I understand that you're frustrated, but getting busted happens to the best hunters in the world from time to time. I'm sure you've been busted a time or two, whether you know it or not. I know that I have.

What gets me is that you're bitching about being within a few yards of a big elk and not getting a shot. Many of us will probably never get the opportunity to ever elk hunt in our lifetimes, but you whine about missing one opportunity when you are able to hunt elk regularly. I'd be ecstatic to draw a single cow tag in my lifetime and actually get to try to fill it.

That 7x7 is still out there, man. So quit your complaining about this other guy and go get him. You sound a lot like my dad. He never took me or my brother deer hunting because he didn't want us to mess up HIS hunt. It's a very selfish attitude, and as a result, I didn't hunt deer until well after I was an adult and on my own. I hope that I have more patience and understanding with my kids than my dad had with me.

Mike