Stone_Ice_1
Well-known member
Day 14 - A couple days later I took my son out with me after work. I headed into the private ranch I had access to for the first time. It was a warm day but mostly I wanted to explore the ranch. The owner had given me a few tips and with my 8 year old with me we would see what we could find. We parked at the gate I was told to park at, there was a truck already there. I assume it was one of the individuals that had access to hunt spikes but am not sure as I never saw the person or the truck again. We hiked around a while, it was a pretty leisurely hike with my youngest. Mostly we walked the old ranch road in a ways, there was a drainage I had spotted on google earth that I wanted to get to but it was a ways in. I bugled a few times with no responses but then as we were next to an opening I saw a 5 point moving around about 120 yards from us. It was obvious he was looking for where those bugles were coming from. I bugled a few more times while we were behind a big rock and he couldn't see us. He kept wandering around but eventually left in the opposite direction without ever making a sound. He wasn't what I was interested in but it was fun to see one and be able to watch his reaction every time I made any noises. My son enjoyed watching it too.
The following weekend my kids all had fall sports so I attended all of that. We were able to get away on Sunday to get a duck hunt in and all 3 came along with me. We usually do this trip as an entire weekend but this year it would just have to be a day trip.
Day 15 - 3 days later I went back to the ranch by myself. It was a very warm day but I would just be hunting the evening. I parked at the same spot and started slowly walking down towards the creek that was at the bottom of the property. I didn't get 100 yards from the truck and spotted 2 deer moving through the trees. 100 yards later I spotted a bull that stood up out of his bed and was looking at me. He was a small raghorn and ran off to the left. Before long he came running back and a whole herd busted off with him. They had been bedded on a ridge that was about 200 yards from the truck. One of the elk that busted off with the herd I saw antler between the trees. It looked like it could have been a good one but I will never know. I followed the herd and they evnetually ran onto the neighboring property that I didn't have access to.
The following weekend my kids all had fall sports so I attended all of that. We were able to get away on Sunday to get a duck hunt in and all 3 came along with me. We usually do this trip as an entire weekend but this year it would just have to be a day trip.
Day 15 - 3 days later I went back to the ranch by myself. It was a very warm day but I would just be hunting the evening. I parked at the same spot and started slowly walking down towards the creek that was at the bottom of the property. I didn't get 100 yards from the truck and spotted 2 deer moving through the trees. 100 yards later I spotted a bull that stood up out of his bed and was looking at me. He was a small raghorn and ran off to the left. Before long he came running back and a whole herd busted off with him. They had been bedded on a ridge that was about 200 yards from the truck. One of the elk that busted off with the herd I saw antler between the trees. It looked like it could have been a good one but I will never know. I followed the herd and they evnetually ran onto the neighboring property that I didn't have access to.
