Good luck to all.

[hunterdoug]

So we're standing on the road and now it's 9:00 no blood after a search no nuthin I new it was a miss but we had to search the area for blood because I lost my arrow ok he calls his other buddy who happen to be hunting a mile up the road where we were last year says..... cows everywhere could have filled everyones tags... and a bull that is bugling...
he's got to go to work so we can hunt the eve if we want... YEA!
regrouped at camp fed napped refilled pack feed 5:00 head to upper spot.

 

[hunterdoug]

ok we get to the upper spot and decide to walk out the lower road to see what we can see, after about a half mile we look into a clear cut and he spots a cow and she is BIG! 80 yrds, we watch for about a minute and he say go for it, turns and dissapears into the trees behind us I decide there's no way to stalk across the opening and I'm going to swing hard left get by the pines and find a quiet path to close the distance. BIG COW 700+. 20 min later I find a path that gets me back to were she should be and bingo there she is... head down.. feeding. DAM still a long way (80 yrds) need to get closer! have a nice corridor with pines on each side 15 ft wide...light breeze in my face... let me get 5 steps... 6 puts me at 65 yrds... 1 step and the pines erupt to my right!!! her head comes up as I see 1, 2, 3, 4 cows and more running away at twelve o'clock there was about a dozen laying under the pines to my right... at about fourty yrds... followed by... yep the big boy I saw last year.. three on the crown, full fronts, full threes, WOW!!!! got a good look at him...I'm sure he's the same one we chased last year. DAM!! SO CLOSE!! and so gone!!!

 

[hunterdoug]

Boy the learning curve is steep on these guys. not like hunting deer. glad I'm getting some experience before drawing that coveted Cali tag. WOW
going back for the last week of the season. can't wait rayin :

 

[ORElkBow]

orelkbow,
I leave on the 11th and hopefully they are bugling when we get there.
Last time they were already with cows and totally silent, plus the temps were in the 80's. It's supposed to start dropping down into the 70's with a shower or two...

Good news for ya. The bulls have now seperated from the herds and are alone each on their own hill tops. Shouldn't be any longer when they start to do their own ritual singing and dancing. They should start to get more vocal at the end of this week. Good luck on the hunt come the 11th.

 

[ORElkBow]

I am in full swing with hunting, just im not doing any. we where successful in getting my uncle a nice pronghorn in north eastern CA last week, i will post pictures as soon as my uncle sents them to me. stay tuned for a story in the pronghorn section. its looking like i am going to get to go back home and chase around the black tails on closing weekend. my archery season took a beating do to scouting goats for my uncle and shooting my blackpowder gun in preperation for my November mulie hunt. it will nice to get out and fling some sticks.

where you able to get any of the newbies on a bull?

Nice. Congrats on the pronghorn hunt and will wait for the story. I will post the story at the bottom.

 

[ORElkBow]

On way back after seeing some good bulls on my honey holes,and didn't see any bow hunters! If they will just stay out of there for a month!!!! And saw some monster bulls down by my ranch,next year>> You OR guys,Good luck and good hunting!!

Alrite. Well good luck to ya also.

 

[ORElkBow]

Boy the learning curve is steep on these guys. not like hunting deer. glad I'm getting some experience before drawing that coveted Cali tag. WOW
going back for the last week of the season. can't wait rayin :

Glad to hear you had some excitement. Thanks for sharing the story. I hope you get another crack at that bull on the last week brother. Good luck.

 

[ORElkBow]

8/28/09

Well guys, no money shot just yet but only a story.

Myself and Jim, my long time hunting partner, went out to setup camp. We left the house around 14:00 ish and got to camp at 15:30. Had camp set in less than 15 mins. As you can tell from the pic below, camp wasn't that hard to setup.

We both took a good nap and got up at 18:00 for some evening glassing. Threw our daypacks in the bed and drove up the mountain. As we got to the old skid road, we had to park and hike up what we call the "Skinny C'yote Hill". As we cleared the tree line, a mile in, we can already smell elk. I took up the glass and started scanning along the edge of the tree line. I spotted movement about 500 yrds away and yep, it was an elk. So I whispered to Jim and we started heading up the hill to get to our vantage point. As we got there and started glassing, the elk we saw had disappeared. We sat there and kept glassing as a calf and cow came out of the timber to feed out on the clearing. All of a sudden a small 4x4 satellite bull came out behind them. Then another cow and another one, and another one, and.....you get it now right. Well the whole herd came out as if we were making popcorn and guess who came out last. Well, Mr.5x6 walked out with his nose in the air and started chasing the last cow around. We were excited as we wish the newb's had been there to see them. And so we glassed them and watched their behavior until it started raining. As we watched them crest the knob we told each other, "Man, these elk aren't going to be easy to hunt", as by watching their behavior, they weren't active yet.

So we left them alone as we knew they were just going to bed in those timber. Now on to the next ridge. As we topped the next ridge in the rain, we could barely glass anymore with fog setting in fast. So we decided to cut the top of the mountain and cross over to the other side. By the time we got there, it had stop raining and the wind started picking up coming from our back. We had never really scouted this side of the mountain before so we decided to go ahead and just take our chance. As we found this old logging road down 300 yrds from us, we decided to go down to it and walk it aways, as there won't be much daylight pretty soon. As we got to an clearcut we decided, that'll be as far as we will go before it gets dark. Then as fast as the rain and fog came in, the clouds broke up, sunlight shun through. And there before us was a rainbow. I'll be 29yrs old this year, and have never seen both ends of an rainbow. But today, it was before my eyes. Well I took that as a sign from the Most High and as I was digging through my bag for the camera, what do you know. EEEAAAAWWW!!! Me and Jim looked at each other. "Did you hear that?" "Did you?" I tought I did. "Which direction it'd come form?" "Straight below us", Jim said. So we huckered down in this little dip and started walking towards the edge of the drop off to where the calf sounded off. As we got to the edge and peeked into the bottom, well no sign of elk. Then EEAAWWW, EEAAA, EEAAWWW,EEAA, EEA, and we looked and this clearing in the thickets on the other side and there was the whole herd just feeding on the hillside. All the calf were just jumping around :smiley-mouse: kind of like this mouse. Well we didn't find any pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but we found something much better. As we glassed the herd, there was no big bulls except three spikes. So we decided to glass the surrounding hillsides and found this lone elk bedded about 1 mile across the canyon. This elk was on the north slope in the timber, bedded in this little opening about half way up the mountain. We could see antlers on him, just couldn't tell how big he was.

We decided to leave them alone and go back to camp to see what our plans for opening morning will be and which newB will hunt with who and which herd.

Like hunterdoug, this is my ciggarette break.

 

[easymoney]

Great story orelkbow, and not bad for a youngster... Just kidding.
The best memories I have are the close calls and the misses, because they all had some element of severe difficulty attached to them. I think back on those trips much more than the slam dunks.
I turn 58 soon and would love to score on a good bull with a bow on public land and this year just might be the ticket...

 

[ORElkBow]

8/29/09 Opening

Thanks EasyMoney. I look at it this way, I'm 29, have a wife and 3 boys and so that makes me old, especially the wife part. LOL.

Okay back from my ciggarette break.

Jim and I made it back to the truck in the dark, beat up and soaked. We weren't sure if we could take the newb's in the morning but it was well worth it. Got back to camp around 22:00 and got dinner cooking. We sat,ate and thought out our plans. Well we drew sticks and looks like I'll be hunting with Jim's younger brother while he hunts with his uncle. As for the other newb, he's got an tree stand so he'll be hunting alone. The newbz left us a message on our cell phone saying they weren't gonna make till early morning so we decided to call it a night and sleep in.

We tossed and turn the whole night as the air warmed up and nothing except elk and the smell of elk urine was on our mind. Well, the alarm did come on at 3:00 but we both were up at 2:30 already. We brewed some coffee and had a little snack while waiting for the newbz to show up. They finally showed up at 3:30. Let me tell ya, that 1 hr period felt like forever as we were excited to tell them we bedded a couple of herds for them. We showered (yes we had hot water), ate breakfast, and sprayed down. We told them our plans, packed up and drove up the mountain at 4:30. As we got to the old skidroad and hiked up Skinny C'yote and cleared the treeline, it was almost light. We had heavy fog and light drizzle. The ground was damp and perfect for hunting these elk but then at the same time, it makes for them big animals to come in silently also.

Well we split up as we got to the vantage point. Jim and his uncle decided to hunt the first herd we bedded the night before. We left them and started to crest the mountain top. I had Green, the newb with the treestand, stake out one of the elk's bedding travel route as me and Chewy went over the mountain.

As we finally made it to the clearcut we saw the herd in, we got into position and waited out for sun-up. We sat and turned our ears to see if we could hear any bugles or cow chirps. Nope, nothing. The whole canyon was quiet. As day lighted up, we started glassing the openings we saw the elk in the night before, and saw nothing. I gave a few calf and cow calls and no answer. We sat there for another 30 mins calling every 5 mins but nothing was around or nothing seemed interested. So we took off on the old logging road with the wind in our face and headed west. We would stop every so often to call but didn't get any answer. As we got closer to where two canyons met, I decided to let out a locating bugle. And so I did. EEEEEEEEEooooo. Then 2 sec later, BAM an answer. A bugle came from the bottom left. So we hurried down the old logging road and made it to the thickets. There was some fresh tracks working down the road as well. We knew we were into elk. So with our hearts pounding and Chewy asking me, "What should we do, what should we do?" Well I told him, if you want them we have to get within range and start calling. So then I let out another bugle. EEEEEEOOOOoooo. Another 2 secs later, BAMMM he hammered right back. This time he sounds closer and aggressive. I told Chewy, "This bull sounds big. We have to get closer". So we sprinted down the road all the way to where both the canyons met and narrows in. Well I let out another bugle and BAMM he hammered right back. So I cow called, no answer. I bugled, he hammered. I cow called again, no answer. Hmmm, this is weird. So I listened carefully and thought carefully in my mind, then I bugled one more time. I have now calmed myself down and came to realized that we've been chasing my own echoe all along. It took longer for the echoe to bounce back at us when we were still higher up and the canyons were still far apart. And so now, I know how I sound when I bugle. LOL. Wasn't gonna share this part but I just had to. Hey this is the first time I'd ever done this. I didn't tell those canyons to be sooo spread apart. Well Chewy asked me, is this how we're suppose to elk hunt and I told him, yes this is how we practice.

Feeling stupid and all, after we both had a good laugh, we headed back up the road. We got back to the top where we were glassing the first time and started glassing. I decided to glass the whole hillside where I saw a lone bull bedded the night before. Working from the bottom, there was not much openings. As I got closer to the top, I saw a cow feeding in this little opening. I told Chewy to keep tabs on her while I scan around. Then I saw a bull feeding 100 yrds above her. I told Chewy I spotted a bull and we glassed him for an hour. He finally disappeared into the timber and we planned out a stalk. There was no way we could drop into the bottom from where we were standing. The only way will require a three mile hike around and then hike through some douglas firs and just hope we end up where we saw him. And so that's what we did. We finally got to the other side and it's already 14:00. We decided to sit back and have lunch and wait until he comes back out to feed. Well we sat and sat and sat and finally we heard twigs breaking above us. It was 18:00. Yeap we sat for 4 hrs. We got up and started glassing the tree line. All we saw was ANTLERS, HORNS, STICKERS, CROWNS. The bull stepped out and my jaw just dropped. I ranged him, 243 yrds. We couldn't move as he was right above us and it was too clear with nothing to hide behind. So I decided to cow call if he would come down. Nope, as soon as I cow called, a cow popped up 200 yrds. The whole time she was bedded there ontop of us and we didn't even know. Well she stood there staring at us and felt something wasn't right and slowly walked off back into the timber. The bull stood around, still interested, but slowly took off after the cow. I told Chewy lets back out and not mess this up since they are not hot yet. I told him, let's give him one more week and when he is hot, so are we.

This bull is a 6x7 with a crown and some little stickers. Nice heavy thick main beams. A true trophy Rosie. My time of hunting these Rosies, I've never seen one this big even the ones in our wildlife refuges. I told Chewy, we did not find gold at the end of the rainbow but we found somn better. We found the Daddy'O of all daddies in this area and now we know where he lives.

This bull has now been named, "The Rainbow Bull" who lives on Rainbow Mountain.

We didn't get him this time, but the quest for The Rainbow Bull has now begun.

As for the other guys, Jim had a lonely 4x4 satellite come in to his uncle at 34 yrds and he missed. Went right over the back. They also had the herd coming their way but the lead cow winded them and they spooked. As for Green, he shot at a fork blacktail from the treestand at 45 yrds and missed. Went right under him. This was our opening morning story for our 09' Oregon ElkBow season. Stay tuned for, "The quest for Rainbow Bull".

 

[Jake F]

ORElkBow Sounds like an eventfull weekend, i can't wait to see the pix of the "Rainbow Bull" when you get him.

GOOD LUCK!!!!


Jake atiotic-wavin-flag

 

[goindeep]

Come on guys! I need to see some pics before I head to colorado this sunday. I drew a muzzy deer tag, but I'm arriving a week early to bow hunt elk and scout for deer.

 

[ORElkBow]

Come on guys! I need to see some pics before I head to colorado this sunday. I drew a muzzy deer tag, but I'm arriving a week early to bow hunt elk and scout for deer.

goindeep,

I wish I had some pics for ya but we couldn't make it happen. Only misses and near calls. I didn't finish the story because it would take too long to write but we had a very eventful week so far. We got into elk everyday we've been out and the newbies are all hyped up to get out this weekend again. If I was holding the bow in my hands maybe I'll have some pics but not this year.

The elk are just not vocal right now and so we've decided to let the area kool down. Plus our legs need some rest from our Oregon jungle. Well, good luck to ya in Colorado and hope you come back with the pics.

 

[hunterdoug]

ORElkbow whats the latest on the rainbow bull? did the newbies score on anything yet?... had a good black tail hunt over labor day went to the yolla boly wilderness with my buddy that knows the area I missed a nice 4x4 with some stickers and an acorn on the left shot 2" over his shoulder at about 18 yrds he was covered in brush all I could see was shoulder neck and rack guessed him at 30 yrds LOOSER!! he then trotted down on to the skid road I was on, knocked another arrow came to full draw arrrow falls off rest onto my wrist, stare down at 20 yrds LOOSER!!! saw two more 4x4s and a spike no deals. going back to medford on the 21st for the last week got a new trophy taker rest so my arrow can't fall off,
re-sighting all my pins. will be ready hope you guys see some action soon.

 

[ORElkBow]

ORElkbow whats the latest on the rainbow bull? did the newbies score on anything yet?... had a good black tail hunt over labor day went to the yolla boly wilderness with my buddy that knows the area I missed a nice 4x4 with some stickers and an acorn on the left shot 2" over his shoulder at about 18 yrds he was covered in brush all I could see was shoulder neck and rack guessed him at 30 yrds LOOSER!! he then trotted down on to the skid road I was on, knocked another arrow came to full draw arrrow falls off rest onto my wrist, stare down at 20 yrds LOOSER!!! saw two more 4x4s and a spike no deals. going back to medford on the 21st for the last week got a new trophy taker rest so my arrow can't fall off,
re-sighting all my pins. will be ready hope you guys see some action soon.

Sound like you had fun. Sorry about all the misses but hey at least you got to let the stick fly.

Well for the newbies, none has connected so far. Just lots and lots of close calls. These critters are just getting sooooo smart this year. We've let it kool down for a bit here in the coastal areas. All the newbies and some buddies are out in eastern Oregon for a 10 day trip chasing rockies while I'm here at home. Just got back from squirrel hunting with my wife and some few couples from church. We had a blast out there. Got to see some bowhunters tagged a nice 4x5 bull and a 4x4 blacktail. I brought my bow along but didn't see any bucks except for does and fawns.

I'll be taking out an 18 yr old newbie this weekend and hope to share his first kill with him and his pops.

About the "RAINBOW BULL", he's either dead or gone nocturnal. Other hunters have saw him and have been hunting him also. Three days straight, we saw three different hunters going after him so we haven't had a chance to chase him around. I just hope they haven't killed him so we can chase him around when the newbies come back from eastern OR, unless they've all filled their tags already.

Good luck to ya next trip.

 

[ORElkBow]

Hunterdoug,

I posted also here in the elk hunting forum my cousins success out in eastern oregon.

As he was callin for the newbies, the 6x6 bull decided he wanted to down wind them to size up I guess. As the bull passed the newbie 60 yrds not providing him a shot, he came in 19 yrds to my cousin who was doing the callin. Standing broadside to Jim, as the bull turned to look back at his cows, Jim went full draw and sticked him behind the shoulders thru both lungs. The bull ran 40 yrds and crashed. He tried for the newbies but I guess the bull was wanted to commit suicide as he only wanted cousin Jim.

That's it so far as they still have 5 days to go unless they decide to come home earlier.

 

[ORElkBow]

Arite, as I was typing the upper post I was interrupted by a phone call from Jim. Here is the latest news.

Jim called in another 6x, which he said was bigger then the one he shot, for one of the newbie. The bull came in following the lead cow. As the cow came in to within 35 yrds, she winded them and busted out. The bull didn't know what was goin on so he stopped and looked around as Jim cow called. The newbie drew as the bull was 40 yrds broadside and his release opened before he even had it centered. Missed. The bull ran another 10 yrds and was stopped by Jim's cow calls. The newbie drew again and was shaking too much that he did the same thing. The release opened before he even got it centered. Missed again. The bull took off and they just came back to camp.

The other two newbies are still chasing and trying to bed a herd of elk as I'm typing this. They got the bull to bugle at them but he won't come in. He's probably just herding up his cows or somn.

Man, those guys are just having fun as I'm here phoning them for recent updates. This sucks for me but I'm just glad their having fun chasing elk around. One good news is, Jim found the remains of the spike bull I shot 2 yrs ago 200 yrds from where I shot him. The remains were behind a downed log by the wallow which we did check that morning and evening I shot it. Man I spent the whole day and a half looking for that spike and almost pulled out the hair that I don't have. So now he's bringing home the skull for me because he said I worked too hard just for that spike.

Well that's the latest on the newbies.