A Few Pics From the Evening Hunt

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#5429

Thought I’d share a few pics from this evening’s hunt. This is the country behind our place:

The hills were pretty quiet when I first got up there this evening. But there were fresh tracks, down much lower than I was expecting, considering how warm the weather continues to be. For whatever reason, I kept hiking higher, convinced they would have done the same during the heat of the day.

The setup I’ve been re-uniting with on the last few outings:

The meadow where last week I had a horny bull moose lower his head and start walking toward me (I took the hint and got the hell out of there):

As dusk started to settle, I bumped into a bunch of muleys bedded down on the fringe of a clearing. Tried to stalk them, but it’s just too dry and noisy right now to be able to get anywhere near them.

By the time I gave up on that, it was pretty dark, and I still had a ways to go to get back to the rig. Something very large, and very close, scared the livin’ daylights out of me as I hiked out. Never could see what it was, but it was making a small copse of aspen trees move like someone was backing a truck into them. Walking out alone, in the dark, is always an interesting experience.

And then when I reached the area lower down where I’d first seen the fresh tracks? There were elk bugling on both sides of me. Go figure. I’ll be up there again before the sun rises…

[Raymond Coffman]

#41040

Smithhammer
A great day afield in a beautiful part of the West —
Moose ,Deer, Elk, Bear? all in one day -nice- and so close to home. Best of Luck on your future foray’s —
Scout

[tailfeather]

#41051

I love these kinds of posts. I truly enjoy seeing the country folks hunt as much as the critters.

Gorgeous, wild country.

[bruc]

#41092

Great pictures !!!!

Thanks !!

[strait-aero]

#41156

Thanks for sharing,Smithie….really neat pics and narrative.8)

[SteveMcD]

#41444

Beautiful! 8)

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#41522

Thanks, all. Had them bugling all around me again this morning, pretty close. Even had one walking in to a couple cow calls, but something changed his mind when he was about 30 yards out and still out of sight. A few more pics from this morning:

The wallow. I have yet to see any elk here, but their tracks and body prints are all over it. I need to sit here till dark some time, but it’s a long hike out in the dark from here if I do:

Beds:

After another night with 5 hours of restless sleep and wapiti dreams, I’m starting to feel the effects of sleep deprivation. I think I’m going to run myself into the ground if I keep this up. But what the hell – sleep when you’re dead.

[anointedarcher]

#41558

Very cool, thanks for the journey!

[David Petersen]

#41776

Bruce — The picture we most want to see is the real you, if you in fact exist. 😛 You must either be some kinda ugly or wanted by the FBI, CIA, KGB, or IRA.

Do you have grizzlies there?

Re wallows, at least down here in my CO elk turf they tend to wallow most commonly 3-4 or so in the afternoon. The latest I’ve seen is 5:30. It’s “displacement behavior” — something to do while awaiting the evening fun and games. Just last week I was an hour late heading out for the evening hunt thanks to some Honey-Do’s, and as I approached my stand I heard bugling, precisely 4 p.m., and arrived just as the bull had walkedaway from the hot-fresh wallow. Trick is for hunting wallows that time of day, getting the wind right. And in your photo, finding good cover could be a challenge. Anyhow that’s my 2 scents worth — go out on your evening hunts around 3 and watch a wallow until early evening or when something starts bugling that you can play with. Another wallow tip: Get ’em the first chance you have approaching or in the wallow, before they piss all over themselves and flop down to roll in the muck. I see no possible way to get clean meat from a freshly wallowed bull, unless you have a fire hose handy. They are completely black and at the peak of stinkiness. A few years ago I passed easy shots on a nice 5×5 for that very reason — he “got down” before I could get a clean shot off. After that he was safe. Enjoy.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#41802

David Petersen wrote: Bruce — The picture we most want to see is the real you, if you in fact exist. You must either be some kinda ugly or wanted by the FBI, CIA, KGB, or IRA.

What’s that saying about the ‘discretion being the better part of valor?’

Do you have grizzlies there?

A very healthy population. I’m on the w. side of the Tetons. Good numbers of wolves and cats as well.

Re wallows, at least down here in my CO elk turf they tend to wallow most commonly 3-4 or so in the afternoon. The latest I’ve seen is 5:30. It’s “displacement behavior” — something to do while awaiting the evening fun and games. Just last week I was an hour late heading out for the evening hunt thanks to some Honey-Do’s, and as I approached my stand I heard bugling, precisely 4 p.m., and arrived just as the bull had walkedaway from the hot-fresh wallow. Trick is for hunting wallows that time of day, getting the wind right. And in your photo, finding good cover could be a challenge. Anyhow that’s my 2 scents worth — go out on your evening hunts around 3 and watch a wallow until early evening or when something starts bugling that you can play with. Another wallow tip: Get ’em the first chance you have approaching or in the wallow, before they piss all over themselves and flop down to roll in the muck. I see no possible way to get clean meat from a freshly wallowed bull, unless you have a fire hose handy. They are completely black and at the peak of stinkiness. A few years ago I passed easy shots on a nice 5×5 for that very reason — he “got down” before I could get a clean shot off. After that he was safe. Enjoy.

Great advice, Dave. I’m hoping next week to get in there and spend a few days, instead of snatching a few hours before and after work as I have been. 7 days to go before archery season ends and the war zone begins…

[Alexandre Bugnon]

#41880

Smithhammer wrote: Walking out alone, in the dark, is always an interesting experience.

Yup!! thanks for sharing. great story and pictures. I have a Super K too. Got a deer and almost got a turkey with it in ’09
Good luck!
Alex

[Nate Bailey]

#43560

Wow!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#44097

Got within 35 yds. of a 5×5 tonight, and then had an ATV come down the trail and blow it. ARGHH!!!!

Though in all fairness, we ended up chatting for a while and he was sincerely sorry and turned out to be a good dude. Said he’s been hunting this area for a long time, and this is the toughest rut he’s ever seen. Made me feel a little better about the lack of success so far. They’re in there, but they’re spooky as hell. Nothing to do but go out again first thing in the morn…

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#45899

What an amazing day yesterday.

In the AM, I was into elk almost immediately. Managed to call in a young 3×3 bull to less than 20 yds, but couldn’t get a clean shot on him. He was either very lucky, or crafty beyond his years, as he managed to always keep some vegetation between me and his vitals. Still, it was an awesome 10 minutes or so of checking each other out at close range. He couldn’t smell me, and couldn’t figure out what I was, but never spooked either.

And then, in the evening, I decided to set up in a little stand of trees where I’d seen a 5×5 the evening before, to see if he might return. At dusk, I gave one little cow call, and withing 30 seconds I heard crashing through the underbrush coming my way. It kept getting louder, and pretty soon I realized it was more than one animal, and they sounded even larger than elk (moose?). And they were moving. They passed about 15 yards behind me, but because of the fading daylight and the dense vegeation, I never got a good look at them. And then, 30 seconds later, I hear smaller creatures coming from the same direction, also moving fast. I look over at the trail, which is about 20-25 feet from me, and watch a silver wolf fly silently by at mach speed.

And then suddenly, it was very dark, and I thought, “I better get the #$%& out of here…”

[strait-aero]

#45983

Smithhammer, you’re living the life…..Have enjoyed your hunts immensely. Hope you are able to connect,man!8) I must admit I’m jealous…. Wayne

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#50190

My archery season ended yesterday with an oddly quiet night. Not even a single bugle far in the distance, where I had been in elk just about every time I went out lately. They either abruptly vacated the area I’ve been hunting, or went to radio silence. For some reason I can’t quiet put my finger on, the evening vibe in the woods just had a weird feeling to it. Even some places where I usually can barely hear myself think because the chatter of squirrels is so dense, were silent.

But at the end of the day, elk in the freezer or not, I’m a richer man for it. I learned a ton in the last month and had some truly unforgettable experiences, all within an hour’s hike behind my house. There’s always general season, which opens in two weeks….

[wahoo]

#53441

smith it’s called gun season. I was into about 5 bulls 3days in a row and the last night nothing.our season ended on a Fri and gun seasons opened on Sat right in the heart of the rut.Some how they know ????? Sounds like you had a good season.

[james gilmer]

#54722

Good stuff , thanks for posting, I miss elk hunting!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#55096

wahoo wrote: smith it’s called gun season. I was into about 5 bulls 3days in a row and the last night nothing.our season ended on a Fri and gun seasons opened on Sat right in the heart of the rut.Some how they know ????? Sounds like you had a good season.

Actually, we have two weeks between the time that archery season ends and “any weapon” season begins in my area. But I’ll be curious to see what it’s like when I get back out there – I deliberately chose an area that not many people seem to bother with since it doesn’t much in the way of of ORV access. Hopefully it will stay that way.

[David Coulter]

#55171

Nice photos. Beautiful country. You remark about walking out in the dark being interesting reminded me of the hike back to camp in the dark after fly fishing a lake in Glacier National Park. There were bear signs (the printed variety) all over the place and I think it was working on my nerves. Mind you, I’m from Eastern PA where nothing eats you until you’re dead anyway…
Great post. dwc

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