Melissa had a chance to call last night and said the hunting has been tough. They are at 10,000 ft and the weather has been in the mid 70’s. Elk have been hanging out in the “dark” timber and not coming out during the day even to water. They are showing up on trail cams at midnight and no rut activity or bugling at all….
UPDATE: She just called right now. She had a nice 5×5 tonight at 10 yds broadside, full draw, “and the bull spooked from an arrow sailing over its back” she said. I said “you missed?” She says “No, my partner in crime(dad) flung from 30yds right over his back.”
Apparently they had a miscommunication about where she was going to post as he was calling in this bull. When the bull didnt move towards her post he decided to take the shot. Needless to say she had a perfect shot, was taking her time and it ended that fast.
She then proceeds to cry, walk back to her backback and there is a sow and 2 cubs 20yds away! The cubs spooked and ran up a tree right next to her so they hurried to get there stuff and get the heck out of there.
To top off the whole day, her and dad where walking back to camp in the dark. Dad had a headlamp and she didnt bring hers with. She’s walking down the trail and a 30 lb critter woddles across the trail in front of her. She doesnt know what it is so she has her dad come over and check it out. Porcupine! They followed it long enough to snap a few pics.
I moved up to Bemidji 2 months ago and those are the two animals she wanted me to show her and I have been unsuccessful on both. Today she got a taste of it all I guess.
Also had a close encounter with a spike in the same meadow today. I am thinking it may be the place to be tomorrow. Today was the first day they heard any bugling and they heard it all over the mountain. Too bad tomorrow is the last day of the hunt.