Let me start off by saying that I am new to hunting. But I am addicted. I honestly took it up because my son wanted to go. There isn't a lot I tell myself I can't do and I really push myself and my boys to try things at least once. I never knew it would be one of the most challenging things I have ever done. Naturally, I was drawn to archery. I found archery to calm me, it is a major stress reliever. I love the nights I can go in my yard and just practice.
Last year when I started I got out very few times. This year I told myself I would make more time and the more I go the more in love with it I fall. I have some great friends and family that have taught me much of what I know. I was ecstatic last weekend when my sister and brother -in-law decided to take myself and my son to a new location. Going into this trip I had yet to see an elk or deer up close and personal.
We got out to the place around 1 am and had decided to sleep in our trucks so we could get an early start. Come morning we headed out in the dark. As soon as the sun started to come up I could see signs of elk. The things I was was seeing had me giddy with anticipation. Rubbings on trees were one of the first things I saw along with elk droppings. If you don't know what rubbings are, the elk come and rub their antlers on the trees, shrubs and the ground. This is done either to show dominance and impress cows or to shed the velvet from their antlers.
We were in a few miles when we came across a wallow. A wallow is used when a bull elk is getting ready for the rut or during the rut. They will urinate on it and roll around it in hopes to attract a cow elk.
We split up close to 8 am. My sister and I decided to sit along the creek where we had a view of the creek and the wallow. We found a good cove that provided us some coverage. We started to settle in and get comfortable. I started to hear something across the creek down wind from us. I crawled out to look as I kept hearing some noises through the trees. Within the 30 minutes of sitting down I saw two elk walking through the trees. One kept walking and probably the most beautiful bull I could imagine started walking down towards us. There he was broadside, right in front of me.
Trying to contain my excitement was nearly impossible. I signaled to my sister that this was our moment. In the midst of trying to prepare ourselves and with no range finder, he spotted me. The distance felt far, he was in a thick area and there was a large bush in front of me. It didn't feel like a clear shot. We blew it. Going back after we found out it was 28 yard shot.
After we shared our encounter with the guys, we decided to head into the trees. We split up again. My sister and I sat close to the creek and I was to watch uphill and she was going to watch the creek and wallow. Close to 9:30 only about 30 minutes after we sat down I hear my sister whip her head around and quickly says "bow, bow, there's a bear." I was thinking a bear, let me grab my camera and reached for it. Quickly I realized he was running towards us. We both pulled our pistols and we think when I came around the tree, we spooked him and he ran uphill.
Uphill towards my son and brother-in-law. We waited it out a bit and decided for both our nerves to go check on them. Sure enough the bear came about 10 yards from them when my brother-in-law scared him off by standing and waving his arms at him. Just like that, my son had his first bear encounter.
The nerves and excitement took a while for it to settle down. We ate lunch and rested. We headed out after lunch only to hear some bugles but no more sightings. I am anxious to see is the first encounter the most exciting? I think it is just going to get better from here.
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