Not taking Advantage!

[POk3s]

Yesterday I did exactly what I wanted to do. Chase Bugling bulls all day! Only problem was I didn't release an arrow on any of them. Bright and early in the morning I followed a bull into his bedroom. I'd bugled at this bull before and it just shuts him up and he runs away if you're even on the same mountain as he is. The wind was perfect so I followed him for about 2 hours knowing I was close. Finally I had to take a break. Sitting on my butt in the middle of the forest he lets off a scream from about 150 yards uphill from me. I walk about 50 yards and am standing there trying to see through the thick timber when a doe deer explodes out of there. I thought crap now I have to say something. I bugle and about 20 seconds later hear logs crunching and sticks breaking. I'm already standing there with an arrow nocked but then hear nothing else.

After 15 minutes I go look and I can see how he literally hooked his cows and pushed them straight up the mountain. I'm following as fast as I can and get to the top of the mountain and go about 5 yards over the other side to look. I'm standing there thinking to myself, "It's hard to tell if he went over the other side here or along this trail....OH CRAP". About 25 yards away a big 6 point is coming right at me along the trail which runs the length of the mountaintop. I spin every so slightly and get an arrow nocked. He's still coming but I have a big cluster of trees RIGHT in front of me so I shift so that when he comes out from behind them I'll have my shot....I'm waiting.....and waiting....and waiting and he never comes out. I look out the other side of these trees and he's staring right at me. He busts, I draw and cow call and he stops. He's got his vitals, of course, blocked by a tree. I try to sidestep to the right and side step into the trees that have caused all this trouble. Although his vitals are now not behind the tree I now have limbs in front of my site and in front of my bow. Can't force it and so spins and runs off nervous grunting at me.

This season had the feeling it was going to come down to me taking advantage of that one stroke of luck and I didn't do it. I guess that's just elk hunting. I spent the rest of the day chasing a big 5x6 and wasn't able to get within 200 yards of him. I have 3 days left at the end of the month for archery and that's it.

[bnsafe]

sounds like a blast anyway, good work.

[POk3s]

Oh yea it was fun. I just kept saying to myself "man today is a great day!" . didn't hear or see another hunter.

[easeup]

great day for sure!!!

for me when I get to that point where you were, he is there and you are there at full draw and he is just inches from dead on his feet; somehow my heart is satisfied with it all. If the arrow flies to finish the deal; it is just icing on the cake.

[POk3s]

Yea I was happy....it just took me about an hour to get there. I always make it a point to stay "happy" in the mountains. There's nothing else I'd rather be doing than hunting elk. No sense in getting so discouraged I get mad. I did wanna kick my own butt after screwing that up.

[Trophyhill]

sounds like a great day but instead of saying "today is a great day" try saying "today is the day" tomorrow