GLEDEASY
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Time to split them up so the page doesn't get too big.
Here's the link to part 1
Part 1
Some scenery I forgot to post
Sep 3rd
Today marks the first day with not seeing an elk. Went through some great country, just didn't get so lucky. So I decided to take the family for dinner down in Loa.
Sep 4th
Knowing that the bull I had set my sights on had moved a few miles up over the hill I decided to try and figure out where and how he may have done so. I hiked up the opposite ridge where John and I had found a few bulls less than a week ago. While doing so I could tell that this would be a good vantage point to see the few openings that existed down below. However; my objective was to figure out where he crossed over in case he was to cross back.
The hike started with a first for me, a dead porcupine. It had been dead a while but was still interesting to see. I've seen a handful in the wild wondering but never too close. Hiking the ridge I decided they would be limited to two spots where they could cross over based on maps and the lay of the land. I decided to trek across at the higher point as it was about as far up the canyon as we had seen the elk previously. Most of the hike was through deadfall only seeing old sign every so often. I finally reached a place where things opened up a little when I jumped a raghorn 5 point. I grabbed my cow call and he started coming closer to me. As he briefly looked away I was able to get my camera and video as he came within 15 yards of me. It was lightly raining at the time but then the sun broke through and shined right down on me. I think between that, him knocking a branch, and becoming uninterested led him on his way. That was fine with me as any closer I might have had to scare him away.
close encounter
Whatever left this I didn't want to know. My wife laughs at me for taking a pic, but I was surprised how much of this I came across.
This area was becoming somewhat discouraging. The more I felt I was learning by spending time in it the more I realized how little I knew. After my excursion to the opposite side of the hill I decided to go back to my advantage point and watch how the night played out. I glassed a bull bedded 1,046 yards away in one of the meadows. Had I only brought my spotting scope. I opted not to bring it as the place was so thick. Watching him he decided to get up at 5:30 p.m. About this time a storm with rolling thunder had been inching its way closer. I didn't think too much of it as I was focused on the bull and occasional bugles. Soon I heard a little bit of a crack of thunder and knew I needed to get off the mountain. I started going down and when I got to another lookout I looked back at the two meadows. There was a bull in each. I did not know how big they were but could certainly tell they were number 2 and 3 in size of what I had seen so far. Another crack of thunder, shoot I need to hurry. And then the rain and hail came pouring down. I was completely soaked and scared to death by two lightning strikes above my head but made it back safe and sound to my truck.
As I got to my truck another truck had parked next to it and a hunter was in the trees doing some calling. I couldn't help but wonder if this person had seen ?my? bull and was trying to hunt him, but looking up on the hill and seeing a spike brought me a little comfort.
Here's the link to part 1
Part 1
Some scenery I forgot to post
Sep 3rd
Today marks the first day with not seeing an elk. Went through some great country, just didn't get so lucky. So I decided to take the family for dinner down in Loa.
Sep 4th
Knowing that the bull I had set my sights on had moved a few miles up over the hill I decided to try and figure out where and how he may have done so. I hiked up the opposite ridge where John and I had found a few bulls less than a week ago. While doing so I could tell that this would be a good vantage point to see the few openings that existed down below. However; my objective was to figure out where he crossed over in case he was to cross back.
The hike started with a first for me, a dead porcupine. It had been dead a while but was still interesting to see. I've seen a handful in the wild wondering but never too close. Hiking the ridge I decided they would be limited to two spots where they could cross over based on maps and the lay of the land. I decided to trek across at the higher point as it was about as far up the canyon as we had seen the elk previously. Most of the hike was through deadfall only seeing old sign every so often. I finally reached a place where things opened up a little when I jumped a raghorn 5 point. I grabbed my cow call and he started coming closer to me. As he briefly looked away I was able to get my camera and video as he came within 15 yards of me. It was lightly raining at the time but then the sun broke through and shined right down on me. I think between that, him knocking a branch, and becoming uninterested led him on his way. That was fine with me as any closer I might have had to scare him away.
close encounter
Whatever left this I didn't want to know. My wife laughs at me for taking a pic, but I was surprised how much of this I came across.
This area was becoming somewhat discouraging. The more I felt I was learning by spending time in it the more I realized how little I knew. After my excursion to the opposite side of the hill I decided to go back to my advantage point and watch how the night played out. I glassed a bull bedded 1,046 yards away in one of the meadows. Had I only brought my spotting scope. I opted not to bring it as the place was so thick. Watching him he decided to get up at 5:30 p.m. About this time a storm with rolling thunder had been inching its way closer. I didn't think too much of it as I was focused on the bull and occasional bugles. Soon I heard a little bit of a crack of thunder and knew I needed to get off the mountain. I started going down and when I got to another lookout I looked back at the two meadows. There was a bull in each. I did not know how big they were but could certainly tell they were number 2 and 3 in size of what I had seen so far. Another crack of thunder, shoot I need to hurry. And then the rain and hail came pouring down. I was completely soaked and scared to death by two lightning strikes above my head but made it back safe and sound to my truck.
As I got to my truck another truck had parked next to it and a hunter was in the trees doing some calling. I couldn't help but wonder if this person had seen ?my? bull and was trying to hunt him, but looking up on the hill and seeing a spike brought me a little comfort.