09/09/2026
Day two of the season started out early as a moose was in camp making moose size noise and woke me up at 3:04 AM, and I could never go back to sleep. I understand that a 1000 pound animal does nothing discreetly and quietly, but still a little curtesy and self awareness would go a long way!
Now suffering from severe Plantar Faciatis in my left foot from hiking with the wrong shoes, I hobbled to the kitchen tent to make my coffee before heading out for the morning hunt. I have had this before, and one of my biggest fears has always been getting it on an elk hunt were good feet and legs are essential. It has taught me the importance of wearing the proper boots.
Trying to ignore the pain, I once again I headed down the mountain in the dark to do battle with the ever present and eratic winds. There was no ryme or reason to my approach as I was still on more of a scouting mission than serious hunting. I got onto the first livestock trail that trended in the direction I wanted to go and with longbow in hand started slowly easing down the path enjoying the morning sunlight that made the aspen leaves sparkle with green and silver as the wind caused them to shimmer violently. This is why they are often called “quakies”.
I eased along being almost completely silent in the soft dirt of the cattle trail. Not too long into the morning I happened to look up and noticed a tan body moving along just 30 yards in front of me. It was a lone cow elk but I was sure there would be more close by. I soon could see more bodies moving across about 70 yards below me. Everything I could identify was a cow or calf but then I heard the tell tail clunking and knocking of a bull bringing up the rear of the herd. When he finally came into view my heart instantly quickened its pace. This one left no question as to whether or not I would shoot. He was not the biggest bull I had ever seen but he was definitely in the top five. A heavy 6x6 with dark antlers and ivory tips. This would be a bull of a lifetime with a longbow.
I hoped he would follow the cow that was grazing in front of me within bow range and not the others which were much farther down the hillside ands about to be directly down wind of me. Just as I feared I saw one of the cows suddenly go on alert raising her nose into the wind and I knew the gig was up. It was only a few more seconds and the whole herd along with my dream bull ran out of my life probably forever. The wind out here is your ever-present companion, but she is a cold and heartless mistress. Deceitful and treacherous in all her ways! A true Delila, always ready and willing to betray you!
Regardless of the void left in my heart by losing the chance at that bull, I continued on hunting the rest of the morning without event. Tomorrow would be another day, and every day brings new hope of success. All I will need is a little luck and an elk with anosmia!
