Hunting Success X 2 elk & deer
Hunting Success X 2 :smile:
Well what can I say? I had a spike only tag for Mnt Emaliy and a Muzzleloader tag for a Doe.
I got to Lagrande Tuesday about 2:30 and met my father in law up on the mountain. He and his buddy were already scouting for the next mornings opener. We made our plans and headed back to the house.
Wednesday morning 5:45 finds me in my chosen spot. The wind is blowing quartering down hill in the direction I expected the elk to come from. Not much I can do but sit tight and hope for the best. 6:10 I decide to move uphill a bit where I can see the low spot in the 7-foot fence where the elk should cross. I can hear several bulls bugling off in the distance. I figured it must be hunters calling. Bulls shouldn’t be bugling this late in the season. I sat and watched a group of deer feeding in the clearing below including a respectable 4x4, His neck is swollen and he is busy chasing a doe, this goes on for about ½ hour. Fast forward to 7:15. Something catches my eye to my left. (which isn't the direction I expected the elk to come from) I look thru the low hanging limbs and I can see elk legs moving up the fence line about 150 yards away. I quickly work my way across the next draw and up on the next small ridge. Just as I poke my head up a cow spots me, I froze until she went on about her way. I watched several more cows and then a very respectable 6x5 moves thru, then another cow and then a 5x5 moves into the open and stops momentarily. Several more cows and that’s it. I can hear the bulls start bugling again, (note to self, It wasn’t hunters I heard). Several above me and one below me. Since I can hear one below I decide to stay put.
A few minute go by and another cow and a calf go by. 10 more minutes go by and I see three more elk coming. First a cow and then a calf and bring up the rear is a spike. I wait for him to step into the opening in the trees and. Well the rest is history. An hour and a half into the season and I have my spike.
The next morning finds me back in the same spot with my muzzleloader. ½ hour after daylight the deer are working their way into the clearing. I slowly work my down the tree line toward them. Bam and my season is over.
I had made plans with the rest of the group that once I was tagged out I was headed home to take care of business. And save a vacation day. The other 2 hunters live in town so they agreed. I was off the hill by 10:00 and head home by 11:00.
On a side note: I was odd to hear the bulls bugling so much this late in the year. On Wednesday evening hunt we worked our way around a hill where we could hear a bull calling. My father came from above and I worked my way up from the bottom. We did finally find the bull making all the noise. All I got to see was the backside and the tip of his horns over his butt as he made his way out of the county. My father in law got to see the massive 6x7.
Now the work begins.
[ 11-02-2003, 09:49 AM: Message edited by: Small Fry ]
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