Congrats Rocky on your lope.

Returned from my hunt on Thursday night. It was filled with good and bad.I don't have a pile of time right now so here's a point form review for yous guys.

I'll start with the good: awesome preseason scouting and caught some bugling/rutting bullson vid (included one bull that was tossing canola swaths in the air in fits of rage). Got in tight with 2 seperate herd bulls over the course of 4 days of hunting, mac daddy won each time but once again can't see how any hunter wouldn't have felt a sense of accomplishment and pumped after such experiences. I will say my hair was standing on end several times. We got elk, included was a raghorn I called for Tim in my honey hole,a spot that has produced at least 1 bull in the past 6 years. I took a spike on thursday morning after getting pinned and having to call to try and hold the herd. I had the biggest bull in my life within feet not yards that morning, when he screamed at the unobeying cows it was unbelievable. I almost had to shoot in self defense...I am not kidding the big boy walked passed me within a couple yards though once he did you know exactly what happened[&o]. All happened prior tolegal shooting hours. I was able to suck backaspike andwith the herd bull moved off to safetyandneeding to leave that night, Iopted for the"bird in the hand" theory.

As for the bad: One of our crew had a bad accident on a quad, hit a washout after dark and was thrown from the bike. Luckily he only ended up with whiplash, cuts/bruises,2 ribs and disc out. He is recovering slowly at home but his disc is still slipping out daily. Hunting pressure was emmense, never seen that many hunters. Hunter ethics was not apparent, guys jacklighting, driving bushlines, ripping down postings, setting up beside other groups, ignoring regs, etc. Reason was out the window:disputes in the field, spinning of tires by other groups, we had a j/o shoot into the bush of our 1/4 with one ofthe guys in a treestand and so on. It was horrific and I am seriously considering future rifle elk seasons. Big spank on the bum for SERM, they appeared uninterested in the reports mentioned above. It was also common knowledge that SERM was spreading the word about the amount of elk in our area, so many felt they had a part inthe increased pressure. Yetprior to rifle seasonthey employeed air tatics to disperse the elk. It was verified but explained as a result of several complaints logged by landowners???One of thelandowner's is our neighbour, he hunts and yes he askedSERM to cometake look into the problem. Though that was in July and they did nothing until sept....HUM[:'(]! You should have seen the sign in this area,amazingand yet never seen or heard an elk!!! Not impressed and have just added this to the list on the letter I will be sending to serm voicing my concerns. (FYI sask. hunters if you haven't seen the following take a look. Link: 2007 CWD management program
http://www.se.gov.sk.ca/fishwild/2007%20CWD%20Website%20Information.pdf)

If not enough health problems within my wife's family was tjhe reason for me leaving early.

So while I kept my streak alive for another year of tagging an elk and once again had some close calls with big fellas at this point I can't enjoy those things due to the negatives. Sorry not in the mood to sugar coat it today.

Good Luck to all. Remember enjoy the outdoors and be respectful to others so they also can enjoy it!