ELK bugling

[davered1]

I was out bugling ELK this morning. I went to a place that I had bugled in a BIG 5X5 2 days ago and bugled once from the roadway. No answer, waited 5 minutes and bugled again.... NO ANSWER. I figured I would head in anyway and pack a treestand in to setup for later use.

I crossed the river and got to where I had previously located a good tree for a stand. I took off my pack and set my black powder down to get ready to make my way up the tree. Before I started up the tree I bugled 2 times with about 1 minute between them..... NOTHING.

Thinking the bulls had just gone off to different spot on the river I proceeded to climb tree to place stand. I hadjust positioned the stand up and was standing on the platform setting it into the tree when I heard something coming into the opening not 25 YARDS from my stand. OF course as soon as I heard it I immediately looked a my gun a good 40 yards away and down the tree and thought ,"YEP, thats about my luck, watch it be a 7 X 7 now.

20 yards up wind from my stand I seen the head emerge first, GUESS WHAT!!! It wasn't a ELK. It wasa big ADULT MALE GRIZZLY BEAR!!! I couldn't believe it, first time that has ever happened to me. I was very glad to be up a tree at that point in time. He walked over to my pack and smellled it a bit, looked around then moved around about 30 yards from my stand for about 4 minutes before deciding there was nothing there to eat.I didn't move , didn't see any point in it since there was absolutley NOTHING I could do anyway except get mauled, which wasn't high on my list of things to do... I sat in that stand for a good half hour before I came down!!

MAN, I may trade my single shot black powder in for my 300 NORMA MAG for a awhile though. I hope he was just passing through, but I know now why no elk answered me there this AM!!


Dave

 

[Speckmisser]

But honestly, ain't it cool NOT to be the biggest baddest thing in the woods. There's a certain humility that comes to you that most folks in their city-lives will never understand.

Awesome experience, Dave. Glad it turned out positive.

 

[bat]

brrrrrrrrrr....

man that would make me want to tie a rope to my rifle every time I placed a stand up for later use. How long would it take me to pull the rifle up the tree with a Bear that close.....hmmmm maybe two seconds..

Watch your step up there dave.

bat

 

[Fred Bear]

wow! that had to be the scariest and coolest feeling all at the same time. A story to tell your grandkids about definatly.

 

[traxman]

Wow Dave!

I get the shivers just reading that. I wondered about all the Canadians up there hunting with Grizzley's in the woods. Like Speck said, it sure changes the tone when you aren't at the top of the food chain...

Traxman

 

[shovelerslayer]

Sounds like it will make it more interesting when you hear something coming up your trail from now on. Never seen a grizzly, would like to, but not in the wrong situation!!

 

[tdhunter]

MAN! I would be scared to blow on that bear call, I mean Elk bugle anymore. I read here awhile back about how many turkey hunters get shot while calling. They attract another hunter who doesnt see them until they wave and BAM! the guy shoots before the turkey can get away and then realizes it wasn't a turkey afterall. So your lucky that bear didn't see you and take a shot at ya with your own gun. Just kiddin! Thats gotta really be awsome to be that close to such an animal. But if I where you I surely wouldn't wear any elk in heat sent while calling around there. TD

 

[Cda55]

You couldn't have pulled me out of that stand with a truck. Scary

 

[swampfox]

Great story Dave but it scares the hell outta me just thinking about it...I would have ran to the truck full bore!

 

[Cabin Fever Bob]

Did you go straight home to change your shorts or continue hunting?

That probably would have done me in for a while! Do you have a season for grizzlys?

 

[coyotebandit]

Time to start carrying a BIG sidearm Dave! Glad to see you made it through the ordeal ok, I would hate to read about what could have happened!

 

[D3Smartie]

I am glad you were up in your tree. Nothing worse than a big griz.
My dad's outfitter got mauled up in the yukon 2 years ago and a friend of ours who was on the trip had to take care of this guy for almost 24 hrs before help could arrive. Sleeping with this guy in a sleeping bad trying to keep him warm, dressing the wounds, forcing soup into him. A bad deal. Dont run from bears!!!

 

[Loye]

 

[JOE MACK]

Glad you're around to tell the tale. There's some places in the lower 48 even where blowing a varmint call, cow call, or bugle is a dangerous thing, too. A fired shot can be like a dinner bell in some areas. I'm waiting for the day when there are enough grizzlies down here that they start having hunting seasons for them. Makes for interesting hunting when something else challenges for the top of the food chain. RKBA!