The bow season is over now, and I went “O for Bow”again.  But don’t feel bad for me because it was another great year in the mountains. Most non-hunters believe that if we fail to bag an animal it was not a successful year.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

Hunting is about many things.  While killing an animal helps fill the freezer and provide meat for your family, it is not the only reason we do it.  Being out in nature and experiencing the beauty of our planet is awesome, and the countless sunrises and sunsets you see while hunting are amazing. 

How about the flora and fauna you experience?  Being dressed in camo really helps pull the animals in close to you for a great up close view.  For the third time in my life, I had a bird try to land on the bill of my cap while I was sitting underneath a pine tree.  I just couldn’t hold still as he tried to land, and he ended up on a branch about 8 inches from my face.  When animals get that close, like deer, elk, chipmunks and the like, it makes for an enjoyable day.

There is also the basic instinct we try and achieve while hunting.  Before grocery stores, man had to provide for his family, and going out on the land was the only way to do it.  I realize we don’t have that today,but to go into the woods and hunt for your dinner brings back a feeling of being self-sufficient and being one with the planet.  It’s a hard feeling to put into words. 

The greatest thing about bow season is the elk being fired up for the “rut”- the period of time when the bulls are fighting for the chance to breed with the cows.  They will come right into when you bugle or cow call, and they are fighting mad.  To hear an elk bugle when he is only 30 yards away…well it’s something you just have experience to understand and appreciate.

The first two weekends of September were very quiet, but on the weekend of the 17^th and 18^th, the woods filled up with the sounds of elk.  I was sitting underneath a small pine I like to sit that has a nice view down a ridge.  The sun had already set, and it was getting dark quickly.  Suddenly, two cows appeared out of the trees and were feeding about 80 yards away. 

After 5 minutes, a 5 point bull came out to feed with the cows.  I cow called and he just stared at my tree.  He wouldn’t budge, so I decided to bugle.  He immediately started walking towards me and the hunt was on!  He was angling at me and I had to wait for him to turn his side to me.  At about 38 yards he did just that, I let my arrow fly towards the 5 point.

My timing was not good. Just as I shot, the bull must have smelled me because he jumped in the air and did a 180.  I saw my arrow go over his back and kick up some dust behind him. He trotted away, but came back when I bugled again.  By then, it was too dark to shoot.

I was glad that my arrow went over his back because if had hit him, his jump would have put my arrow into a different part of his body,probably his rear end.  The last thing a hunter wants is to wound an animal and have it get away and suffer a terrible death.

The following day I had an enormous bull come into me.  I never got a shot at him because he would not come out of the trees, but I had a good look at him and he was probably a 340+ bull.  We’ll be back to try and find him when my wife’s rifle tag opens at the end of the month.

For the rest of the month, I continued to talk with many bulls, but I never got another shot at one.

So I was “0 for Bow”, but so what?  I had a great time experiencing Mother Nature and her tremendous elk population. Nothing is more fun than having elk come in screaming at you.  If you’ve never done it, it’s something you need to experience once in your life.

So it’s on to deer season now for the next two weekends and then bull elk opens from Oct 25 to Nov 3.  For all of you hunting out there, remember:  the worst day hunting is better than the best day working. Good luck to all of you in your hunting endeavors.