BLISS CREEK BULLS

By M. R. James • Editor/Founder

Wyoming legend has it that on certain moonlit nights the ghost of Jack Bliss rides the mountain meadows below camp on a restless gray gelding.

The horse thief, gunned down in 1892 by lawmen and buried nearby on the rocky bank of a clear mountain creek that would come to bear his name, is said to be endlessly searching for additional horseflesh to steal.

But it's flesh and blood animals, not spirit riders, that draws bowhunters to Tim Doud's Bliss Creek camp each September. Antlered elk abound in the timbered mountains of the Washakie Wilderness in this particular part of the Shoshone National Forest. And most any serious hunter I know will gladly endure the 22-mile butt-bumping ride from trailhead to base camp in order to spend seven days stalking rutting bulls amid some of the most spectacular scenery to be found in northwestern Wyoming.

But be warned: This is no place for out-of-shape hunters with an aversion to horses! After the initial eight-hour ride to reach camp, each hunting day begins and ends in the saddle with Tim's sure-footed horses picking their way through the darkness along twisty mountain trails. Each morning you dismount and follow your guide through rugged mountain terrain on a daybreak to dusk search for bugling bulls. Each night your return to Tim's comfortable tent camp for a hearty meal and some much needed shuteye before another long day begins at 3:30 or 4:00 a.m.

"Most people don't realize how physical wilderness elk hunting is",  Tim states candidly. "Some people aren't physically or mentally prepared to be 20 or 30 miles from the nearest road, from the comforts of civilization. Our number one problem is not putting game in front of our bowhunters; our problem is too many hunters are out of shape and can't shoot under pressure when a bull steps out in front of them. The better a hunter's physical condition, the better, more successful the hunt will be."

Regardless, for those hunters who prefer stands to still-hunting, Tim has a couple of ground blinds strategically located in mountain parks where elk come to feed in the evening twilight. These stands have accounted for more than one rutty bull lured within bow range by a guide's soft chirps or aggressive bugles.

Tim's elk hunts are quality one guide/one hunter adventures with no more than four bowhunters in camp during any week-long hunt. While there are no guarantees, of course, most Bliss Creek hunters can realistically expect to get one or more shots at bulls at 40 yards or less during their seven-day backcountry stay. The annual success rate varies, depending solely on the hunters' shooting skills. As Tim notes, "There's nothing the guides can do to help shoot the animals. That's up to the individual hunter."

Speaking from personal experience based on three separate hunts with Tim, two for elk and one for black bears, I can vouch for the fact that in time shooting chances will come to any patient hunter. While I passed up several point-blank shots at bruins, on both of my elk hunts I've had shots at under 25 yards. One resulted in one of my best bulls ever, a record-class six-by-six that Tim bugled within spitting distance, 12 short yards.

Having already mentioned bears, it should be noted that Tim's elk area - located just southeast of Yellowstone Park - is home to both black and grizzly bears. On my '95 hunt I came across smokin' fresh scat piles and tracks but didn't catch sight of the bears that made them. But really there is little to worry about where bears are concerned. Tim and his crew go out of their way to keep a clean camp. Grub is stored in bearproof containers and absolutely no food or snacks are allowed in the sleeping tents. The elk meat is cached on elevated platforms well away from camp.

Camp itself consists of several wall tents, each equipped with a wood stove and propane lantern, log bed and foam mattress. A heated shower tent is always available and the spacious cook tent serves as the center of camp activity where daily hunting tales are swapped around a long table piled high with great grub prepared by Tim's partner, Doris Roesch.

September weather varies widely in the high country where elk are stalked at elevations ranging from 8,000 to 11,000 feet. Most days are warm - sometimes hot - with nights coolly crisp to downright cold. Dressing in layers is suggested with a warm coat and gloves ideal for the ride to and from the hunting area. Raingear, of course, should be included in your saddlebag or daypack. And since hiking is part of each day's routine, comfortable, waterproof boots are a must.

With 25 archery-only elk tags available, obtaining a nonresident Wyoming elk license for Tim's Bliss Creek hunting area is no problem. And due to the limited number of bowhunters that Tim books (only 12 per year) and the remoteness of the hunt unit, obtaining a license is a snap. "We have yet to have a bowhunter not get an elk tag",  Tim adds.

Completed Wyoming license applications are due during January of each year. Tim and Doris will assist clients with their applications and help make hotel reservations before and after their elk hunt. Meat processing and taxidermy services are readily available in Cody.

For my own money, wilderness elk hunts rank among my most challenging, exciting and memorable outdoor experiences. I would urge any experienced bowhunter seeking solitude and adventure amid scenic splendor to take a close look at booking such a quality hunt. Contacting Tim Doud is an excellent starting point to begin your own adventure. And don't be surprised if you find me there. I definitely plan to return.

Even now in my mind I can see those Bliss Creek bulls slipping through shadowy timber, hear their haunting bugles echoing down rocky canyons, feel the sticky-wet rubs on antler-slashed trees and smell their musk in the muddied waters of hoof-churned wallows. Also, in my imagination, I can picture a spirit rider astride a ghostly gray galloping soundlessly through the moonlight across a grassy mountain meadow in an eternal search for horses to steal.

Editor/Founder M. R. James has hunted elk throughout the Rocky Mountains for many years, sharing his how-to adventures and where-to-go recommendations with readers.

Author's Note: For complete information on the wilderness hunts and pack trips offered by Bliss Creek Outfitters, contact Tim Doud and Doris Roesch at 326 Diamond Basin Road, Dept. BH, Cody, WY 82414.