Well, I needed 1 or 2 more days to get on a bull. Labor Day was completely unproductive, but I did get to do some legwork around the area I hunted over the weekend. Saturday morning, I had a bull bugle down the ridge. After 2 bugles though, he wasn't interested in anything I had to say. Yesterday morning on my way in, I thought I heard a chuckle but was walking and wasn't sure. 5 minutes later, there was no doubt about it. He was probably less than 1/4 mile away, but on the other side of the Pacific Crest Trail. He wasn't interested in my calling either. I set up about 40 yards in from the Crest Trail, which is as close as I thought I could get. I even had the headless decoy out for good measure. Had I done a little more walking along the Crest Trail to study terrain in the opposite direction from where I had been hunting(or not left my map of the area at home), I'd have known the trail would take me directly above him at about 200-300 yards. I ended up breaking camp at noon to come home to go to the fair last night. I should've stayed and hunted. I don't mind getting wet while hunting, but it sucks when you're dragging 3 little ones around the fair. Maybe he'll still be in the area next Saturday evening. That'll be my only other opportunity. They should be a little more talkative then too, since it'll be closing in on the rut. I saw a ton of tracks, and I've seen at least 1 herd of 8 cows on that same hillside back in July. If they haven't gone elsewhere, there will be at least 1 good bull around. I hope!

Hunt hard, live right, and tell your kids you love 'em!

Edited by - slee on 09/09/2002 11:08:56