Originally Posted by
wallz
Seems like on my hunts there were more hunters than last year, and less game to see.
While out elk hunting on opening day, in a the 6x6 zone, I was able to call out a single cow. Large number of either yote, or wolf yapping in the area I was in, and that single cow seemed spooky, like she was on edge. Was a hard week with days of no bugles at all, which seemed odd. I understand with smoke in areas last year, but this year was great, besides the seemingly warm weather.
Needless to say, I was able to make it all happen on the last evening I was out. 3 bulls in the area bugling, and I zoned in on one, which happened to be a nice 6x6, which I took. A nice 5x5 barked at me for about 20 min while I was taking my bull, and eventually made his way away from me. Was weird for sure. This is after 3 shots at my bull with a 450 BM, with a 20" barrel and muzzle break, so not like I was quiet. He circled around about 50m out.
I also went out on a solo moose hunt up north. Same thing up there, more hunters than last year, and I was there on the same last week of Sept. Lots of tracks also, so I know the area got hunted hard for the 3 previous weeks.
1st day was travel day, and then set up camp day. Day 2 I had heard sum grunting, but could not get him to respond more or close any distance. Day 3, so really only day 2 of hunting, I started calling right out of camp, and had a response. 2.5 hrs later I had finally got him to commit out across the road. A nice 7x7 with only double brow tines.
Later that evening I went early and set up early. I knew that, but had nothing much else to do, so why not. This was about 3:30 pm. Heard a grunt back to my calling in short order, but could not get him to move much at all. About 6:30pm, he decided to walk into my calling quietly, and I only heard twigs snapping. He was at about 40 m before I saw him. It was windy, and not even a great wind for my advantage. I had lit up a moose scent stick earlier and hoped that would suffice.
A nice 4x2 walked out on me, that I ended up taking, so closing my moose hunt on day 2 of hunting.
Even though there are more hunters out there, and covered and hit the areas harder than last year, there is still game out there. I guess this is just my year, but I'll take that, as I've had a few tough years as well previously.