and the next day headed up to the edge of the wilderness.
GORGEOUS ELK COUNTRY!!
The bulls weren't doing a whole lot of talking - we expected them to be going crazy, but the best we could get the first few days were some locator bugles.
We covered a lot of country though and saw a lot of sign. The weather was great - too great in fact. It was HOT and the elk weren't moving a lot at all. We did jump a small herd in their beds once. We were in the thick timber and as we sat our packs down and unclicked them - we heard a "woof" and bugle from a bull - not 30 yards away. We couldn't see them, but that unfamiliar "click" sound alerted them to our presence and after that bugle, they were gone. My brother tried to cut them off through the timber and got a glimpse of the bull as he passed through, but that was it.
The next day we were back there at sun-up. We got our customary locator bugle and decided to go as close to the wilderness boundary as we could, because that's where it sounded like they were at. So, we made our way as stealthily over the ridges as we could and hiked to the headwaters of one of the creeks. We didn't see a single elk that whole day - it felt like we hiked over 50 miles, and though we enjoyed the scenery, we were a little discouraged and worn out.
Lollygagging at 10,111 feet!! Great place to take a nap!
This is elk hunting!
After that long, discouraging day we decided to do a little more scouting the next day and we went a little lower on the mountain and decided to work our back way up.
As we were driving along through a lower area of pi?on and juniper, we heard a bugle. So, we got out to investigate. Soon, we were getting answers from 7 or 8 different bulls - they were scattered out along a pretty deep canyon, but there was one that sounded like almost like a Brahma bull when he growled that kept coming in closer and closer. We couldn't decide to name him "Ferdinand" or "The Growler" but we were definitely intrigued and determined to get a look at him.
My brother tried to position us in for a shot but we were skylined and to get down we had to go down a small ledge. I stayed put in the trees as the bull was moving in and we heard him bugle less than 100 yards away, but we must have spooked him trying to hop off that ledge and he never came over the ridge.
It was starting to warm up and we could hear the bugles retreating deeper into the canyon so we let them rest for the day and decided to come back that evening. We didn't get the chance though - at lunch, my brother decided to shoot his bow a little and as luck would have it - the peep sight popped off. So, we had to make a run to the nearest archery shop - in Buffalo, WY! (We were camped near Ten Sleep and first went in to Worland but they couldn't fix it there.) That killed the rest of that day. To top it off, we bought some expensive "Texas" barbeque at a bar there that was HORRIBLE!! Sorry - but you can't pass roast beef off as brisket! And then I spilled their nasty barbeque sauce all down my pants - it would be the only thing resembling blood that would stain my clothing.
The next day we went back to the same area and found the same bunch of bulls. They were quiet to start out, but soon we had them screaming again. We carefully stalked in to the bunch of trees where they were - the wind was just right and they didn't have a clue we were there. My brother manuevered into a perfect position, these bulls were HOT! And the cows were barking too and we didn't even have to use a call at all. He was able to get within 50 yards of them but none of them were very big. There was one nice 6 point that might have made 300 and a nice 5X5 but nothing big enough. This group of bulls was going NUTS though. We sat there and listened to them bugle, and growl, and glonk, and smash away at the trees for about an hour and a half. The whole time, we were within 100 yards and they didn't have a clue we were there. I have some great video of the bugling and will try to post it later.
They slowly made their way to the canyon though and it was clear they were heading to bed so we backed away and left them in hopes they would find a bigger bull to incorporate into their group.
The next day was Saturday and though we hunted the morning, we needed to get home so I could make my flight back to Texas. Leaving Wyoming was bitter for me, as I wanted to see my brother get a good bull and be there with him. He was still going to come back though for the rifle hunt in October, so he wasn't too worried about it, but it would have been fun to do it together.
The end of October came quickly however, and Grizz found himself back up there in the 26th. He continued to hunt hard that whole week - saw some elk early in the week, but then it dried up. He didn't see a single elk for nearly 5 days.
To say he was discouraged is an understatement. He texted me on Saturday saying he was mentally, physically, and emotionally drained, but was determined to see it through to the last day. He rested up on Sunday, and for some reason I had a good feeling that he was going to get one on Monday. He just needed to find the elk.
It didn't take long on Monday morning for the texts to start rolling in. He was up early and had some hope.
He sure found some more great elk country and texted me: "Does it look like elk should be here?"
Yep - it sure does.
Soon I got another text saying "I am starting to see some cows and spikes." And then this one saying "Should I shoot him? Is it worth a mile pack-out?"
I was just about to text him back and tell him I didn't think it would be when he texted back - "There are 4 more bulls in there, a bigger one is in the trees". Then he called me and told me he was 600 yards away and was going to try to stalk in a little closer and that if the bigger one in the trees stepped out he was going to take it.
I told him to go get it done and sat there in my office praying for him - it was killing me that that was all I could do for him!
A few minutes later he texted me this one: "5 pt. out in the open. The bigger one is still in the trees. Now I am at 235 yards. If he steps out I am going to drill him! Have to wait him out!"
Minutes pass by. They seem like hours. 10 minutes. 20 minutes. 45 minutes, An hour and 10 minutes, an hour and half...
Then the call: "BIG BULL DOWN!! BIG BULL DOWN!!! I SMACKED HIM!!"
At first he thought he was just around a 300 inch bull - and that would have been just fine. When he stepped out though, he knew he was much better, but to walk up and find this - it was more than he expected! What a nice suprise to have!
6X7 with a devil tine on the right side - love the whale tails!!
So, after all the calls and celebration, the work began. He was only a mile back off the road, but he was all alone. Wish I could have been there with him!! He spent the rest of that day taking care of the bull and packing him out, but still didn't finish. So, he rested that night, went back the next morning and finished the job.
All packed up and ready to head back to Utah!
In all - it was a long, hard, hunt filled with ups and downs. The reward in the end was worth it though, and the Bighorns definitely earned a place in our hearts. Thanks Wyoming, we'll be back!
HOOK 'EM!
_______________________________________
Since I am frequently asked about my religion on this site and others, I have created a profile that explains my beliefs. If you are interested in finding out more about my faith, please visit the link below:
http://mormon.org/me/6RNQ/
My brother Grizz drew the rifle tag for Wyoming Area 45 this year and paid the extra $30 to hunt the archery hunt too. I tagged along with him for that one during September and we had a great time.
So, I thought I would tell story and share some of the pics. Hope you enjoy...
First - I flew from Texas to Utah on 9/19 and spent 09/20 visiting family and sitting around while my brother got everything ready (hey - it was HIS hunt after all!! ;-) )
On 9/21 - we were ready to go. Next stop - the Bighorns.
It took us all day on 09/21 to get there, and we weren't sure where to go the next morning - just had a few tips, but found some country that sure looked like it would hold elk.
That was the same day we watched this happen - truly one of the highlights to the trip:
http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID11/20012.html
That day we saw a small herd with a good 300 inch 6 point. Too early to settle for him, so we left the area and the next day headed up to the edge of the wilderness.
GORGEOUS ELK COUNTRY!!
The bulls weren't doing a whole lot of talking - we expected them to be going crazy, but the best we could get the first few days were some locator bugles.
We covered a lot of country though and saw a lot of sign. The weather was great - too great in fact. It was HOT and the elk weren't moving a lot at all. We did jump a small herd in their beds once. We were in the thick timber and as we sat our packs down and unclicked them - we heard a "woof" and bugle from a bull - not 30 yards away. We couldn't see them, but that unfamiliar "click" sound alerted them to our presence and after that bugle, they were gone. My brother tried to cut them off through the timber and got a glimpse of the bull as he passed through, but that was it.
The next day we were back there at sun-up. We got our customary locator bugle and decided to go as close to the wilderness boundary as we could, because that's where it sounded like they were at. So, we made our way as stealthily over the ridges as we could and hiked to the headwaters of one of the creeks. We didn't see a single elk that whole day - it felt like we hiked over 50 miles, and though we enjoyed the scenery, we were a little discouraged and worn out.
Lollygagging at 10,111 feet!! Great place to take a nap!
This is elk hunting!
After that long, discouraging day we decided to do a little more scouting the next day and we went a little lower on the mountain and decided to work our back way up.
As we were driving along through a lower area of pi?on and juniper, we heard a bugle. So, we got out to investigate. Soon, we were getting answers from 7 or 8 different bulls - they were scattered out along a pretty deep canyon, but there was one that sounded like almost like a Brahma bull when he growled that kept coming in closer and closer. We couldn't decide to name him "Ferdinand" or "The Growler" but we were definitely intrigued and determined to get a look at him.
My brother tried to position us in for a shot but we were skylined and to get down we had to go down a small ledge. I stayed put in the trees as the bull was moving in and we heard him bugle less than 100 yards away, but we must have spooked him trying to hop off that ledge and he never came over the ridge.
It was starting to warm up and we could hear the bugles retreating deeper into the canyon so we let them rest for the day and decided to come back that evening. We didn't get the chance though - at lunch, my brother decided to shoot his bow a little and as luck would have it - the peep sight popped off. So, we had to make a run to the nearest archery shop - in Buffalo, WY! (We were camped near Ten Sleep and first went in to Worland but they couldn't fix it there.) That killed the rest of that day. To top it off, we bought some expensive "Texas" barbeque at a bar there that was HORRIBLE!! Sorry - but you can't pass roast beef off as brisket! And then I spilled their nasty barbeque sauce all down my pants - it would be the only thing resembling blood that would stain my clothing.
The next day we went back to the same area and found the same bunch of bulls. They were quiet to start out, but soon we had them screaming again. We carefully stalked in to the bunch of trees where they were - the wind was just right and they didn't have a clue we were there. My brother manuevered into a perfect position, these bulls were HOT! And the cows were barking too and we didn't even have to use a call at all. He was able to get within 50 yards of them but none of them were very big. There was one nice 6 point that might have made 300 and a nice 5X5 but nothing big enough. This group of bulls was going NUTS though. We sat there and listened to them bugle, and growl, and glonk, and smash away at the trees for about an hour and a half. The whole time, we were within 100 yards and they didn't have a clue we were there. I have some great video of the bugling and will try to post it later.
They slowly made their way to the canyon though and it was clear they were heading to bed so we backed away and left them in hopes they would find a bigger bull to incorporate into their group.
The next day was Saturday and though we hunted the morning, we needed to get home so I could make my flight back to Texas. Leaving Wyoming was bitter for me, as I wanted to see my brother get a good bull and be there with him. He was still going to come back though for the rifle hunt in October, so he wasn't too worried about it, but it would have been fun to do it together.
The end of October came quickly however, and Grizz found himself back up there in the 26th. He continued to hunt hard that whole week - saw some elk early in the week, but then it dried up. He didn't see a single elk for nearly 5 days.
To say he was discouraged is an understatement. He texted me on Saturday saying he was mentally, physically, and emotionally drained, but was determined to see it through to the last day. He rested up on Sunday, and for some reason I had a good feeling that he was going to get one on Monday. He just needed to find the elk.
It didn't take long on Monday morning for the texts to start rolling in. He was up early and had some hope.
He sure found some more great elk country and texted me: "Does it look like elk should be here?"
Yep - it sure does.
Soon I got another text saying "I am starting to see some cows and spikes." And then this one saying "Should I shoot him? Is it worth a mile pack-out?"
I was just about to text him back and tell him I didn't think it would be when he texted back - "There are 4 more bulls in there, a bigger one is in the trees". Then he called me and told me he was 600 yards away and was going to try to stalk in a little closer and that if the bigger one in the trees stepped out he was going to take it.
I told him to go get it done and sat there in my office praying for him - it was killing me that that was all I could do for him!
A few minutes later he texted me this one: "5 pt. out in the open. The bigger one is still in the trees. Now I am at 235 yards. If he steps out I am going to drill him! Have to wait him out!"
Minutes pass by. They seem like hours. 10 minutes. 20 minutes. 45 minutes, An hour and 10 minutes, an hour and half...
Then the call: "BIG BULL DOWN!! BIG BULL DOWN!!! I SMACKED HIM!!"
At first he thought he was just around a 300 inch bull - and that would have been just fine. When he stepped out though, he knew he was much better, but to walk up and find this - it was more than he expected! What a nice suprise to have!
6X7 with a devil tine on the right side - love the whale tails!!
So, after all the calls and celebration, the work began. He was only a mile back off the road, but he was all alone. Wish I could have been there with him!! He spent the rest of that day taking care of the bull and packing him out, but still didn't finish. So, he rested that night, went back the next morning and finished the job.
All packed up and ready to head back to Utah!
In all - it was a long, hard, hunt filled with ups and downs. The reward in the end was worth it though, and the Bighorns definitely earned a place in our hearts. Thanks Wyoming, we'll be back!
HOOK 'EM!
_______________________________________
Since I am frequently asked about my religion on this site and others, I have created a profile that explains my beliefs. If you are interested in finding out more about my faith, please visit the link below:
http://mormon.org/me/6RNQ/
