So some of you have been asking and I've finally quit being lazy.....so here is the story.
So to start with a little background. I've rifle hunted off and on over the last decade, but never was very serious about it due to lack of time and what not. Well I ate some bad food or something and suddenly decided to take up archery. Naturally being a beginning bow hunter and elk for that matter wasn't enough of a challenge, so I decided to hunt solo in the backcountry....
.... btw I blame part of this on all you Roksliders for being so darn inspiring. I wanted to get away from as many people as possible so I wouldn't have any excuses for my success or failure. After some research and internet consultations with fellow ifishers I decided to give it a go in the Eagle Cap Wilderness in the Imnaha unit. I did my google maps research and set out on a couple 3 day weekend scouting trips in July and August. I had found plenty of elk and was excited to for the season to start! :meme: During my scouting I had come across some wolf tracks, but hadn't seen any other sign.
After hunting hard Saturday and Sunday opening weekend I decided to move my camp Sunday afternoon a few miles so I could have easier access to another basin for the next 2 days. I moved my camp and then set out for my evening hunt down a ridge. As I went out this ridge I came to a pond with a small meadow hidden in the tress and blowdown. My legs told me I should switch strategies and try to sit on the pond to see if a big bull was feeling thirsty this evening.
I was sitting at the pond for only a few minutes when I heard something in the trees across from me. Naturally I was excited and then quickly not so excited when I saw a wolf/coyote climb over a log.....After seeing the second one (black) I knew they were wolves. All at once I crapped my pants, cussed them for ruining my elk hunt, and excited to see one just for the experience. Needless to say the wolves made themselves at home and had no idea I was sitting there. I snapped a few pictures and video and watched them for about 15 minutes. There ended up being 7 total wolves, and the alpha male was HUGE and when he showed up the other wolves took notice for sure!
https://vimeo.com/81107773 At this point I wasn't sure what to do...scare them off or just wait for them to leave. Being that my only defense was my knife and bow I went with option two because I understand my place on the food chain minus a good gun. At one point I looked down and one of the wolves was only 35 yds from me. For reference the edge of the pond was about 60 yds. Oh how I wish we could hunt wolves in Oregon!!
This is when things got interesting..... Going with option 2 above I waited out the wolves and they finally decided to hit the road and started working around the far side of the meadow. Being that I didn't feel comfortable if I couldn't see them I started to side step to keep my line of sight. At this point they either saw or heard me and took off barking up the hill.....except the alpha. He retreated into the trees and started to howl at me! This is when all my hair stood up, vacated any remaining mountain house, and my knees began to really shake. Keep in mind this wasn't a hey how you doing howl, this was a GET THE F&*K OUT OF MY WOODS howl!!! I wasn't sure what to do, so because of the steep/rocky terrain behind me I decided to stay put and act tough. Inside I wasn't tough! I would yell and throw rocks and wolfie would yell right back! It was a stand off....this went on for 12+ minutes. https://vimeo.com/81107772 Which was when I decided to retreat and get the heck out of dodge. I suddenly lost my desire to sleep under a tarp, solo, less then 1/2 mile from my new canine companions!
About 20 minutes later I had hiked back to camp, packed it up, and hoofed it up the ridge all in a hurry to avoid being dinner. When I got to the top my buddy was still howling! At this point I lost all desire to hunt and made way for the truck. Back at the trail head I rain into a large hunting party and found out they had shot a bull the previous day in that basin, but never could find it. After looking at my pictures at home I realized they were chewing on a leg. No wonder they were upset I crashed the party!
Not to be deterred I returned the last week of the season with renewed confidence and my trusty S&W on my hip. The first evening after setting up camp I hiked down to a pond I had been to several times. As I got close I heard a faint whimpering sound....Low an behold I peaked over a small berm and there is a damn wolf not 50 yds away!! Once again he didn't know I was there and went off into the trees. I keep telling myself I must be an alpha predator that thinks like the wolves....although that is up for debate. That evening the wolves were howling up a storm down the canyon, and that was the last I heard or saw of them.
The elk were not very vocal and the only bugles I heard were a dawn/dusk. Conveniently right before/after shooting light! I haven't decided if I will go back next year. I loved the country and I know there are elk in the country, but not sure if I want to put up with the wolves.
So to start with a little background. I've rifle hunted off and on over the last decade, but never was very serious about it due to lack of time and what not. Well I ate some bad food or something and suddenly decided to take up archery. Naturally being a beginning bow hunter and elk for that matter wasn't enough of a challenge, so I decided to hunt solo in the backcountry....
.... btw I blame part of this on all you Roksliders for being so darn inspiring. I wanted to get away from as many people as possible so I wouldn't have any excuses for my success or failure. After some research and internet consultations with fellow ifishers I decided to give it a go in the Eagle Cap Wilderness in the Imnaha unit. I did my google maps research and set out on a couple 3 day weekend scouting trips in July and August. I had found plenty of elk and was excited to for the season to start! :meme: During my scouting I had come across some wolf tracks, but hadn't seen any other sign. After hunting hard Saturday and Sunday opening weekend I decided to move my camp Sunday afternoon a few miles so I could have easier access to another basin for the next 2 days. I moved my camp and then set out for my evening hunt down a ridge. As I went out this ridge I came to a pond with a small meadow hidden in the tress and blowdown. My legs told me I should switch strategies and try to sit on the pond to see if a big bull was feeling thirsty this evening.
I was sitting at the pond for only a few minutes when I heard something in the trees across from me. Naturally I was excited and then quickly not so excited when I saw a wolf/coyote climb over a log.....After seeing the second one (black) I knew they were wolves. All at once I crapped my pants, cussed them for ruining my elk hunt, and excited to see one just for the experience. Needless to say the wolves made themselves at home and had no idea I was sitting there. I snapped a few pictures and video and watched them for about 15 minutes. There ended up being 7 total wolves, and the alpha male was HUGE and when he showed up the other wolves took notice for sure!
https://vimeo.com/81107773 At this point I wasn't sure what to do...scare them off or just wait for them to leave. Being that my only defense was my knife and bow I went with option two because I understand my place on the food chain minus a good gun. At one point I looked down and one of the wolves was only 35 yds from me. For reference the edge of the pond was about 60 yds. Oh how I wish we could hunt wolves in Oregon!!This is when things got interesting..... Going with option 2 above I waited out the wolves and they finally decided to hit the road and started working around the far side of the meadow. Being that I didn't feel comfortable if I couldn't see them I started to side step to keep my line of sight. At this point they either saw or heard me and took off barking up the hill.....except the alpha. He retreated into the trees and started to howl at me! This is when all my hair stood up, vacated any remaining mountain house, and my knees began to really shake. Keep in mind this wasn't a hey how you doing howl, this was a GET THE F&*K OUT OF MY WOODS howl!!!
I wasn't sure what to do, so because of the steep/rocky terrain behind me I decided to stay put and act tough. Inside I wasn't tough! I would yell and throw rocks and wolfie would yell right back! It was a stand off....this went on for 12+ minutes. https://vimeo.com/81107772 Which was when I decided to retreat and get the heck out of dodge. I suddenly lost my desire to sleep under a tarp, solo, less then 1/2 mile from my new canine companions!About 20 minutes later I had hiked back to camp, packed it up, and hoofed it up the ridge all in a hurry to avoid being dinner. When I got to the top my buddy was still howling! At this point I lost all desire to hunt and made way for the truck. Back at the trail head I rain into a large hunting party and found out they had shot a bull the previous day in that basin, but never could find it. After looking at my pictures at home I realized they were chewing on a leg. No wonder they were upset I crashed the party!
Not to be deterred I returned the last week of the season with renewed confidence and my trusty S&W on my hip.
The first evening after setting up camp I hiked down to a pond I had been to several times. As I got close I heard a faint whimpering sound....Low an behold I peaked over a small berm and there is a damn wolf not 50 yds away!! Once again he didn't know I was there and went off into the trees. I keep telling myself I must be an alpha predator that thinks like the wolves....although that is up for debate. That evening the wolves were howling up a storm down the canyon, and that was the last I heard or saw of them.The elk were not very vocal and the only bugles I heard were a dawn/dusk. Conveniently right before/after shooting light!
I haven't decided if I will go back next year. I loved the country and I know there are elk in the country, but not sure if I want to put up with the wolves.
