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TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

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TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 01, 2022 •  [Post 1]

Thanks for the tip IS!!!

Hopefully I can find something worthy of posting over the next 10 days!!! Good luck everyone. I will post updates. A little more than 18 hours until legal shooting time.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Indian Summer » 09 01, 2022 •  [Post 2]

No matter what you have to say it’s worthy. Good bad or ugly it’s reality. It’s an elk hunt. I don’t leave for another 5 weeks so I’ll gladly tag along.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby 7mmfan » 09 01, 2022 •  [Post 3]

Same. I have a couple bear hunts planned between now and my elk hunt but man I can't wait for crisp October mornings in the mountains and the smell of elk on the air.
I hunt therefore I am. I fish therefore I lie.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby maxracx » 09 01, 2022 •  [Post 4]

Good luck!!!
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 01, 2022 •  [Post 5]

My buddy Don just arrived from Missouri. We met in an online hunting forum. This will be his first ever Western hunt. He is in for $1,300 in licenses before the season starts tomorrow morning. Deer, elk, and bear.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 02, 2022 •  [Post 6]

Opening morning. Got on stand at 5:25. Sitting over a feeding meadow. The meadow is about 50 yds across and about 300 yds long. My headlamp shined on a set of eyes as I entered the field in the dark.. Don't know what it was but it didn't seem to spook. We'll see.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Indian Summer » 09 02, 2022 •  [Post 7]

You can tell it’s Don’s first western hunt. He sure has a lot of stuff! You’re treestand hunting?

Back up a little and tell us where you are. Have you hunted the area before? Is it remote or easy access?
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 02, 2022 •  [Post 8]

I told him exactly what to bring, but he didn't listen! I am in Colorado high country units 18 and 28. I take my truck about 5 miles up an old logging road (very rough) and tent camp about 300 yds from my truck in National Forest. I have been hunting this area for over 15 years. That picture is from a ground blind. Not a treestand. I have 5 or 6 groundblinds corresponding to all of my trailcams. Just came in for breakfast and I am going to the woodpile blind tonight. It is a major travel corridor and could have elk, deer, or bear based on pics over the past 3 weeks!
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby six » 09 02, 2022 •  [Post 9]

Post away! Elk hunting vicariously through wapititalk this year. Love the blind.
Elk are where you find em...
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 02, 2022 •  [Post 10]

Made it to the woodpile blind at 2:30. That gives me 5.5 hours of shooting time! It's 70°+ and I just have a single shirt on.....(scent free of course!).
I'm super hopeful about tonight. When I wake up in mid-February from an "elk dream", this is the place I am dreaming about.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Indian Summer » 09 02, 2022 •  [Post 11]

Did you think he’d listen? They just want to make sure they’re ready for anything. A second hunt is do much different than a first. 15 years is a long time. The area must be worth sticking around. You have to know it well by now too. Post away!
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 02, 2022 •  [Post 12]

I just had two cow moose eating mushrooms at 30 yds for 10 minutes! It is literally the only license that I don't have.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 02, 2022 •  [Post 13]

I just had a giant....atleast 5 point bull elk at 20 yds and couldn't get a shot off. I think I'm going to cry. The first time I saw him, he was already at 20 yds and behind me? I never heard him and couldn't get turned around!!
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 09 02, 2022 •  [Post 14]

Thegreatwapiti wrote:I just had a giant....atleast 5 point bull elk at 20 yds and couldn't get a shot off. I think I'm going to cry. The first time I saw him, he was already at 20 yds and behind me? I never heard him and couldn't get turned around!!


That… was a good day mister! They can be quiet like church mice for such big creatures. You’ll get one to come home for dinner this year…
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 03, 2022 •  [Post 15]

I was on stand at 5:15 this morning a full 45 minutes before shooting time. I'm back at the same woodpile blind as last night. After seeing 3 moose, an elk, a deer, and after being snorted at by two other animals, I couldn't resist. It was like a petting zoo around here last night! This is normally an evening stand so I had to find my way in the dark and got here earlier than expected.

As for last night, I usually get down on myself when something goes wrong and I don't get the shot/situation perfect. Like somehow I should have planned better. I didn't feel that way at all. After getting out the rangefinder, that bull elk was actually 16 yds away, standing broadside before I ever saw him. I never heard a twig snap or anything. In fact, if I looked over my left shoulder I couldn't see him and if I looked over my right shoulder I couldn't see him. He walked in on the perfect line (for him). THE GREAT WAPITI -1, TheGreatWapiti - 0.

Today is a new day and I am blessed to be in the woods!! PEACE
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 03, 2022 •  [Post 16]

I heard a distant bugle at 7:11. I know it was 7:11 because I had just looked at my watch and I was thinking about slurpees. I blew a cow call and within 10 seconds I got a closer bugle. About 30 seconds later I heard a 3rd bugle which sounded inside of 100 yds. Followed by complete silence and no animal? Might have got winded or possibly he didn't like my call but either way it was exciting! That has got to be one of the coolest sounds in nature.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 03, 2022 •  [Post 17]

Saw a moose on the way out tonight and no other animals. That is 8 moose in 4 days. Someone should tell the Colorado DOW to give out more licenses! The only positive from the evening was the steaks, onions, and mushrooms we had for dinner. Pretty good backcountry grub!
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Lefty » 09 03, 2022 •  [Post 18]

Whoo hoo good stuff!!

being in the woods with such wonderful conditions is just great Keep the stories coming.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 04, 2022 •  [Post 19]

My set up is as follows; Truck (at the end of the road), 25 yds up the hill is food prep area, another 25yds up is non-food trash and supplies, and finally another 25yds up the hill is my tent. I always keep food and food trash in the truck about 75 yds from the tent.
WE GOT HIT BY A BEAR LAST NIGHT within 25 yds of my tent. The bear tipped over a couple of non-food supply bins and tore open the trash bag.....nothing to find there. The bear also went down to the food prep area and tipped over bins....the only thing damaged was a can of green beans! Go figure! I'm glad the bear didn't close the final
25 yards!!!
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 04, 2022 •  [Post 20]

I had bacon and egg and orange juice for breakfast.
SERIOUS QUESTION - Would it be illegal bear baiting to hunt over my own campsite and my human food? I have a bear license, so what would happen if I was just too lazy to clean the frying pan of the bacon grease and just built a groundblind right outside of my tent? Thoughts?
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 04, 2022 •  [Post 21]

Just to be clear, I'm elk hunting and I'm going to my elk hunting spots. I just found it odd that I have a bear license (which I would love to see while elk hunting) but I do everything I can to keep them out of camp the rest of the time! Quit a dichotomy.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Lefty » 09 04, 2022 •  [Post 22]

Bears in camp are never friends.
Always wanting something for nothing, big party animals, make a mess wreck things. :shock: :o

I say kill em :) :)

You are getting decent cell reception. The other day I had to drive a 1/2 hour to make a poor reception call to my wife.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 04, 2022 •  [Post 23]

Back at the woodpile blind tonight. Checked the cam before setting up and this big boy came by yesterday at 11:47am during the middle of the hot day. I think I was in camp making a sandwich. Plus, everyone knows that elk don't move during the day!

I'm pretty sure that is the same elk that snuck in on me opening day.
THE GREAT WAPITI - 2, TheGreatWapiti - 0.

Hopefully the 3rd time is the charm.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Jhg » 09 04, 2022 •  [Post 24]

Thegreatwapiti wrote:...this big boy came by yesterday at 11:47am during the middle of the hot day. I think I was in camp making a sandwich.. .


Dude.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Jhg » 09 04, 2022 •  [Post 25]

I always felt killing "camp" animals was something best left to others. Not talking bears actually tearing stuff up and not responding to being driven off of course. But nuisance bears? It seems unsporting.
There is/was a nice bear near our camp this week. No tag but I would def be psyched to arrow him "out there". In the parking lot, no thanks.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 04, 2022 •  [Post 26]

As jokingly predicted, I returned to camp tonight to find this guy, tearing apart our bins. I grabbed my bow, not my pistol and ran down the trail after him. It was the biggest, blackest bear I have ever seen. I got to 30 yds and he growled at me. I backed off and he circled around the camp. I nocked an arrow and let fly at last light. We've been looking for blood for over an hour and found none. I didn't range him so I may have shot high. I definitely scared him (a little). We will check for blood in the morning. I feel like I would have been justified shooting him with my .38 but I have a bear license so I tried to do it the "right way." Don't know how well I am going to sleep tonight. We definitely have a very large, nuisance bear in camp.

Trail cam pic from a month ago but definitely the same bear!!
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Jhg » 09 04, 2022 •  [Post 27]

Wow. Hope you find him. Two kinds of bears. Alpha and all the rest. Sounds like an alpha.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 05, 2022 •  [Post 28]

No blood.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Jhg » 09 05, 2022 •  [Post 29]

Bears can leave no blood their hair is so thick, or so I have read.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 09 05, 2022 •  [Post 30]

TGW, sounds like you didn’t find the arrow?
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 05, 2022 •  [Post 31]

Also no arrow.....correct. I am hoping I stuck it in his arse and all the other bears at laughing at him???
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Elkhunttoo » 09 05, 2022 •  [Post 32]

My brother in law shot a bear out of his tree stand Saturday night…ate bear back straps yesterday…good luck on the bulls…no bulls with cows where I’m at yet…not 1 bull on trail camera yet…hopefully they move in in the next few days…keep after them wapiti
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 05, 2022 •  [Post 33]

Spent several hours looking for my bear/arrow today. No luck. I did find a sweet little wallow when I was looking so I took 20 minutes and built a little groundblind. I will be hunting in new territory tonight!
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 06, 2022 •  [Post 34]

Tip of the day: Don't build your groundblind in a tree that looks like this! About 2 hours into my evening sit last night, a pine marten climbed down the tree and hissed at me from 3 feet. I was immediately evicted!!

They are super cute creatures until they try to rip out your esophagus.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 06, 2022 •  [Post 35]

Two words for tonight.......GHILLIE SUIT.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Indian Summer » 09 06, 2022 •  [Post 36]

Picture of breakfast in broad daylight. Picture of a dinner fit for a king. Picture of bull walking by exact hunting spot during shooting hours. Omg!

I have an agreement with myself. If I ever have to go home with an unpunched tag I won’t be able to say I wish I did that, I should have done this… or I wish I didn’t do that. I’m not talking about mistakes I make while I’m out hunting. That’s going to happen until the day I can’t hunt elk anymore. There are things I can control and things I can’t. I can’t control the weather. I can’t control the elk. But I can control my time management. I’ll be the first to admit that lots of people would not consider hunting like I do fun. In many ways it’s no different than the way anyone else hunts. But I never take my foot off the gas pedal. Ever. Believe me when I tell you I have conversations with myself!

They go something like”Omg I’m tired! This sleeping bag is so nice. Heaven! I could probably just get a late start and regroup a little. What! Shut up! You can’t be freaking serious! How months did you wait for the opportunity to go up that damn mountain and kill an elk? But omg I’m sore too. Coffee and breakfast at the crack of 9:00 sounds like a dream. Shut up knucklehead! Just put one foot in front of the other. Start by opening the sleeping bag up and getting those merino bases on. Yep… that bull that walked away the day before yesterday isn’t going to be so lucky today. Today is the day!”

And off I go. I never say to myself on the way home, and next week, next month, “I wish I didn’t take that day off” Or “I should have stayed up there until dark” Nope. I coach myself. Push! Yes I take naps. After glassing from the pre dawn light for about 2-3 hours. But I don’t miss sunrise. I might wake up here and there and glass and listen during those naps. I might miss something. But not because I wasn’t out in the hills. It’s because a man only has so much gas in his tank. I’ll run on fumes to hunt early and late but at some point I will need to close my eyes. But I won’t say I wish I didn’t do that. It was a necessity. At 57 years old, 5ft 6 inches, and 205 lbs I have my work cut out for me. But I have 49 weeks to heal before I do it again.

There is one thing I tell myself on a regular basis. In my sleeping bag, when I want to get to the top of a hill that makes me feel 2 inches tall, or when I’m thinking about giving up a bunch of elevation to check an area out. I say to myself…. “Self, if you get your fat ass moving and just do it you might be quartering out a bull in 45 minutes and guess what… you can sleep in tomorrow!!!!”

But until that happens…. I push. Like my life depends on it. Is there something wrong with me? :lol:

Before you answer…… I talk to my horses and chipmunks too. They think there’s something wrong with me. Haha!
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 06, 2022 •  [Post 37]

I'm not sure why you are posting this on my thread.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 06, 2022 •  [Post 38]

Indian Summer wrote:No matter what you have to say it’s worthy. Good bad or ugly it’s reality. It’s an elk hunt..


Also, aren't you the guy who said this? Sorry It wasn't worthy.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 06, 2022 •  [Post 39]

Pork chops, corn, a dinner roll, and a big glass of milk.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Indian Summer » 09 06, 2022 •  [Post 40]

It is worthy. There’s always something to be learned. I just said I’m probably not normal when it comes to elk hunting. We can only be in one place at a time so even if you are out hunting it can take 10 days to end up at the right place at the right time.

Apologies if I upset you. I didn’t mean to. It’s just a peculiar site for me to see pictures like that. For entertainment I read the packages of Mountain House meals. We talk about so many things… so many aspects of elk hunting. To me the number one factor is time.

There are guys worse than me. Lots of them. Cameron Hanes type guys who weigh their food and live on peanut butter and bananas. Sleep in little mobile bivy sacks. Those guys are tough! I know for sure I couldn’t handle that. I have enough physical limitations. To make up for them I really strive to maximize every hour of my time.

The other main factor is your area and it seems like a really good spot. So far so good. I feel like you’re going to kill something any day from one of those ground blinds. I might make a breakfast sandwich and break it out when I got where I was going. A reasonable compromise.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby 7mmfan » 09 06, 2022 •  [Post 41]

Don't pay IS no mind, he's a maniac. :) You're doing you and hunting the way you see fit and have had close encounters already. Keep at it and go kill one.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 06, 2022 •  [Post 42]

Thanks 7mm. Just trying to live the dream.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Indian Summer » 09 06, 2022 •  [Post 43]

The truth is I’ll probably die up there someday. Definitely don’t mind me. It’s an annual test for me. Not just a hunt. If I can’t go it’s official… I’m old. I’m trying to avoid that. I gotta go now I need some Aleve. For real. Arthritis. Can’t hear either. Kinda cranky once in awhile. I just realized something. I’m Swede!
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 07, 2022 •  [Post 44]

I had 2 bulls bugling late into the night last night, one to the north and one to the south. I was trapped on my stand past dark! The one to my north was between me and camp so when I left, I went far west and then turned north to leave him alone. It was about an extra 30 minute walk, but I'm hoping they both bedded somewhere nearby.
Got up early this morning and took the long way back to the hunting grounds. I didn't blow anything out on the way up the mountain so hopefully they are nearby. I got on stand at 5:20 for a 6:05 shooting time.
I hope everyone has a terrific day. PEACE
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby 7mmfan » 09 07, 2022 •  [Post 45]

Good luck, keep on eye on your 6 so that big 5 pt doesn't sneak up on you again!
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Tigger » 09 07, 2022 •  [Post 46]

I love following this hunt! I leave in 8 more wakeups! Gotta bunch of stuff to do and Saturday is my anniversary!

I will be checking back often to see if one of those bulls is still around.....!
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 07, 2022 •  [Post 47]

The arrow has been found ....... the bear is alive! First of all, even though we looked all over, I actually was mistaken on which shooting lane I was in. With the impending darkness and my concern for living, I didn't pay attention to my exact location. Lesson learned! It would have been easy to drag my foot across the line or lay a branch in the direction of fire.
That being said, we had been looking for an arrow that went long, mine went short. The bear was standing in front of a tree that was 25 yds away. The arrow went into the exposed root of that tree, about 1 yard before and was buried under grasses. I put my sights between the 20 and 30 pin when I shot but my arrow must have only traveled
23-24 yds. I literally shot right under his belly. I am so relieved that I have resolution, and the bear hasn't been back since.
Back on stand for the rest of the night!
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Tigger » 09 07, 2022 •  [Post 48]

Good luck on stand. I assume it is hot there? We cool off on Friday.

By the way, don't worry about all of those ants running around below you. they will leave you alone. probably. :lol:
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 07, 2022 •  [Post 49]

Thank you and happy Anniversary to you and your spouse!! Record high in town today! It is 80° right now. The hike up the hill was a beast.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Jhg » 09 07, 2022 •  [Post 50]

The good thing, besides not wounding the bear, is he learned a lesson because you chased him away ie you started calling the shots, not him. The growl was probably his last attempt at intimidation and he got an arrow at him for it. Basic animal psychology. Won't work with a grizzly, though. (So I have read)
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 08, 2022 •  [Post 51]

Today is my 32nd wedding anniversary. I am grateful, lucky, and blessed to have her in my life. Every year I give her the same gift, two weeks of being in charge of the remote and not having to deal with me and my madness.

As I sit in the high meadow this morning 45 minutes before shooting time, I keep wondering where are all of the elk? Last year this field was thick with elk and trailcams spotted elk all summer this year. Is it the weather (heat)? Is it the bears and moose in the area? Is it something else? Thoughts? Today is morning 7 of an 8 day hunt with my friend from Missouri. I wish I could have put him on some more animals, but we have both hunted hard and put in our time.

I will be leaving the mountain for Denver on Saturday so I can reload supplies, wash myself and my clothes, and get back up the mountain on Tuesday. Hopefully we will connect in the next 36 hours, but if not, I will certainly check back in next week. Good luck to everyone. Thanks for all your support. I continue to become a better hunter by the things I learn from you guys. Have a great day. PEACE
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Jhg » 09 08, 2022 •  [Post 52]

I hate to be the one to say it but if you had stayed on stand that day instead of going back to camp your bull would be posted on meatpole and this whole thread would have been about him.

When its this hot and there are so many hunters sometimes you only get a couple three chances. I make mistakes too and have done exactly what you did, but now do not go back to camp because the one time I did I missed the elk and that was it for the season. (3rd rifle, 5 days).

I see nice mature bulls mid-day early season.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 08, 2022 •  [Post 53]

Wow Jhg.....2 posts in one morning.....message received.....loud and clear. It wasn't even that great of a sandwich! Definitely a blown opportunity.

I have a shot at it next week. Message received!!
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Jhg » 09 08, 2022 •  [Post 54]

Ok, will shut up.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 09, 2022 •  [Post 55]

It's 5:28 on the last morning of my eight day hunt. I'm sitting in my stand and just heard my first bugle of the morning. We were put to bed last night by sounds of bugles coming from every direction. It's coming......THEY'RE BACK!!!

I will be back next week to work on phase 2 of my hunt. PEACE
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 09, 2022 •  [Post 56]

I just got home after 11 days in the mountains and I still have 6 blocks of ice. The cooler was in my warm truck the entire 11 days and there was record heat? How is the possible? Let me share a trick with you on my next post.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 09, 2022 •  [Post 57]

Apparently is has to do with physics and I barely finished algebra. I make my own ice blocks out of ice cubes. There is more surface area to melt. A single block only has six sides, but a block of ice made of ice cubes has thousands of sides.
I take ice cubes and fill a gallon sized zipper bag about half full of ice cubes. Then I add water to the bag to bring it to about 2/3 full. I seal the bag and put it in a baking dish about the same size as my cooler, and then I freeze blocks. When frozen, I turn over the dish, the ice falls out and I make another. I will have 5-6 "super" blocks when I leave again next week.
That tip was free, from now on you gotta pay for them.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 09, 2022 •  [Post 58]

Final summary of first 8 days hunting;

2 experienced hunters with 2 elk tags, 2 deer tags, and 2 bear tags. We spent a combined 150+ hours in the forest over 8 days.

We saw 1 bear, 1 elk, 1 deer, and 20 moose! No success....yet!
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Tigger » 09 12, 2022 •  [Post 59]

So why the ice cubes first and not just a block of ice? It still only has 6 sides.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 16, 2022 •  [Post 60]

After 5 excruciating days in Denver, I'm back on top of the mountain. Super excited to have the hunting grounds to myself for 5 or 6 days! No guest hunter!! To all of you who didn't shred my tent or destroy my campsite while I was gone.....thank you! On stand for the rest of the day and this time I packed a sandwich! Found a few cows and this big boy on my first trailcam. Hopefully he is still in the neighborhood.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Lefty » 09 16, 2022 •  [Post 61]

For me every moment on this thread right now is a moment I'm not chasing elk or eating or napping.

For me elk hunting should be what I want it to be I like to take animals under the conditions I want to at that moment I've passed on trophy animals for dozens of reasons heck this year I've passed on a number of opportunities on cows but if I don't get bull nice, a BUll or any bull. I know that during Muzzleloader season a cow might be dead and in the freezer.

A bear in camp tearing stuff up, would be meat in the freezer. No sport, just dead.


And after the time I'm in the woods I may shoot a big bull, or yearling cow in camp. Or not.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 16, 2022 •  [Post 62]

The bear is back!!! I was in the woods for 7 hours and came back to my camp tossed. I had a cooler with 2 unopened gallons of water. The cooler is shredded (handle ripped off) and both gallons were punctured! My dude wipes (scent free) were ripped open and my cow scent and spare batteries were knocked onto the ground. Worst of all, my bow case (inside the boma) was twisted around in a different direction. I'm seriously considering giving up elk hunting for a day or two and going after this guy? Going to be tough to sleep tonight. Pretty good chance I shoot my pistol through the walls of my tent.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Indian Summer » 09 16, 2022 •  [Post 63]

That bear should be easy pickings. I’d out something smelly out and make one of your ground blinds right in camp. He has to go!
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Swede » 09 16, 2022 •  [Post 64]

Yogi needs the treatment. That bear needs to go. Fry up some bacon and enjoy a late breakfast in your tent.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 17, 2022 •  [Post 65]

Alright IS, done! I am officially a bear hunter today. I built a groundblind about 40 yards from my tent and I'm going to try to deal with this. I can bearly sleep (pardon the pun). I don’t want to cook and I am constantly looking over my shoulder. I can't even pee without a pistol in my hand.....no.....the other hand. Brats for lunch.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Billy Goat » 09 18, 2022 •  [Post 66]

thanks for the play by play thread. very entertaining for those of us who havent yet been out.

I leave in <20 days for 1st rifle. :)

I hope the next pic is a bear with a stob of wood jammed in its jaws. :)

good luck to you and happy anniversary.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 18, 2022 •  [Post 67]

Thanks Billy and good luck on your hunt.

No sign of bear other than the space he is taking between my ears.

I'm back to being an elk hunter. A lot of bugling last night. Started about an hour before dark and went on for a couple of hours! Supposed to be close to 70° today but only around 30° at night. I saw 4 deer yesterday afternoon but just inside the woods and just outside of an effective range. I feel more like animals are moving down from elevation.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 09 19, 2022 •  [Post 68]

I've been trying to get back to camp about 20 minutes before dark. Being alone, and with an angry bear nearby, I like to have a little light to boil water, change my clothes, get organized for the next morning, etc.

Last night, as I approached camp, I heard a bugle that was clearly in my valley. I was in camp, so I grabbed my bugle and responded. I immediately got a reply. It was clear that he was upwind from me so I grabbed my bow and ran down to the bottom of the valley. The wind was perfectly in my face and I bugled again but no reply? I sat there for about 7-10 minutes and nothing. It was now just minutes from dark so I said "oh well, I guess it wasn't meant to be.." and I returned to camp. Within 2-3 minutes of me leaving the bottom, the clearest, loudest bugle I heard all season came from the exact spot I had just left!!

It may have been too late to shoot but I now have 11 months to work on impatience. THE GREAT WAPITI - 3, TheGreatWapiti - 0.

Three strikes and your out. I will hunt tonight and tomorrow morning and then my elk season is over. Thank God for Minnesota whitetails! I spent part of the morning collecting trailcams and tearing apart ground blinds. I will clean up camp today, get packed, and try to leave the forest better than I found it. Good luck to everyone on their hunts and Godspeed until next season. PEACE
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Swede » 09 19, 2022 •  [Post 69]

Thanks for this great thread TGW. You have had a very memorable hunting experience.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby six » 09 19, 2022 •  [Post 70]

Yes, thank you very much for taking us along. Loved your tales from the elk woods.
Elk are where you find em...
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Billy Goat » 09 20, 2022 •  [Post 71]

bummer you didnt tag out, but man, it was an interesting hunt and thanks again for letting us ride in the back of the truck :)
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby >>>---WW----> » 09 20, 2022 •  [Post 72]

DANG!!! Sure glad your user name is TheGreatWapiti insdead of TheGreatWapitiHunter!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o Just had to rib you a little bit before Swede beat me to it. I wish you better luck on those whitetails in Minnesota. And I'm pulling for you to get that bull next year.
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Re: TheGreatWapiti 2022 Archery Hunt

Postby Indian Summer » 09 20, 2022 •  [Post 73]

“Leave the forest better than I found it”

I like that. I’m a neat freak around camp. When I see litter up in the hills I always think about what kind of mentality a person has to just throw non trash on the ground, especially non biodegradable stuff as if it just disappears.

Thanks for the thread. Im with Billy Goat it was entertaining for those of us who haven’t hunted yet.
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