Home › Forums › Campfire Forum › How's your elk season going, Mr. Petersen?
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I was wondering how the “process” of hunting elk was going. Are there any details on your hunts, to date, that you can let us know about,Dave? Wayne 😕
p.s. Been reading A Man Made of Elk, and really enjoying it.
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It’s a tough one, Wayne. My eyes are burning now from prolonged lack of sleep. A drought summer has the elk still high compared to “normal” years so I have very few elk around so far. Thomas Downing, who is younger and hunts harder and higher, has seen three superb bulls “on top” with a total of some 40 cows or so. Where they are finding water up there I don’t know but so far they aren’t budging and he can’t get to them due to all the cows. Bugling was normal but early to start, and now has totally stopped. Were it not for a few tracks I’d think I have no elk on “my” mountain. And somehow I let myself in on filming a documentary on trad bowhunting, ethics, conservation and the stuff I try to stand for — a film maker from Belgium came over here to do it so I’m lugging around a 6’5″, 220lb. city boy with 60 pounds of full-on movie camera and tripod — this is no “video” but a real doc film. He has a cold and so far whiskey, benedryl, codeine cough syrup etc. nothing has worked to stem his cough. But he’s a good guy and trying hard and I like his artistic eye and “vision” for the film. My wife made me do it. 🙄 Since it’s impossible to climb 1500 feet in three miles every day to hunt up where the elk are, given his sea-level lungs and baggage, and the bugling has stopped so no chasing ’em around, it’s a waiting/anbush game and time is running out. This is not what you wanted to hear from “Elkheart” likely, but I”m just another hunter and the elk are usually in charge and I have no magic bullet, or arrow, when there are no elk to hunt. But any hunt is a good hunt (unless other hunters on ATVs mess it up), thus the working title, “The Good Hunt.” Feel free to cross your fingers and toes for me, as this is a tough assignment this year even if I were hunting alone. A day or two out with Thomas, ace caller, just he and I, and we could get it done. Now to bed for another 6 hours sleep, if I’m lucky. Thanks for asking. I think. 😆
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David Petersen wrote: It’s a tough one, Wayne. My eyes are burning now from prolonged lack of sleep. A drought summer has the elk still high compared to “normal” years so I have very few elk around so far. Thomas Downing, who is younger and hunts harder and higher, has seen three superb bulls “on top” with a total of some 40 cows or so. Where they are finding water up there I don’t know but so far they aren’t budging and he can’t get to them due to all the cows. Bugling was normal but early to start, and now has totally stopped. Were it not for a few tracks I’d think I have no elk on “my” mountain. And somehow I let myself in on filming a documentary on trad bowhunting, ethics, conservation and the stuff I try to stand for — a film maker from Belgium came over here to do it so I’m lugging around a 6’5″, 220lb. city boy with 60 pounds of full-on movie camera and tripod — this is no “video” but a real doc film. He has a cold and so far whiskey, benedryl, codeine cough syrup etc. nothing has worked to stem his cough. But he’s a good guy and trying hard and I like his artistic eye and “vision” for the film. My wife made me do it. 🙄 Since it’s impossible to climb 1500 feet in three miles every day to hunt up where the elk are, given his sea-level lungs and baggage, and the bugling has stopped so no chasing ’em around, it’s a waiting/anbush game and time is running out. This is not what you wanted to hear from “Elkheart” likely, but I”m just another hunter and the elk are usually in charge and I have no magic bullet, or arrow, when there are no elk to hunt. But any hunt is a good hunt (unless other hunters on ATVs mess it up), thus the working title, “The Good Hunt.” Feel free to cross your fingers and toes for me, as this is a tough assignment this year even if I were hunting alone. A day or two out with Thomas, ace caller, just he and I, and we could get it done. Now to bed for another 6 hours sleep, if I’m lucky. Thanks for asking. I think. 😆
Dave, they were in full rut opening day here! wierd!Thats why we missed them by a week. We did conjour up a cow to miss though:lol: I want to see your movie!
Good Luck!
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Put some good oak on the fire, tuck the good kids into bed, sip some good whiskey, and watch the good hunt. That would be a good day.
Good luck!
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Fingers and toes both crossed for you,Dave.Sounds like you have your work cut out for you this year. Maybe you’ll have some time to get it done with T.Downing. Good luck on the documentary. Can’t wait to get a glimpse of it. Thanks for the update,sir. Wayne 😉
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It’s the beauty of what we do Dave (and all the rest here!).
I firmly believe in my heart the certainty of the exasperating uncertainty of our pursuits is exactly what keeps us coming back…:lol:
The only thing I know for sure is that the critters we all so love can make you blanking’ CRAZED blankin’ quick! 😕
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I wish you well. I hope you will be rewarded for doing the right thing, either with venison or satisfaction. dwcphoto
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Update: After a week of utter nothingness out there, this morning there were three bulls bugling down low, and two more up high. I know where the nearest one is bedded and can’t wait for the evening hunt. If they’re bugling, I’m having fun! 😀
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Our seasons seem to be paralleling each other, Dave. After a discouraging week of silence, I was out at dusk last night with bulls bugling again. I’ve got next week off, and it’s time to get after it! Best of luck to you.
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Thanks for the updates,Dave and Bruce. Keep after ’em,guys! There’s always the eleventh hour…Good luck and good hunting. Wayne:wink:
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