After wards, we took off on the horses to go see if we could see anything for Mom and Dad to get a shot at since they both had tags as well. No luck, elk were no where to be found that day. We went back, loaded the elk on the pack saddles and headed for the truck.
Saturday was another early day out. We got to the trail head and ran into our cousins husband Warren and his friend. They had one cow tag and were out there on foot to see if they could find one to take. We headed back up to where Marcus and I had gone on Thursday but didn't get that far before we ran into a big bull with about 10 to 15 cows. He was beautiful! I almost wished for a trophy bull tag but to just watch him through the binoculars was amazing. They took off over a ridge before Warren could get there to get a shot off at one of the cows or calves. We followed where they went and about 2 ridges later found another small herd bedded down at least 700 or 800 yards away. We decided that I would stay up on top of the ridge to watch them while Marcus took Mom and Dad and Richard down closer to see if they could get a shot at the spike that was bedded down with them. They tied up horses and walked the rest of the way to stay quiet.
After watching them for about an hour I decided to glass further and saw the rest of the herd. I bet there were at least 75 to a 100 head of elk just grazing across this grassy ridge. Big bulls, rag horns, cows, 7 or 8 spikes that I was able to count. My heart was beating so hard and my tag was already filled! Marcus headed back up to get their horses and I got on my horse to make my way to them. Once we were all together we watched the herd move down off the ridge into the trees to bed down we guessed. They all took off again down the hill to try to get a shot, while I waited at the top with the horses and to watch in case the herd got spooked. That way we could see which way they went.
Sitting there watching.......waiting.......glassing with the spotting scope.....was the longest 15 minutes of my life. Then BOOM, the herd came busting out of the trees headed back up the hill where they were grazing.....BOOM spike down in the middle of the group. The rest of the elk scattered like the balls on a pool table......BOOM another spike down. He flipped head over hills down the mountain. Then again....BOOM another spike down. Finally one more shot and Warren had shot a calf to fill his tag. WOW!! To be able to have a birds eye view of the way that went down was so much fun. They all felt bad that I was stuck up at the top with the horses but really I think I was in the best place. I was able to watch my family take down three spikes and a calf....in a matter of minutes. I couldn't believe it! My mom shot hers with one shot.....she's a dead eye and a great shot!! I'm glad I have her genes as well as my dad's, they have raised a whole family of hunters!!
I have to say, even though it was the longest and most tiring 4 days of my life, that has to be one of the funnest hunts we have been on yet! We were there hunting as a family and enjoying time together. Mom and Dad started that tradition when I was a baby and us kids intend on keeping it going as long as we are able. Thanks to them, Marcus and everyone else there for an incredible hunt and memories to last a lifetime.
No comments:
Post a Comment