After a week of scouting I finally started finding bulls. One in particular isn't too difficult to get to. There are about 7-9 cows, 3-4 calfs, and 2 bulls in this "herd" I've been hunting. 1 bull is confirmed legal, 4x3, and the other I couldn't tell.
Opening day of muzzleloader (Saturday) I saw about 10 other muzzy hunters heading up the mountain, being loud, not wearing orange, and overall being retarded. I backed out and just kept an eye on how the elk respond. Sunday I didn't see them back in the same spot so I glassed another few elk across the valley, harder to get to but possible.
Monday I noticed the elk I was originally on were back. Same pattern as before. Put a stalk on them in the evening and tried to call them in with a cow call since I'm garbage with a bugle. Bulls ended up going crazy with bugles, it was sick, but they got hung up and didn't get close enough.
Today I set up early where they usually come out, but they ended up hitting the meadow higher on the mountain. I tried making a move but noticed a cow who was standing guard. When I was about 250 yards away she started to notice me. I tried going around some features on the mountain as cover but she was always looking right at me. Wind was in my favor, and if it swirled I stayed put. Legal bull was just chilling next to her not giving a damn about anything but his ladies.
Due to this I decided to start calling again, it did put her gaurd down a little. I think I got the Bulls attention but the cow barked, pretty sure it was an alarm call. I swear she was telling the bull to sit down and be quiet. They slowly grazed back to timber where i lost visual. As I was about to move in just under them to call, the wind went crazy. Possibly blew it but not sure.
Either way, how tf do I deal with this cow elk? I don't have a cow tag and I can't just point in the opposite direction and say "what's that?" And sneak by when she looks lol
Opening day of muzzleloader (Saturday) I saw about 10 other muzzy hunters heading up the mountain, being loud, not wearing orange, and overall being retarded. I backed out and just kept an eye on how the elk respond. Sunday I didn't see them back in the same spot so I glassed another few elk across the valley, harder to get to but possible.
Monday I noticed the elk I was originally on were back. Same pattern as before. Put a stalk on them in the evening and tried to call them in with a cow call since I'm garbage with a bugle. Bulls ended up going crazy with bugles, it was sick, but they got hung up and didn't get close enough.
Today I set up early where they usually come out, but they ended up hitting the meadow higher on the mountain. I tried making a move but noticed a cow who was standing guard. When I was about 250 yards away she started to notice me. I tried going around some features on the mountain as cover but she was always looking right at me. Wind was in my favor, and if it swirled I stayed put. Legal bull was just chilling next to her not giving a damn about anything but his ladies.
Due to this I decided to start calling again, it did put her gaurd down a little. I think I got the Bulls attention but the cow barked, pretty sure it was an alarm call. I swear she was telling the bull to sit down and be quiet. They slowly grazed back to timber where i lost visual. As I was about to move in just under them to call, the wind went crazy. Possibly blew it but not sure.
Either way, how tf do I deal with this cow elk? I don't have a cow tag and I can't just point in the opposite direction and say "what's that?" And sneak by when she looks lol
