FrontRangeDude
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100% agree!
Lost in the Woods - Mental recharge season
- Thread starter Lostinthewoods
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We got some rain last night and more coming today. I am getting to experience how much it likes to hold on to your boots and layer up as you walk!
That being said - I got into some elk last night. I had the herd bull at 10 yards in some tall grass, but could only make out his head. His cows were all around me too and it was awesome.
The way they communicate reminds me of public land turkeys. Very silent and low level calls.
Weak bugles (if any), moans, light barks, etc.
The only time they really bugle is if the herd gets busted up.
Back at it today!
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Hello from mud country.
Put some elk to bed this morning in some willows. I backed out and will try to get in on them tight this evening.
Almost got it done last night, but the wind swirled on me last minute.
Put some elk to bed this morning in some willows. I backed out and will try to get in on them tight this evening.
Almost got it done last night, but the wind swirled on me last minute.
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This morning is more what I’ve been looking for.
It was the first morning we had a little chilly bite and there was a lot of fog down in the bottoms.
Bulls were lighting off light crazy and I was able to get in tight on one. In fact feel like I was anywhere from 25-60 yards from him for over an hour. The only issue is we were in willows and grass over my head. I kept finding micro openings for shots, but he would just edge out of them in time.
I did put him to bed near a spot where there are a few openings close by so I’m hopeful this evening when he gets up I can be ready for an ambush. It was tough not to leave him and shoot one of the many cows around! I think I’m close to that point where cows are added to the menu too.
Fun hunt for sure. Very different from anything I’ve experienced, but it’s fun.
I’m absolutely soaked from playing in the heat all stuff so it’s oatmeal with peanut butter time, coffee, and time to dry off!
It was the first morning we had a little chilly bite and there was a lot of fog down in the bottoms.
Bulls were lighting off light crazy and I was able to get in tight on one. In fact feel like I was anywhere from 25-60 yards from him for over an hour. The only issue is we were in willows and grass over my head. I kept finding micro openings for shots, but he would just edge out of them in time.
I did put him to bed near a spot where there are a few openings close by so I’m hopeful this evening when he gets up I can be ready for an ambush. It was tough not to leave him and shoot one of the many cows around! I think I’m close to that point where cows are added to the menu too.
Fun hunt for sure. Very different from anything I’ve experienced, but it’s fun.
I’m absolutely soaked from playing in the heat all stuff so it’s oatmeal with peanut butter time, coffee, and time to dry off!
WildWill
Well-known member
Been a minute sense any update. How did this weekend go?
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Sorry for the lack of updates. I’m out here trying to battle the elk and massive amounts of hunters.
Full disclosure it’s not my favorite hunt, but that’s not stopping me from going as hard as I can towards success. It just doesn’t feel like an elk hunt or is my style.
It seems like most of the locals use tree stands or jet boats as an advantage.
Given the fact the local landscape changed so much since the giant flood they had in 2019 I believe, I’m finding lots of hunters in the same small areas that hold elk. Verse maybe before when there was lots of mature growth in the bottom for them to be spread out.
For example this morning and yesterday evening I watched anywhere from 4-7 different hunters try to get in on the same bull. No one cares about the others - it’s just a free for all.
They elk move for maybe an hour after sunup and maybe an hour before sundown.
It’s odd not being able to do mid day stuff.
They hunker up in the thick willows and I’m not going to stomp around that mid day and blow them out.
To me it’s like I’m hybrid hunting whitetail/mule deer with these tactics.
That being said I am seeing some of the biggest elk I’ve ever seen in my life and still getting close.
I’m glassing from up top and the second I see them in familiar areas I get down in quick and ambush. I’ve passed a few cows and a small 3x2 that was no larger than a spike.
I think I’m ready to shoot a cow now if I can.
I will be hunting as hard as you can possibly imagine until I leave Friday. So hopefully something happens soon.
Also to note - I think I’ve seen hundreds of whitetail or mule deer does and only one small buck. They don’t allow B tags to be used down here and it shows.
WildWill
Well-known member
Hopefully the end of the weekend will help some with the pressure. Keep after them and Goodluck!
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25 yards….
25 yards!!!!!
He was in some willows and I was able to do a long sneak in while he was racking.
But I couldn’t get any closer and he didn’t want to leave those willows with sunlight left.
His cows did though…..
SO CLOSE!
25 yards!!!!!
He was in some willows and I was able to do a long sneak in while he was racking.
But I couldn’t get any closer and he didn’t want to leave those willows with sunlight left.
His cows did though…..
SO CLOSE!
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This hunt is going to be dubbed “so close” as it’s a common theme.
My tactics are definitely working.
I’ve been tight in on elk each day now and it’s getting closer to happening.
This morning before sun up I could hear a bull screaming down at the bottom and talking pretty good. So instead of glassing I just ran down and got tight in on him.
He was in a patch of tall grass between two willow thickets. I got to the edge of the first one and could see him chasing after a cow. There was a small calf there as well.
As he was chasing her around I’d creep closer and closer. I cut approx 100 yards off and got to a small line of willows that fingered into the grass. He was on the other side of them at 42 yards. I just couldn’t bust through because of the noise. Finally the cow had enough and went into some willows. I got in tight to see if there was an opening and stopped. Well the cow or calf heard me and came over and bedded 5 yards from me. It was hard to tell body size, but I’m pretty sure it was the calf.
Nothing spooked out so we will get in tight on that this afternoon.
Two fun facts -
1) spikes at 15 yards quartering away are a huge test and tease. I had one today without me know I was there and my brain kept saying “do it!”. Thats another 120-150lbs of elk meat!!! DO IT!
2) those elk in the willows will hold so tight. Two gentleman that were likely hunting the same bull as me decided around 830 that they were done. So they had their full blown conversation (loud) as they were walking to their boat. They crossed at least 30 yards from where I think the cow and bull are and 40 from me and the calf. Nothing moved. It’s they hold tight until they are about to be stepped on then bolt.
Fun hunt again. I’m antsy! I want more elk meat!
My tactics are definitely working.
I’ve been tight in on elk each day now and it’s getting closer to happening.
This morning before sun up I could hear a bull screaming down at the bottom and talking pretty good. So instead of glassing I just ran down and got tight in on him.
He was in a patch of tall grass between two willow thickets. I got to the edge of the first one and could see him chasing after a cow. There was a small calf there as well.
As he was chasing her around I’d creep closer and closer. I cut approx 100 yards off and got to a small line of willows that fingered into the grass. He was on the other side of them at 42 yards. I just couldn’t bust through because of the noise. Finally the cow had enough and went into some willows. I got in tight to see if there was an opening and stopped. Well the cow or calf heard me and came over and bedded 5 yards from me. It was hard to tell body size, but I’m pretty sure it was the calf.
Nothing spooked out so we will get in tight on that this afternoon.
Two fun facts -
1) spikes at 15 yards quartering away are a huge test and tease. I had one today without me know I was there and my brain kept saying “do it!”. Thats another 120-150lbs of elk meat!!! DO IT!
2) those elk in the willows will hold so tight. Two gentleman that were likely hunting the same bull as me decided around 830 that they were done. So they had their full blown conversation (loud) as they were walking to their boat. They crossed at least 30 yards from where I think the cow and bull are and 40 from me and the calf. Nothing moved. It’s they hold tight until they are about to be stepped on then bolt.
Fun hunt again. I’m antsy! I want more elk meat!
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I’m currently sitting at the top of the Missouri breaks watching 2 C-130s do chaff and flare drills and it’s quite amazing. I know that harmonic hum of props any day of the week.
Tonight was another “so close” encounter. I put that bull to bed this morning and backed out.
I tucked in tight on where he was. I took about an hour and a half to get in the last 75 yards. I also had the pleasure of using boats going by to sneak in.
I guessed where they might be, but I somehow overshot it. It blows my mind because they were down wind of me and still didn’t blow out.
Anyways they got up and the bull was about 50 yards away. I was sneaking in and he was working towards me and we ended 18 yards away. I could range his 4ths and he just sat in the willows.
Part of me thinks I should just give up on this specific bull because the last three encounters all have proven he doesn’t leave the willows during shooting hours and I doubt he will. I need to find ones that will!
Fun night regardless. I am going to go watch C-130s play now.
Tonight was another “so close” encounter. I put that bull to bed this morning and backed out.
I tucked in tight on where he was. I took about an hour and a half to get in the last 75 yards. I also had the pleasure of using boats going by to sneak in.
I guessed where they might be, but I somehow overshot it. It blows my mind because they were down wind of me and still didn’t blow out.
Anyways they got up and the bull was about 50 yards away. I was sneaking in and he was working towards me and we ended 18 yards away. I could range his 4ths and he just sat in the willows.
Part of me thinks I should just give up on this specific bull because the last three encounters all have proven he doesn’t leave the willows during shooting hours and I doubt he will. I need to find ones that will!
Fun night regardless. I am going to go watch C-130s play now.
HappyCamper
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Your patience chasing this bull is legit. I once hunted archery elk that bedded in willows and got too aggressive. If you’re going to move on from this herd I’d suggest pushing that limit one more time. If you fail then at least you’re not leaving elk to find elk.
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Well that one stings a little. I got to my glass point and it looks like a boat came in last night and set up camp in a little finger cancel that goes into where I hunt.
There were two herds of elk down in the bottom. One was the bull I’ve been playing cat and mouse with (him and his few cows) and then that monster I sent screen shots of a few days ago.
The big one was in an area I have toyed around in a lot, but had a lot of extra eyes.
Long story short is I got within a hundred yards of the bull and started my stalk in. Wind was good, but I was giving a little to the cows so I was nervous.
I hit a little patch of low grass and mixed in willows that was about approx 75 yards in diameter with scattered stuff all around. So it was enough cover to sneak around, but had open lanes to shoot. As I’m nearing the bull (approx 50 yards now) two cows come to the edge of the little patch, feed, and bed down with the bull in tow.
He got to where he was approx 30 yards away, but I wasn’t assuming he'd come any closer. So I drew when it looks like he was going to cut broadside, but he walked in a few steps more with a hard quartering to at 27 yards. There was no where I could tuck the arrow in at that angle so I made a last ditch effort to softly creep to the right and open his vitals up more. I just had dirt and mud to creep on so I knew I could get there without him hearing. The issue was on step 4 a cow stood up maybe 7 yards away from me that must have already been bedded and it was game over……
Over the next 10-20 seconds I passed on numerous cows that were in and out of my little patch because after seeing that monster so close it was so hard to shoot a cow. Which is also crazy for me because I want meat and love shooting elk!
I’ll be back after them this afternoon. It’s so close to happening. Wednesday and Thursday I’m officially turning on cows to be shot. Even if there is a monster behind them!
There were two herds of elk down in the bottom. One was the bull I’ve been playing cat and mouse with (him and his few cows) and then that monster I sent screen shots of a few days ago.
The big one was in an area I have toyed around in a lot, but had a lot of extra eyes.
Long story short is I got within a hundred yards of the bull and started my stalk in. Wind was good, but I was giving a little to the cows so I was nervous.
I hit a little patch of low grass and mixed in willows that was about approx 75 yards in diameter with scattered stuff all around. So it was enough cover to sneak around, but had open lanes to shoot. As I’m nearing the bull (approx 50 yards now) two cows come to the edge of the little patch, feed, and bed down with the bull in tow.
He got to where he was approx 30 yards away, but I wasn’t assuming he'd come any closer. So I drew when it looks like he was going to cut broadside, but he walked in a few steps more with a hard quartering to at 27 yards. There was no where I could tuck the arrow in at that angle so I made a last ditch effort to softly creep to the right and open his vitals up more. I just had dirt and mud to creep on so I knew I could get there without him hearing. The issue was on step 4 a cow stood up maybe 7 yards away from me that must have already been bedded and it was game over……
Over the next 10-20 seconds I passed on numerous cows that were in and out of my little patch because after seeing that monster so close it was so hard to shoot a cow. Which is also crazy for me because I want meat and love shooting elk!
I’ll be back after them this afternoon. It’s so close to happening. Wednesday and Thursday I’m officially turning on cows to be shot. Even if there is a monster behind them!
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Last night my buddy and I picked two of the thickest pieces we could find and decided to get a little eastern on the elk.
We each got set up at about 12PM hours before anything would move to sneak in quietly.
Well as luck would have it at 5:30 each of us has hunters walk in. They parked near our trucks and of all the country they could pick, they landed right on us. It’s ok though - that’s public. Just interesting luck.
Then after my guy left (my buddy wasn’t so lucky, his guy lingered around and just glunked on his bugle tube) we had two boats come in with more hunters.
With 20 minutes left of light I had some elk come out in a field approximately 200 yards away. There was 5 bulls, a herd bull with cows, and me ready to go.
The herd bull was pushing all of the satellites around so I just stared cow calling like crazy. My goal was for one of the satellites to get frisky and head my way while everyone else was playing in the field. Sure enough it worked.
I saw a bull cut off and start making his way my way.
He made it to about 57 yards away and I saw him stop dead in his tracks, look into the woods, and then blitz away.
Then from the woods I hear coughing…
Apparently one of the boat guys was working in towards us all and the bull caught his wind and bailed.
Interesting fact - I don’t think many people out here play the wind or thermals. Or have no idea what they are….
Again, so close, but so far away!
We each got set up at about 12PM hours before anything would move to sneak in quietly.
Well as luck would have it at 5:30 each of us has hunters walk in. They parked near our trucks and of all the country they could pick, they landed right on us. It’s ok though - that’s public. Just interesting luck.
Then after my guy left (my buddy wasn’t so lucky, his guy lingered around and just glunked on his bugle tube) we had two boats come in with more hunters.
With 20 minutes left of light I had some elk come out in a field approximately 200 yards away. There was 5 bulls, a herd bull with cows, and me ready to go.
The herd bull was pushing all of the satellites around so I just stared cow calling like crazy. My goal was for one of the satellites to get frisky and head my way while everyone else was playing in the field. Sure enough it worked.
I saw a bull cut off and start making his way my way.
He made it to about 57 yards away and I saw him stop dead in his tracks, look into the woods, and then blitz away.
Then from the woods I hear coughing…
Apparently one of the boat guys was working in towards us all and the bull caught his wind and bailed.
Interesting fact - I don’t think many people out here play the wind or thermals. Or have no idea what they are….
Again, so close, but so far away!
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This morning was another close call (less than 30 yards, but I only had his neck and head shown, nothing else and almost stepped on a cow), but irrelevant because I have a monster bull bedded in a spot I may be able to capitalize on.
When I backed out I was approx 40 yards from him and I think I can get in tighter.
I’m currently up on the top glassing right now watching 3 people tromp mid day through elk bedding spots….
When I backed out I was approx 40 yards from him and I think I can get in tighter.
I’m currently up on the top glassing right now watching 3 people tromp mid day through elk bedding spots….
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It’s the gents who walked in on us last night.
They are walking through the giant patches right now mid day.
Make it make sense
They are walking through the giant patches right now mid day.
Make it make sense
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They are all set up. Looks like they went in early to beat us. Not an issue though because the bull I’m set up on is no where near them.
It also helps that their lack of understanding of winds pushed about 30 elk out of the willows while they set up (they don’t know) so my buddy has a spot to get in on them tight tonight.
It also helps that their lack of understanding of winds pushed about 30 elk out of the willows while they set up (they don’t know) so my buddy has a spot to get in on them tight tonight.
duckhunt
Well-known member
Something good is about to happen.
Valley1320
Well-known member
Kill em
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Can someone explain to me where I am? It should be Montana, but it was 102 today and I almost got bit by a rattlesnake while stalking in on the big bull…..
Yes - sub 30 yards, ready to draw on him quartering away with his head in the willows, and as I’m side stepping I almost step on this fricken rattlesnake. That was after sitting in the hot direct sun for 4 hours waiting for him to stand up!
I don’t even know what to say right now. I was about to kill my biggest bull by at least 30+”
That snake will never forget that scream and neither will that bull.
I felt like the stars had aligned for this hunt. I snuck in so quietly, I was down to bare bones and super stealth mode, wind and thermals were good, and I had SHOOTING LANES!
Ahhhhhhh
I’m going to go overload on sour candy and sulk a bit so I can get over myself and kill tomorrow!
Yes - sub 30 yards, ready to draw on him quartering away with his head in the willows, and as I’m side stepping I almost step on this fricken rattlesnake. That was after sitting in the hot direct sun for 4 hours waiting for him to stand up!
I don’t even know what to say right now. I was about to kill my biggest bull by at least 30+”
That snake will never forget that scream and neither will that bull.
I felt like the stars had aligned for this hunt. I snuck in so quietly, I was down to bare bones and super stealth mode, wind and thermals were good, and I had SHOOTING LANES!
Ahhhhhhh
I’m going to go overload on sour candy and sulk a bit so I can get over myself and kill tomorrow!
