Major Butterflies

[paulc]

Just got back from scouting and watched a 7x7 bull and put him to bed. I now live where I hunt. This bull was about 2.5 miles from my house as a crow flies. I have been scouting every morning and evening for several weeks. I have been watching them just start sprouting antlers, go into velvet, lose velvet, travel in bachelor herds and now start to show interest in the herds of cows.
I have seen a legal bull every morning and evening for the last week some times the same one sometimes not.
I do know when hunting season starts it all changes. I saw what happened during turkey season.
After this season 2 of my kids have youth bull tags, then my brother has a muzzleloader a freind has a rifle and then in nov/dec wife bro and a bunch of freinds have cow tags.

yep i got butterflies. It all starts thurs.

 

[One Track]

I wish you great success in sticking your monster bull. Have fun.
Sounds like you got life by dee huevos.

 

[wmidbrook]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

yep i got butterflies. It all starts thurs.

[/b]

I hope they're flying in formation for ya...

I'm glad you've got it scouted out. Hopefully, it won't change too much on you by the time you're out there hunting.

Seriously, I'm getting worked up too. Heading out to the Gila in two more weeks....

I find I'm looking at maps, pouring through my gear lists, and thinking of last minute details.

 

[SDHNTR]

sounds awesome. Good luck paul.

 

[MEF]

Butterflies are what it's all about! Good luck! Mike

 

[eddiehsf]

Leaving on the 15th to NM

Shooting every night and working out every morning.

Good luck to all !!


Eddiehsf

 

[stv]

butterflies here also, we leave for montana on friday to have a "PERSONAL"

meeting with a couple of wapati and a couple of deer

 

[paulc]

guts are really churning now.
Went out this morning. Hiked into my glassing spot before daylight.
Daylight came saw a few does in the bowl/drainage. 10 minutes into it spotted a cow by herself (unusual).
Kept glassing 25 minutes into it another cow materialized. I am about 3/4 miles away. Way off on the other side of a bowl i see a bull. Doesnt seem like him. Get a better look it is a 5x5.
45 minutes into it I am ready to go hike into another drainage to glass. I check on the 2 cows and there he is. He is really big. almost an hour before I actually see him.
Now i am just worried that someone will hike into there and blow him out. 1.5 days until i can hunt him.

Even then I keep thinking can i get with in bow range. Will he stay there for 2 more dys? Will he get more cows and make it even tougher to get on him?

I figure i have about 20% odds of getting him with all the things that could go wrong.

I am making myself miserable.

 

[JDC]

Reading your description has made all my nerves stand on end. I've got my fingers crossed for you.

 

[SDHNTR]

paul, one thing I've learned bowhunting this year is that it's only impossible if you don't try.

 

[BOWUNTR]

SDHNTR said it right. Another thing that I have learned is to have a plan B, C... Good luck to all you guys. I'm heading to Co on the ninth for the last two weeks of the season, deer and elk. I'm getting nervous too.

Ed F

 

[dirtpoor]

paulc, good luck on your hunt, we're heading out to 6-c on the 13th we decided on 2nd season to be closer to the rut, hope we didn't make a mistake, Bill

 

[paulc]

couldnt find him last night or this morning. Will try again tonight. Tomorow its for real.

 

[younghunter]

Good Luck Paul! Sounds like you live in a great area! elk 2.5 miles away? Heck even I have to travel farther than that to see elk, about 3 miles .

Good Luck, im heading out for 4 days to go chase elk and mulies up in the Greys river.

Ernesto

 

[eddiehsf]

Paul

just looking for any news on your hunt. I hope things are looking good.

I still have 11 days until I leave, start hunting on the 19th.


eddiehsf

 

[One Track]

What's up Pablo????????

 

[paulc]

These elk have been eating my lunch.

The day before the season opened i couldnt find the 7x7.

Every single morning and evening i have been hunting hard. The last 2 days i have gotten very close. I have stalked several times within 40-50 yards of good bulls but because of brush, cows, and wind i have not gotten a shot off.

This morning i hiked all the way up to where i was to hunt in the dark thru the deadfalls of an old burn and was in my spot a half hour before light and went to knock an arrow and realized i forgot my release.

The last few evening hunts have gone like this. I hike into a remote area and about 20 minutes before shooting light gives out i hear a half hearted bugle. I haul a$$ over to the bugle and get there with barely any light, invariably the bull is surrounded by cows. I get my wind right (at this time of the day the wind is very fickle and will go any direction at a moments notice) and i have almost no time. I gotta make a move and so far I have just run out of luck.

This last 3 day weekend there were a ton of hunters out there and that pushed the elk out of alot of spots that i have been finding them (archery deer opened at the same time as well as bear).

the elk are not rutting yet, so they do not respond to calls unless you call running away from them responding.

I have a new respect for archery hunters that score bulls that are not in the rut.

This hunt goes till sept 22nd and i believe the last week will be the best as it is still getting to 85 degrees during the day and the elk are only moving out of the dark timber early morning and before dark (alot like hunting hogs in CA).

I have been seeing some very quality bulls. I watched a huge 6x6s antlers tear up a sapling (couldnt see the body) while 3 cows stared holes thru me for about 15 minutes finally the wind changed and the mexican standoff was no more.

There is a 5x5 with major mass that would be a shooter anywhere that i have been on twice. Glassed up maybe my 7x7 tonight and i am going in there tomorow morning.
he was on a bald hill with 14 cows. I have no clue on how to get in on him. With a rifle it would be a cinch. Hopefully i can get a little more luck.

That is the update. I will try to post a little more often. Every day has been an adventure. I have been up every morning at 4am hunt till about 8am come home catch up on my work and then go out around 5pm and have been getting home at 8:30 and the last 2 nights soaked down to my underwear (luckily have not been struck by lightning).

All in all it has been a thrill.

 

[One Track]

Thanks for the update. Sounds like you are closing in. Man, what an adventure. You might be guttin' that 7x7 I right now. Keep us posted, and good luck.

Side note: Carry a spare release in your pack. What's a few more ounces?

 

['Ike']

The suspense is kill'n me!!!

 

[wmidbrook]

Paul, that just sounds plain awesome.....glad you have such a great opportunity to go after those bulls...

Before you know it, we'll all be drueling over your success (at least I hope so)