Today's recap, Sunday: As I emerge from the dungeon passing by the front door I hear an elk bugling from my driveway. If that doesn't get you pumped at 4:20am nothing will. Get up stairs and make a few calls on the patio and 2 or 3 bulls respond. The rut in ON.
Proceed to the parking spot, it was quiet. I tried to savor the moments on the hike, taking some short breaks to look at the stars, blackened cottonwood trees in the burn, and to listen to the sound of the river trying not to overheat in the 48°F air. Get about 1/2 way to my tree and there is a bugle to the west which makes me think the elk have already crossed the river and have bedded down. Not a great sign.
I was in the tree about a 1/2 hour and heard bugling from the river. It didn't sound like an elk, more likely than not it was a hunter. I had already made my mind up to not bugle, and stick w infrequent, soft cow calling. Another hour went by and all was quiet. I got bored so I started my lost calf calls in a effort to get a mtn lion to respond. Unfortunately shortly after that I spotted a

- my arch nemesis. He's northbound on the N-S trail that's w/in a few feet of my tree.
I hide my face and hope he doesn't spot me. When I peaked after 15 mins of hiding my face, he was nowhere to be seen, presumably he did an about face and left. I stayed an extra 1/2 hour hoping for a miracle.
2 more days!