Mine is now in the Veterans home......no more hunting with him--dang it.
Enjoy your hunt and thanks for sharing with us.
Good luck, Robb
We ventured into a different area in the late morning and found some great sign at a couple of dirt tanks. It's been warm and dry for a few days now so they just started to hit the water pretty decent.
Went back to the wallow and someone had set up a blind right next to my pop-up and put a camera right next to mine. He had beaten us there and had no intentions of leaving so we packed everything up and hit the road. Insert annoyed face here. We hit another drinker tank after a bit of a drive. There we were harassed by two guys driving around in a ranger bugling away and talking for most of the evening hunt. We did hear a bull bugling and coming to water as it was dark. We packed up and moved out before he got there.
Off to the new area this morning. Going to plan to sit water unless we get there and have a bunch of bugling. It's early yet and they are just getting started.
Thanks for the kind words Rob. Dad taught me everything I know. He is a great man.
Best of luck. I hope you kill the biggest bull there is in AZ.
So on the way back in town ran into a nice young man and his father that I know from the archery club. The son had killed a magnificent 6x7 last night. Green scored right at 370. Congrats Parker! Now I'm more pumped then I already was. Going to down a sandwich and get back to the blind!
Finally at about 7:30am we heard a bugle from behind us, just like yesterday. It sounded half mile away or so, so we decided that we'd had enough sitting and got out to pursue. He wasn't bugling much, but enough that we could keep tabs on his direction and get the wind right. When we figured we were within 100-150 yards we decided to try our luck and cow calling him in. Ron stayed back to call and I snuck another 25-30 yards closer and found a shady spot. When Ron let out the first peep, all Hell broke loose. Elk started running everywhere! We hadn't realized the bull had a bunch of cows with him. Not sure if they just didn't like the call, if the lead cow didn't want to have anything to do with another girl, or if the wind shifted at just the right time. I saw 10 or so cows go trotting away from me and four came straight at me to about 20 yards. I could hear the bull glunking in the thick trees still and running around. Quickly I screamed a short bugle with chuckles hoping the bull would fight for the ladies that came my way. He wasn't having any of it. I saw him crest out on a small hill following the big group of cows. He was an average 6 point that I would've passed on anyway, so that made me feel a little better.
At least for the first time in three days I felt like I was actually elk hunting! It was nice to see some elk and have some excitement! After getting back to the truck we went back to one of the spots I had scouted all summer to pull a trail cam (if there still was one)! I had both a cam and a tree stand up and I was fairly concerned that I might find nothing, but very pleased when we got there and found everything intact. This had been my priority location prior to me getting good pics at the wallow. I had some real nice Bulls hitting it regularly but I knew that would change with the rut starting and the influx of hunters opening weekend. When I looked at the pictures I found several Bulls still actively using the water as well as a bunch of cows. I decided this place would still be in the running for this week. Especially after seeing the 6x8 bull that was there at 11:00am on opening day just 20 yards from my tree stand! Lol.
Going to finish up one more evening at our stock tank and if nothing comes in, we're moving on. The Bulls have been bugling a little better in the higher elevations. With some of the weekend hunters going home, I might head up higher this week to see what we can do. If not, it's on to the tree stand.
The pic is of that bull on September 1st as I haven't yet downloaded the recent pic.
Just finalized an elk trip with my older brother.....set them up and go!
Mark
Right at 6:45 we heard our first bugle. I said, he'd better hurry because I've got about 15 minutes of shooting light left. A few other Bulls sounded off too and then one closer to us, right behind the dam of the tank. I got ready. Darkeness was approaching fast! Next thing you know, out pops the head of both the bull and a cow. They were coming in cautious. After deciding that all was good here they come right down to the water, joined by a second cow. Analyzing him as he drank. He was a beautiful 6x6 with real nice fronts, beams, and spread. But he was real short on his back end. I guessed him at just under 300 but it was tough to get a great read on him in the low light. So there he was at 38 yards. Decision time. I sighed, looked at Ron and said, "I'm passing". Just then the bull moved up the bank turned broadside and hit a hard and loud bugle at us! Ron took out the video camera at that point in an attempt to capture some of this. Much too dark for the camera. At least we got the audio of a second bugle before he disappeared. Awesome awesome night. I wouldn't have passed that bull on day 10, but I have 11 more days to hunt.
It was about then that I received a text from my friend Gary who was here hunting from Washington with his son Ryan. They had a bull down in an area closed to motor vehicle traffic. I told him we'd be there soon. We didn't wait to long until Gary and Ryan came off the trail riding their bikes with a quarter each. These guys are hard core! Ryan had made a great shot on a 5x6 bull this morning after the rain. A ceremonial sip of Yukon Jack and a beer and we were all putting on packs and going back for two more quarters, head, and trim meat.
Tomorrow I'm going to let this spot rest and head up higher in elevation hoping we'll hear more bugling action. I'm ready to take the game to them instead of waiting for them to bring it to us.
For the evening I decided to sit water at a treestand I had set up last month. This was the same place with the 6x8 bull off my cam on opening day (pictured above). I kind of abandoned this place earlier in the week because the area had too many other hunters. I figured we might have it to ourselves during the middle of the week. We got in stand by 3:00. Once I got up there I was kicking myself for not hunting here the past couple of days. I had a great view of 100-150 yards all around me and only a 25 yard shot to the water. Then I could see a good storm heading our way. At the first it was a light rain so no big deal. Then came the downpour mixed with some lightning. I lowered my bow down and got off the 16 foot lightning rod I had been sitting in. I found some cover on the ground where I still had a good shot at the water. After 20 min or so it was done, so back up I went! Then came the second wave and the third wave. Each time it was the same: duck into cover, wait it out, then climb back up. And me with my rain jacket in the truck! Afterwards a beautiful double rainbow came out.
As it approached darkness my confidence got higher and higher. Until it was just about dark and I heard my first bugle a long ways away. Shortly after I turned to look behind my stand and came face to face with a 5x5 bull that had caught my movement. I didn't realize till later that I was silhouetted against the moon from his angle. He turned and slowly walked away, not quite sure what I was.
Got back to the truck wet and freezing cold! It was great to see a bull coming in though. Ron packed up and headed home right after the hunt. I'll be on my own for the day and then my buddy Kirk will be up to take the next shift. Thanks to Ron for hunting the first five days with me. We had a blast despite the slow hunting.
Getting set up and off this morning was nothing short of challenging. It took quite a while for us to get the horses ready and packed. Kirk would be riding Doc, who belonged to a friend of his. He said he'd feel better about that choice because he didn't know Doc all that well and what his temperament was like. I hopped up on Bentley, an older paint who was fairly mild mannered. Should've known it was going to be rough from the start as Doc threw a fit when Kirk tried to mount. After a few attempts, he was just about on when Doc went bizerk and Kirk flew off and then got stomped in the stomach. I was sure we might be E.R. Bound but Kirk said he was alright after a few choice phrases and re-adjusted the saddle. Next try worked fine and we were off. We were surprised that we didn't hear a single bugle during this whole ordeal.
Finally after about two miles we heard a couple of bugles. We closed the distance a bit and then dismounted. Kirk stayed with the horses and I planned my approach. I soon discovered those elk (three Bulls from what I could tell) were moving way faster than my slow stalk. I had to bump it up several notches to gain on them. I was practically running when I saw the first elk butt. The head was in the trees so I wasn't sure what kind of elk it was. Then I heard the larger sounding bull off to this one's west. I moved forward a few steps and positioned myself in the pines with a good shooting lane or two in from of me and made a mew with my diaphragm call. He screamed back instantly and I could hear him coming. As he approached maybe 75 yards, I got a good look at him and could tell he was a shooter. A nice, wide, even six with whale tails. I could see he was angling toward the shooting lane on my right so I started ranging objects. It looked like he'd come in to 40 yards or so at least. He paused once and I hit him one more time with a cow call. He chuckled and continued! Just as I was about to draw, he paused and started looking for this cow. He was now at 50 yards but behind some brush with no clear shot. I decided to shut up and let him come find me. He waited for a few minutes, then turned and walked away. Frantically I called again and he stopped and turned with a sapling covering the majority of his body at 60 yards. No shot! For the next 30-45 minutes I tried to get back on him. At one point he was close enough that I saw him again, pushing a cow and a calf. I figured a challenge bugle might turn him so I blasted the bugle. Next thing I know he's running his cows out of Dodge! Exhausted, defeated, and invigorated at the same time, I made the treck back to the horses.
It had been a gorgeous day! I came dang close and got one Hell of a show in the process. Back into my treestand tonight. Hoping that the cool dry weather. Rings some Bulls and even my 6x8 in.
I got in fairly close to the largest sounding bull (there were three bugling in the area) and gave a cow call. He immediately screamed back at me and I called again. The next bugle was closer and I thought this was it! Then he turned and walked away. What the heck? He was now across a small canyon from me. I decided it was time to forget about the calling and go kill that bull. I made my way down the canyon and half way up the other side when he let loose again. He sounded close! Definitely under 100 yards at the top. I slowly climbed up and caught him running at about 60 yards. He wasn't running from me but chasing his approximately 20 cows around (so that's why?). Another nice 6x6 that I would shoot in a minute if I could. I eased ever closer to where he disappeared into the trees and then I caught movement. A cow bedded down 50 yards or so away. Then I saw another below me and another to my left. I was smack in the middle of their beds. I heard a commotion and looked up to see some cows heading my way. They came through an opening at 40 yards and I saw antlers coming after them. I readied myself to draw but then noticed that this WASN'T the herd bull, but a small 5x5 following them. I guess he wasn't much of a threat. They parallel me at about 30-40 yards heading along the side of the canyon. I decided I'd have to get a few steps closer to the edge in case the larger bull followed. Two steps was all it took and the forest erupted with the sound of hooves and broken branches. The bull or a cow near him had spotted me and they were gone in a flash! Dang! Another close call with a good bull. It was a long ride back in and Kirk loaded up and left for home.
I stopped by another dirt tank later in the morning and found it tore up with elk sign. It was very fresh like they were just there. I'm adding this one to my list for the near future.
I talked with Bowsiter Tejas tonight and he asked if I had been out to a particular place he knows well. I told him that I hadn't as it is an extra long journey but with tomorrow being Sunday and the woods being packed, it may be a good idea.
I rushed home and caught a high stakes board game with the fam. It's nice to have them around, but I wasn't about to let them win!
My wife Maree said she wanted to go out with me in the morning but she didn't want to be too late getting back. She had to go home today as she worked tomorrow. I told her I could have her back by 10am or so and she agreed. Sleep is about Maree's favorite thing in the world, so 3 am was a tough one on her but she did it. We made the 90 minute journey out the spot of the day. This area is wide open grasslands with a few wooded ridges. Cover is sparse, but you can glass in a lot of places and see the elk way out there. The temp dropped this morning too. It was 37 degrees and a little chilly for both of us. I assured Maree she would warm up as we walked.
We hadn't gone 1/2 mile when I looked out and saw elky shapes in the open. I threw up the binoculars and confirmed we had elk (and a lot of them). I counted 18 cows within my view and then I saw a nice 6x6 working them our direction. Then I saw more cows and another smaller 6x6 in the same area. The elk we're heading toward our direction but on a diagonal that would put them out of range. With limited cover, it was real tough but I knew we had to get to our east and quick of we wanted an opportunity. We began slowly making our way using and tree or shrub we could find for cover. When we had moved maybe 75 yards or so I caught movement and saw the larger bull heading over the ridge with his cows. We weren't quick enough. The smaller bull, however, was still milling around and his cows were out in the flat. Since it was day ten and I had Maree there with me, I knew I would gladly take this second bull if I could get the chance.
We started crawling as we were out of cover. The cows were about 300 yards out and the bull was out of our sight at this time. We crawled about 100 yards before making the next little set of trees. I ranged the cows at 196 yards at this point and there was no getting closer without crawling through the open grass. I had to hope they would feed much closer. Then I saw the bull. He was fed up with the cows lagging behind and ran down and hooked them up our direction. These elk took the same path as the first ones and it was going to be out of range. What could I do?? I cow called and got the Bulls attention. He looked our direction and started to come straight at us. I last ranged him at 87 yards and closing and had the bush in front of him at 58 yards. My plan was to take him when he got to that point If not closer. I just had a feeling this was going to happen!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvQQGv-yLyU
writer's Link
Congrats
Good luck, Robb
Absolutely TD. The icing on the cake.
Awesome that your Wife got to witness your bowkill!
Best of Luck, Jeff
Isn't it about time for you to come back home BowmanMD?
