Wyoming ELK Quest

[GregE]

Thought I'd posted this....  Bowhunting WY in September

Left W WA at 8pm Sep 19 and 22 hours later we arrived at Big Piney WY cloaked in heavy smoke from several forest fires just W of where I planned to hunt

Judy brought her Buddy to keep an eye on things

Near freezing temps over night knocked the smoke down ( and the wind shifted W ) but things will warm up later. Taking the rig up today to get oriented and set up

  Here's a few pics to show the trip and area.  Click on the ones you like  for a larger view

[GregE]

Shane helped set up camp then we took the ATVs out for an orientation tour and to check for critter sign.  At 9000' there is no O2 so we took it slow.  At 73 being able to ride near a hunting area before using boot leather is a big plus.

The next day I took Judy up to the ridge above the Red Castles ( you can see the smoke ) - strong wind blowing up the bluff- nearly lost my hat.

[GregE]

Wyoming Hunting with Heroes Sublette Co chapter sponsored my hunt and provided a donated general ELK tag.  Shane Lawrence is the chapter head and hunted with me 5 times- other times I hunted on my own.

[GregE]

Strangely this year the early rifle for Mule deer is open on tome of my hunt.  I saw three bowhunters and several hundred gun hunters ( most driving around ) in 10 days.

Shane took me about 25 miles N but the area we wanted to hunt was blocked off by the FS folks for ' potential fire danger'. WE grabbed another location and it looked pretty good but was near a spot a family was confronted by a pack of wolves earlier. Shane was packing so I left my extra 2 pounds and went light- trying to keep up on the climbs...

My hearing is worse in the higher frequencies so Shane heard several ELK sound I didn't (much like my situation with hunting buddy Mike over the years where I carried pebbles in my pocket to get his attention )
After a couple hours and several set ups Shane pointed down slope and I moved to a spot with several shooting lanes and set up. He cow called and occasionally bugled for about 10 minutes and I finally saw movement down by the stream below and signaled with a wave of my arrow fletchings at the bowhunter creeping along looking for us. 

[GregE]

With just a couple days left Bandaid talked with some deer hunters that had stopped by previously and they said they had seen elk nearly every day but about 20 miles S. We drove down but weren't impressed with the heavily burned area with limited access. ( pictured above)

Shane came up the next day and said he knew an area near there so we headed up- and I mean UP We ? I took a rest near the top and decided to hunt back thru the burned Aspen woods into the wind. We saw some deer and Shane heard some elk respond to his calls. We set up in a likely area near a spring seep. As I was sitting on a log, an elk spotted me and quickly turned away behind the brush. 30 yards and 3 seconds....... the only ELK I saw in 10 days   

I related to the old, gray and crooked tree.....

[GregE]

We spent Sunday packing and the first rain since July hit with thunder and hail. It showed a rainbow below us with the clouds above. We left that night and 21 hours later pulled into the drive.

Here's Shane's comment from my FB page
Shane Lawrence This was a very hard hunt,, dry as a pop corn fart,,fires burning on two fronts,, the elk did not make a sound,, and the full moon did not help,, the deer hunter were every were before we even started,, We did cover a lot of ground ,,When we get some snow they start to move a lot more,,,

So, we are looking at going back when the snow moves the ELK down to the high desert. I haven't taken a big game animal with a firearm since 1974- but this seems a better way to find a freezer ELK.

Have I mentioned how much I love Aspens!??!

[GregE]

Hmmm

Somebody's memory is suspect.................   

[Wiley]

Beautiful pictures.... looks like LLBean advertising. Scenery is perfect...

[GregE]

Leaving Friday Nov 2 for round 2. 

Hoping for some tracking snow but it's been 64 degrees at 7000' last week.  Sun / Mon has snow and rain mixed forecast   :party:

Picture from last Oct