After some discussion with Fitz we decided that it would be a great idea for me to have a season journal or log, as he does. In this, I can try to show you midwestern boys what its like to hunt in the west through pictures and words. Before I start I would also like to extend the thought of asking everyone to ask questions as they arise. This thread can be entertaining, informative, or enlightening. I am a gear junkie and would love to answer any questions on those specifics. To start it off I want to list off all of my major gear choices. Again, feel free to ask any questions on these as well. Bow 2010 PSE BowMadness MC 27.5"@70.5#'s Goldtip 7595 w/50 grain inserts and 100grn Slick Trick Mags 436grn Montana Black Gold 5 pin sight w/6" dovetail bracket Ripcord Code Red Clothing/Footwear Sitka Ascent Pants Sitka 90% Pants Sitka Core 1/4 Zip Tee Sitka Stratus Jacket Sitka Traverse Beanie, Ball Cap Danner 453GTX (early season) Danner Pronghorn 800g (late season) Lorpen Merino Liner Socks Pack, Optics, Misc.. Sitka Bivy 30 Pack Vortex 10x42 Talon HD's Nikon ProStaff 550 RF Knives of Alaska Cub Bear knife I will be hunting in NW Montana from September 1st through January 15th. I will have tags for Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail, Wolf, and Bear (already filled this spring). Obviously this thread is somewhat behind as I have been hunting for nearly a month, but I will catch you up as best I can... Updates can also be seen on our blog at: www.parallel46.com And our FB page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Parallel-46/312519798799279
Going into this bow season was much like any other. I was giddy with anticipation and eager to see some of Montana's gorgeous backcountry. I had practiced all summer, scouted, and bought new gear. This season, however, I was going to be dealing with a new challenge. I had recently taken a new position at work and would now be hunting on the weekends, something I was and am not excited to deal with. But, the benefits outweighed to downfalls. The fire season here is Western Montana has ran unusually late into the month of September, and even October. Contending with the choking smoke or sweltering heat would add additional challenges to the season. Opening morning found me starting a two mile trek into my stand to hunt for two nice velvet whitetails I had located a few weeks prior. The weight of my bow in my hand felt good and I was excited to see what daybreak would bring me. As I was climbing my stand something did not feel right, I was missing a step or too. I thought nothing of it as the large Ponderosa's I usually select as stands trees allow to use of branches for steps at times. I clambered my way into the stand and settled for the morning. After three hours of no sightings I was ready to do some still hunting. The light of day had revealed my worst thoughts, someone had stolen my top three steps. That stand was shot. A few days later I returned to the stand sight and promptly moved it deeper into an area with a high density or does. The following weekend was my first inaugural trip into the elk woods. All thoughts of excitement were quickly extinguished upon arrival at "my spot". There were two trucks already parked here and two more sets of headlights could be seen up the mountain. I was sick to my stomach. I drove up to a high point and was able to get enough cell service to pull up Google Earth on my phone. I was able to find another likely spot and headed in. After traversing over a fire burned ridge for nearly a mile I was ready to drop into what I hoped held my next bull. After dropping into the valley a few hundred feet I hit a bench and decided to let a small locator bugle out. I immediately got a report back. The bull was directly below me another 500 yards and in a creek bottom, presumably near a wallow. I circled to get my wind right and dropped in on him. What I found when I got to my pre determined "hot spot" was typical for this time of the year. A bull that went cold and quit talking. I was not interested in the pushing the bull too hard and potentially spooking him so I began my climb back out of the canyon. On the way up I spotted a likely looking ridge and headed that direction. Once there I was pleasantly surprised with a perfect ridge top littered in ample feed, stunted spruce trees, and elk sign. I had a feeling something was close and let out a few cow calls. Nothing. I waited for five minutes and decided to move on. I should have waited six. I took one step and an elk blew out right in front of me. I was sure it hadn't seen or smelled me so I quickly called again, which stopped the elk in his tracks. I knocked and arrow and snuck it's way. What I found was two bulls, one of which almost offered me a shot until the wind swirled. Back at it next week! The following weeks proved similar to my first weekend of chasing elk. People everywhere and elk not willing to talk. A few bulls were called in silent and some areas seemed absolutely devoid of elk. A week of vacation came and went and I was back to hunting weekends. My first Monday back at work at work found me working on a gentleman's bow. In talking to the man I found that he is an Alaskan resident who is down here hunting (seems backwards to me!). We talked of dream hunts and dreams come true until I finally got comfortable enough to ask him a question that was on my mind. He had a grouse feather stuffed in his quiver. For wind I presumed? He informed me that earlier in the year he and his son were hunting sheep in AK when they came across an eagle's feather. He picked it up for good luck as it was their last full day of hunting. That day came and went with no sheep and the next morning they had to pack out camp. On their way out two rams unexpectedly popped up from the river bottom. Both he and his son shot a ram less that 3/4 of a mile from their plane! He thought the good feather had luck and decided to keep the tradition, hence the grouse feather. His story of last minute success stirred me and I was heading out for an afternoon hunt after work. I get up to my spot and head down into a drainage containing a wallow. After seeing nothing for a few hours I decide to head back up on top and see if I can get a bull to talk to me. On my way I come across a grouse feather. I smiled at the thought and threw it in the my quiver. I took two more steps, grabbed my grunt tube, and let out a locator. Bull answers my location bugle up the ridge from me with approximately 30 minutes of daylight left. I tear off in his direction as hard and quiet as I can. With 15 minutes left I let out a small bugle and get a response.... directly on top of me! I drop to the other side of the ridge and begin closing in. I can hear the bull on top of the ridge but can also hear something walking towards me. I lean around a tree and see a cow at 30 yards. I need a dead elk, and this cow is dead, but this bull is just too worked up. I purposely run into the cows, scatter the herd, then scream a nasty bugle at the bull. He comes rushing into to about 70 yards and starts tearing up a tree. Shooting light is done, I just can't do it. I back out undetected. Caught a slight glimpse of him, looks like a decent bull. The next day I head out after work with the same agenda. ELK. I make it up to where I left the bull, the night prior, with plenty of light left. I wait a few hours then throw out a location bugle. I get a response from him on the thickest, nastiest ridge in the area. I dive in head first and encounter one very pissed off bull. While sneaking towards a clearing to gain some visibility the bull breaks and runs straight at me. He comes in to 6 yards and I cant see him! Just bits and pieces of horn is all that is visible. Again, the night closes in and I am left heading back to the truck, dejected. Again another day comes with my thoughts consumed by this bull. He looks big and seems to be working with my calling. This will be my third night after him and I am wondering how long my luck can stay true. When quitting times rolls around I head for my truck and scream up the mountain. This time I am prepared. I set up on a ridge close to his nasty hell hole and prepare to call him over to some clearings. As calling time nears his familiar bugle rings out, directly above me about 100 yards! He moved...again. Now he is heading straight up hill to where we were on Monday night. The herd is moving, and moving fast. Every ounce of my body is giving up but I have to stay with the herd and continue my laborious run up the hill. I have to stay with them. I follow the herd into a old burn, no cover. I allow them the get over a rise and out of sight then I take off. I get level with the herd and then climb to the top of the mountain. We are now on a very large, flat, rolling ridge that is all burned with scattered spurts of stunted spruce. While dropping into a saddle I spot the bull at about 100 yards. He has four to six cows with him and I am out of cover. The elk feed into a small tree patch and I move forward. The cows drop off one side of the ridge while the bull stays on top. I use this to my advantage and close in to about 70 yards, between him and his harem. Once I have some cover I charge the bull while screaming the biggest, gnarliest bugle I can muster. he immediately charges and begins raking a tree at about 40 yards. I can't see him and it's getting too dark to try any movement at this distance. Again, the light has screwed me. This night I finally got a look at the bull and find out he is a giant 7x7 in the 330" range. I take the next few days off as I have pushed the bull and myself to the limits. I had lost 12 pounds in three days of chasing him and was just physically and mentally exhausted. As the weekend approaches I know there will be a whole new wave of weekend warriors entering the area. I need to get on this bull early. Saturday morning finds me at my parking spot with and hour and a half until shooting light. I get out of my truck for a moment and am greeted with his familiar bugle just up the ridge. I wait for daylight then head out after him. On my way up I encounter something I have never experienced. A morning thermal that is moving uphill? The swirling wind gets me and one of the cows winds me. I spent the rest of that day and all day Sunday looking for the herd, to no avail. As it sits now I think I know what hole they headed into, but it will require a day hunt. I will be going up this Wednesday in hopes of catching him in his familiar haunts. For my season totals I am currently sitting at 107.5 hours and 76 miles. I will continue push those stats further until this bull is dead or I am out of season. I will not be sitting around for the next 11 months with any regrets. Stay tuned!!
Having the profession that I do and living in the west is a definite advantage as far as gear testing is concerned. I am able to test a multitude of gear in some of the most rugged, tear you up terrain imaginable. This generally allows me to weed out the "junk" items within a hunt or two. Over the years I have refined my "system" into something that fits my hunting style to a T. With the exception of one piece, my bino harness. I have used to Crooked Horn harness for the past 12 or so years and absolutely HATE IT! Things I do like Very fast on/off Suspender style straps reduce any and all fatigue to my neck area Things I do not like The harness constantly stretches and moves allowing the binos to eventually slip down to a level where they begin to bounce with every step It is nearly impossible to glass one handed with the harness when tightened to the correct position. When I crawl over/under obstacles to bino's bounce and fall where they please, getting in my way The entire harness slides all over So what to do? Build a new one. Once I had a general idea of what I wanted to accomplish I set about making a preliminary drawing on MS Paint( I'm so professional) I took the drawing and some material to my wife's Grandma and had her help me with the design and eventual completion of the harness. **WARNING! My wife is not home to help me. This is a Myspace Mirror shot Things I like I now have a fully contained binocular harness that will not allow my binos to bounce or sway in any direction, ever. My binoculars are now in a free floating mode when glassing. Zero tension on the tethers when using, allowing for one handed use Adjustable body straps allow me comfortably tighten the harness to a point where it will not ever slide on my body Things I need to add/change The lower straps could come across my body at a lower angle. I'll have to develop a new strap system I would like to add some sort of removable cover for the eye cups for use in thick cover or inclimate weather. I will put the harness to the initial test tomorrow as I head back out and try to locate my bull!
Very nice Journal, man you have some beautiful country! very well put together,,best of luck this season!
Beautiful country for sure, been that way once....look forward to doing it again. Thread looks great thanks for doing it, i look forward to following.
Here is a few low quality pictures of my area from my phone. Very steep, very thick country down low. Burned to a crisp up on top and nearly impossible to traverse due to down fall.
