I gave it every bit of effort and time that I could. Nine trips out to the mountains, 72 miles, 5 bulls, 1 bear, 2 moose, 7 deer, and memories for a lifetime. I learned a lot and fell more in love with hunting the more I went out. Going into the final week I was excited but started to get a little hard on myself. It is weird knowing you have days, hours left of this opportunity that will not come again until next year.
I knew I could fit in two more trips of the season. I felt the best thing to do was watch my video from my first encounter with that elk I saw the first day out. The one where we didn't take the shot. I thought that would get me motivated to go after him the last few times. As I watched the video I notice something I never noticed before and definitely not something I noticed the day I was out there. There was a third bull. Third. He was up to the left of the bull I had my eye one, just hanging out. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.
It was everything I needed to see. So I went out on Tuesday night, heard a few bugles and saw some deer but that was it. It was an extremely windy day so by 6 pm that night I was cold and couldn't hear anything but the wind. So everything was left to closing day.
The plan was to get out early and be in my spot in the dark, ready. My new idea was to take my bike, bike in on the trailhead, hide it and hike in the rest. This great plan would give me an extra 30 minutes of sleep. It was perfect. I overslept my 3 a.m. alarm by 30 minutes. I hustled to get ready and when I went to get the bike, noticed the tires were flat. No big deal, get some air at the gas station so I headed out. I got to the gas station and didn't have enough quarters since I left my purse at home and they didn't do cash back. The clerk was kind enough to give me a quarter and so I was set!
I got to the dirt road that led me to the trail head and about a little over half way in my truck says "tire pressure low" and suddenly says "tire psi 17" and one by one those numbers started dropping. I was in shock and hoping I could just make it to the trailhead. No, I had no tire left and had to squeeze on the side of the road. I sat there in shock, thinking I would have to sit here in the dark until sunrise and closing day was done. That last all of three minutes and I said forget it. This is NOT going to stop me. So out came the bike and loaded my gear on and I took off on my bike, holding my bow and by the light of my headlamp.
I have not ridden a bike in a while. Not too far away my quads were on fire and I was struggling to balance with the bow. I am sure there were some tears on and off but I got myself all the way in to the trailhead. The trailhead was narrow and rocky so managing the bike by a headlamp was no easy task. It was a mess, let's be honest. I rode and walked some. I was way behind schedule and just wanted to get in. I made it to a small peak not too far where I head into the trees and as I came down the peak my brakes went out on the bike. So hear I am bouncing and trying to control the bike. I can tell you now, the next day, that is the moment I bruised an area I didn't know you could. So once I got to the bottom of that hill without dying, I tossed the bike between two bushes and left it.
The wind was heading east so I knew I would have to come into the area from the outside so the elk wouldn't catch my scent. I got to the spot where I call it "game time" and I heard the first bugle. That beautiful sound made my heart so happy and I felt ready. The bugle was to the east and I was heading west. I kept on to my destination. I heard a further bugle west and still kept heading in that direction. But the elk behind me kept bugling. I stopped and remembered what I learned do what the elk want not what I think is right so I turned around. I found a dead head almost immediately after that. These little gems are rare to find and I made do little dances when I find them.
So heading back east towards the elk about 70 yards I found a new wallow. So I decided to sit on the water. I had decided going in I was not going to cow call. Then I decided to do everything I was not planning on doing. So I started calling. The elk was answering. Having a conversation with them is one of the most exhilarating encounters you can have. As I was sitting there to the west coming from the direction I was, I hear an animal calling. I thought it was a cow elk, a short and squeaky sound. I hear it walking and I was ready. If that is all I get on closing day, I was going to be fine with it. Then through the trees here comes a moose trotting alongside the trees right past me. I couldn't believe it.
So I go back to calling and now to the north of me, I have an bull elk answering me. After a few calls I see him about 60 yards through the Aspen trees moving. The trees were so thick I couldn't see enough of him to find a clean shot. I tried to call him in further but it didn't work and he ascended into the trees..my last encounter for Archery season.
I am learning to give myself grace when it comes to hunting. It will never be perfect. You can never predict what the elk will do. You learn more about how to track them (like this amazing rub) and understand more of what they do. All you can do is prepare yourself, learn, practice, and be ready more the next time you step into the trees. I loved this season. I loved the hunt. I loved what I learned about elk. I loved what I learned about myself. See you in 333 days archery season!
Comments