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elk decoys.
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<blockquote data-quote="elkmaster101" data-source="post: 390711" data-attributes="member: 18049"><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">We used decoys in heavy timber last year.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">It was in the pitch of night as we made our way back, a good 2 miles in the dark, </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">We knew this place well,</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">having taken a couple nice bulls, 3 to be exact over the last 4 years, this fruitful ground hold many cows, and where you find cows, a couple hundred +-, you'll find bulls. Yes there are still plenty to be had here, by the early glimmers of light we were finally there.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">We caught the herd as it was going up in the morning.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">This part of the story will be picked up at a later date.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">But (2) satellite bulls fell that morning, as well as a cow, </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">and by the end of the day we were pretty well whooped from cutting and packing. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">But the conclusion I'll share with you now. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">We all took the next day off. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">That day off wasn't good for the lad who didn't fill his tag though. He moved around camp, kind of whimpering and complaining about just about everything in life.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Convincingly we all assured him that letting the area relax for a day was good. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">That day seamed to last forever for him especially as he groper around.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Stopping in front of the elk racks leaning up against the trees,</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">He'd shake his head , mutter some words to himself then he'd go pick up the ax,</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">chop up a few chunks off the logging tree, place the ax back in the stump, </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> then go off to his next little can-do project. by the end of the day he'd made it back to that chopping log a lot of times. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">This was all a good thing, cause by the end of the day we had a sweet pile of wood stacked,</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">all our messes cleaned up, and the camp was looking spiffy.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">That evening thing got better, I think it was because he know somehow, maybe it was</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">his sixth sense told him that tomorrow was going to happen and that it was only a dreams time away.</span></span></span></p><p> <span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The next day came early, I don't know if Fred ever went to sleep.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Fred was up stirring around in the cook tent when I finally crawled out, 4:00 am,</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> A quick something warm to eat, that's what I needed.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> Now our cook tent is rapped W/ 3 tables and coolers galore.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Like walking into a grocery store all the tables are loaded with grub. All the snack food is places out neat and orderly on the tables for all to see. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Kind of set up in smorgasbord style with just about anything you need for you days pack,</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">it's real scary for a person that been in bear country to see such, heck been doing it that way for 18 years. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">And that's why we keep it in the cook tent. Rather have him in there chewing down there then in my tent eating a feather sandwich.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> Anyway I need something warm, my typical breakfast is couple bags of instant oatmeal poured into a coffee cup and hot water followed with a coffee chaser.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Mike was right behind me as we entered the cook tent. Said morning to each other and Fred gave a nod and commenced packing our packs and fixing our grub.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> 4:15 and we were heading out, we were heading back to our honey hole.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Like I said we found this spot about 4 years earlier, a sinkhole valley with a supper pasture and ridged all around. Black timber on the north face and it was on that side we came in on. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">That day 2 of us went with Fred and to call and run the decoys.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Even in the darkest timber they work.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The morning went without locating a good cow; Fred had just that a cow tag.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> Basically all the cows were with the herds now with the rut going at full tilt. So finding that loan cow meandering around was like looking for a penny in the creek. You weren't going to find one. So by midmorning we made our way towards the area we were sure the elk would frequent. Stopping lessening and discussing strategies, we had reached a spot about 3/4 the way to the top and about 300 yards to our right was their bedding area. We were at around 10,000 ft. elevation according to our GPS.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Now that little gismo is a story by its self (later) The wind was in our favor, nothing but the natural up flow caused by the heating of the day. We could see the top ridge, it came right down to us. It would be easy walking if we had to get to the top. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">We decided to plant our selves there.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Our location was about 35 yards or so above a saddle to a connecting arm that branched off into a different valley and we knew if there was going to be any putt zing around of the elk that this would be a good catch them spot.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">So we to shut up, we didn't make a sound for about 2 hours.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Like wise they too weren't talking either. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Knowing the elk would come to a water hole for an afternoon drink we set up on the open</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">side, placing 3 elk in line heading down the trail going toward the sweet spot (water).</span></span></span></p><p> <span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">It was 1:05 pm when we heard the first twig snap then another I glanced at my watch, gave myself a little grin , the trick was about to happen. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">We all got to our knees in a flash.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Out of our resting beds we had made in the pine needles.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Fresh pine brows placed on the ground as a bed smell so good. And it's a good cover up scent.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Staring hard looking down hill I wondered, did they somehow get past us,</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">were we all asleep.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">I know I was or just resting. Oh no!</span></span></span></p><p> <span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Then a mew, it came from our right. I softly called back with a little purr, followed by mike,</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Fred snatched up his bow, I chirped to him, he looked back at me and I motioned that I was stepping back and heading down closer to the water. Both he and Mike nodded.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Mike halted me with a hand jester and pointed at the Instant Elk decoys.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Then he made his way to me. I grabbed another decoy out of his pack. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Quickly we moved down just past the decoys, set up another and began calling.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">We saw a calf then another crest a saddle to our right.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">They were on a trail that was to cross below us about 40 yards.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">We mewed on our calls.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Instantly the kids looked at our location and </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">stood at full attention.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Then their mothers appeared they too were looking and walking up to our location. taking a connecting trail, if you have ever been in the dark timber you will know all trails lead together somewhere, and they were on that somewhere trail coming straight to us. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The lead cow had our decoys fixed.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Without even the slightest hesitation they came up our way.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">As if they wanted to say hi what going, who ar...</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Mewing and talking back and forth the whole time. Holy smokes we even had the herd bull screaming, with a couple wantobes trying to get into the act.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Now this usually doesn't happen on a afternoon stretch to get water.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Our hair or at least mine was standing on end.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Fred came to full draw on what may have been the herd cow.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">She passed within 20 feet or so below him. Fred let her own his arrow at a perfect going away shot, she jumped with the sting then settled down still focused on our decoys.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">She stood her ground for no more than 30 or so seconds then she sat down, then she laid down.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">She was gone.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">It was like she had said, "hay lets lay down here" and so the whole bunch of them did.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">We lithely had to scare the rest of the elk away</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">to take care of that girl.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Enough said.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The decoys work, and work great in dark timber.</span></span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="elkmaster101, post: 390711, member: 18049"] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=3]We used decoys in heavy timber last year. It was in the pitch of night as we made our way back, a good 2 miles in the dark, We knew this place well, having taken a couple nice bulls, 3 to be exact over the last 4 years, this fruitful ground hold many cows, and where you find cows, a couple hundred +-, you'll find bulls. Yes there are still plenty to be had here, by the early glimmers of light we were finally there. We caught the herd as it was going up in the morning. This part of the story will be picked up at a later date. But (2) satellite bulls fell that morning, as well as a cow, [/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=3]and by the end of the day we were pretty well whooped from cutting and packing. But the conclusion I'll share with you now. We all took the next day off. That day off wasn't good for the lad who didn’t fill his tag though. He moved around camp, kind of whimpering and complaining about just about everything in life. Convincingly we all assured him that letting the area relax for a day was good. That day seamed to last forever for him especially as he groper around. Stopping in front of the elk racks leaning up against the trees, He’d shake his head , mutter some words to himself then he'd go pick up the ax,[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=3]chop up a few chunks off the logging tree, place the ax back in the stump, [/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=3] then go off to his next little can-do project. by the end of the day he’d made it back to that chopping log a lot of times. This was all a good thing, cause by the end of the day we had a sweet pile of wood stacked, all our messes cleaned up, and the camp was looking spiffy. That evening thing got better, I think it was because he know somehow, maybe it was his sixth sense told him that tomorrow was going to happen and that it was only a dreams time away. The next day came early, I don't know if Fred ever went to sleep. Fred was up stirring around in the cook tent when I finally crawled out, 4:00 am,[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=3] A quick something warm to eat, that’s what I needed.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=3] Now our cook tent is rapped W/ 3 tables and coolers galore.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=3]Like walking into a grocery store all the tables are loaded with grub. All the snack food is places out neat and orderly on the tables for all to see. [/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=3]Kind of set up in smorgasbord style with just about anything you need for you days pack,[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=3]it’s real scary for a person that been in bear country to see such, heck been doing it that way for 18 years. [/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=3]And that’s why we keep it in the cook tent. Rather have him in there chewing down there then in my tent eating a feather sandwich.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=3] Anyway I need something warm, my typical breakfast is couple bags of instant oatmeal poured into a coffee cup and hot water followed with a coffee chaser.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=3]Mike was right behind me as we entered the cook tent. Said morning to each other and Fred gave a nod and commenced packing our packs and fixing our grub.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=3] 4:15 and we were heading out, we were heading back to our honey hole. Like I said we found this spot about 4 years earlier, a sinkhole valley with a supper pasture and ridged all around. Black timber on the north face and it was on that side we came in on. That day 2 of us went with Fred and to call and run the decoys. Even in the darkest timber they work. The morning went without locating a good cow; Fred had just that a cow tag.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=3] Basically all the cows were with the herds now with the rut going at full tilt. So finding that loan cow meandering around was like looking for a penny in the creek. You weren’t going to find one. So by midmorning we made our way towards the area we were sure the elk would frequent. Stopping lessening and discussing strategies, we had reached a spot about 3/4 the way to the top and about 300 yards to our right was their bedding area. We were at around 10,000 ft. elevation according to our GPS.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=3]Now that little gismo is a story by its self (later) The wind was in our favor, nothing but the natural up flow caused by the heating of the day. We could see the top ridge, it came right down to us. It would be easy walking if we had to get to the top. We decided to plant our selves there. Our location was about 35 yards or so above a saddle to a connecting arm that branched off into a different valley and we knew if there was going to be any putt zing around of the elk that this would be a good catch them spot. So we to shut up, we didn’t make a sound for about 2 hours. Like wise they too weren’t talking either. Knowing the elk would come to a water hole for an afternoon drink we set up on the open side, placing 3 elk in line heading down the trail going toward the sweet spot (water). It was 1:05 pm when we heard the first twig snap then another I glanced at my watch, gave myself a little grin , the trick was about to happen. We all got to our knees in a flash. Out of our resting beds we had made in the pine needles. Fresh pine brows placed on the ground as a bed smell so good. And it’s a good cover up scent. Staring hard looking down hill I wondered, did they somehow get past us, were we all asleep. I know I was or just resting. Oh no! Then a mew, it came from our right. I softly called back with a little purr, followed by mike, Fred snatched up his bow, I chirped to him, he looked back at me and I motioned that I was stepping back and heading down closer to the water. Both he and Mike nodded. Mike halted me with a hand jester and pointed at the Instant Elk decoys. Then he made his way to me. I grabbed another decoy out of his pack. Quickly we moved down just past the decoys, set up another and began calling. We saw a calf then another crest a saddle to our right. They were on a trail that was to cross below us about 40 yards. We mewed on our calls. Instantly the kids looked at our location and stood at full attention. Then their mothers appeared they too were looking and walking up to our location. taking a connecting trail, if you have ever been in the dark timber you will know all trails lead together somewhere, and they were on that somewhere trail coming straight to us. The lead cow had our decoys fixed. Without even the slightest hesitation they came up our way. As if they wanted to say hi what going, who ar... Mewing and talking back and forth the whole time. Holy smokes we even had the herd bull screaming, with a couple wantobes trying to get into the act. Now this usually doesn't happen on a afternoon stretch to get water. Our hair or at least mine was standing on end. Fred came to full draw on what may have been the herd cow. She passed within 20 feet or so below him. Fred let her own his arrow at a perfect going away shot, she jumped with the sting then settled down still focused on our decoys. She stood her ground for no more than 30 or so seconds then she sat down, then she laid down. She was gone. It was like she had said, "hay lets lay down here" and so the whole bunch of them did. We lithely had to scare the rest of the elk away to take care of that girl. Enough said. The decoys work, and work great in dark timber.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [FONT=Franklin Gothic Book][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [/QUOTE]
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