TheHardWay
Lil-Rokslider
After losing a wounded elk a few years ago, that should have been DRT, I told myself that I would never hunt with a muzzleloader again. Going against my own pricinciple, I decided to cash in my preference points in order to get a limited muzzleloader elk tag here in my home state. I changed up my ML setup which included switching from PowerBelts and Triple7 to Blackhorn 209 and Thor bullets, as well as purchasing a new Knight Ultra Light rifle. I put in the time practicing shooting the new gun, and was feeling good about the upcoming season.
Finally, opening morning of September 13th was here, and I was out before daybreak at my rock outlook. The elk were busy talking, and getting me pumped. I was busy glassing and picked up several elk, including a handful of great looking 6pt bulls that would surpass the 300” mark with ease. It was the first day, with lots of bulls spotted, so I decided to just keep glassing to see who was who and study each bull before deciding which one I wanted to pursue. I started glassing further and further away. I was looking over some terrain about 2.5 miles away when I spotted some elk. I saw some antler tips moving in the oak brush that caught my attention. I kept watching until he stepped out in order to get a better look. When he finally stepped out, I could see he was another good bull, even from that distance. Upon zooming in, I could see that he was a 7x7, with an inline point and another coming off of his g5, and had my full attention. The only problem is that he was on a piece of private ground, and I wouldn’t be able to make a move. I kept my scope on him the rest of the morning, while I continued to glass the bulls that I could actually hunt, hoping that just maybe he would work his way towards me. By 11o’clock, he had pushed his cows further to the North, away from me. Later on that day, during the evening hunt, I spotted him again, hanging out in the same area.
Glassing Rock
The next morning I was back out, and decided to check the area where I had seen him the day before, and sure enough, standing there in an opening in a sunspot, there he was. Not more than 50 yds away from where I saw him the day before. However, with the sun shining on his antlers, I was able to pick something out that I hadn’t noticed the day before. He actually had another extra point, making him a 7x8. I instantly became obsessed with this bull, but was frustrated that I couldn’t make a move. I continued to watch the bulls that I could chase and come up with a Plan B bull. Later in the morning, while keeping an eye on the 7x8, I spotted a bow hunter closing in on “my” bull. The hunter was closing in with an arrow knocked. I can’t be certain that he actually saw the bull or not, but I am positive he at least heard him bugling. The last I saw the hunter and bull were within 100 yds of each other and moving directly towards one another into some thick cover. That was it, I figured it was all over, and someone else was going to punch his tag on that brute. The following evening and entire next day, I didn’t see him, and this only worked to confirm my worst fears.
During one of my evening hunt stalks, I came upon a group of 4 grouse. Three of them exploded into flight scaring the crap of me. The last one just sat there about 8 feet away watching me from behind a shrub. I picked up a fist-sized rock and gave it an underhand toss. The rock went up, hit and overhanging scrub oak branch, and came down hitting the grouse directly in the head, and killing it. I couldn’t believe it, and looked around as if to see if there was anyone else around that just witnessed that! Here I thought a muzzleloader was a form of using a primitive weapon, but chucking rocks brings a whole new meaning to that. At least I wouldn’t go the entire hunt without some fresh meat!
I turned my attention to a great bull I had been watching, one that I could go after. He was a 6x7 frame, but had broken off one of his G2s. However, he had incredible beam and tine length. His G1s, remaining G2, and G3s went on for miles! He guessed he would still go 320-330. I hunted him hard for the next few days, without any success. Whenever I’d get close, I’d get busted by some cows or young bulls. I had several close encounters (60 yds or less) with some great 300+ bulls that could have easily brought my hunt to an end. I usually find a bull or two that I decide I want to pursue, and dedicate the season to hunting only those guys. If I haven’t closed the deal by the last day, I’ll take the last day and try to fill the tag. This year was no different in hunting only a select couple of bulls. The only difference is that I had blown all my elk preference points on this tag, and was going to hold out for my Plan A or Plan B bull, or go without this year.
On Wednesday morning I was able to spot the 7x8, again in the exact same spot! He was still alive! My hopes were up again, but at the same time I realized he was still inaccessible, so I was a little let down.
Wednesday evening it was pouring down rain, and I was soaked to the core. I mistakenly forgot to pack my rain gear. In fact, there were puddles in the bottom of my Lowa boots! I continued hunting, and moving in on some elk near a pond in a draw. I got to about 100 yards and the cows got nervous. I decided to back out and move above them. As I moved back up the hill I had to catch my breath. In doing so, I stopped and looked back towards the elk and noticed the Plan B bull standing directly across from me on the other side of the draw! He rounded up his ladies and moved away from me. My plan instantly changed. I decided that the season was already half over, and I was running out of time. As I said, I was dripping wet, and borderline being miserable, but I was going to make something happen! I went back down and across the draw, and up the other side, cautiously trailing the herd. After working around some cows and other bulls, I was eventually able to get in position for a shot on Plan B. At this point, I was concerned if my muzzleloader would even go off because or sneaking through the wet brush and how hard it was raining. The shot never panned out and I returned home that evening to dry out, extremely disappointed.
Finally, opening morning of September 13th was here, and I was out before daybreak at my rock outlook. The elk were busy talking, and getting me pumped. I was busy glassing and picked up several elk, including a handful of great looking 6pt bulls that would surpass the 300” mark with ease. It was the first day, with lots of bulls spotted, so I decided to just keep glassing to see who was who and study each bull before deciding which one I wanted to pursue. I started glassing further and further away. I was looking over some terrain about 2.5 miles away when I spotted some elk. I saw some antler tips moving in the oak brush that caught my attention. I kept watching until he stepped out in order to get a better look. When he finally stepped out, I could see he was another good bull, even from that distance. Upon zooming in, I could see that he was a 7x7, with an inline point and another coming off of his g5, and had my full attention. The only problem is that he was on a piece of private ground, and I wouldn’t be able to make a move. I kept my scope on him the rest of the morning, while I continued to glass the bulls that I could actually hunt, hoping that just maybe he would work his way towards me. By 11o’clock, he had pushed his cows further to the North, away from me. Later on that day, during the evening hunt, I spotted him again, hanging out in the same area.
Glassing Rock
The next morning I was back out, and decided to check the area where I had seen him the day before, and sure enough, standing there in an opening in a sunspot, there he was. Not more than 50 yds away from where I saw him the day before. However, with the sun shining on his antlers, I was able to pick something out that I hadn’t noticed the day before. He actually had another extra point, making him a 7x8. I instantly became obsessed with this bull, but was frustrated that I couldn’t make a move. I continued to watch the bulls that I could chase and come up with a Plan B bull. Later in the morning, while keeping an eye on the 7x8, I spotted a bow hunter closing in on “my” bull. The hunter was closing in with an arrow knocked. I can’t be certain that he actually saw the bull or not, but I am positive he at least heard him bugling. The last I saw the hunter and bull were within 100 yds of each other and moving directly towards one another into some thick cover. That was it, I figured it was all over, and someone else was going to punch his tag on that brute. The following evening and entire next day, I didn’t see him, and this only worked to confirm my worst fears.
During one of my evening hunt stalks, I came upon a group of 4 grouse. Three of them exploded into flight scaring the crap of me. The last one just sat there about 8 feet away watching me from behind a shrub. I picked up a fist-sized rock and gave it an underhand toss. The rock went up, hit and overhanging scrub oak branch, and came down hitting the grouse directly in the head, and killing it. I couldn’t believe it, and looked around as if to see if there was anyone else around that just witnessed that! Here I thought a muzzleloader was a form of using a primitive weapon, but chucking rocks brings a whole new meaning to that. At least I wouldn’t go the entire hunt without some fresh meat!
I turned my attention to a great bull I had been watching, one that I could go after. He was a 6x7 frame, but had broken off one of his G2s. However, he had incredible beam and tine length. His G1s, remaining G2, and G3s went on for miles! He guessed he would still go 320-330. I hunted him hard for the next few days, without any success. Whenever I’d get close, I’d get busted by some cows or young bulls. I had several close encounters (60 yds or less) with some great 300+ bulls that could have easily brought my hunt to an end. I usually find a bull or two that I decide I want to pursue, and dedicate the season to hunting only those guys. If I haven’t closed the deal by the last day, I’ll take the last day and try to fill the tag. This year was no different in hunting only a select couple of bulls. The only difference is that I had blown all my elk preference points on this tag, and was going to hold out for my Plan A or Plan B bull, or go without this year.
On Wednesday morning I was able to spot the 7x8, again in the exact same spot! He was still alive! My hopes were up again, but at the same time I realized he was still inaccessible, so I was a little let down.
Wednesday evening it was pouring down rain, and I was soaked to the core. I mistakenly forgot to pack my rain gear. In fact, there were puddles in the bottom of my Lowa boots! I continued hunting, and moving in on some elk near a pond in a draw. I got to about 100 yards and the cows got nervous. I decided to back out and move above them. As I moved back up the hill I had to catch my breath. In doing so, I stopped and looked back towards the elk and noticed the Plan B bull standing directly across from me on the other side of the draw! He rounded up his ladies and moved away from me. My plan instantly changed. I decided that the season was already half over, and I was running out of time. As I said, I was dripping wet, and borderline being miserable, but I was going to make something happen! I went back down and across the draw, and up the other side, cautiously trailing the herd. After working around some cows and other bulls, I was eventually able to get in position for a shot on Plan B. At this point, I was concerned if my muzzleloader would even go off because or sneaking through the wet brush and how hard it was raining. The shot never panned out and I returned home that evening to dry out, extremely disappointed.
