Ibex in Spain

On October 3rd we headed for the ibex hunting area. We had been hunting stag since Sept 29 and now that the ibex season was open we were going to be hunting Beceite Ibex with Daniel Herranz of Trophy Trails. We got there only 30 minutes before dark so we decided to go out and glass. I was surprised by the terrain that they lived in, I was expecting it to be similar to our area and what we hunt mountain goats in. It was much drier and the terrain reminded me more like the Okanagan in BC. They did have some areas of rock cliffs but most of the terrain was rolling hills with pockets of thick brush and not a lot for timber. Hunting them was similar to hunting mountain goat or sheep, glass for them and then go after them.

The first day of hunting we got up in the morning, a couple hours later then what we did for stag- I wasn't complaining, and went for breakfast at the hotels pub/restaurant. We walked in in full camo, the guys walking ahead of me and pulled up a seat at a table. I couldn't help but notice the stares I received from  around the room, made me a little uncomfortable. After we finished we all climbed into Daniels Landrover and headed out. We discussed who would get first Crack at an Ibex, I let Kyle go first because I had success with the stag hunt and I really wanted him to have success.  The morning was pretty slow, we seen a group of ibex and kyle grabbed his bow deciding to make a play (I think he just wanted to see them up close), so him and Daniel headed off and I hung out with RafaOn October 3rd we headed for the ibex hunting area. We had been hunting stag since Sept 29 and now that the ibex season was open we were going to be hunting Beceite Ibex with Daniel Herranz of Trophy Trails. We got there only 30 minutes before dark so we decided to go out and glass. I was surprised by the terrain that they lived in, I was expecting it to be similar to our area and what we hunt mountain goats in. It was much drier and the terrain reminded me more like the Okanogan in BC. They did have some areas of rock cliffs but most of the terrain was rolling hills with pockets of thick brush and not a lot for timber. Hunting them was similar to hunting mountain goat or sheep, glass for them and then go after them.

Later we headed back into the village, Rafael had to head back to Madrid for his boys birthday and wouldn't be back until the next morning. So after lunch and a siesta,  Kyle, Daniel and I headed out for an evening hunt. We went to a different area from the morning and we seen Ibex right away after we parked and started hiking. They were less then 100 yards from us and I loved watching them. Daniel said they were young so we moved on. We found another lone one but he was on the move and when the wind shifted his direction he was really on the move. But all we had to do was turn and look the opposite direction from him and 2 were at the top of a hill. Daniel confirmed they were decent and when one bedded down we figured it would be the perfect time to try. I decided to stay back and planted myself down by a bush, I figured the guys would go but I was surprised when Daniel planted himself beside me and Kyle went. Ibex have very good eyesight, Kyle only made it 20 yards from us before the ibex pegged him out. After what felt like an hour stare down, they got up and left. Kyle came back over and we pointed out the other 2 we were watching while he was frozen in place, on the adjacent hill from us. Again, Daniel kept his place beside me and Kyle took off after the new ibex. After kyle left we lost sight of him, so we watched the ibex hoping they wouldn't leave. Then, just before dark we heard a loud Crack sound reverberate from the hill back to us. We both came to the conclusion that he took a shot, but we didn't know any more. We scanned the hillside with our binos, then Daniel spotted him climbing up the rocks. We decided to go help him. We found his ibex just before it went to dark to see, it had made it to the rock cliffs and fell down them (I'm guessing that was the cracking noise). We decided to come back the next day to retrieve him.

It was a chilly night so we decided to hunt first in the morning then go and get Kyles Ibex. With there being no predators we didn't have to worry about animals eating it, besides the vultures but we fixed things up so they couldn't get him. Rafael had made it back in time to hunt and he would be able to see the ibex. It was another slow morning, all we seen were females and young males. I was starting to see a pattern with the slow mornings and active evenings, so I was excited for the evening hunt. We went to get Kyles Ibex fairly early in the morning after a short hunt, he was able to get some nice pictures with it and haul it off the mountain. While on the way back to the village we picked up a nail in one of our tires. It was a scramble to get back into town and get it off and fixed before the evening hunt. Fortunately we were able to get it fixed at a local shop. While we were sitting outside waiting, the shop owners mother was visiting with Daniel. She came over and asked me a question in Spanish, Daniel translated for me and she had asked if I was a hunter too. Standing there in all camo I was a little surprised by the question. Afterwards Daniel let me know that there were not many women that hunt in Spain. That explained the staring.
Once we were fixed up we rushed back to load up the packs and bows back in the Landrover so we could head out again. We decided to go to a new area from the morning and night before. It was extremely windy. We got out to do some glassing and I wasn't able to because the wind was blowing so hard. The wind was blowing the guys' hats off their heads and the occasional gust was strong enough to knock me off balance.  Finally we found a quieter valley and we stopped to glass. There was a nice one bedded down near the top of the mountain in front of us. I decided to try and make a play on him. He was watching us so we had to go back down the valley and around. We parked in a field and loaded up our gear. We had to hike up one mountain away from the one the ibex was on. Once we got up and across so that we could see the mountain the ibex were on, we checked to see if he had moved or if there were others with him. There was only one we could see feeding in the oak trees. Daniel made the call that we could go for him, so Rafael and Kyle stayed back and watched while Daniel and I hiked down then up the mountain the ibex were on. When we came up over the crest he was only 75 yards from  us, but too far for me to shoot with my bow. So we stalked in a little closer. 60 yards was as far as we could go without him seeing us. So we waited. He closed the distance into 40 yards coming right at us. We were hiding behind a juniper bush and he was on the other side of one. Daniel could see his whole body, but me being short couldn't see his whole body but enough for me to make a shot.  I knew my arrow trajectory and knew it would miss the bush and drop into him. It was starting to get low light and so i made the half second decision to take the shot. I pulled back, anchored and let my arrow fly. Daniel was watching in his binos and whispered in my ear "it missed". I was in disbelief,  I have never missed at 40 yards, ever. My arrow went an inch above his back and he was gone. We figured out there was a dead branch sticking up that I didn't see in the low light because it blended with the black hair of the ibex and it caused my arrow to deflect. There was a wide range of emotions running through my head, Daniel was trying his best to cheer me up and be encouraging. He did get me laughing and smiling but the disbelief was still there. We radioed Rafael and Kyle to let them know what was going on. We met them back at the car and told them what happened.  After, they decided to fill me in that it was a Gold medal Ibex and would have been the world record for women's bow.  Brand new disbelief rushed through me, along with annoyance and frustration at myself for missing the shot. But, that's hunting. It was dark when we got to the car so after the story telling we headed back to the village for dinner and bed. Daniel offered me to use his rifle for the next day instead of my bow, I told him I'd think about it.

When we woke up the next morning I was sad to think it was our last day in Spain and that we would be heading back to Madrid that evening. Which meant this was my last chance to kill an Ibex,  and from the previous mornings I knew that mornings were slow. At breakfast, I accepted Daniels offer to use his rifle. It was a beautiful Sako in 300 mag caliber. It would be my first time shooting a 300, but I wasn't concerned. After shooting Rauls rifle during stag, my only concern was the fit. Rauls rifle was too long, but Daniels fit like a dream and was lightweight. We loaded up and went to a new area. It was much different terrain compared to the other areas we were in. It was rolling hills with clumps of juniper bushes and little oak trees, not much for hard climbing. We walked to a deep ravine/valley and glassed the other side. Right away we seen a group of females. After a while, Kyle and Daniel at the same time announce they see one. It was more then one,  one turned into a group of 20. All males ranging from very young to a massive Gold medal. We decided to drive back around to that side of the valley and hike down to hopefully cut them off. It was hard to see more than 20-30 yards, there were so many pockets of brush. We ended up scaring a small group of females but we kept going. We came out to some rocks that overlooked a dip in the hill and there bedded down were 2 ibex with others feeding in and out of the brush. We went down below the rocks so we weren't so exposed,  but the brush was to high and we lost sight of the ibex. We were going to have to take a chance being in the open, we wouldn't be able to stalk in closer with all the eyes and not knowing where they all were. So Daniel and I lay out on the rocks with the gun out in front of me. I had some troubles finding them again, but from where we were laying we could only see the one bedded. It took me a minute before I found him but once I did I kept the scope and my eyes on him so I wouldn't lose him again. It felt like we had been laying on the hard rocks for half an hour,  but all I could see of him was his face and horns so I had to wait for him to get up. Finally he got up and was half hidden by bush. He started down hill straight towards us, I could hear Daniel curse under his breath. I stayed patient and focused on my breathing, following him with my scope, waiting for a good opportunity.  He stopped in an opening facing straight towards us, I waited for him, hoping he would take a side step or turn. Eventually, he turned his head to his left and took one big step that same direction,  as soon as I had his shoulder I squeezed the trigger. When the shot went of it kicked up a bunch of dust that blew back into Daniels and my eyes so we couldn't see. Rafael and Kyle watched the whole thing and confirmed it was a good hit and Kyle knew where he ran too.  We headed over to where he was, he only went about 30 yards from where I shot him. And there he was, I was so excited that I forgot about the night before it no longer mattered. I had my first ibex and I couldn't have been happier. We did get a bit of a surprise when we got him out of the brush, he was missing an eye. Kind of cool.
After photos and field dressing him, I packed him back to the car and we had to rush back into town so we could get our stuff out of the hotel.  We were only 2 hours or so late. Afterwards it was such a blur trying to get all our gear stuffed into Rafaels Landrover and double checking Daniels to make sure we didn't forget anything, then the long drive back to Madrid. Kyle and I went for dinner with Rafael and his wife to a delicious seafood restaurant. We got back to the hotel at midnight and I was still to hyped from my ibex to sleep. We were up at 4 am to get to the airport so we could fly back home,  I think I got only 2 hours sleep. It was an amazing trip and experience, and I can not wait to go back!

Saskatchewan Bear Hunt 2015

Our 2nd annual trip to Saskatchewan to hunt with Kerwin and Warren, this time with the kids. We left at midnight on the 30th of May planning to drive through the night in hopes the kids would sleep the entire way. Easton did...Pheonix not so much. We made it to Edmonton 2 hours  before Cabelas opened, so we went for breakfast and waited. We managed to find a youth harness that fit Pheonix and myself so she could go up in the stand too. She was excited, mom not so much, but I didn't hold her back.

We got to Lloydminster that afternoon and had a chance to relax a bit and get a good nights sleep before heading to Saskatchewan with Kerwin in the morning. We got our tags bought in the morning and were off to Warrens families ranch. Warren wasn't due home until later that evening so we hunted the families property for the evening. Kerwin and I only had one little bear come in, Kyle had 3. He had one little one and a sow with a decent boar. I would have taken him if he came to my stand. Kerwin and my hunt unfortunately was interrupted by a couple wolves. The neighbors had their cattle out in the pasture next to us and you could hear them mooing all evening, but close to dark 2 wolves lit up howling. They were in among the cows, and after there was some silence and then a single cow started calling again-but it sounded in distress. We thought maybe a calve was taken, so that night we told Warrens dad about it and he was pretty worried, he was taking his cattle out there the next day.
The stayed the night at the ranch and the next morning we got everything packed up and ready to head north. It was another couple hour drive to get to where we wanted. Once there we set up camp and got ready to hit the stands. I hunted with Kerwin again and Kyle on his own. Warren wanted to do a fish fry for dinner so he offered to take the kids fishing with him, of course they were ecstatic. Later I received a picture of them and Pheonix had caught her first pike all on her own. They had a lot of fun. Kyle had one bear come in that night and Kerwin and I had 5- including big red. It was a pretty cool night and I had all my layers on minus my thick Oncatherm extreme shirt on, and I was wishing I had it on too. We had little bear after little bear come in. Then we seen this big red colored bear come in hopping on 3 legs, at first we thought he was a sow because you could hear him popping his jaws the whole we in, he stopped just in the trees before one of the black boars put a run on him. Then just before dark he came hobbling back to the bait but really on edge. I was standing ready for him to come in as soon as we heard him popping. I had one really good shot opportunity but I couldn't draw my bow, after sitting 6 hours in the cold and getting stiff- I just couldn't get my bow past the wall. And once he heard me draw, he was gone like a shot. I was really mad. I could not believe I just missed out on that big boar because I couldn't get my bow back.

Next day Kerwin and I hunted the same stand, hoping big red would come back in. He had come back in at 3am that night, but I wasn't very optimistic about him showing up in daylight again. Again we had 5 bears come in. 3 were the same little ones from the other night and 2 new ones. The one new one was a bigger boar, not as big as red but decent. He had a nice head on him and that was about it. He was skin and bones and his hair was patchy and rubbed right off. He came in very cautious and he came straight to the stand to check it. When he walked under me he stopped and looked up, I had a wave of Deja vu hit me, like I had seen him before- those eyes and his face...but I couldn't quite place it. He didn't stay long, he put the run on one of the 3 little ones (a little 3 year old boar with big attitude) then never came back. Just before dark the little boar got spooked and ran to our tree, he huffed and made a ruckus and then we had a big black come in, he was about 4 inches above the barrel and the little boar came right up the tree under our feet. I was watching the little boar and Kerwin trying to shoo it down with his hat. He didn't know who he should take his chances with, us or the bear. When I drew back I couldn't see him in my pins, we had ran out of light. So we waited a minute and he just wandered through. We also had the little boar with attitude watching us from another tree and a sow watching from about 60 yards out. When we started down out of the tree the little boar took off, the sow just stayed put. She was only 10 yards from us sitting at the baits, she did not care we were right there. So we made our way out and sat at the truck. As we came out we noticed a bear standing about 30 yards from the truck making its way to the baits. Kerwin had a trailer on the back which smelled of meat so we went to check if the bear had destroyed anything. Nothing was ruined but he was definitely in the trailer checking everything out, you could smell him like he was standing beside you.

Kyle was hunting with Pheonix, and Easton went fishing with Warren. Kyle had apparently shot a bear. It wasn't the biggest bear but it was a good experience for Pheonix. Apparently she also got to see this years cubs during her sit with daddy, and got a good nap in ha ha. Kyle had to keep her from jumping up and down in the tree every time a bear came in. He shot it well before dark so had retrieved it and loaded it up with Warrens help. When they pulled up about 20 mins after we left the stand we told each other our stories.

The next 3 days were very quiet. We only had 2-3 little ones come in, but we did see some rut action. A real young shaggy boar was charming the 2 sows that were hanging around. We had a chocolate sow come in and try to get our attention in a frisky way. She laid back under our ladder watching us, rubbing a stick on her...same thing Warren and I had last year, except this little sow wanted to share her stick and wanted to come up the tree with it. We watched the boar chase the sows and wrestle with them...but we never had any good bears come back in. During the slow days the ugly boar kept come back to me in my head, the same picture over and over of him looking up at me....and it clicked. I think he was the beautiful black I shot at and missed the year before. It was a different stand this year but same location, and this one didn't have the high arm rests like the year before.  Warren also took a night to go back to his families ranch to hunt, there was a big bear there he was after. He didn't see the big boar that night but he did have quite the entertaining night. He had a cinnamon sow come in with 2 new babies, both cinnamon. They came into the bait and the cubs made a B line straight for Warrens tree. They shot up the tree and momma came to investigate what they were doing. He videoed them coming in and when mom decided to come over, you can hear him say Oh f*** when she makes her way to the tree, ha ha. Lucky she was a laid back sow and she just made a couple grunts and they scooted down and she went back to the bait to eat. As soon as she was eating though, one of the little ones went back up the tree to investigate Warren again. He managed to get almost up on his platform with him. Mom didn't even look at him again. The other little cub went to join his mom for a snack and apparently she pancaked him with her paw...flattened him right to the ground and the little guy just howled. Warren said it was the funniest thing he had ever seen.

We ended up staying a day later then we had planned, hoping that maybe some thing big would come back through. We woke up Sunday morning and was able to get packed up and leaving by 9:30-10 am. We had to stop at Jeanettes on the other side of Edmonton for a visit...mainly a business one that turned into a socialization...for 8 hours. We were able to meet Todd Brick, one of the hosts for No Limits TV, so it was a nice visit...but made for a real long drive home. We had to stop twice so Kyle could sleep and ended up home at 9:30 am Monday. It was another good year, had its ups and downs, but we had fun and so did the kids. Their last night they did some more fishing with Warren and his girlfriend, Natasha, and they caught 27 pike but kept 7 for dinner. So overall another awesome trip, and we look forward to next year.

*** 2 weeks after we left***
I get a text message from Warren sending me pictures of a massive red bear that showed up at the stand Kyle had shot his bear from, a week after we left. It was Red, and the left foot gave it away. He was still alive and hopefully he makes it to next season.

Nikita

May Long Bear Hunt

Kyle and I had the opportunity to have a weekend to ourselves, his parents had been south for the winter and were wanting the kids for a sleepover. So we took advantage, we dropped them off with them Thursday evening and got a movie and ice cream and enjoyed a quiet evening. The next morning we got ready to hit the bush. We had accidently slept in and were about an hour behind what we originally wanted to be. We got out and found lots of bear sign, the area had greened up nicely compared to the last time we had been out. Soon we were getting on into the afternoon and although we found lots of fresh sign, it had appeared that we had just missed the bears- so we decided to slowly head back to town ( I had a meeting with someone). So as we putted through a quad trail we came to another dirt road and headed down it. We came around a corner and off to the right there was a green meadow just through the trees, and there was a black bear. So we kept driving hoping we didn't spook him away. We parked a fair ways away and hiked back up to the meadow. He was still there feeding away. I slowly crept up where I had the cover of trees to the opening that we had seen him through from the road. It took me a little bit to sneak through because of all the sticks and dried pinecones that littered the ground, but I somehow managed to sneak to within 36 yards without him noticing me. When I knelt down he heard me, and his head snapped up and was staring right at me. I froze, hoping I didn't scare him. He slowly turned and walked a little to the right still staring at me. The stare down felt like 5 minutes but it was really only a few seconds. When he started walking straight at me and huffed, I decided to draw my bow just incase he decided to bluff me, I really didn't want to shoot him chest on but if he got too close I wasn't taking a chance. Eventually I think he decided I was nothing and he started to feed again, with me at full draw, he started making his way back left into the meadow only 30 yards from me and as soon as I had a clear broadside shot I let my arrow fly. It was a pass through and just my fletching was caught on the other side of him. He did a quick circle around and stopped by a tree. He looked up the tree like he was thinking of going up it and instead went behind it and laid down. When he lay down though he laid on my arrow and it scared him, so he got up and went about 30 yards into the bush before laying down again.
There wasn't much of a blood trail so I went on instinct and the direction I heard him go. Kyle seen him first just because of how much taller he was than me, when he pointed him out I stood on a log and was able to see his fur. I was very happy when I got to him. He had a beautiful hide on him, very thick and soft. I packed him out whole on my back and when I got to the jeep we started to field dress him. He had no fat on him at all. He was long and skinny, probably weighing at 130-140 pounds, but his thick fur made him look like a chunk! I didn't mind, it was nicer skinning him without the greasy fat on my hands and his fur had no rub marks or imperfections at all. He did have a small white mark on his chest, between his front legs.
I am very proud of myself for being able to accomplish this! My first archery bear. I started out so scared of bears and just started hunting them 4 years ago after pushing myself. Even then I didn't think id be brave enough to go after one with my bow. So this is a big accomplishment for me.

The next day we tried to find Kyle a bear. We went to 2 different areas but only seen one black bear in the evening. He was a homely looking bear with his head completely bald. We thought the evening was going to be a good chance, we seen a lot of animals and they were obviously moving. But the ugly little bear was the only bear. But we did see 12 mountain goats, tons of elk, whitetail and mule deer, a badger, a coyote and a bull moose. Even though Kyle didn't get a chance at a bear it was a beautiful day and I got some beautiful photos to capture the day.

Elk Season 2014

This had to have been the best year for elk we have had. We both hunted hard from September 1st to October 20th, and I think I only missed a total of 7 days hunting in that time. We seen lots of elk, we had elk everyday whether we seen them or heard them bugling. But finding that legal bull during rifle season or a bull I could get a chance at during the short bow season was tough!

September 1st, opening day,  we had action. We had 2 different bulls calling back and forth and cows walking around our blind, unfortunately the winds changed and screwed us over- everything went silent and the cows left. Afterwards we decided to hike around and see if we could find something. We did find where the one bull that was above us had been when he was calling and basically where he had been living. The whole area reeked like him and there was fresh sign everywhere.

 

Another memorable day during the elk season was hunting in Skookumchuck. Again we found lots of elk but nothing that was legal. We were heading down the dirt road and Kyle looked to his right and seen a bunch of elk in an opening, but instead of just letting me get out and going to check it out he bailed out with me. Unfortunately in his excitement he scared them all off by just charging in and not realizing that the elk could see him. As we watched them take off Kyle could see the herd bull mixed in with his cows and he was a BIG 6 point. So we tried to make a plan of one of us dog behind the herd and the other try to cut them off. It worked but he never gave either of us a clear shot. We ran out of light and had to call it quits.

 

Probably the most exciting days were hunting river bottom. We had the kids with us again and we parked the jeep and Kyle let out a locator bugle to see if we could get an answer. Right away one fired up not far from us. So I loaded up and went into the thick bush to find where they were. I got to the rivers bank and caught sight of a spike through the trees down in the river. So I quietly creeped to the edge of the river but still hidden by brush and sat down. There was the spike and a couple cows hanging out in the water. Kyle kept calling and I watched and listened. A bull lit up again right away, but I couldn't see him because he was on the other side of the river in the extremely thick river bottom brush. After waiting for what felt like hours he finally was mad enough to come to the river. He was aggressive, thrashing the brush with his antlers and screaming back at Kyle every time he let out a call. They were only about 40 yards from me and my heart was pounding. Kyle kept letting out calls and the bull got more and more aggrivated- but he never left his cows. I think I counted his tines 20 times while sitting and watching him- wishing a 6th would magically sprout. But unfortunately he had busted off his main beams which made him a 5X4. As the light grew dimmer he started to herd his cows down the river towards the open fields so I quickly made my way back to Kyle and the kids and headed for the fields on my own. I had seen the spot that they crossed over the fence when we had come in so I went there and sat. They jumped the fence only 20 yards in front of me, but they were moving. The bull was pushing them and I couldnt figure out why, Kyle wasnt calling anymore and they were quite a ways from where we had been. I followed them into the christmas tree patch and froze when I heard the squeak of the fence catching. I slowly turned my head to my right to see a satelitte bull come walking up behind me and only about 20 yards to the right of me, following the herd. He stopped next to me and looked around, smelling. I held my breath. And he let out a bugle that was so loud it had my trembling with adrenaline. The herd bull screamed back and he started to walk the same direction. He only made it about 50 yards when Kyle let out a bugle and it made him stop and turn, he went straight towards Kyle. By this time it was to dark for shooting but I was having such an amazing time I didnt care that neither bull was legal- I wanted to watch them. Kyle didnt realize the satelitte bull was there nor that it was comng to see him and with all the christmas trees Kyle and it almost walked into each other. By then I was making my way back to him and the kids. The kids were so excited they talked about the elk the whole way home.

 

The next day we decided to go back to the same area in hopes that with all the talking another satelitte would have come in and maybe he would be a legal 6 point. We got in and Kyle took the kids farther down the river bank and I went to the same spot. You could see all the kokanee swimming in the river and jumping for the bugs. I was only seated for about 5 minutes when movement caught my eye- bear. I sat still and watched as it came out of the long grass down to the water. It was a grizzly cub...then another one came running down to the water. I sat frozen, heart trying to pound out of my chest. Thats when momma came out. She wasnt a very old bear, it took another minute of watching her and the made their way to my side of that river. I quickly got up, grabbed my gear and phoned Kyle. He answered a little peeved I was phoning instead of texting him, but all I had to say was Grizz sow and cubs  and he was packing the kids up. I met them at the grass road and took the kids to the jeep right away and stood outside with them inside. Kyle was standing on the road watching for her- he knew as soon as she had found where I was sitting because she started huffing and popping her jaws. She followed my scent right out towards the road and Kyle yelled at her. She stopped and each cub popped their head out on a side of her to see what was going on, it just took another yell from Kyle and she took her cubs and ran.

 

Although we both hunted hard only one of us came out successful. The second to last day of the season, and only the second time we got out without the kids, Kyle shot a big young bull. We were heading out with a couple friends and only about 15 minutes of driving down the dirt road a herd of elk were standing next to the road in a clearing. We watched them run pretty far out and stop and watch us. The bull was just a legal 6 point. Standing at 425 yards Kyle dropped him from within the clearing, and just like that we had meat for the freezer! We loaded him up and finished the evening off trying to find another one since there were still 3 of us with tags, we never found another legal bull but the one guy did manage to fill his whitetail tag on a big bodied 4x4 buck.

 

Opening Day of Hunting Season 2014

September 1st!! Opening day of archery season. Kyles parents took the kids for a sleepover last night so that we could head out bright and early. We got up into the blind at about 7:00am and it was cold! It was only 5C and windy. I really should have worn a couple more layers but dumb me thought the blind will block most the wind, I should be fine....WRONG. I had layers in my pack but once we were settled I didnt want to go digging through it incase I scared an animal away. At about 8:00 we had a bull light up...and then another. We were getting excited that we may actually have a chance at one the first day. They called back and forth for a bit and then we heard cows chirping, not far from us. So I got my bow and started to get ready hoping the cows would get one of the bulls to come down. Then the cows went silent...the wind had picked up and changed. It was swirling right to them and they left. Shortly after that the bulls went silent too. It was pretty frustrating. So we sat for another hour or 2 hoping maybe they would come back but the wind was not cooperating. It was constantly changing and swirling so we decided to get out of the blind and hike...Thank god! I was freezing, my feet were so numb I couldnt feel them for a little bit of the hike and was pretty clumsy. But the rest of me warmed up quick especially with the sun out now. We decided to hike up out of the basin and up the mountain. Close to the ridge we found the one bulls bedding area and where he was calling from. So it was nice being able to learn the area a little better and have an idea where he hangs out now. So we made our way down to the jeep and decided to go to a different area.

We headed to a different area in hopes we could find a bull, even though we were running out of time. We had to pick up the kids before dinner time. So we parked the jeep and hiked up to the ridges. We had run out of time, and if we had shot an elk we would have been very late so we decided to do some glassing from the top and get some pictures. It was beautiful country and very steep, but we had a good view of some slides and an adjacent mountain range. We gave our new Onca Hunting Wear a good first test run and were happy, but we have a whole season to put it to the test still. We had a good day and had some fun. I was happy to be back in the high country.