Needless to say, I am thrilled at being able to fill my quality bull tag!
5 day hunt over in GMU 346. We hunted hard, covered a lot of ground, got some bulls to talk and were able to close the deal on this guy at 45-50 yards. First Elk with a bow, and I can tell ya now I will never go back to a rifle to elk hunt. I will wait my turn for another tag either here or in another state and hunt the rut as long as we are allowed to do so. There is nothing like getting close and calling in a rut crazed bull. This guy sounded like a monster and bugled repeatedly including the final bugal at only 60 yards just over the hill as he was charging in. Anyone who has experienced being next to a really loud bugling elk at that range can confirm when I say, he litterally shook the forest! Not the biggest guy in the woods as he is a nice 5x5 with good mass, but the experience trumps size ANY day of the week for me.
Anyway.. here is some pics.. as he lays, posing for a shot and packing him out.