Midday boredom

[B Harrison]

Big meal when coming back in, take a good nap to rest, find a spot close to watch, then depending on moon phase and weather, head back out for afternoon so I can be set up for the last 1-2 hours.


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[bipock]

On my elk hunt last year in CO, I had a 5x5 at 17.5 and 2 cows at 17.5 and 20 yards. The bull was behind the cows at 30 yards - saw his legs, never saw what he was at 35 yards. All 3 between 11-2. I wasn't ready for any of them. Rookie elk hunter move.

The following day, we chased a monster up the mountain. We had him coming to the call, so I set up down a ath under a tree with the thought he'd step into the opening about 20 yards from me and I'd have a great shot on him. Instead, as I looked around, I realized the tree I had set up under was at the convergence of 3 paths - 2 of which I had a shot, one was no shot. At 11:15, he came down the path I had no shot on and stopped 4 yards from me. I was at full draw, trying to figure out a way to release my arrow and get it to make it through some branches and brush. Decided not to take the shot. Afterwards, my guide asked me if I saw him. I said I didn't, just saw his hoof. He proceeded to tell me he stepped to the top of the opening and was a massive 6x6 with dark chocolate antlers. We had seen him the day before from 800 yards, so I knew the one.

Point is just because you think they aren't moving doesn't mean they aren't. That's one thing I didn't like about the guide I went out with last year. They hunt from about 6:30am to 11:30am, head to camp and go back out around 4:00pm to dark. I'd rather be out there all day.

 

[grossklw]

During archery I "hunt" all day. Generally get out before dark to be in position for consistent morning thermals and find a bull before daybreak. Generally chase until the thermals begin to switch and that's usually our rest time. Sit and BS with your buddy, take a nap, snack or two or three, inreach the wife and check-in on the kids. I'm not going to pack all the way down to camp to do what I can do on the mountain. Once mid-day thermals stabilize we hit ridges with location bugles or even better we have one bedded from the AM and make a play. If it's been slow I'll sit a meadow or wallow as a rest day. I've never killed one that way but it's a nice change of pace and I usually end up hearing one and taking off anyway.

I've had some incredible hunting from 11-1, some of my best call-ins and encounters have been during the noon-time period. You can't kill them from camp (usually).

Afternoon we wait until one starts bugling and off we go again or if all is quiet we wait until dark with the hopes of finding one for the next AM. Our lag time is generally when thermals are shifting in AM/PM, mid-day we're either scouting or running/gunning.