Contributors to this thread:
There are only so many September’s . I look forward to everyone. This one was no exception. Here’s a short story and some pictures for you to enjoy on a good thread! Hunt
I see what you did there. Looking forward to this one
Summer goes to fast in the west . It was a terrible drought in Montana this year. We soaked up all the fishing we could. With Ridge in School now . Summer is even more special. I had him work half days with me on Wednesdays. After work we did a adventure. From Go karts to black bears !
Who doesn’t like flipping rocks and catching Crawdads?
Summer 3D is always fun with friends and Family. If mountain archery fest is near you . I encourage you to go . Great people doing great things for archery.
Hope to see one of these come September !! A replica of the new world record!! I had a increase in my heart rate when I first saw him standing in the ski slope . What Dreams are made of. Congrats Felix!!
Little more fishing. Something about a river smallmouth . Strong is a understatement !!
Lots of practice this summer. This boy is growing fast. Nebraska turkeys better watch out.
Soon it late August and antelope is on my mind.
Jace strikes first. We are off to a good start.
I was a perfect day for stalking antelope . Low clouds light rain and good wind. This buck was in a deep cut . He had 4 does above him. I busted the does but the buck stopped and looked back. Bad mistake.
Your living the good life! Keep the post coming.
Rural Montana is a special place!
To me Antelope is amazing table fair. Ridge was excited for some fresh meat and hanging with the boys in the garage.
Sept 1 came and so did COVID . Not now really. I was down and out for 5 days. The family headed to the lake. I stayed home in bed. No fun
After some rest I was coming around . I finished up my work project on the 10th. Best of Luck Maddie on your adventure!!
The bringer of death is on the road again
Ponies are loaded . Bring on elk season!!
Hope you guys like crooked pictures :)
First hunt was a bust. Not a bugle in 4 days. Dry woods and hot weather doesn’t helps . These guys really don’t help. Sept 14-17 . Crickets
Did find Beav’s headlight :)
A Hunt thread always equals a Good Thread!!
Sept 18th. One of my Favorite days. Crickets again. My Cousin Joey had to leave . His Dad was sick and He cut his trip short. We will try again soon.
Sept 19. New spot. Arrive in the dark. J did you hear that. A smile says yes. Bugles . That sweet sound of September . We head that way. Next 4 hours was close calls and broken hearts. Full draw multiple times. A deflected arrow. And shifty winds saved a few bulls lives. Ok I remember this.
Sept 20 . The Family now has COVID . Did I mention i was over this. I hunt mornings close to Home. Crickets again. I have a big circle of friends and it was the same for most. Very quiet for September 20th. Did have a few Bowsite cheese heads stop by for a visit . Always nice to put a face to the name.
Sept 21. Up at 3 am and in the road. Old spot about 1 hour from home. A few bugles in the dark and Nothing after daylight . Man this elk hunting is easy!!
Sept 22 . I take a break and Go fishing for the morning . I was a good break. Family is doing better and the Wife tells me go kill a elk!! Ok Honey!!
We discuss what to do. We look over years of notes and Talk to friends about other spots. We decide to try something different . We hit the road at 3 am Thursday the 23
Takes almost 8 hours to get to the trailhead. Then 4 hours in. We are both second guessing this
Soon on a break. Jace glasses some elk. All Of a sudden my feet are a little lighter.
The next 24 hours are pure chaos!! Screaming bulls all over. 10-12. Hundreds of bugles . Close calls and some Passed shots on smaller bulls . Darkness comes and we are all smiles for the next day.
The next morning we start off right where we left them. Soon Jace is at full draw . His arrow comes up short. Oh well let’s go after that group. We come close again and I end up missing also. Elk hunting will rattle a Man!
Soon as the weekend grows closer the people show up and the elk shut up. Funny how that works. We grind on.
All quiet Saturday and Sunday . Long days start to set in. I take a dip in the creek midday . Cold as cold Gets. But man did it feel good. We hike out defeated.
Home late Sunday night. Back to the drawing board. Make a plan for the week. Monday take care of work and House chores. And maybe a little fishing . Tuesday hit the road for another round. Weather is cooling down. That’s a good thing .
Aw hell, let’s see some sideways elk pics. I mean dead elk on the ground ! :-)
9-28. Leave the house at 3. At trailhead at 6:30. Packs on and head down. Walking in with a single layer. By 10 we make camp and the weather is changing fast.
Your short and sweet daily highlight paragraphs are a nice way to go. I just need to take better notes during the hunt so I could follow your lead. Good stuff.
As the snow picks up we keep adding layers. Crazy how fast the weather can change and the hunting . I was bugling every half hour . Soon a bugle Breaks the wind and snow. Soon I see him coming down the hill. I draw as he closes . He walks right past my opening . Stops with a small hole behind the shoulder . Whack. I hit a tree. Dam it Hunt
He whirls out and I stop him with a nervous bark. Never give Hunt 2 shots .
He whirls out and I stop him with a nervous bark. Never give Hunt 2 shots .
Man this elk hunting is Easy:)
Only takes one!! Crazy how Fast things change . From first bugle to Dead in 5 minutes .
We work up the meat and shuffle it down the mountain towards camp. A fire and a whiskey cap off a nice day.
We have another visitor in camp tonight .
Congrats! I was convinced that all of the elk in western Montana had lost their voices this year!
Old stand by for Dinner tonight .
This pond always has water. You can see the water lines on the rock. Dry with grass growing in it this year.
Great stuff as usual. Congrats!
That night was cold. Hard to get out of the tent. That’s until a bugle rolls out. Long story short . Cam made a rookie mistake and Set up behind the cover . I called the bull into 40 and he busted Cam trying to get a shot. That look when Your dream bull runs off.
After that we try for another but no takers. We pack up the first load and start the grind out.
It was a long day. Worth every step.
Best of luck to all this fall !! Thanks for Following along. Hunt
Always enjoy your adventures and write up! Thanks for sharing
Another great, concise, entertaining report....thanks & congrats!
Too much fun! Congrats Hunt!
Great recap!
You never disappoint, Hunter!
Great season, thanks for sharing. Hard work usually pays off and it did! Congrats.
Thanks for sharing
Looks like lots of great memories with family and friends
Wrong. It’s a GREAT thread!
You are living the dream. Such great memories made
You definitely earned that one! Congrats on a great adventure.
You are living right! Excellent job all the way around! Congratulations on another awesome summer and early fall!
Excellent thread as always Hunt! Congrats!
Great thread hunt and congrats a fine bull!
Great recap Hunt congrats!
Love the thread and photos, thank you.
Was that a piece of jerky in a tub of peanut butter or humus?
Great season and congrats on the success! Thanks for sharing and I love seeing the annual growth in Ridge! Great that you include him in so much!
Team Hammer, making Bowsite great again! LOL
Thanks for sharing your hunts they never disappoint. I’ll be looking forward to the next deer installment! Good Job
Kelly
Thank you for the write up !
Ha Ha, Huntman that's a great season there! I love how in nearly every photo you are smiling like you mean it! Awesome!
P.S. That's one huge looking Smallmouth!
ElkNut
Yep, "elk hunting is easy", :):):):):):):):):):):):):):) especially when a bull is finely on the ground; then all of the prior pain seems to evaporate from one's mind. Nicely done Hunt.
my best, Paul
Great thread, Hunter! It was truly an honor to spend an evening with you this summer. Wife and I still talk about the excellent dinner you made!
Good stuff Hunt! Congratulations on another great year.
Lou it was a great evening of conversion and Laughter. You guys are welcome anytime!!
Great recap and awesome pics as always Hunt! Congrats again!!
You nailed it…Definitely A GOOD THREAD! Congrats, Hunt.
Any residual effects from your bout with the virus?
I had a shitty cough for a few weeks. Back to 100 percent now.
I need to head up there for the smallie fishing…. Love smallmouth bass!
Great recap of the season so far. The thing that sticks out to me…Ridge is an immensely lucky boy. To have a dad that is in a position to raise him up right, in the right places doing things that even some adults dont get to do or experience, its truly a blessing. And it isn't just that you’ve forged your path to not only be able to live doing the things you get to do, but the fact that you MAKE the time to share it with others, especially your son, its a special thing. To take him to work for half a day and then follow that up with some kind of adventure every week, its amazing. In a day and age where its pretty easy to see on a daily basis the decline of what this country has to offer, you are giving the best of what it has to offer to your son. Pretty special to see. Makes me want to be an even better Dad to my girls. Thanks….
Never doubted it for a minute, maybe a few seconds tho..:) Great job and thanks for sharing. Kevin
Great bull and excellent story as always!!! John
Now THAT is a good thread to start the day! Walking, talking proof that persistence and perseverance pay off! Congrats on a fine season Hunt! As always...thanks for sharing!
Great story and congrats! Love your yearly threads
Year In--Year Out Hunt's elk threads!!
Thanks for taking us along,
Robb
Thanks for this my friend good job, good read, good bull.
Great trip and pics! Sounds like it was a blast.
Always enjoy your recaps Hunt! Good stuff! Best to you brother.
Wow! Hard work pays off! Great hunts!
It's real hunting, that's why we like it! Congrats on a helluva season so far bud, keep rollin!
Good stuff H. You're a great father, husband and friend. Been a grind in MT this year for sure but you got it done. Thanks for the post, feels like old times on the bowsite today. HAMMERTIME
Congratulations on a great hunt and summer with the family.
Very cool. Congratulations
Awesome stuff as usual Hunt! Congrats buddy, loved every minute of it!
A GREAT thread, outstanding all the way around!
Thanks for sharing it with us.
Loved it! Congrats on all your great adventures.
Just to let everyone know....I no longer like anyone that had an elk tag this year. :)
We expect no less from you Hunter! A dedicated bringer of nature's protein. Another Bowsite classic. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks again for the share bud. Great stories as usual. Heck of a shot on that bull too. Right where you want em! Congrats!
Way to go Hunt, congrats on a nice month. A great write up, like normal!
Great thread Hunt!! I need that headlamp back. Congrats buddy and thanks for sharing.
Wrong title....A GREAT THREAD would be more appropriate. Thanks again for everything you share and CONGRATS! Jeff
Not many people more aptly named. Congrats on living up to it again and wringing out everything a season and life has to offer!!
A bit unnerving to see how time flies past us. Seemed very recently that one of your "over the shoulder" selfies had a little boy snuggled in a backpack.
Good stuff brother. Thanks for posting. LIVING!
Hunt,
Thanks for taking to the time to do the thread! Great job and congrats on another dead bull.
I look forward to your threads every year - this one died not disappoint! Great attitude when the going got tough and three persistence to stick with it pays off again. Congratulations!
ir was a great story......thanks for the good read
Hunt- you are definitely “doing it right” and “living the dream!” Nice to see you spending quality time with and making your family a priority! KUDOS to you Dad! And THANKS for sharing!
Just curious what part of Montana you come from and where you hunt? Some gorgeous country out there! Been out there one time........
Very nice recap Hunt! Congrats on a great bull.
Congrats on the bull and thanks for the story!
Great work HUNT, thanks for sharing!
I'd say the thread title is appropriate!
First Hunt, glad you and the family kicked the covid bug. Second people like you are what make bowsite great! Congrats on your animals and all your doing with Ridge! Thanks
Rut Nut. I live in the Bitteroot valley south of Missoula about 20 miles. Thanks guys for all the nice comments. Bring on deer season. Best of luck to all!! Hunt
Outstanding, simply outstanding!!!!!!!! Always catch myself smiling as I read your threads.
Way to stay with it Hunt! Pure predator. I wish I could have been around this year to help!
Always an excellent read!
I love the rounded out year long fishing and hunting. I hope to do more fishing the remainder of 2021 and winter of 2022. Salmon are just starting to run. And always love winter steelhead fishing.
A great thread...thanks Hunt!
Clearly I need to do a season or two with some real killers.........
Saved this one for when I could sit down, relax, and enjoy the whole story.
Never a disappointment, Hunt....a GREAT thread as always!
Awesome stuff as always. Congrats brother.
You're living life man! Thanks for sharing!
Always an adventure following Hunts adventures!! As always, Thanks for sharing!!
Always an adventure following Hunts adventures!! As always, Thanks for sharing!!
Always an adventure following Hunts adventures!! As always, Thanks for sharing!!
Congratulations Hunter! Great thread!
Mike
Truly A good thread! Thanks for sharing Hunt
Another top notch Hunt thread.
Yup. Hunt was named appropriately.
I knew this one would resurface!