As soon as I could leave work I was on my way to meet Brett in Georgetown. Our plan was to pack in Friday night to the drainage we had planned to hunt. After climbing for about an hour, we reached the point where we had to decide where we wanted to spend the night. We either could stay in the current drainage and hunt that basin Saturday or continue on more over into a slightly more remote area. Our decision was made in an instant. We had decided to continue to the next drainage, however as we crested a small ridge, there was an enormous herd of elk.
 |
| Brett climbing. Photo: Cory Arola |
 |
| Photo: Cory Arola |
We snuck lower and began to glass, the herd was 49 elk with one monster bull. Too far to count, it appeared to be a 5x6. As we continued to watch, another satellite bull appeared in the brush with two more cows. 52 elk the night before opening, we were in business.
 |
| Photo: Cory Arola |
 |
| Photo: Cory Arola |
The decision was to camp on the top of the ridge on the opposite side as to not bump the herd. We luckily stumbled upon a nice flat spot with a rock windbreak.
 |
| Photo: Cory Arola |
 |
| Photo: Cory Arola |
As soon as the tent was erected, it began to rain. A steady rain that lasted all night. Both of us were glad to have brought the tent instead of bivying. While lying in our sleeping bags the plan was formulated to glass at first light, relocate the herd and figure how to sneak in and call a bull within range.
The alarm went off a 5:00 a.m., we quickly rose and ate breakfast. After packing our packs with our gear for the day, the sneak to our glassing location began.
 |
| Photo: Cory Arola |
After seeing 52 elk you would think there would be many animals around. Not a single animal was seen on Saturday, opening day of the season. Glassing for half the day, it was time to make something happen. The cirque we descended into had a tremendous amount of extremely fresh elk sign.
Stalking and softly cow calling amounted to nothing. Towards the evening while sitting near a mud hole, a bugle broke the silence. Excitement and adrenaline coursed through our veins. The excitement that only a crisp clear bugle in through the autumn air brings. Brett cow called and conversed with the bull for around 15 min before it went quite. At this point we decided to return to camp.
 |
| Photo: Cory Arola |
Sunday morning plans changed.
 |
| Photo: Cory Arola |
Camp was broken down and everything was in our packs again. We would glass at sun-up and if we didn’t see anything still-hunting was plan B. We would hunt in route to the next drainage climbing to tree line then descending back down because we eventually needed to end up at a vehicle.
 |
| Photo; Cory Arola |
 |
| Photo: Cory Arola |
In the basin we were in we bumped some animal, from the heaviness of the hoofs we assumed it was elk, but never did we catch a glimpse. Slowly but surely we rounded into the next gulch and began to climb. Elk sign was fresh everywhere we walked.
 |
| Photo: Cory Arola |
In the mid-morning we jumped bedded elk on a NE heavily timbered slope. Four ran off through the forest. As we stood deciding what to do, two bulls came into site. The hunt was on. At nearer than 50 yards we needed to be careful. They started to run off but a quick cow call changed their minds. Young hormonal bulls sometimes gives hunter’s leeway with mistakes. One was a spike that appeared to be in velvet still. The other was a caribou bull, one antler had a scoop on the from similar to a caribou’s headgear. They circled downhill from us as we slipped our packs off. Brett nocked an arrow, and crawled forward to a tree. From there he used his rangefinder. If the bull would take three steps he would have a 31 yard shot, broadside. Suddenly like a ghost the elk disappeared. Brett crawled back to me and we tried to figure out what to do. From the corner of his eye he saw movement; the caribou bull was still there. He snuck back down and I snuck away making cow calls. It was an attempt to make it appear that the cow was leaving to draw the bull past Brett.
 |
| Photo: Cory Arola |
After a suspenseful wait the ghosts had vanished for good. It was exciting, we were pumped to have had a chance. We climbed up to tree line enjoyed lunch with Torrey’s peak in site, and then began the long hike down.
 |
| Photo: Cory Arola |
 |
| Photo: Cory Arola |
We ended up away from both of our trucks and called for a ride from a buddy to pick us up and drive us three miles back to my truck. From there we went to pick up Brett’s truck a few miles away. It was a great opening weekend of wilderness hunting for elk with a bow. Can’t wait to get back out there again! This weekend I am headed on my annual fall turkey hunt. I wonder what that will bring……..
OUTTAKES!
 |
| He found us a camp spot! Photo: Cory Arola |
 |
| What happens to Brett when there are no elk... Photo: Cory Arola |
 |
| The Lucky Bunny! Photo: Cory Arola |
 |
| Wild strawberries we got to munch on! Photo: Cory Arola |
No comments:
Post a Comment