September 20-21

Indian summer is here! After a previous day of snow in the high country (Sep. 13^th) the weather changed for the worst – if you’re hoping the elk would become more active. Sure the mornings are cool and frosty. The aspens are changing. But the good, cold weather with rain or snow we really need just isn’t happening. That’s the bad news.

The good news is the elk are most active in the mornings until noon it seems. I’ve had some success getting a bull to bugle in the early afternoon too. Some basins (valleys or canyons – whatever you’d like to call them) are really active while others are not. So the best strategy seems to be to hunt a new basin each day and only hunt the mornings. So it seems. I always wish I could have done more scouting. Then I would know the routine and could tell you which basin is hot on which day. However, elk can change their routine based on weather, the rut and pressure. But they always seem to pick up their routine again after a few days on the run.

Well, remember that really nice 6x6 from Week 2? I met up with him again in week 4. He had about 6 cows with him this time. It was in the evening and I was running out of time. I found him out in a meadow. Too far for a shot and no way to sneak closer. He wouldn’t budge either. He’d only look in my direction. That’s why I don’t like hunting in the evenings. I always run out of time.

I ran into this perfect place during my trek. It has to be the absolute best place in the world. You can’t beat the combination of aspen and pine, water and grasses in this area. Oh, and it lies on a North-facing slope so it’s nice and cool this time of year. Elk love it here. I busted a 6x7 out of here if you can believe it. Because I don’t have the pictures to prove it. He didn’t stick around long. I found him in his bed at on a little shelf. Right off a very nice game trail. I cow called, he bugled, and I saw him leave directly after that. I believe he got wind of me and that’s all he needed to leave. My biggest enemy is the wind. What I should have done was circle to his left BEFORE cow calling and giving away my position. But I didn’t know he was there. The place just looked too perfect so I cow called to check my theory. I was right but in the wrong position at the right time.

Couldn’t pass up this shot by the creek. If I could only capture the smell of the aspens this time of year I’d sell it at Wal-Mart and make a million bucks.

This weekend was nice. Too nice for hunting elk it seemed. Lots of walking but not much action. I’m actually seeing FEWER elk as the rut heats up. I can’t explain that except the weather is too nice and sunny. I’m not complaining though. A bad day chasing elk is better than a great day at work!