The evening couldn’t get a lot darker. I held my hand a couple of inches in entrance of my face, however couldn’t see it. Wanting as much as the sky, I noticed nothing — no stars, no blurred pictures of the bushes that have been round me — besides full, overwhelming blackness.
I jammed my previous Stetson exhausting over my head to guard my eyes from tree branches, burrowed my chin in to my chest, rested my palms on the saddle horn, and closed my eyes. There was nothing else to do. My horse was in complete command.
As I rode, I marveled on the capability of the beast beneath me to see within the complete darkness. Skeeter stepped over logs. waded throughout creeks, and pivoted about right here and there to maneuver by means of timber. In locations. he fastidiously labored his method alongside slim trails etched impossibly into steep mountain slopes.
“You continue to there?” a voice requested from someplace forward of me.
“Solely in physique,” I answered. “I don’t learn about my soul.”
Ken Smith laughed heartily, simply as an invisible department slapped me throughout the face and knocked my hat to the bottom. I stubborn, dismounted. turned on my small flashlight, and appeared for the hat. My horse was standing on it.
This was the fourth day of my elk hunt with Ken, an Idaho clothing store. We have been deep within the Selway Wilderness, about 30 miles from the closest trailhead, and one other 30 miles to civilization. I hoped to tag an enormous bull and was ready for something.
I used to be smitten by Idaho’s Selway area. The world had been good to me up to now, and l hoped for a repeat efficiency. In 1983, I took a wonderful six-point Selway bull with Bruce Scott, an clothing store from Florence, Montana. l killed the bull simply 25 air-miles from the place I used to be searching with Ken.
Recent elk signal was in every single place. It was unattainable to trip very far and never see elk tracks made the evening earlier than, even inside a couple of hundred yards of camp.
Throughout the hunt with Bruce, I noticed astounding rubs on bushes. I stood subsequent to a number of of these rubbed bushes and reached up with my rifle, simply barely capable of contact the tops of the rubs with the muzzle. There was no query about large bulls current within the Selway, and I promised myself I’d come again.
Once I first contacted Ken Smith (4239 Previous Ahsahka Grade, Ahsahka, ID 83520. 208-476-7148), he was optimistic a few 1984 Selway hunt however, like all respected outfitters, he couldn’t make any guarantees. The hunt he outlined was distinctive. We’d glass extensively from excessive ridges and if we noticed a very good bull, we’d stalk in shut for a shot. Glassing was the one methodology we’d use, and Ken informed me to organize myself for very lengthy intervals of sitting with out transferring.
“We’re by no means in a rush to go away camp,” Ken defined earlier than the hunt. “We’ll rise up about 6:30, eat breakfast, and trip out about 9 within the morning. Nothing a lot occurs till 2 or 3 within the afternoon. as a result of elk don’t begin transferring till then.”
Ken would get no argument from me in regards to the day by day itinerary. On most elk hunts. I used to be used to awakening at 3 or 4 a. m. and climbing right into a frosty saddle properly earlier than dawn. ·
“This received’t be a simple hunt,” Ken informed me. as if he was studying my thoughts. “If we spot an enormous bull, he’s apt to be a mile or extra away, and we received’t have a lot daylight to get to him. We’ll be using exhausting and working exhausting, and a number of the working might be uphill. You’ll know you’ve been on an elk hunt once you get again to camp.”
The hunt was deliberate for mid-November as a way to coincide with the elk migration from excessive nation to winter vary. If the climate cooperated. Ken figured we’d be wanting over loads of elk of their winter areas.
Based on Ken, the area was so distant and undisturbed that elk didn’t stay bedded within the timber so long as ordinary. However he mentioned the final hour of daylight was the perfect.
I had a chicken’s-eye view of the Selway on the best way to Ken’s camp, previous to the hunt. A flight in a Cessna airplane acquired me to his base camp within the wilderness, and from there we rode 12 miles on horeseback to his larger camp. For the reason that grime touchdown strip had been in place lengthy earlier than the Selway was declared an official wilderness space, Forest Service officers allowed it to stay. It is among the few wilderness space airstrips and is used to accommodate recreationists equivalent to hunters and fishermen, in addition to forest officers.
It was attention-grabbing to notice the transition from snow to reveal floor from aloft. The camp we’d be staying in had a foot of snow, however Ken had a spike camp, a lot larger, that was coated with six toes of snow. By the point I arrived, Ken had dismantled the excessive camp and wouldn’t hunt from it once more till the next season. Apart from some straggler moose, most huge recreation had moved into decrease nation.
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Every day, we rode from camp down into canyons that have been void of snow. An abundance of grass attracted elk, and the remoteness of the area allowed them to graze undisturbed. In contrast to some wilderness areas l was conversant in, this area was not blanketed with a carpet of thick evergreen bushes from one horizon to the opposite. The timber was damaged by expansive areas of alders and different brushy vegetation, and open meadows have been frequent.
Recent elk signal was in every single place. It was unattainable to trip very far and never see elk tracks made the evening earlier than, even inside a couple of hundred yards of camp. I simply understood why the Selway harbored large bulls.
The hunt had been uneventful for the primary three days. I noticed elk, however nothing me. Small bulls that may have been welcome on different hunts obtained simply informal curiosity.
We have been about to eat lunch at midday the fourth day when Ken noticed elk simply beneath the ridge we have been on. I used to be tying up the horse when he routinely appeared over the cop and noticed the animals. He motioned for me 10 hurry over with my rifle. so I jerked the .30/06 out of the scabbard and rushed over to the place he was kneeling.
Three dozen elk have been inside 80 yards of us. Some have been bedded, however others have been standing. nibbling calmly on the yellow grass. I eased right down to a susceptible place, rested my rifle on my jacket, and appeared the elk over with binoculars.
We glassed intently for 10 minutes, however couldn’t see a bull. A giant cow acquired to her toes and began grazing. strolling slowly as she fed. Different elk adopted lazily. and shortly the complete herd was transferring slowly.
Ken noticed the bull first, and tapped me on the shoulder. l took a very good have a look at the bull, centered the crosshairs on his chest. and snugged the Winchester tight to my shoulder. The bull wasn’t the large that I had hoped for, however he was respectable. I wasn’t positive what to do.
“What are the possibilities of seeing an even bigger bull?” I requested.
“Fifty-fifty,” Ken replied.
Though I used to be trophy searching. one issue inspired me to think about this bull. When Ken isn’t elk searching, he guides steelhead fishermen on the Clearwater River close to Orofino, and we deliberate on combining a fishing journey with the elk hunt.
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If I killed an elk, we’d depart camp instantly and fish for big 20-pound-plus steelhead beneath Dworshak Dam. I had been desirous to make the journey with Ken for a number of years, and this was my alternative. l couldn’t fish after the hunt. as a result of Thanksgiving was quick approaching. If I wished to fish with Ken, I needed to kill this bull or strive for an even bigger one which afternoon.
Visions of monumental steelhead flashed in my thoughts as l weighed the choices. l snicked off the security, drew a deep breath. and put my finger on the set off.
“Suppose we are able to discover that huge bull your hunter missed final week?’” I whispered to Ken. l was grabbing for excuses, and I hoped Ken would assist me decide.
““Perhaps,” was his easy reply. “We nonetheless have three days to hunt after in the present day.”
“Adequate for me,” I mentioned. I flipped the security again and pushed the rifle away from my face.
“Whew,” Ken breathed. “I used to be ready for fireplace to roar out of your rifle. What modified your thoughts?”
“Let’s discover the large bull,” l mentioned. “We are able to fish one other time.”
Ken grinned. “I hoped you’d determine it that method,” he mentioned. “however I didn’t need to sway your choice. If we hunt exhausting, we’d simply discover that huge bull.”
The bull we referred to was noticed by Ken on the hunt previous to mine. His hunter had missed the bull a number of occasions, and it hadn’t been seen once more. Ken had gotten a fast have a look at the elk because it ran by means of brush, and thought it had seven factors on no less than one facet.
We eased away from the elk and allowed them to graze undisturbed. Ken retrieved our lunches from saddlebags and we leaned in opposition to bushes. munching on chilly fried rooster and scrumptious selfmade cookies.
We have been chatting in between bites, when Ken all of the sudden gestured throughout the canyon. “Elk!” he mentioned. “A half dozen of them — popping out of the timber to feed. And so they’re in the identical space the place my hunter missed the massive bull final week.”
Immediately one other cow barked from above us and to our left, and one more barked from above us and to our proper. We have been surrounded by elk.
We glassed them. however all have been cows and calves. Because the shadows lengthened and the solar lowered, extra elk appeared. I noticed 4 completely different herds, all a half-mile away or extra, however none had good bulls.
A lone elk far up a mountain slope caught my consideration. It was in a sliver of a meadow surrounded by timber, and it had a light-weight yellow physique. I knew what which may imply. Previous bulls usually have very light-colored pelts, and a few are virtually white.
The elk’s head was within the shadows because it fed, and I couldn’t see antlers. In addition to the poor mild, one other issue was that the animal was greater than a mile away. I nudged Ken and pointed the elk out to him.
“That’s an enormous bull!” he mentioned. “A giant, huge bull. l simply caught a glimpse of an antler as he turned his head.”
“Now what, boss?” I requested. “You suppose if I intention 18 toes over his again l can hit him from right here?”
“Strive 19 toes,” Ken retorted. “We received’t be capable to get to him this afternoon. Not sufficient mild left, and there are too many small elk herds scattered beneath him. We would spook them and run the bull off. We’ll should strive for him tomorrow.”
We stored watching, and shortly the bull moved into the waning mild, giving us a very good look. His antlers have been monumental, and Ken thought it was the bull we have been on the lookout for. Irrespective of. If I may get near that elk, I wouldn’t hesitate squeezing the set off.
Sleep didn’t come straightforward that evening. I stored considering of the huge antlers and the picture of the bull, because it stood silhouetted within the waning mild within the distant meadow.
Ken and I rode out of camp at 8 a.m. the following day. It was a nine-mile trip to the elk. and we wished to reach there with sufficient time left to plan a technique. Ken figured the bull could be in the identical basic space. and our greatest drawback could be to not spook the elk round him.
After using for 3 hours, Ken noticed elk from atop his horse, a great distance from the place we supposed to start glassing. We dismounted, checked out them by means of binoculars, and counted greater than 40 elk. They have been a lot too far-off for us to see antlers, and I used to be amazed that Ken noticed the animals in any respect. Most have been bedded in mild brush, however a couple of have been feeding. The herd was on a big open face, only a quarter of a mile from the place we noticed the bull the day earlier than.
“Our bull could be in with that bunch,” Ken mentioned. “Let’s trip as shut as we are able to and provides them a very good look.”
We rode for greater than half a mile and tied our horses within the timber. After donning day packs, we slipped alongside a spur ridge that fell away right into a steep canyon. The elk have been throughout the canyon, no less than a mile or so away.
All I noticed was antlers, and l needed to focus exhausting to focus my consideration on the bull’s very important space. The bull was scrambling up a steep slope about 300 yards away after I fired.
Ken and I had walked a few half mile when he gestured to take a seat. We made ourselves comfy, propped our binoculars on our knees, and glassed the elk. Instantly, we noticed three bulls, however none wore the antlers we have been on the lookout for. We sat one other half-hour, however nonetheless couldn’t find the massive bull.
“I believe we’d higher cross the canyon now and take our possibilities,” Ken mentioned. “We don’t have a lot alternative. Let’s simply hope we don’t spook some unseen elk and blow the entire thing.”
We have been barely on our toes when a cow barked just under us. She had our quantity. Cows bark after they’re alarmed.
We froze and a cow walked out of the comb simply 100 yards away, wanting up in our course. A calf adopted, and shortly one other cow emerged. When the cow barked once more, Ken and I eased right down to the bottom and sat nonetheless. Immediately one other cow barked from above us and to our left, and one more barked from above us and to our proper. We have been surrounded by elk!
“Are you able to beat that,” I mentioned. “We’re trapped. I simply hope the herd throughout the canyon doesn’t hear the barking.”
“I don’t assume they are going to,” Ken mentioned. “The stream beneath us may muffle the sound.”
I hoped he was proper. The stream roared loudly, however the cows have been now barking virtually nonstop.
Lastly, a cow broke right into a run and headed for the canyon backside with the others following. I watched them uneasily, hoping that the massive bull wasn’t on our facet of the canyon with the cows. He wasn’t. Sixteen cows and calves dashed helter-skelter round us, and disappeared within the timber throughout the stream. I breathed simpler after they angled sharply away from the herd we had been watching.
The cows fouled up our schedule, so we needed to hustle. We labored our method decrease into the canyon and, as soon as out of sight of the elk, we trotted the remainder of the best way down. Discovering a log to tightrope the stream, we crossed and entered the heavy timber.
A half-hour later, we eased as much as the sting of the timber on the ridge. The elk have been throughout from us — the closest was 250 yards away, the farthest was 600 yards.
Our binoculars confirmed nothing besides the small bulls we’d seen earlier than. Shadows have been overtaking us, and we didn’t have a lot time. Because the minutes ticked by. I used to be increasingly more satisfied that the massive bull wasn’t with the herd.
Immediately, a cow raised her head rapidly and barked. I wasn’t all that sad, as a result of no less than one thing was about to occur. Up till then it was a standoff.
Ken noticed him first.
“Massive bull, huge bull!” he hissed. “Arising out of the underside. It’s him!”
l dove for the bottom, rested my rifle on a low department, flipped off the security, and located the bull within the scope. All I noticed was antlers, and l needed to focus exhausting to focus my consideration on the bull’s very important space. The bull was scrambling up a steep slope about 300 yards away after I fired. I’ll always remember what occurred subsequent.
The bullet broke the bull’s again, and the big animal’s legs went out from underneath him. He hit the bottom and free-fell 10 yards off the mountainside. His physique struck the bottom and bounced once more, this time free-falling for 10 extra yards. His momentum elevated the velocity of his fall, and I stood watching incredulously as he free-fell yet one more time, 30 yards by means of the air. He crashed into the underside of the draw head-first, and I heard his antlers smack the rocky creek backside.
Although Ken and I hurried over as quick as we may, it took quarter-hour to work our method throughout the extremely steep slopes.
I anticipated to see a bull with badly smashed antlers, however was delighted to seek out that solely two tines had damaged close to the guidelines. The bull had seven factors on one facet and 6 on the opposite facet of the excessive. extensive. and thickly-branched rack.
It was the biggest-bodied bull I’d taken in virtually 20 years of elk searching. We figured he weighed 1,100 kilos stay weight.
Our work was reduce out for us. The bull fell so exhausting that he was wedged tightly underneath a number of alder roots. Ken and I needed to reduce away roots and branches with a small noticed simply to place the elk for field-dressing. The chore took greater than an hour, and we struggled mightily to maneuver the bull out of the outlet he’d fallen in. After three hours of labor, most of it by flashlight, we had the elk dressed.
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It was a bone-weary hike again to the horses, and the trip to camp was lengthy and exhausting. The sight of the lantern mild that was illuminating the tents was merciful certainly.
l was asleep virtually as quickly as my bead hit the cot, however not earlier than I decided whereas I lay there. Two years within the Selway produced two dandy elk — the second greater than the primary. Suppose I went for 3? Would my luck maintain? It was an thrilling thought, however one too heavy and sophisticated for my drained mind. As I drifted off to sleep, I knew that I already had sufficient recollections to final a protracted, very long time.
This story, “The Big Bull Of The Selway,” appeared within the November 1985 concern of Out of doors Life.
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