X2

I haven't posted recently on here but if youre still writing Im still reading.


Thats some serious hunting mentally and physically. Awesome!

This mornings a wash, literally... Raining pretty good and the elk can be hit really good and still not bleed much so, not wanting to risk losing one. Gonna head out at lunch time I guess if it breaks.

You're right. I pounded it pretty hard at times and the mind and body both get strained. I did release an arrow earlier this year. I was in a clear cut that was strictly waist high weeds with a young bull. Only one stump to use for yardage... The bull was by a stump at one point (32yds) quartering and then he angles through at such a slight angle I didn't realize the yardage had changed as much as it had. Peeking through I saw his head turn and raised to a squatting position and let it fly for 30yds. TWACK!!! He ran, I called and stopped him to see a high spine shot. He broke the arrow off, walked away, and disappeared. Came in next day and scoured the place with 2 other guys. Tiny drops of blood for about a 100yds and the nothing. We checked weekly for buzzards and ravens and never saw any so, I know he lived and was just sore for a few days.

Well, it was an exciting season at times and at other times it was just sucking. The timber company shutting the land down for fire danger at the exact time the bulls were raising cain and rounding up cows was the worst. At 49 years old and day after day of 4-15 mile adventures, my two bad knees were not happy with me. Yesterday was the last day and after hiking up the steep stuff to a good lil hole, I was ready for anything except the moron bee-bopping up the logging roads at 0830 making all kind of racket. I decided watching football would be more fun and headed home. While sitting there I knew I would regret not going out the last night of the season and headed for an area I knew probably didn’t have any pressure on it. Pre-season I had seen a 5x5 and a 3x3 while glassing the place. I stopped at one cut and called and then proceeded to the final hunt area. As soon as I peeped around a corner I spotted an elk, not good. My plan was get in the middle of the cut and make my moves from there but, with the elk already there and no cover to make my move, I had to just sit and watch.

It was 4 cows 2 calves, and the 3x3. At 7:15 I knew I had to do something so, I let out a cow call. As expected, they went on full alert. I managed to cut the distance from 113yds to 75yds but, walking the gravel road just had me at a disadvantage. I watched the dark swallow them and then made my way back to my bike.

A great last night of hunting to leave me waiting for next year. In reality, it may have been my last elk hunt. If my wife and I don’t find the right jobs to keep us here, we’ll be moving back home. Oh well, time will tell.

Sounds like u had a good season, but it also sounds physically demanding. Hate u didn't get one, but that's bow hunting. We all know how tuff it can be, RH

GOOD NEWS... Glad I didn't shoot a dink. I just counted the packs of elk meat in the freezer from last year and I've got over 40 packs left. I also found a few containers of razor clams I dug last spring. Chowda time!!!

Cool updates. Thanks very much for posting. Sounds like a great time.

What kind of bike do you have and any pros/cons, etc.?

What kind of Tenzing pack and do you like it? They look to be designed well.

Hey Clem, I've got a Felt 7Eighty. It has 27.5 inch tires instead of 26in so it seems a little better over bigger rocks and tree roots. It also has disc-brakes. No complaints on the bike at all. I added a rear rack and the small yellow Fire Service bags you can get online for like $8 as saddle bags. That's cheaper than saddle bags and they last. I've had the bags for several years with no damage from weather. I do think a lower end Trek mountain bike like a buddy got is a good one as well.

The pack is a Tenzing 2220. No complaints on it at all. It's designed for day use but, it holds a lot of stuff, easy adjustments too. I love the zipper being smooth side out because I don't have to worry about it rubbing my bow string like I did my previous pack. It a little heavy but, it's all good. I got that pack off Amazon for $107 a while back, everyone else sold them for $189-$209. My friend purchased an Alps Outdoors pack that wasn't bad but, I do prefer the Tenzing. I think I like it more than the Badlands pack I looked at.

oops, I forgot to add that the pack is built to accept a hydration system but, does not come with one. I took a 2 liter bladder out of one of my Camelback's and put it in there.

Man that is some beautiful country! Thanks for posting all the pics.

The logging roads are open to motorized vehicles now so, I went and pulled my last camera today. Here's a few pics. I wondered why the spike in the 1st pic was running but, the next set of pics told me why.
Spike running


Here's why!!!


Sow and 2 cubs


Few more elk

Doing a 'lil deer hunting since the gates are opened for gun season. Using this time to scout for elk spots for next year if I'm still here. I may shoot one, not sure. It's fork horn or bigger and not a lot of deer. It's actually harder to find a good buck here with all the clearcuts than to find one down home. I'll post any cool pics as I get them instead of creating another thread.

Those elk are beautiful animals.

Cool pics....