First Bugle

First Bugle!

Troublesome Basin

September 16^th, 2006

I hiked and hiked and hiked some more. Checking out every creek on the map, especially those with no name or NOT marked on the map. I hit the lower portion of the Troublesome. Off Road 21 which turns into 112 – the Cabin Creek road. It’s a good tour of the lower parts of the Troublesome Basin. You can pick it up from Highway 40 near Parshall or Hwy 125 northwest of Granby. When the weather turns bad the elk tend to take that walk in a southerly direction. And with muzzleloader season nearing its completion the elk were further pushed away from their routine creek valleys. That’s why I hit the lower elevations. Not that the elk would mind the wind and snow as much as I would.

Like I said, I hiked a lot. Tackling the creek valleys one by one. I’d start in the middle because that’s where it usually gets good. Then hike to the top where the creek starts. I let the elk sign dictate where I went next. One out of every five creek valleys had either fresh sign or I heard something. Fresh sign near the creek prompted me to take a slow walk along the nearby ridges in hopes of hearing or seeing some bedded elk. It was a VERY windy day but that actually helped. The elk wouldn’t hear me stumbling and breaking every stick in the woods. And a strong wind with snow falling made it easy to know which way the wind was blowing. My stink would be swiftly blown away. The wind wasn’t so strong in the trees – where the elk would be. Around 1pm I “thought” I heard a bugle near the top of a creek valley. I walked in that direction until I thought I was in the right place. It was clear the elk had been there. Very fresh sign all around. But no elk. I didn’t do any calling. Not yet. I wanted the elk to make the first move. So I would have the advantage of knowing where they were. I didn’t want to give away my position yet.

Around 5pm I heard it. I was nearing the top of yet another creek valley. That was definitely a bugle! I picked up my pace trying to be as quiet as possible. It didn’t matter; the elk would never hear me with this wind. I trudged through the high grass in the creek valley. Going from tree to tree. The area was very lush and perfect. Big pines mixed with aspens. I kept heading up the valley. By now I had lost the creek as it probably started underground. Another bugle and I should have been seeing the elk by now. I stopped to look for a patch of tan or dark brown through the trees. Then I noticed a spike grazing near the top of a small opening. He had just velvet stubs on his head. The bull must of not considered him much of a threat so he got to stay. Then I saw another cow and a calf. The bull, a first year 6x6 was raking a tree. Actually two pines were getting punished by his antlers. This was a rare position for me. I had the jump on the elk and they didn’t know I was there. I crept forward behind an old dead tree that was half standing. I could circle and take advantage of the wind. I could try calling him down to me. I could see if they would feed closer in my direction.

The bull was rutting pretty hard. Checking the air with the flapping of his tongue to see if any of his cows were ready. He would stop and nibble on short grasses at the base of fallen logs. He’d systematically check each cow. He even showed his antlers to the stubby spike who quickly moved away. Then I saw a young 3x3 walk past a cow in the trees behind him. Like he actually had a chance at breeding this year. I stopped to take a look behind me considering my route that would take me up and around. I noticed some dark legs walking through the trees on the hill behind me. Another bull! He was a 4x4 and I was in his path. The wind quickly gave me away. I didn’t expect company from that direction. He quickly walked up and over the hill. Lucky for me he didn’t spook the rest. They couldn’t have heard or seen him in this weather. The satellites were beginning to swarm. But these were small satellites – or were they the right size for this area where elk don’t live very long. It told me the peak of the rut was still a couple weeks off. The cows weren’t receptive and a young bull was in charge. Maybe it was the cool weather that triggered a bit more rutting activity. Maybe these were the players for this year’s rut. A small 6x6 and 3x3 and a curious 4x4. Every area is different. I still have hopes the big bulls will get in the game soon.

Busted!

As I back away the way I came to circle around the bull something happened. Either the shifty wind gave me away or there were too many eyes and one pair caught my movement. I don’t know. The next time I was able to look up at the elk the lead cow was on to me. And her calf too! They had dead locked their eyes on my position. Their radar was locked on to me. I didn’t move. I couldn’t call or should I? Ears go back, nose sticks high into the air trying to catch my scent. The elk look nervous. Not good! And just like that the lead cow took her herd up and over the ridge into the next creek valley. Or maybe two. In a matter of a few seconds I was alone again. It was 6pm now. Too late to chase spooky elk. Just enough time to find the truck in the eventual dark.

Funny thing happened on my way back to the truck. I was in some scattered trees walking and noticed movement up ahead. A 5x5!!! He had his nose to the ground sniffing like a hound dog. He was on to something. He followed it like in a straight line in a slow trot. And just like that he was gone too. Headed in the direction of the creek valley I just came from. He had a better chance catching up with the herd than I did.

Good news is things are heating up in this part of Colorado. A little bugling, satellites gathering, elk coming together in their big event of the year. It’s good to see. Though things were slow it felt like. Probably because of the extreme change in weather. I was just glad to see some elk and hear some bugling.

I had to work the previous weekend which is why there is no virtual elk hunt for September 9-10. One more weekend to go in Archery season then nearly 3 weeks after that 1^st rifle season begins. If you get a chance to get out to elk country during the last week of September or the first week of October you won’t be disappointed. In Colorado there is no hunting season at that time so the elk can relax and you’ll be able to find them and hear them much easier. It may be the best kept secret in Colorado. We’re conditioned to only getting out when there is a hunting season. But in between seasons can be very productive if you are scouting.

Here are some photos that deserve an honorable mention:

Thanks to the wind and the willows I was able to sneak close enough to this TALL spike. Of course he still saw me and left. But not before I zoomed in on him bedded.

Actually his evil twin spooked first. Where did he come from? I didn’t see him until it was too late. That’s what I get playing cat and mouse with elk in the willows.

Fresh sign. Despite the green, lush creek valleys the elk’s diet is drying up. I hit the brakes when I found this fresh sign. Didn’t find the elk, however.

This is what I’m talking about! Very fresh trail sign about halfway up this creek valley. I thought for sure I would find elk here.

I found more deer than elk. That’s the Troublesome for you. It’s packed full of deer. I must have seen over 20 deer.

Coyotes picked this elk clean this past winter or spring.

Sorry, private land bull with a lot of cows. Ranchers may not consider themselves lucky to have and elk problem. Neither do I. I wish I could have found this on public land. He’s a much bigger bull. Good luck getting past all those cows. One wrong move and they would plow a trail through the woods like a freight train and who knows where they would stop.