Closest I've been yet

[sayitfast]

I just got in from an evening hunt over at Camp Mcgregor in the Saddle Mtn. unit. It was getting late with only about 1.5 hours of legal light left. My brother spotted a few elk on a clearcut about 250 yards away. Upon closer inspection of the clearcut we discovered a herd of about 25. The bull we glassed was at least a 5x5 maybe 6x5. We enlisted help from 2 other bow hunters and hatched our plan. They went up the backside to where the elk were on the clearcut and my brother and I went a half mile over, by road, and then walked in above them in hopes they would get pushed our way. It worked, sort of. A cow with calf busted the other 2 hunters and sent the herd up into the treeline where we were at. We were half way down to where they would have been when branches started breaking. We dove for cover inside the treeline and waited for them to come. Darkness was coming but it was still legal shooting time so I set up with the faded sunset in the background providing a perfect contrast to see the elk's silhouette. The darkness inside the trees made it hard to see anything. Branches were breaking and hooves were thumping all around us. I heard one so close I thought it was going to come straight at me and run me over. The amazing thing is I think they winded us and were able to steer clear of us with great precision. They hugged the interior of the trees or stayed about 15 yards out in the reprod. After all the noise ceased we realized they outsmarted us. With all the noise and the close proximity I would have expected to at least see a few of them pass by but we never seen one, not one! I didn't get a kill, heck, I didn't even draw my bow, but man that's what I call a great hunt. I'll be going back after them on Monday. They have started bugling in this area for the first time so it looks like the beginning of the rut is on and it should just get better. This is my first time bow hunting so I am keeping my expectations realistic that I may not get one this year but I am learning alot and the season isn't over yet.

[Beamerfish]

Close encounter of the elk kind - what bow hunting is all about.

[Hazelnut]

Good fun! Thats what keeps us coming back, or in my case wishing to go. I haven't even made it out yet this season. So, thanks for the boost to get going. Get bloody lucky, cheers.