waksupi
11-25-2005, 03:54 PM
I went out looking for a buck this morning, with my flintlock smoothbore. I got to the property I hunt, just after daylight. The property is a place in the Creston Breaks I have been a caretaker for, for many years. The fringe benefits are the exceptional hunting. This is extremely rough, broken country, where it is very easy to get lost in. This property hasn't been logged for probably 50 years, and has some nice stands of timber, along with some very thick grown over areas.
Unfortunately, the aging owner has put it up for sale, so if any of you want some premium Montana hunting area, he wants $600,000 for it. The only catch is, if I tell you where it is, I want hunting permission!
I started with my usual thing, of peeking over the rise, right in front of where I park at. This is at the end of the shooting range, and is a regular travel corridor. There is generally deer in the little saddle, and as usual, there were some there this morning. There was a buck and a doe. The buck was a spindly 4 point, so I backed off, figuring he would be in the same area later, if I didn't find something better, and I decided to come back for him.
I moved on up the mountain past the house on the place, and continued on towards a large clearing. My destination was about four hundred yards beyond this, as there is a small peak I have shot quite a few bucks on, over the years.
I was using my binoculars as I went, and spotted a doe on the far side of the clearing. She was standing still, with her head down, but not eating. I figured there was a buck with her. I kept glassing, but never saw one, and she finally moved over a small rise. The wind had made a small shift, so I started over the same ridge she had went over, only a few hundred yards away.
As I peeked over the ridge, I saw a fir tree sway. There was only very light wind, so I stopped, to determine what had made the motion. I could see a buckskin color in the trees, but couldn't make it out. I took another step forward, and could see antlers about thirty yards away from me, and lower. I took another step, and was within spitting distance of a raghorn bull elk. Looking through the glass, I made out eight more elk.
I did raise the smooth bore, and thought how easy the bull would be. But, I had turned this same one down a couple weeks ago, when I had shot a cow from this same herd. So, with no elk tag left, all I could do was watch them.
I was in a bit of a quandry. The only other person with permission to hunt this area, was supposed to have been there this morning, but hadn't shown up. I figured he was suffering from a turkey overdose, and hadn't made it out of bed too early.
I backed out of the area, keeping the wind in my face, and headed for an area on the other end of the property, where I knew a big buck had been bedding.
As I was moving slowly along the ridge on the far side of the property, I saw that distinctive buckskin color again. I knew it wasn't the same elk I had just left. I was studying it in the binoculars, trying to make out what it was, in the thick brush.
Then, he took a step into an opening. And it was one of the biggest bulls I have ever seen around here. Once again, I had been watching the wind, and he had no idea he had company. And once again, he would have been an easy kill, at about 45 yards.
That did it. I headed for my truck, for my cell phone, to stir my friend up, and get him out there. When I got there, I remembered I had left my cell phone in my lunch box at home. So, I went to the cabin, and getting the spare key, went in to use the phone. Which was turned off.
I didn't want to risk going back into the areas, and spooking the elk out, so I came home, called my buddy, and gave him explicit instructions where they were. I'm sure the main herd was going to bed in the thicket, where they had been feeding, and should stay put for a couple hours.
So now, I am sitting here waiting for my phone to ring, to hopefully be called to help him pack it out. The guy is an old retired AF MS/SGT, with diabetes and high blood pressure, and several heart surguries under his belt, so I help him when needed. I do know he is using a lever action .45-70, with cast bullets, just to sweeten the pot.
I wish him luck.
Unfortunately, the aging owner has put it up for sale, so if any of you want some premium Montana hunting area, he wants $600,000 for it. The only catch is, if I tell you where it is, I want hunting permission!
I started with my usual thing, of peeking over the rise, right in front of where I park at. This is at the end of the shooting range, and is a regular travel corridor. There is generally deer in the little saddle, and as usual, there were some there this morning. There was a buck and a doe. The buck was a spindly 4 point, so I backed off, figuring he would be in the same area later, if I didn't find something better, and I decided to come back for him.
I moved on up the mountain past the house on the place, and continued on towards a large clearing. My destination was about four hundred yards beyond this, as there is a small peak I have shot quite a few bucks on, over the years.
I was using my binoculars as I went, and spotted a doe on the far side of the clearing. She was standing still, with her head down, but not eating. I figured there was a buck with her. I kept glassing, but never saw one, and she finally moved over a small rise. The wind had made a small shift, so I started over the same ridge she had went over, only a few hundred yards away.
As I peeked over the ridge, I saw a fir tree sway. There was only very light wind, so I stopped, to determine what had made the motion. I could see a buckskin color in the trees, but couldn't make it out. I took another step forward, and could see antlers about thirty yards away from me, and lower. I took another step, and was within spitting distance of a raghorn bull elk. Looking through the glass, I made out eight more elk.
I did raise the smooth bore, and thought how easy the bull would be. But, I had turned this same one down a couple weeks ago, when I had shot a cow from this same herd. So, with no elk tag left, all I could do was watch them.
I was in a bit of a quandry. The only other person with permission to hunt this area, was supposed to have been there this morning, but hadn't shown up. I figured he was suffering from a turkey overdose, and hadn't made it out of bed too early.
I backed out of the area, keeping the wind in my face, and headed for an area on the other end of the property, where I knew a big buck had been bedding.
As I was moving slowly along the ridge on the far side of the property, I saw that distinctive buckskin color again. I knew it wasn't the same elk I had just left. I was studying it in the binoculars, trying to make out what it was, in the thick brush.
Then, he took a step into an opening. And it was one of the biggest bulls I have ever seen around here. Once again, I had been watching the wind, and he had no idea he had company. And once again, he would have been an easy kill, at about 45 yards.
That did it. I headed for my truck, for my cell phone, to stir my friend up, and get him out there. When I got there, I remembered I had left my cell phone in my lunch box at home. So, I went to the cabin, and getting the spare key, went in to use the phone. Which was turned off.
I didn't want to risk going back into the areas, and spooking the elk out, so I came home, called my buddy, and gave him explicit instructions where they were. I'm sure the main herd was going to bed in the thicket, where they had been feeding, and should stay put for a couple hours.
So now, I am sitting here waiting for my phone to ring, to hopefully be called to help him pack it out. The guy is an old retired AF MS/SGT, with diabetes and high blood pressure, and several heart surguries under his belt, so I help him when needed. I do know he is using a lever action .45-70, with cast bullets, just to sweeten the pot.
I wish him luck.