Archery 2003 Week 3

September 14th

As luck would have it the weather was going to get even more interesting. Snow and much cooler temperatures were in the forecast for Saturday. That made me rethink my equipment list (again). I brought all my cold weather gear. I really needed better boots. What I had just got wet (again). I’m starting to worry. I’m not hearing hardly any bugling compared to last year. My theory is that every other year in Colorado is a great year for elk. This year isn’t one of them but it was perfect for the elk. They ate like kings since March. The rains and heavy snows made for the best elk food in many years. However, when is the rut going to really get going?

Check out these scenic photos I took. I decided to hunt up high. All above 9800 feet up. I hunted a bit higher this week since I didn’t see much sign down low (maybe I went too low during my scouting trip midweek). That’s my other theory. That the big bulls will gather their cows, head for lower terrain to avoid all the hunters who hunt up high. There’s no real evidence behind it. That’s why it’s still only a theory.

If you look close the mountain peak is there among the clouds as the storm began to break up. It snowed (very wet) until late afternoon. Last night was clear (and cold) with a heavy frost. That ought to convince the aspens to change colors!

Here is a photo of what elk heaven looks like. Only problem is the elk weren’t cooperating. I walked long and hard but didn’t see any elk Saturday, September 13^th. One problem I had was I didn’t stay put long enough to give my calling a chance to attract a curious young bull. The elk were there. I found plenty of evidence and it was all fresh. The wind was blowing the wrong way all day and I couldn’t get a break.

After an uneventful evening hunt I packed up and headed a little lower to another place I knew. Things got better. However, I’m convinced the (really) big bulls are still up high. The frost should have convinced the grasses to start going dormant for the long winter ahead. That should help convince the elk to move to the lower valleys. Snow is the only thing (besides the lure of cow elk) that really convinces big bulls to leave their upper homes for lower elevation.

One point I wanted to make about terrain. Find a fort! Find a place that looks absolutely impenetrable. That’s where big elk seem to live. They even gather a few cows up there too. I’m talking about steep hills, thick forests with nearby water. That could be a tall, remote peak. That could also be a high, long ridge covered in pine (with small meadows you can’t see on any map). I think the same thing every Easterner thinks when they come to hunt elk in Colorado. Where in the world am I going to find elk in this HUGE area? You could walk continuously for your whole hunting trip and not cover it all. I know how you feel. That’s why I really concentrate on certain places. Find the best elk habitat and you’ll find elk. But that’s a whole different topic. Let’s get back to the hunt.

Sunday is clear and cold to start. I park myself up high where I can overlook some land. The wind is STILL blowing in the wrong direction for where I want to go. This is as close to this young 6x6 as I will get. He was all over the valley. Chasing cows and bugling. Again, I find myself in a situation where I can’t do anything. I can’t go down there after him. I can’t call him to me. I can’t get past the cows to get to him. I try some things but he’s just too fast. He won’t stay still long enough. His cows eventually take him further away from me.

I decide to call it a day since I’m tired, still wet from yesterday, cold and a little hungry too. I can never seem to bring enough. I need a packhorse! On my way out I hear some cows talking in this gentle rocky valley. I think to myself that sounds exactly like a Primos Hyper Lip or Hoochie Mamma cow call. Probably some other hunters. But then I see a spike running. Hmmm… this could be interesting. My cow calls in return didn’t have any impact. I just mimic what the other cows are doing. Turns out the spike was running from an upset 6x6! He’s a fine looking bull too. There were several small bulls in this bunch. Lots of spikes (but this area has a 4 point restriction) in this group just trying to hang out with their mother. I peak over the rise and got this photo.

The area is only sparsely wooded so I sneak from shadow to shadow. It’s still early (9:30am) and the sun is bright (compared to yesterday). This young bull will be a fine 5x5 next year if everything is right. I like to think I let him go but the reality is he’s better than I am and I never get a shot. I’m not sure why this 4x4 was with the group of spikes. Unless he was trying to sneak a cow away from the 6x6.

Every elk moves out of this bull’s way! He’s pretty aggressive and a big bull.

As the bull came over the hill I got some good photos. I was again too far away (I have a 10x optical zoom on my Olympus C-700 digital camera). The wind was all wrong and I had nowhere to hide from all those pairs of eyes. Those are my excuses. I really need to stake out a nice place, sit and call elk to me. But with the excitement of the rut who can sit still when you could chase the elk and hopefully get lucky?

The bull continues to make sure the young bulls are far enough away.

He’s a fine bull and if he weren’t so far away I might consider this shot. However, it’s not the best angle for me. I won’t even pull the string back unless the shot looks perfect.

This is as good as it gets for me today. The sun is so bright even the bull has to squint. Not a bad shot but darn those plants for getting in my way. Such is life. Soon after this photo the bull either caught wind of me, saw me move or another elk spooked. They all left for the next county. Chances are I will never see him again. Oh, it’s going to be a long ride home today!

I was just lucky on Sunday. I put myself on an overlook so I could hear and see over a greater distance. I sure didn’t want to walk the whole thing. Sometimes being up high and spotting the elk or hearing them will help narrow down your search. I have two more weekends to go. I’m just hoping the peak of the rut begins soon. The next two weeks are bound to be good. They have to be. Conditions are just too perfect.