I just got back from Utah on Friday from our elk hunt. My buddy Todd and I hunted the North Slope area in and around the High Uinta Wilderness, it was my first time up there. We arrived and set up camp on Friday right before it started to rain. Todd's friend Mark, who's a local up there, arrived a bit later and told us what areas might hold elk. The rain turned to snow and it snowed all Friday night into Saturday. On Saturday morning(opening day), we hiked up a canyon to where we thought the elk might be. We heard the traditional volley of shots that one hears on openers. Later that morning we saw the only elk taken that week we were there. A 4x? being taken out by a hunter and his buddy. Todd talked to him and found out that he was a local, and has hunted the area for years. While we were on stand next to a meadow, this huge moose just strolls out into the meadow. I couldn't believe what I saw. It was like something out of Jurassic Park. Before I could get my camera out, he was gone. Sunday it continued to snow off and on, and we went to the local diner to have a hot meal and say goodbye to Mark who had to take care of family matters and work that week before taking off to Colorado to hunt with his dad. We hunted that afternoon in an area that Mark liked and saw couple of moose grazing.[attachment=45786:2moose.jpg]
Monday was a beautiful day,we went to an area that Mark had suggested. It was a large park/meadow. Unfortunately, our biggest competitors(hunters on horses) were there. We didn't see any elk, but saw a lot of sign and heard some cow elk calling.
Tuesday we opted to not hunt. Instead, we dried out, did a little fishing and ate a bunch of food we didn't want to bring back home.
Wednesday was our last day to hunt, so we decided to head up to the first spot we hunted except much further in. Todd set on a vantage to where he had a good view of the opposite canyon wall. There was a lot of sign there, not to mention you could hear an occasional bull bugle. I went further up. The timber was really thick and I now know what black timber means. I found a spot to where I had a couple of shooting alleys from 15-60yds. I started using a cow call for a minute or so and gave it a rest. About 20 minutes later I hear twigs and branches breaking from a large beast walking. I chambered a round and turned into the direction of the noise. Instead of an elk, it was Bullwinkle looking at me from just a few yards, 10 at the most. He gives me a snort, walks to a tree a few paces away and starts thrashing it with his antlers. I suddenly felt like a Tokyo resident with Godzilla 2 doors down and my 280 was nothing more than a pop gun.
After thrashing the tree, he gives me another look and snorts again before strolling off. The rest of the day just seemed anticlimatic, except for the hike out. Saw a couple of moose, including the one we saw on the first day including a cow. We figured we covered about 14 miles that day.
Thursday, we broke camp and met Mark at Cabela's for lunch and told him about the hunt. It was a great hunt even thought we didn't tag out. We learned a lot and hope to use that knowledge on our next elk trip.
Monday was a beautiful day,we went to an area that Mark had suggested. It was a large park/meadow. Unfortunately, our biggest competitors(hunters on horses) were there. We didn't see any elk, but saw a lot of sign and heard some cow elk calling.
Tuesday we opted to not hunt. Instead, we dried out, did a little fishing and ate a bunch of food we didn't want to bring back home.
Wednesday was our last day to hunt, so we decided to head up to the first spot we hunted except much further in. Todd set on a vantage to where he had a good view of the opposite canyon wall. There was a lot of sign there, not to mention you could hear an occasional bull bugle. I went further up. The timber was really thick and I now know what black timber means. I found a spot to where I had a couple of shooting alleys from 15-60yds. I started using a cow call for a minute or so and gave it a rest. About 20 minutes later I hear twigs and branches breaking from a large beast walking. I chambered a round and turned into the direction of the noise. Instead of an elk, it was Bullwinkle looking at me from just a few yards, 10 at the most. He gives me a snort, walks to a tree a few paces away and starts thrashing it with his antlers. I suddenly felt like a Tokyo resident with Godzilla 2 doors down and my 280 was nothing more than a pop gun.
Thursday, we broke camp and met Mark at Cabela's for lunch and told him about the hunt. It was a great hunt even thought we didn't tag out. We learned a lot and hope to use that knowledge on our next elk trip.
