For those of you who hunted so far....
- Thread starter DTP
- Start date
One area I?m going to redo next year is my drinking water situation.
I?ve tried water bladders once before, but I was probably using a cheap one and wasn?t s fan.
So this year I carried around 7-9 single liter water bottles each day. The issue was everytine I wanted a drink I?d have to unclip, unzip, drink, and then repack. For someone who drinks a lot of water that can get annoying quick and it?s also bulky in the pack. Next year I?ll run better bladders and make sure it has a drinking tube.
I?ve tried water bladders once before, but I was probably using a cheap one and wasn?t s fan.
So this year I carried around 7-9 single liter water bottles each day. The issue was everytine I wanted a drink I?d have to unclip, unzip, drink, and then repack. For someone who drinks a lot of water that can get annoying quick and it?s also bulky in the pack. Next year I?ll run better bladders and make sure it has a drinking tube.
B
Bull_Fighter
Guest
Never strap your bow to your backpack during hunting hours! I already knew this, but did it anyway against my better judgment, after spotting a bull about a mile away (mid-day) and deciding to make the hike toward his bedding area. Not 200 yards into the hike did I come face to face with a nice 6x6 bull standing 30 yards in front of me. The bull trotted away broadside at 20 yards as I unclipped my bow from the pack. Cool, right? 
Find more areas to hunt. I have about 7-8 areas I hunt often and another 7-8 I hunt occasionally. There is a lot of ground around I want to explore and haven't made the time but now I need to. This year between wolves and active logging operations and other hunters most of my usual areas were burned. I located elk the first 5 days I was out and shot a bull on the 15th.
I had another tag so I kept hunting. I haven't heard a bugle since the bull I shot. I have located groups of cows that had no bull which was a little strange this time of year. I watched one group of 7 walk across a hillside feeding for 500 yards til they got into the timber. No bull ever showed up. Then in 3 different areas I spotted cows and did some calling to see if a bull was with them. All three groups of cows came right in to me. No bull ever tried to stop them or bugled.
One group was where I shot my bull and I know he was the biggest bull in there at the time I shot him but I was hoping another bull had come in there but I guess one didn't.
Another area had a 5x5 herd bull that I was trying to get into and I ran into another guy at that gate who knew my dad and they started talking and that guy was also hunting that bull and was going to be in there all week. Maybe he shot him?
The last area had a bull I had heard bugle earlier in the year. I didn't go back there for a while but when I did there were cows and no bull, but a gut pile and elk hide and bones in the bottom so I am guessing someone else shot that bull too.
4 other areas I hunt were being logged or cleared or otherwise had logging activities in them and no elk sign. And two other areas I went into, the only responses to my bugles was wolves.
Several other areas had people hunting in them.
I live where I hunt so there isn't a good reason for me to not have more areas scouted except that I haven't needed more areas in the past but now it seems like time to do some scouting.
The only bull I have seen since I shot mine is a spike I called in to 15 yards that I chose not to shoot. He was in an area that also had another spike and a 2 point that we had got on trail cams. We are headed there over the weekend to see if my Mom or Dad can get on one of them or perhaps another bull. I am starting to think I need to buy a muzzleloader and get ready for that late season hunt.
I had another tag so I kept hunting. I haven't heard a bugle since the bull I shot. I have located groups of cows that had no bull which was a little strange this time of year. I watched one group of 7 walk across a hillside feeding for 500 yards til they got into the timber. No bull ever showed up. Then in 3 different areas I spotted cows and did some calling to see if a bull was with them. All three groups of cows came right in to me. No bull ever tried to stop them or bugled.
One group was where I shot my bull and I know he was the biggest bull in there at the time I shot him but I was hoping another bull had come in there but I guess one didn't.
Another area had a 5x5 herd bull that I was trying to get into and I ran into another guy at that gate who knew my dad and they started talking and that guy was also hunting that bull and was going to be in there all week. Maybe he shot him?
The last area had a bull I had heard bugle earlier in the year. I didn't go back there for a while but when I did there were cows and no bull, but a gut pile and elk hide and bones in the bottom so I am guessing someone else shot that bull too.
4 other areas I hunt were being logged or cleared or otherwise had logging activities in them and no elk sign. And two other areas I went into, the only responses to my bugles was wolves.
Several other areas had people hunting in them.
I live where I hunt so there isn't a good reason for me to not have more areas scouted except that I haven't needed more areas in the past but now it seems like time to do some scouting.
The only bull I have seen since I shot mine is a spike I called in to 15 yards that I chose not to shoot. He was in an area that also had another spike and a 2 point that we had got on trail cams. We are headed there over the weekend to see if my Mom or Dad can get on one of them or perhaps another bull. I am starting to think I need to buy a muzzleloader and get ready for that late season hunt.
B
Bull_Fighter
Guest
Another lesson learned: Be more aggressive than you think you should! This scenario played out at least 3-4 times... Started up high before first light. Bugle. Response down low. Rush down to get close and start calling. Bugle-fest ensues. I think I'm within 100 yards, but the bull is actually on the other side of the creek and it's STEEP. Probably more like 300 yards from me if you actually walk down and back up the other side. I learned that the bull doesn't really want to come down that steep slope and straight up the other side to mess with you. Also, if you think you're close enough, you're probably not. I didn't realize that he wasn't on the same side of the creek as me, but I should have crossed to the other side, gotten on his level, and THEN started with the bugling within 100yds. I felt pinned-down on my side of the creek because it was a lot of open sage brush with sparse pines mixed in. Should have made a more aggressive move and gotten in closer. Each time this happened, the bull got nice and worked up, but then lost interest and moved on. Meanwhile, I'm thinking I'm within 100 yards and he's going to come over eventually. Lesson learned.
tiberiuswade
New member
- Sep 5, 2018
- 9
Use the integrated bladder 70oz with tube that going inside pack, tube over shoulder take sip without missing a beat. They great, go and you thinking ahead for next season
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DTP said:
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We had a really difficult time tracking them down this year. We were always a day behind them; get into fresh scat but could never locate. With that being said we had a lot of other signs but scat was by far the best sign for relative time. Anyways I have already started scouting new areas and plan to run a few trail cameras this year. I will also make 2 - 7 day trips out to these spots in the off season to scout, check/move cameras, and so on. With limited hunting time I have to do better about getting on them early.
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cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,332
DTP said:
Dan, give this one a shot. A buddy of mine bought this one and I really like it compared other bladders. Easy to fill, easy to dry and clean. And would fit easily in the Horn Hunter pack. The 3L would essentially hold 6 bottles of water.
https://www.elk101store.com/tenzing-tz-hydration-system
tiberiuswade
New member
- Sep 5, 2018
- 9
Anyone has idea why when I try to look at the pictures that you guys post, they come up as broken so not able to view your pic
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cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,332
tiberiuswade said:
This is just with Tapatalk right now. Something must be messed up with their system. Try viewing the website on a browser and the pics will show up.
This year was my very first elk hunt! I did a DIY in Wyoming and came home with a 5x4 bull :grin: As for lessons learned, the entire experience was a lesson in how much different elk hunting is than deer hunting. More specifically, a better pack frame with easier strap options! What an amazing adventure!
