So, this morning's walk, I got to an area where I see most of the elk on my walks. All of a sudden, the wind shifted a bit and I get a nose full of elk smell. For those who haven't smelled one before, they have a much stronger smell than deer and, somewhere near or, just a little less than a black bear. The closest thing I can compare it to is the smell of wet horses.
Anyway, I just figured they were down in the canyon below me and didn't really give it too much more thought. When I got to the next hump in the ridge, I got an even stronger dose of it. I put my 2 labs on a sit stay and hoped my wife's dog would stick close until I figured out where they were.
I proceeded down the trail slowly listening, and looking and hoping the bassett hound would not break out ahead.
All I had with me was a cell phone, so I turned on the camera to get ready, in case they were close.
I look up from getting the phone ready and this guy is standing in the same trail looking straight at me. I was busted.
By this time, they definately know I am there. I'm only 40 yards away. So the rest of the elk in the immediate AO are starting to get up and figure out what's going on.
I waited until they moved off and up a hill to my right. I hand signal the dogs to come and we tried to sneak around them with out spooking them. Well, there were more elk there than I had original seen. as I moved to skirt around them, the hill was full of them. I looked up the hill to an old logging skid road and there were more standing just watching us.
Now I have to take the dogs and walk straight away from them where they can see us so they will settle down and move into the timber instead of spooking them out of the county. So we head off to another old clearcut spur road that is almost completely over grown. I'm having to use the machete to clean things up some for easier walking and the bassett hound gets out ahead by 40-50 yards. All of a sudden, she comes running straight back at me like she saw a ghost. I look up and not 10 feet from where she turned around is an elk watching her backtrail(where we are standing). I couldn't get the phone out quick enough before she spooked of into the heavy brush. just 2 steps and I couldn't even see the color of her through the brush.
So, I wasn't even realizing it, until I got home and looked at the pictures but, the intial young bull was standing probably within 5' of where I killed my last bull just 2 years ago.
Sorry for the cell pics. Some day I'll buy another camera.
Just thought I'd share, this is basically my backyard. My walk starts from home.
Jgun's just giving me shit, we have met. Definitely a steep price to pay for an out of state tag, I've got a friend or three paying the big bucks to try their luck this fall. No pressure on me or anything!
