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Hunting 2009Somewhere in the forestFebruary 11/10 Written by Torrys 2009 was a good year and the "Mojo" was working. I got both my bull moose and bull elk this season, so that's pretty impressive for an old fat guy near 50 years old.  So, here's an easy Google Q & A: What is the maximum load rating for a Honda Foreman 450? I was a little over that rating I think... two front quarters of moose, the rack, the gear, my buddy, and then I got on also and I am 250.  Rode it back that, a short mile and a half to the truck. I love my quad. Then I was going straight downhill, and half an hour later I had this nice 5-pt bull coming in... This late in my hunt, I was just happy to see this bull and I was not worried about size. I got him coming to me using some nice cow calls (a bit late in the rut but still working), and he took his time but was coming steady. I had a real nice front quartering shot at about 200 yds but thought... "just wait he's coming to me... it will get closer". Sure, easy to think but hard to resist taking the shot. I had slid down to a slight draw on my butt to keep with the cover, and was in perfect position to take him as he cleared the brush, and he "should" take the path of least resistance which should have him step out at 20 yards... I said "should", right? At about 30-40 yds he stopped and then moved parallel to me behind a thick bunch of alders and I then lost sight of him and he had paused... I was probably not even breathing at this point. Just then, he spooked and ran back away from me about 100 yds or so, judging by the sound of him running away. Not sure what got him nervous, but he likely got a sniff of me. I called some more and he started coming back to me, although my position was not as good and I didn't like the angle/path he was working as I was not going to get a clear shot, but I kept working him anyways. He kept coming and I finally got a reasonable 100 yd shot, but it wasn't good and he got away. I was losing light at this point and had to head back to camp. I got up early the next morning; I had planned to break camp and head home with a quick last opportunity for a morning hunt. It was about a half hour before dawn and I was first up and ready to break camp. All night I was just driven with thoughts getting back there and taking that bull. By light, I was back and it was very quiet and there were zero answers to any bugling/calling techniques. I was keeping one eye on the time and the other looking for some signs. I got into an area of some well-used rut beds, and while in stealth mode I noticed a twig/stick move at about 100 yds. I cant say why, but it was just the way the twig moved. All the time leaves are fluttering down and branches and long grass are blowing and moving, but something jogged my physche and I stopped in my tracks. I had to have a second look at that, so I brought up my binoculars and found that twig and it moved again, but it wasn't a twig it was the tip of an antler... The bull elk was bedded down (generally very hard to sneak up on), and I could just make out his back on the ground. Waiting for what seemed far too long, he moved his head slightly enough that I could see he was a 5-pt. Probably the same dude... I fired, nailed him in the back bone, he shifted his body and exposed the back of his head, where I quickly placed my second shot and his head dropped as he died probably before his head hit the ground.  Take your kids fishing and hunting; when you get old, you'll have someone to take you.   |
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