Bobby Joe's second bull Elk!
6x7 Bull, he is magnificent
and
I was very fortunate to harvest him!
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First Trip:
I have saddle sores, sore knees, and can't sleep on soft beds any more,
but that is all OK. The adventure I just had was worth it. I was
camped under a tarp/lean too 3 hours by horse from the truck for that time
and that was to short. It is a beautiful canyon valley in the Greybull
River drainage.
I was up for 3 days the first trip where I woke up to wolves howling
the first morning, so I made coffee and listened to them until they stopped.
Saw some Elk but that was all the time I had, so I didn't get one.
Second trip:
I hunted with a bow for the first 8 days plus 3 from the first trip.
Saw many animals, including the ones I was hunting, ELK! The most magnificent
animal I have ever hunted. They climbed hills that are almost a 45 degree
grade and hang above where the mountain sheep live in the rim rocks, which
is where I spent some time.
I had no close enough shots during archery but had some wonderful experiences.
There is no feeling in the world like trusting your horse to follow the
trail home after dark through country where bears and wolves live. All
you can do is look up and watch yourself go through the trees and the only
reason you can tell that is the stars going by the trees. Another fantastic
sensation is hunting in a canyon another 2 hours by horse from camp, all
you have for protection is your bow, knife and maybe bear spray, if you
remember to take it, and out of the heavy black timber walks the biggest
bear you have ever seen in your life and the horse are not tied to the
tree. The question is, What do you do? Well you quickly take care of the
horses because the walk is long and darkness is close and then you take
pictures of course! Unfortunately all I had was a little instamatic and
the pictures did not come out since it was dark. Oh, well, better luck
next time. Fortunately there was no bear incidents on this trip, none the
less, you always respect that they can be anywhere at anytime and you don't
let your guard down even for a moment.
One morning we were traveling up the trail when we saw a young elk
that had been killed that morning or late in the night by wolves. We know
this because another 5 minutes up the trail, they started howling across
the creek in the heavy timber. They didn't know we were there, and there
were about 6 or 7 adult wolves howling. It was very cool but talk about
making the hair on your arm stand up. WOW!!!!!! When we returned that evening
a big black wolf was on the kill.
We had moose run through our camp while we were there and only the
dogs know what went through camp when we weren't there and they are not
talking.
I saw young Big Horn mountain sheep running and playing (butting heads)
on the rim rocks like it was nothing, and to watch them it was nothing
to them. I sat and watched them for about an hour and forgot about elk
hunting for that time. It was way cool and very relaxing too.
Well this was just a few of the more exciting things that happened
during my stay in the mountains. Oh, wait, the most exciting thing that
happened, how could I have almost forget to tell you the most exciting
thing that happened. The sound of the magnificent Bull Elk bugling near
or in the distance is a sound you start dreaming about the day after your
hunt is finished until the first chance you get to go and chase them the
next year. Another words, you hear them in your sleep all the time. Sometime
they have such a loud bugle they sound like they are just over the next
hill when in fact they are 1/4 mile away. Unlike the wolves this sound
makes the hair stand up all over your body. WOW!!!!
I harvested my bull the 2nd of October at 8 AM. It was a 458 yard shot
and I hit him twice in the left shoulder. By the time I had him ready to
load on the horses, walked down the mountain and retrieved the horses and
got him loaded on the horses, it was noon. A lot of work by yourself. You
have to constantly look over your shoulder because of the size of the bear
tracks we saw in this particular drainage and not to mention the fact that
I had blood on me up to my elbows. All this makes you appreciate your harvest
even more.
I only wish I grew up in these mountains so I have a lot to learn about
being apart of them, but I think I'm learning pretty quickly and loving
every second of it!!! One thing is for sure, like electricity, never ever
take the mountains for granted or they can and sometimes will take you
forever! Quite frankly, there would be no better place to end up than the
mountains.
Now please take a moment and say a prayer for god to give me a new
pair of knees!!!!! hahahaha
Hope you enjoyed the story and the pictures!
Bobby Joe Long
Email Bobby Joe at: oasis@oasismotelwyoming.com