Archery season for elk is open now, and I hunted a high ridge on Tuesday - about 6500 feet. I got to my camp spot on Monday evening, about 30-35 miles or so in from the highway, and slept in my ratty old camper as the wind howled and rain turned to wet slush by 3 AM. The wind finally died down around 4:30 and I slept until my alarm went off at 6:00. After a quick breakfast and getting my gear together, I hiked into an area where I've found elk before.
All was quiet on the hike in - just some jays, juncos, flickers, and chickadees flitting about. About 1.5 mile hike in from the end of the logging road, I stopped to cow call a bit and bugle a couple times, with no response. Walked another 100 yards down the trail, and long story short - found that I had gotten the attention of at least 2 gray wolves. One I only heard as it ran off, the other ran a short way down an overgrown logging road, and stopped 30 yards away to turn and look back. It couldn't quite make out what I was and stayed there long enough for me to snap a few grainy photos. It wasn't full light yet, and though the wind had let up for the moment, the ridge was still draped in a heavy mist. I've heard wolves howling up there on a couple occasions, but this is my first personal sighting since seeing some in Yellowstone years ago - and those were nearly a mile off through as spotting scope.
Didn't see any elk up there, but did put a brief stalk on a bull elk that was travelling at lower elevations. I couldn't catch up to him before he crossed over on to private land. Pretty wild first hunt of the year...
