Our weekend birthday hunt report

[Lefty]

The boss sent my daughter home a couple hours early last Thursday evening. We had camp set up and were in the sleeping bags by 11:00. No alarm was needed Friday morning. The winds were strong and swirling every direction.
We selected a great view for a light lunch. I had just described what had happened in the wallow below last year when I heard what sounded to be a calf mewing. I sent my daughter down the draw while I skirted the top of a finger draw. Then I hear what I believed was a cow further down. Just like last year they moved through the area and were too far down wind to hear a call.
We did see lots of deer. 55 five yards below uswe spotted a nice 4x4 in his bed,..; About the same time he saw us.
I don’t think Ive ever seen so many berries. We were snacking on ripe service berries, even the Oregon grape were loaded with berries.
We had made a 8-9 mile circuit with about 1200 elevation gain. I was a bit disappointed we never spotted any elk.
Saturday We headed up instead of down. The third stand something responded but stayed in the cover a short time later we spotted a bunch of deer with three bucks in the group. My daughter turned the hunt into a deer hunt. There was one very large deer in the group without antlers, with a weird light color. Thirty or so minutes later the deer stepped in front of me at 32 yards, as I nocked and arrow the deer slipped off. We cut lots of fresh deer and elk sign, but never heard any bugles or any response to my bugles.
That evening we worked a different drainage. We heard one bull in the distance and worked his way. Fresh track indicated two elk. Again we did spot a few more deer.
Sunday morning was wonderful. The rain was coming down steady. We went into town to fill the truck with , attend church. Interestingly the fellow conducting the service commented that there was three times as many people in attendance as usual and welcomed all the bow hunters.
Sunday evening the rained snowed. We turned the elk hunt into a drive-about and stopped at another bowhunters camp asking about moose( my daughter has a moose tag).
Monday there was a rain snow mix the forest Service road was mostly impassable in 4x4 so we road the ATV and glassed a few locations.
My daughter spotted a a mulie buck, then enough and another. An eight buck group of 3 and 4 pointers. One 4x4 was 24-25 inches and a tall 3 pointer in the bunch . Off she was after those deer. I took off paralleling the timber. My daughter headed right in. I moved up about 1000 yards then sucked air as I made 400 foot elevation gain. A few hours later we met up again. My daughter had tracked the bucks and jumped them from their beds. I was impressed. I suggested we run back to camp to eat, and get more clothes for the weather. Ok Ill admit it I was a bit tired too.
After lunch we ATV’ed to a point I was going to call from , we decided to make a few other stands further away first. We called from one location then moved to the next. Some horseman where are our third stop so we turned around.
As we passed our first stop” BEAR” . As big as a moo cow.”
But dad its black”
I replied “a black grizzly. “ The grizzlie moved through the trees 30 yards. We passed the grove of trees and the bear was sitting on its rear, There was no doubt the dark hair grizzled hair, I ranged the bear, 110 yards while Julie took pictures. We drove off We checked the camera, none of the pictures turned out, and only one picture had the bear in in. Just a bit exciting. In all likely hood I would guess it is the bear I saw the track most springs on the Montana side of the hill. Just so unique being so dark colored. And a bit chilling realizing we had called just 500 yards from the bears location 30 minutes previous.

And maybe the most gratifying thing on this hunt was . I saw on my daughters Facebook, her comment: that she “there couldn’t be a better place to be on her Birthday!”

[Elkhunttoo]

Sounds like a good trip

[Mike_Parson]

Sounds like it was a great birthday!!! Congrats !!!!!!