11/1/03

Rattlesnake Creek

Last of the Mohicans was a lie! Well, at least the opening scene where the guys are running and keeping up with an elk…yeah right; I tried it there isn’t a chance in hell. I thought chukar could run up a mountain fast, elk run up ridge after ridge after ridge after...my legs hurt. I’ve covered some major ground bird hunting but I think yesterday could be close to the farthest steepest hunting I’ve ever done. Or, I’m just an old man. The elk were around and every hour or so I would see a few cows that kept leading me higher. I started the hunt heading up a ridge-line and just as I’m about to reach the top of the saddle I look down to see two elk move into some brush…yes at the bottom. So, I rush down to try and head them off because I didn’t see if they were cows or not. So I’m all the way back down, found the two elk, easy shot if I had a cow tag. I sat there for a while watching them when I heard lots of shooting up the other ridge from me. Not 5 minutes go by and I hear the herd calling to each other, then a few cows appear running across the hillside across from me, they slow but not for long. I’m scanning the cows for a spike when the big guy shows up at a fast pace. My first reaction is cool what a beautiful bull and then I remember I’m there to shoot at fellas like this guy. But he was to far for me to feel safe shooting at a running animal. If he had been walking or standing it would have been a long but doable shot. So I take off running after them, hoping they will hold up in the next brushy draw. Well running across a steep slope is not an easy thing for an old man. By the time I crested the ridge I was watching the elk in my binos cresting the next ridge…that is when all the shooting started. I watched as 3-4 hunters standing on a road unloaded in the direction of the bull. And listened to the at least 3 other volleys of shots ring-out further and further away. That bull ran quite the gauntlet. The rest of the day was spent following elk sign to cows, I had several within 30 yards…can you say “putting in for a cow tag next year”! I came home last night as my rubber legs wouldn’t have allowed me to hunt seriously today and there were just to many people for my taste…I’m going back on Wednesday. Wish me luck.