The Harbor Master
Lil-Rokslider
Long story I'll make as short as possible... not paranormal but reminder that we are not always the apex predators.
Last year a buddy and I doubled up on cow elk in the bottom of a steep draw, just near the end of shooting light. One cow was shot CNS high back that was DRT, the other a high lung shot that crashed about 40yds through brush into the bottom. We noted the location of the DRT cow and waited a bit before trying to locate the high lunged cow. While we were waiting, we heard quite a bit of howling withing a few hundred yards (sounded like coyotes but there are definitely wolves in the area), and heard the lunged cow do that heavy rattling exhale.
We agreed it was time to head down and start the work. Stuck low in the draw, there was little to no moonlight and everything was done on headlamp. We went from our perch down towards the cows, and during that short walk heard an elk off to our left, within 100yds, making the weirdest cry I have heard. Not a communication type "ee-ohh" but more or a frantic, panicked cry, "eeeeeEEEE-oh-h-h-h", LOUD. For some reason, we didn't put 2 and 2 together and didn't realize it was the CNS shot cow until later.
We were having a hard time locating either elk, though we were sure we should be right on top of them, and agreed to split up. Now solo in the bottom of a dark draw with a headlamp, I started a grid about 75yds from my buddy. Suddenly I felt like someone was next to me and my blood felt like ice. No explanation how but I knew I wasn't the only animal in that immediate area. With an audible "eff this" I headed back to where my buddy was also searching. When I reached him, he had found a cow that we believed to be the CNS shot one. We worked for a few hours and packed most of her out, then agreed to get a couple hours of sleep and come back in daylight to find the lunged cow.
Returning in daylight, returned to where I had made my shot from. I was able to walk my buddy via radio to the location the cow was hit. Over the radio he says, "we've got an elk!" Relieved I start down the draw. "On my way." After about 20yds he comes over the radio, "we have a problem." I make my way to him and see the CNS shot cow, swarmed in wasps and flies, chest cavity opened at the neck, lungs heart and diaphragm gone. Half of 1 backstrap gone, one front quarter gone. Tufts of hair pulled out and strewn all over the place.
Looking around I realized I was within about 10yds of this elk the night before in the dark. Exactly where my blood ran cold. And exactly where the strange elk cry/scream came from. I have no way to know for sure, but I get the feeling I was within a few yards of a cat with an elk neck in its jaws. My non-chalant flippant mentality about being alone in a draw with the possibility of predators has changed a bit.
sorry for long story, if you made it through thanks for reading.
Last year a buddy and I doubled up on cow elk in the bottom of a steep draw, just near the end of shooting light. One cow was shot CNS high back that was DRT, the other a high lung shot that crashed about 40yds through brush into the bottom. We noted the location of the DRT cow and waited a bit before trying to locate the high lunged cow. While we were waiting, we heard quite a bit of howling withing a few hundred yards (sounded like coyotes but there are definitely wolves in the area), and heard the lunged cow do that heavy rattling exhale.
We agreed it was time to head down and start the work. Stuck low in the draw, there was little to no moonlight and everything was done on headlamp. We went from our perch down towards the cows, and during that short walk heard an elk off to our left, within 100yds, making the weirdest cry I have heard. Not a communication type "ee-ohh" but more or a frantic, panicked cry, "eeeeeEEEE-oh-h-h-h", LOUD. For some reason, we didn't put 2 and 2 together and didn't realize it was the CNS shot cow until later.
We were having a hard time locating either elk, though we were sure we should be right on top of them, and agreed to split up. Now solo in the bottom of a dark draw with a headlamp, I started a grid about 75yds from my buddy. Suddenly I felt like someone was next to me and my blood felt like ice. No explanation how but I knew I wasn't the only animal in that immediate area. With an audible "eff this" I headed back to where my buddy was also searching. When I reached him, he had found a cow that we believed to be the CNS shot one. We worked for a few hours and packed most of her out, then agreed to get a couple hours of sleep and come back in daylight to find the lunged cow.
Returning in daylight, returned to where I had made my shot from. I was able to walk my buddy via radio to the location the cow was hit. Over the radio he says, "we've got an elk!" Relieved I start down the draw. "On my way." After about 20yds he comes over the radio, "we have a problem." I make my way to him and see the CNS shot cow, swarmed in wasps and flies, chest cavity opened at the neck, lungs heart and diaphragm gone. Half of 1 backstrap gone, one front quarter gone. Tufts of hair pulled out and strewn all over the place.
Looking around I realized I was within about 10yds of this elk the night before in the dark. Exactly where my blood ran cold. And exactly where the strange elk cry/scream came from. I have no way to know for sure, but I get the feeling I was within a few yards of a cat with an elk neck in its jaws. My non-chalant flippant mentality about being alone in a draw with the possibility of predators has changed a bit.
sorry for long story, if you made it through thanks for reading.
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