It was a great experience. I was calling cow elk earlier that morning and nothing would come in and then no calling back at all. We had been hearing squirrels dropping pinecones all that day and a couple hours later getting close to 1pm i heard a solid thud, i sit up and look to where i hear it and nothing. Lay back down and 10 minutes later CRAAACK! Get up this time and im really lookin! Zero, not a sound or anything. I find a more comfortable spot and am sitting and just watching and im looking across the valley and see a cow run through a gap in the trees about 200 yards out, i whistle and she stops, 3 other cows and a big 5x5 come out and im doing a little calling to get them to come to me, which they never did, and then to really test me nerves, a cow lays down while the others work deeper into timber and out of sight. I had a bull and cow tag but that cow was just 100 yards futher than i was able to shoot [&:].. 2 days later my dadgoes to an area and is walking slow and not paying attention when he hears a noise and looks up to see a 6x5 and a 7x7 bull elk 50 yards away.. As normal, he didnt have an elk tag. Some really heart breaking memories up in that area.