During the summer of 1988, Harry, Bud, and I had a meeting of minds about hunting next fall. Our vacation times were not working out too well for the early archery season. We decided to go later in the season with rifles, also we were having second thoughts about how effective hunting elk with sharp sticks really was, even though we had gotten two elk in 1986, we should try for bulls with rifles. A permit had to be drawn to shoot a cow elk in this area. The trip was planned for the opening day of rifle season in October. We knew we may be in for some wintry weather with the chance of snow as well as lots of rain. We did not care what the weather would be like, we were equipped for anything and knew how to survive, from many trips in chilly weather and deep snow. We always try to get a dry camp set up then the weather can do anything it wants. In October, the bees had mostly died off, but there were a few flies around yet. Whenever we get an elk, we always put them in meat sacks, so the flies cannot get to them.
This year we would use the same campsite as last year because of its location near the Island Ridge and not too far from Grouse Knob. One morning there was a light dusting of snow with the temperature in the thirties. The conditions were ideal for hunting, everything was wet down, and walking could be done without making much noise. After the camp was set up, we went down to visit with Joe and Vicki to let them know we were there again. Joe had shot a large bull during archery season and was wondering where we were this year. After explaining about vacation time problems, he could understand. Joe mentioned to us to try the ridge near where we had gotten a cow two years earlier. Elk had been seen in the area, every day Coming out of the fields. We enjoyed the visit then headed back to camp.
The first few days we hunted around camp and down the Island Ridge. One morning Harry and I were hunting the ridge while Bud took off on his own in a different direction. About halfway down the ridge we stopped to rest for a while. Soon we thought we had better push on to the rocks onto the last high knob. We wanted to look for tracks to see if any elk were using the ridge for bed grounds. We found where a large bull had been bedded down all morning. He either heard us coming or he just took off for some reason, but he left his calling card behind. His droppings were still steaming so we were only a few minutes behind him. Had we not stopped we would have caught him lying beside the rocks where he stays most of the time. He was there another day also. He knows how to get off the mountain without being seen. He goes crashing through the brush for a half a block then shuts off all the sounds completely, not even a twig snapping can be heard. We knew he did not go far, but we still couldn’t find him.
The fourth day we talked over what Joe had told us about a place the elk were using regularly. It was worth a try. The area was not far away, and we wanted to be there before daylight the next morning. We headed out after a good breakfast of bacon and eggs. We would be hunting close to the truck, so we put some lunch stuff in a small ice chest instead of making sandwiches. The water jug is always in the truck with g○○d fresh cool water. We found the ridge we wanted to hunt and each of us spread out on the hill to wait for some elk to show up. There was no way of knowing where the elk would come up out of the fields.
Just after daylight we heard Bud shoot one time but there was another shot on around the hill. We did not think much more about it, and we did not know anyone else was around. Harry and I quickly ran around the hill to see if Bud had connected with a bull elk. A group of cow elk, four or five, with a large bull, a four-point in prime condition came right up to him. Bud put him down with one well-placed shot. We field dressed the bull, then looked around to see how we could get the truck to him. The bull elk was large, and we would have a problem taking him far by hand. By moving a couple of logs, we backed the truck up to him. With a lot of huffing and puffing, we managed to load him in the back of the truck in one piece. Suddenly we remembered the other shot we had heard before. With our elk loaded we drove around the road to see what the shot was all about. We found another hunter with a nice spike bull elk in the road and was working on field dressing him. We helped him finish the job then sat down to chat a bit. The guy was waiting on the hill the same as we were when the spike ran his way when Bud shot. The spike was with the herd, but he was staying away from the bull. We introduced ourselves to the young man, only to find out he was Joe’s brother-in-law. Jeff Lappin. Jeff had a cabin down near the flatlands. That morning he had driven his small-sized truck part way up the hill then walked the rest of the way. There was a locked gate between his truck and where he killed the elk. Without hesitation, we loaded his elk in the back of our truck to take it down to his. We knew about the locked gate, but we also knew how to get through it without a key. We laid the gate flat on the ground, then the cable was slid down the post then we drove on through. Jeff stood watching in awe about the things we knew about the area. Jeff’s truck was parked where we could back up to it and slide his elk from one to the other without unloading it. Jeff was ready dumbfounded that we would take the time to help him, a complete stranger. We assured him, any hunter needing help is not a stranger to us besides, he was Joe’s family. Word of this soon spread around town. Each little deed like this puts us in pretty solid with the locals. After chatting for a while, we headed back up hill through the gate, stood it back up, then headed for camp. We still had a lot of work to do to get our bull elk ready to hang on the meat rack. Several hours go by fast in properly taking care of such a large animal.
When all was done, we decided to set around camp the rest of the day playing Pinochle and relaxing. Suppertime was getting close; everyone WAS hungry by now. l fixed some small steak and pan-fried potatoes. I also warmed up a can of beets for a vegetable. After eating all we could hold, it was back to playing Pinochle for the evening. We usually only play a couple of games, then it is time for cookies and milk. We turned in for a good night’s sleep, we were tired. The next few days we hunted fairly close to the camp most of the time. Someone stayed in camp to watch the elk since we were parked right beside the road. We did not want someone to come by and take our elk. The nine days for the trip passed fast, soon it was time to head for home. The camp was loaded up along with the elk and away we went for home.
Since we had a nice big bull elk, we went by Joe’s to brag a bit and also let him know we were leaving. Joe assured us he knew all about us getting a large bull elk and that we had helped Jeff get his spike out. Jeff had called him that same day because he was so happy to get an elk and find some new friends for life. We arrived home early in the afternoon. The weather in Boise was in the thirties, plenty cool enough to let the bull hang in Harry’s garage for a few extra days before cutting him into steaks. He was a great piece of meat. All the camping gear was Cleaned up and put away and made ready for the next trip. We would use this same campsite next year.