Oh so close!!!!

Igotitreelbad · 09-19-2008, 08:24 PM

I took a good friend of mine to a spot on the central Oregon coast last Thursday to try calling in a bull for him. Halfway through the day we were not seeing the activity and the sign I felt we should have been.

We hiked another 4 ridges up canyon and found the hangout! We counted around 15 to 20 beds on one ridge that still had heat in them. The ridgetop smelled like an open bottle of cow urine. We dropped about 250 yds further down the ridge. Needless to say we were grinning from ear to ear as we set up to start calling. After about ten minutes of cow talking we decided to try one bugle before heading out. About two seconds after our bugle, big boy screams back at us about 400 yds down the ridge. We traded bugles for about an hour as we slowly closed the distance on him. I raked on a tree when we were about 150 yds away and he charged for about ten seconds straight toward us. This bull sounded like a four pack a day smoker. He had the deepest growly bugle I have ever heard.

Now here comes the heartbreaker. Anyone who has ever hunted the coast has experienced this same fate. The wind shifts and blows straight over our backs right to the bull. He made a sound like he was clearing his nostrils and we never heard from him again. We slowly backed out and we will be back to try him again next week. Dissapointing? Yes, but it sure beat being at work and not getting to have that experience to share.

No Fences · 09-19-2008, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Igotitreelbad

I took a good friend of mine to a spot on the central Oregon coast last Thursday to try calling in a bull for him. Halfway through the day we were not seeing the activity and the sign I felt we should have been.

We hiked another 4 ridges up canyon and found the hangout! We counted around 15 to 20 beds on one ridge that still had heat in them. The ridgetop smelled like an open bottle of cow urine. We dropped about 250 yds further down the ridge. Needless to say we were grinning from ear to ear as we set up to start calling. After about ten minutes of cow talking we decided to try one bugle before heading out. About two seconds after our bugle, big boy screams back at us about 400 yds down the ridge. We traded bugles for about an hour as we slowly closed the distance on him. I raked on a tree when we were about 150 yds away and he charged for about ten seconds straight toward us. This bull sounded like a four pack a day smoker. He had the deepest growly bugle I have ever heard.

Now here comes the heartbreaker. Anyone who has ever hunted the coast has experienced this same fate. The wind shifts and blows straight over our backs right to the bull. He made a sound like he was clearing his nostrils and we never heard from him again. We slowly backed out and we will be back to try him again next week. Dissapointing? Yes, but it sure beat being at work and not getting to have that experience to share.

I wouldn't call it dissapointing so much as frustrating. Been there this season as well. GO get em.

blacktail hunter · 09-20-2008, 12:11 PM

don't you just hate that.

blacktail519 · 09-20-2008, 02:29 PM

Sounds like fun. Sometimes it just doesnt go the way we want it to unfortunately.

I would definately be back in the area. Once you have located the bull with a bugle, i would try putting the bugle away, and closing the distance silently/or with an occasional soft cow call to cover your noise.

Once you know your close, then set up and lure him to you with some cow calling.