I just returned from my elk hunt in Montana...man, what a trip!
Although I did not bag an elk, I consider the trip a success. We dealt with morning temps fro -4 to -20 every day with knee deep snow. I got thrown from my horse once, but had a soft landing and came up laughing!
The first morning out, we spotted a group of cows feeding in a meadow about 1000 feet above our position. After glassing for a while, a bull pops out of the timber...the stalk was on. We climbed the hill in about 1/2 an hour and get into position. The wind is in our favor and we can see the group of cows about 75 yards off, but the bull was not to be found. We glass for about 20 minutes and all of a sudden the wind does an about face and blows directly to the cows. They hightail it for cover as well as our bull who circled back into the timber. He bolts by at about 225 yards...no chance for a shot.
The next day, my guide and I ride to an area known as " the basin" and start hiking. About an hour into the hike, he says " bull, and he' s a shooter" . I ran up the hill to get into position but am so winded that I can' t hold my rifle steady and shoot over his back!!!!
We hunt the rest of the week seeing many elk, but no more bulls.
On the ride out we keep to the top of the mountain range and glass our way out. About an hour and a half into our ride, we spot a group of elk above us, dismount and stalk to within 100 yards. The only bull that appears is a spike. We were in an area with a brow tine restriction so he was off limits. We encounter about a dozen more cows on our ride out, but alas, no bulls.
Even though I did not fill my tag, the hunt was a success. I saw some of the most beautiful country there is, saw alot of animals and had a fantastic time. We ate like kings and were treated like royalty by our outfitters...what more could you ask for?
I shared my tent with a 77 year old gentleman from Michigan who has been hunting with this outfitter for 30 years. He rode and hunted every day as hard as anyone. I can only hope to be able to do what he does at his age!!
Thanks again to everyone for their assistance these past few months!
Yellowlab,
I get about 1-2 maybe 3 chances to shoot an elk a year,I hunt hard and you know what.I do come up empty handed too,and I live here.
It sounds like you had some good chances,but fate was not there.But you had a good time.Congrats on your attituded,and your mental game plan.Hope you come back and get a shooter.
__________________
"When the moment of truth comes,and it's time to dance.You better get jiggy with it or find a new partner."
That' s what we need ' round here. Less bellyachin' an' more descriptions of what happened on these guided hunts. I' ve knowed fellers that would complain with the experience yellowdog describes. Good job young feller.
__________________ "When one finally arrives at the point where schedules are forgotten, and becomes immersed in ancient rhythms, one begins to live." (Sigurd F. Olson)
Back from Montana!
