Yep, that's about the size of it grizz. I should have kept my big mouth shut!Grizzly Adam wrote: You bit it off ... now you'll have to chew it."
Now for the update.
I am dashing this post off from the farm house before I jump in the truck and head for home. It is 6:30 PM here on Monday.
He did the same thing today. I was watching with the binoculars from the top of the hill that leads to the cut bean field. He came out of the cedars right on schedule and ambled slowly down to the creek and drank. He then started up the other side on a trail that leads to the clover. As soon as he started up the hill I backed out slowly and took the bean field in the direction away from where he would enter the clover. I wanted to be well out of there before he crested the top.
I will set up on him about fiffty yards up the hill above the creek on the trail he uses. I have scanned all the trees in that area and there looks to be a tall and straight Ash tree that might fit the bill. It is approximately thirty yards off the trail and from what I can tell looking through the lenses there should be no need to clear anything. I will not have that luxury. Noise will undo me if I am not careful. I must arrive there and climb very quietly.
I will not come back here until I hunt him. I will not watch him anymore. It just may be superstition on my part but somehow I think these old ones know when they are being watched.
The weather will dictate what day this is going to happen. We have moisture headed our way and I will not hunt him if there is any chance for a washed out blood trail. The next two days do not look to be the best. But Thursday and Friday are looking pretty good, cold but clear.
The next time you see Palmated in the title of my post you will know the hunt is over. I will tell you how it went down, be it successful or be it a bust.
It has been a long season. I have dogged this animal since September. Having it come down to one day like this somehow seems fair to me.
Thanks to all of you for the well wishes.
........bob