2012 Opening Day Bull

[ellensburgpo]

So, after many years of indecision I made the choice to switch from muzzleloader to archery for elk. I had a few wonderfull years hunting with some great friends durring muzzleloader season but i got the feeling I would do better during archery season. I submitted my special permit applications and was confident in my choice. I ordered a new bow and all the accessories within a few days of making the decision. I got my bow and set up a target and some hay bales on the property.

Once I had the setup I soon discovered how great it was to be able to walk outside and start flinging arrows. I submitted my special applications and began dreaming. That joy lasted all of about a week until I had an incident at work and messed up my shoulder. When the special permit results came out I found out I had drawn a bull tag. I was thrilled but at the same time incredibly nervous I wouldn't be able to shoot my bow by then. Many many weeks went by with me debating wether I needed to turn my tag back in. I couldnt drive myself around more then a few miles from home and couldnt walk any distance so scouting was difficult. Luckily grandpa made an effort to keep me up to date on his sightings in the area. I ended up deciding that I would hold out and hope for the best.

Durring that lost time I spent countless hours on google earth looking over the unit, and hours looking at topo maps. Ordered some Hanwag boots, bunch of Kuiu gear, knife from Rainshaow, cow call from Phelps calls, and other items keep me mentally positive about the hunt and give me something to focus on besides the injury. I also made the decision that I was going to do a backpack hunt and get as far away from people as possible.

Towards July I found out I was going to lose my hunting parter due to him starting a new job the last week of August. He was only going to be able to hunt on the weekends. I decided I was going to stick with my original plan even though it had gotten a little harder being by myself.

I finally got cleared to go back to work and shoot my bow as much as I wanted the last day of July. At first only one or two shoots a day but I was eventually able to work my shot count up. I shot a lot at all hours of the day. I began walking every day with my badlands pack stuffed with between 75 and 100 lbs.

Opening day finally arrived and I was on the mountain looking forward to having the entire season off. I heard my first bugle of the morning at 9 am and I knew I had made the right choice to hold onto the tag. I hunted/ hiked the many miles to where i would camp for several days and that took until around 11am. I took off all my clothes to dry out after the long walk in and racked out for a few hours as being a night shifter had me a little behind on sleep.

I woke up to my alarm going off and a whole bunch of cows talking. I poked my head out the door and a small group of cows and one spike where above me through some trees about 30 yards. I laughed and about tht time I heard a bull bugle about 200 yards below me. I knew I couldn't get dressed in time as the bull would be coming up the hill to the cows. So, with what god gave me I crawled to my bow and release. As I got to my bow, the bull let another bugle go and this time he was only about 75 yards away. I snuck down the hill just a little and waited. The bull came flying out of the timber with his nose about a foot from the behind of the cow he was chasing. No shot as he wouldn't stop chasing the cow at that point.

The cow led him up he hill and joined up with the rest of the group? I was able to sneak back up the hill and the bull was standing broadside 42 yards from me. I let the arrow fly and watched it hit a small branch I didn't see and re-direct well clear of the bulls back. The jig was up and all the elk took off. I walked back, got dressed and thought about what could have been. The bull was the second largest I've ever seen in the unit.

I moved a ways down the hill to cover an area I knew elk would pass through to get to where they were feeding at night. I sat there dumb struck as bull after bull bugled below me. I have never heard such a display and I was privileged to get to experience it.  I was set up with the wind in my face and expected any elk to come from below me. After about an hour I heard the deepest bugle i have ever heard a couple hundred yards above me. I began cow calling with my Phelps cow call. The bull slowly drifted in my direction and him and I traded calls back and forth.

Because the bull had come from the wrong direction I was set up with the wind at my back. I had also had to move to the middle of a game trail to get a good shooting lane. I was able to draw my bow as the bull walked behind a small tree and then he stopped on the game trail I was kneeling on. At 38 yards I let the arrow fly and knew I had made a good shot.

I waited bout 30 minutes and the began following the blood trail. I found the bull shortly thereafter and was able to get my hands on his 5x6 rack. First elk. First animal with a bow. Words can't describe what I felt at that point after all that had led up to the hunt.

Many, many hours and trips later I had my bull out. I can't thank Phelps calls enough for the cow call as it was defiantly a major factor in my success. The knife I got from rainshadow also performed great and has earned a permanent spot in my pack.

I'm on my iPad and have no idea how to post pictures from it. If someone could shoot me their e-mail address so I can forward some pictures so they can post them up that would be great.

[jason4429]

Great story. I can't wait to see the pics. Congrats

[SniperDanWA]

I'd tell you to send them to e, but I'm on my iPad too.  Can't get it to work either.

Nevertheless, congratulations and I look forward to seeing the pics.

[cvandervort]

Holy smokes! Great story...the kind that gets my blood pumping for my turn in the woods. Thanks for that - can't wait to see pics!
Congrats

[pips4bucks]

Congrats on a great hunt!  Great write up as well!  Can't wait to see the pics!

[Huntbear]

Here you go.. nice bull!!!!!

Congrats!

[ellensburgpo]

Thank you sir. Technology...

[jstone]

Nice job looks like my first and only bull. GOOD TIMES. thats what its about

[Lunchbox1981]

A very nice write up.  Thanks for sharing and congrats on a very nice bull.

[Bluesdude]

Great Story, Congrats!  What Unit did you draw?

[wamuledeer]

Congrats, great bull and love the story.

[igotbigbulls]

 

[NWWA Hunter]

Great story, and thanks for sharing

[Raul Duke]

Great write up, thanx for sharing.   

[fc2038]

Nice Bull! Congrats