I could’ve heard a bugle for 10 miles. It was frosty and cold. It was a quiet beautiful morning. At 7:20 I finally hear a bull chuckle deep in the bottom of the drainage. 

The day before was cloudy and windy. It progressively got worse as the day went. Over 20 mph winds. It was a cool day but the wind cut to the bone like a knife. I was on a bull early and dropped in after him. I thought I had misjudged his location after a second bugle so I dropped a little further. I stopped within shooting distance of a known game trail where I had a close encounter with a bull a few days prior. I let one of my bugles ring out and within seconds the bull answered. His location was where I originally thought. Then seconds later, a fluty bugle rang out. It came from the trail I went to. I knew right then I had messed that up like mayonnaise and cheese on a slice of pear. I let my guard down due to no truck parked at gate. At this point, I was slowly making my way back up to another cross trail but it was too late. I could see him. He stayed high to catch my wind instead of taking the trail that would lead him lower into a better position for me to take a shot. Game over. 

Being self employed with a Forestry Service business and owning investment properties as rentals is exactly where I wanted to be at this point in my life. It’s not all fun and games, though. It is a handful and it is extremely difficult to make all the right decisions. I have bought timber thinking the profits would be spot on, then the prices fall at the mill. Now I am cutting it, making little to no profit, just to keep from losing. I’ve done controlled burns, thinking it was going to be a good fire day, only to have the winds blow stronger than forecasted, from the wrong direction. Now I’m there till dark, fighting to keep it controlled. I have had tenants in my properties that have refused to pay, rarely cut the grass, and worse, destroy the house. Usually, these are the folks I feel sorry for and I want to help. I will not even get on the subject of loaning money or selling something on a handshake. That’s more messed than the pear I spoke of earlier. I have learned my lessons the hard way. There is always a big decision to make and I fight every day to keep the wheels from falling off the wagon. I am starting to recognize the fluty sound of plastic bugles. 

I dropped a little slower this morning, listening closely for fluty plastic bugles and to get an exact location on the real deal chuckle. I eased in to a pretty good position and fired one off. He responded immediately with a growling bugle. Not long after came the sound from a man, the fluty plastic bugler I’ll call him. He kept going the high trail for some reason as I slowly cut the distance between myself and the elk. Unfortunately, I was only able to get a few more chuckles out of him. I believe he bedded down and there was no quiet way to slip in any closer. I tried desperately to work in for a couple of hours, keeping the wind in my face. I knew of nothing else to try until the sun gets high and the thermals switch. 

I stayed in fairly close for a couple hours. The sun eventually rose high enough over this jungle of young trees to create a sunny spot in a small opening. I stood there soaking it up and warming my bones until my feet felt like they had toes again. The feeling was how I imagine a good warm shower at home is going to be. 

It is now noon. The sun is high. The temps are rising and the winds are swirling a bit as the thermals change with the warming of the air. Time to eat and be bear bait. I may wait here until the winds stabilize or the sound of elk catches my ear. 

I think the day is Saturday. I lose track out here. I am on mountain time and one day is same as next. My last shower was Tuesday night. I did make time to wash my head and beard late yesterday evening at camp. Last word I’ve spoken to another human was Wednesday evening. Maybe in a few more days, I’ll miss more of real life than just my family. I know the day will come that I will need to pack up tight for the return home. But, this ain’t the day.