Boston to Wyoming - 2016

[Brendan]

Boston to Wyoming - 2016

Can’t believe it took me this long to get my act together to post a story, but here’s a (long) recap of my Wyoming elk hunt this year. I always like putting these together as it helps me remember the trip, what went well and what didn’t for the future.

This would be my third year hunting Elk. 2014 I was solo in Montana and arrowed a 5-pt on the last day, 2015 I had a friend join me for 2/3 of the trip back to the same area. This year I was solo again with a general tag and a deer tag in a new area.

This year, I was on the road on a Wednesday mid morning, and my gear list had spiraled WAY out of control:

Truthfully, I had a friend (non-hunter unfortunately) who moved from Boston to Seattle, and I towed his boat to Wyoming for him, so he could haul it the rest of the way himself. Saved him a bunch of $$ and we got to catch up and spend a little time hanging out.

Lots of this with 36 hours of driving:

Wednesday morning - Boston, MA. Thursday night - Eastern Wyoming. Friday, 2500 miles later: Trailhead.

 

[Brendan]

Day 1 - Friday, 9/16: Friday at noon I was setting up basecamp, then hiking in 3.5 miles to spike camp and hunting the first evening. Did some glassing, heard some bugling, heard an Elk run off in the timber making my way back to camp, and then off to sleep before the hunt would get going for real the next morning.

Day 2 - Saturday, 9/17: Went up the creek I was camped on, gained some elevation, saw one cow in the open heading up, then ended up chasing a bugling bull late morning (back down in elevation again) before he shut up and I lost him. Started gaining elevation again heading up a ridge towards the alpine - found out that this was probably a bedding area as I busted a couple cows mid day. Never saw a bull. Circled back down as it was getting late, saw a couple muley does, and then one nice muley buck right at sunset making my way back to camp through a nice open meadow. Pegged in the open with just my bow (rifle back at the truck) he eventually winded me and took off.

Sightings: 3 Cows, 2 Muley Doe, 1 Muley Buck. Chased some bugles, but never saw the bull.

Day 3 - Sunday, 9/18: Up to a ridge above camp at daylight to glass. Saw nothing and moved into the timber to do some cold calling. Mid morning started hearing bugles back down at the creek-bottom. Chased all the way down, but by the time I was there the bull had moved across a creek and up onto a steep, nasty north facing slope. Now that it was midday - decided to make a quick trip back to the truck and back in to pick up a couple things and some extra food (dummy), and after the 7 mile round trip I was back in the area I heard the bull earlier. Still bugling, I had tried to work in, but backed out due to wind and the terrain. Sitting on a log in an open creek bottom near the trail - was softly blowing my cow call. All of sudden - I hear crashing as a bull comes off the slope, through the creek heading straight at me. Bow on the ground, no arrow nocked, not ready - scrambled to get an arrow on, release clipped in, quickly range a tree and come to full draw just as a smaller 5x4 came cruising in to 24 yards head on. Normally that’s a shot I can make every day, but it happened so fast I couldn’t get my pin to settle with all the adrenaline. The bull was staring a hole in me at this point, I flinched, he took off back across the creek and into the thick stuff before I could settle down. For the next hour or so he was still bugling and screaming - acting like he wasn’t sure what I was, but he wouldn’t come in. Worked my way back to camp at dark.

Sightings: 1 Bull, at full draw. Almost doesn’t count…

Day 4 - Monday - 9/19: Up and heading out before light again, this time following the creek up again, but heading up a right drainage into a high potential area. Following the creek, I get to an area as it starts to open up, and soon before I come out of the trees, I run into a camp. Head a little further up and find two mule deer hunters out in the open glassing the open spots of the bowl above me. Talk for a little while, and then head up and out the drainage through a saddle, deciding to get some elevation for a better look around.

Run into a cow moose and its calf in the trail on the way up:

Ran into a forky mule deer at 145 yards. I had my Kimber Adirondack with me, but didn’t want to shoot a small guy at this point of the hunt, and I was a real long way from the truck.

A great view at the top:

The Kifaru Mountain Rambler worked great for carrying my Kimber with me, by the way.

On the way down I ran into the muley hunters again as they were going to bivvy out higher for a chance at getting to deer from above. I continue down in another direction coming down above a bedding area. Begin hearing bugles and spent some time trying to work in on a bull through some thick terrain. Spotted 3-4 cows in the thick stuff as I tried to move in. They didn’t spook badly but the herd moved off and shut up. Headed slowly back to camp getting water along the way. Dropped off some gear at the tent, and then went and sat a field until dark. Had a 4 pt bull come into the field well out of range as it got close to dark. Tried to coax him closer with some cow calls - but my setup was bad, eventually he got wary and went back into the woods.

Sightings: ~4 cow / calf elk. Cow Moose and Calf. 1 Forky Mule Deer. 1 Muley Doe. 1 4-pt bull.

 

[Brendan]

Day 5 - Tuesday - 9/20: Up again well before first light, with lots of bugling both above and below camp. Went down to the area where I’d had the encounter with the bull earlier in the week - and again, there was a bull bugling away on the north facing slope. This time, I had the wind to work in on him. Made it across the stream, began working up. Got to a very steep, thick area where I was convinced I wouldn’t be able to get closer with the terrain without being heard, so began cow calling and immediately getting responses - lost and assembly type calls. I was pretty sure I had a herd above me as I thought I could hear some cow calls as well. All off a sudden I hear an elk coming down the hill “mewing” very softly. I swear you could have confused it with a house cat the noises it was making coming down the hill. I’m thinking it’s a cow, but it turned out to be the herd bull coming in on a rope to 20 yards. Softly “mew” “mew” “mew” like a cat as he came. WTF????? Very cool….

Unfortunately - it was a tough setup, and i didn’t have shot where he stopped. At this point, he’s staring right at me, bolts from 20 yards to 40 yards as I come to full draw. But, he stops with his head and neck visible, vitals obscured. Needed one more step, but he took off up the hill. After that, fired up some aggressive bugling, he stayed fired up, but eventually a sentry cow came back in to find out what was up, spent 30 minutes staring me down and barking before they all moved off up the hill.

Went back to camp, and then headed up towards the alpine along a different ridge as I figured I’d disturbed this area enough. Never made it to the alpine, started hearing (and chasing) bugles midday. At one point, came face to face with a 5x4 satellite that must’ve been bedded in the area. He wasn’t scared, but I wasn’t ready, so moved off without offering me a shot.

Managed to work inside 75 yards on a screaming bull, but never laid eyes on him. It was very windy, and swirling, so my guess is he smelled me and took off.

Moved back down and set up on a field for the last 2 hours of light, more out of exhaustion, saw nothing for the rest of the day.

Sightings: Came to full draw on the “mewing” herd bull, 1-2 cows, 1 5x4 Satellite bull, lots of bugling.

My camp visible here if you look closely:

Up close:

Day 6 - Wednesday - 9/21: Up towards the alpine today, determined to make it up to the ridgeline at the top of the area I was hunting, traverse the ridge, and come down through some high bedding areas from above in early afternoon. Had a bull come in to a cold calling sequence as I was packing up to leave 45 minutes after I started, never saw him but heard him leave fast as I was throwing my backpack on. Otherwise, I would see or hear no Elk all day. Found a nice high elevation camp site that someone had obviously used before, and a water hole near by. Would be nice to head back here in the future.

Saw Mountain Goats, which was very cool!

Sat out for a while enjoying the view, rifle at the ready just in case a mule deer came out:

Coming down was a clusterf**k. Very steep, thermals were heading downhill in early afternoon. Very thick. I was also above the area where the deer hunters had camped, so was fairly certain the elk could’ve been blown out of this area.

Sightings: Mountain Goats! 2 Muley Does in the morning. 1 Muley Doe in the evening.

Day 7 - Thursday - 9/22: Went to glass above camp, saw nothing. Continued up and over into an adjacent canyon following a trail. Let out a location bugle getting a response. Began working in on a screaming bull. Eventually, I let out a couple cow calls as I wasn’t sure where he was. Unfortunately - I was in terrain I hadn’t been in before, and didn’t realize he’d gotten some elevation on me, and was waiting for the “Cow” to move out into the open. After about 10 minutes of not hearing anything, I began to try to move in, and he saw me. Biggest Bull I saw on the entire trip - BIG. Unfortunately, he was whirling and heading in the other direction fast as I saw him. Post mortem - terrain was too open, I needed to work in closer before calling.

Went up in elevation to get a cell signal and check the weather. Spotted 2 spike muley bucks, 2 does on the way up. Made a mental note to sit this small field again.

Made my way back to base camp and the truck for the first time since Sunday. Was running out of food, and had rain / snow coming in. Spent the night in a comfortable, warm base camp after heading into the nearest town for a burger.

Sightings: 1 BIG Bull Elk. 2 Muley Does, 2 Muley Spikes

Day 8 - Friday - 9/23: Up early in the rain, did the 3 miles to spike camp in the rain in the dark. Dropped food off and headed up a ridge behind my camp. Circled down into a lower drainage this day finding this in a tree:

But, ultimately saw nothing other than grouse. Back to basecamp because of more rain and snow, and into town for another Burger.

 

[Brendan]

Day 9 - Saturday - 9/24: Up at 3AM, hiking by 4:20, stopped at spike camp in the dark, and then headed up into the big alpine basin up the creek from my camp. Rain all the way up changing to a little snow and fog in the high country:

No tracks, not seeing or hearing anything, I bailed out of the drainage up and through the same saddle I’d used earlier in the week deciding to head over towards another creek drainage. Found some very intriguing open areas as I worked over into the high parts of another drainage, and began hearing bugles early afternoon. Unfortunately, he was below me going into an area I wasn’t familiar with, a different drainage, and getting late in the day. Made a mental note to be back here in the morning.

Some beautiful views on the way back down:

Shot a grouse for dinner:

Complete with desert!

Sightings: Just the grouse. Heard bugles, nothing else.

Day 10 - Sunday - 9/25: Time is getting short, need to try to make something happen. Up at 3AM at spike camp. Hiking at 4:20 again. Got back up higher where I’d heard the bull the prior afternoon in the dark and had some of the best views of the entire trip as I had bulls bugling all over the place in the drainage below me. At this point - I was probably 5-6 miles from the truck.

Worked my way down the other drainage trying to close in on a bull that I think was working a field in the canyon below me, but he was below me, and thermals were still headed down. Worked my way down along the ridge and descended - a horrible, thick, nasty descent as a bull bugled on and off until almost noon.

What I came across was that I’d found a field in a difficult to access canyon where the most action I’d had in a while was. Problem was, to get to this area and hunt it from below was going to be tough. Spent the afternoon trying to learn how to get there, on and off having a bull taunt me with bugles from a stupid-thick north slope in a creek bottom. The rifle season opened tomorrow, I vowed I’d be back at the field from below before it began to get light.

Hiked the 3 miles back to camp along a lower route I’d use in the morning. Shot a grouse, missed a second. Sitting a small field for the evening before making it back to spike camp .

Sightings - only grouse. But a ton of bugling.

 

[Brendan]

Day 11 - Monday - 9/26: Day 11 brought the Wyoming rifle season. This time, I was up at 2:30 AM at spike camp, hiking by about 3:45 determined to be back where I was the day before. Headlamp on, trekking poles out, hiked hard for 2 hours getting back near the field from the prior day by 5:45. Changed clothes, layered up, ate a couple bars, had some water, put away the trekking poles and took out my rifle. Listening to bugling in the dark, I began working slowly up to the base of the field from yesterday arriving to the edge of the field around 6:40.

This is where things happened fast. Legal shooting light was around 6:45, and I immediately spotted an Elk in the field above me moving my way. Remember - its just starting to get light, but I can make out the tan body coming my way from a hundred yards up. Scope cover is still on, get it off and get the gun up for a better look, realizing I don’t have a round chambered. Gun down, rack the bolt as quiet as I can and get the gun up as the elk crosses behind a tree and stops broadside to my left at 40 yards. Not sure what time it was, right at legal shooting light, but with good glass I made out legal antlers and brow tines and put one shot behind his left shoulder.

He took off back up the field, and in the dim light and excitement, I couldn’t tell if he’d collapsed in sight, or gone into the woods and disappeared, so made the decision to stay put for a half hour. I was optimistic:

The view while waiting:

But, it wasn’t needed. He’d died in sight, I just couldn’t see him because of the grass:

While boning him out - I had another bull bugling and screaming in the trees right above me, so had a little fun. Probably can’t hear it here, but he was doing the same “mewing” as the bull earlier in the trip.

Bull Elk Bugling - Wyoming - YouTube

I got my bull broken down, and ferried 3/4 mile down to a creek bottom where it would stay cool, and was near a trail. Hung a bunch of the meat, and then around 2:00 started the hike back to spike camp with my hunting gear, one bag of meat and the rack.

3 miles to spike camp, packed up spike camp, and then 3.5 miles to the truck, with those last 3.5 miles being brutal, but closing out the first 6.5 miles of packing arriving to the truck between 6 and 7. Back into town for a celebratory burger and beers, then spent the night in my warm base camp tent.

Sightings - One bull, and made it count!

 

[Brendan]

Day 12 - Tuesday - 9/27: Slept in a little more, relocated to a different trailhead in the truck, then was hiking by 6. Made 2 round trips, 4 miles each way, to get out the rest of the meat. 16 miles later (for 22 total miles to get him packed out!), around 2:00, I had the meat out and on ice. Went back to base camp at another trailhead, broke camp, packed the truck and drove about 3 hours east before stopping for the night.

Day 13 - Wednesday - 9/28: A long day on the road. Drove from Central Wyoming to Illinois.

Day 14 - Thursday - 9/29: Illinois back home.

 

[Brendan]

After that, it was get him processed and clean up gear, and start the planning for 2017!

 

[Trr15]

Great stuff Brendan! Congratulations and great write up.

 

[elkguide]

Thanks for taking us along. Congratulations and good luck in 2017.

 

[bozeman]

Congrats! Hope I can muster the courage to cut a trail solo like that one day......

 

[WyoRob]

Beautiful country!

 

[Reload]

Brendan, congratulations on an awesome adventure! Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us, unreal!

 

[Superkodiak38]

Awesome ! Thanks for the write up and congrats !

 

[live2huntelk]

Thanks for taking the time to write up and share your hunt. Well done documenting your adventure, especially with pictures. This was an enjoyable read in January ....it helps me get through the winter. I admire you driving that distance solo..... I know what it is like to drive 27+ hours straight through and then pack in, only with a partner. Strong mental toughness and persistence pays dividends. Congratulations!

 

[HOT ROD]

Thanks for sharing Ur adventure. Congrats

 

[JWP58]

Thanks for sharing. See any grizz? Is that Adirondack a 308win? How do you like it?

 

[SnapT]

thanks that was awesome . I lol'd at the rack in the pot in the kitchen pic lol .

 

[Hall256]

After that, it was get him processed and clean up gear, and start the planning for 2017!

Man, that is a great re-cap of an amazing trip. If the Marines keep me out on the East coast much longer, I might need to PM you and get some tips/tricks to make a trip like that a reality.

 

[darcytribe]

Breath-taking photos. Thanks for sharing. Two questions: What elevation were you hunting at with your spike camp? Also, was it windy where you were in Wyoming? That's all I ever hear about that state! The landscapes make me want to give the state a try!!!

 

[orionsbrother]

Really enjoyed your story. Great job with the pics.