DIY Wilderness Elk

[Sawbuck]

First week of hunting was awesome. My dad and a friend of mine packed in and set up on Saturday the twentieth, scouted on Sunday, and were in the elk first thing on Monday. Passed on seven bulls the first several days hoping to get a chance at a big guy. After hearing the forcast I figured I better quit messing around and get one on the ground. I'm not much of a trophy hunter it doesn't seem right passing on a legal elk. Friday we took my friend to the road and brought in the other two guys that were hunting general. After getting back to camp I took off to a spot that I had seen a five point the night before and shortly after I got settled in I saw a good bull coming right for me. He stepped out of the trees about a hundred and fifty yards away, turned his head a little, and I saw he was a decent, even six point and that was it. I must have been a little excited he was facing me and I yarded on the trigger like an idiot and just about missed him. The 180 grain Trophy Tip smacked him in his left shoulder, and he took off to his right. I sprinted about sixty yards ahead out of the tree I was by and saw him standing in the trees to my left about seventy yards away with his butt torwards me. He looked back, probably could hear me huffing and puffing, and looked like he was going to take off into the steep draw below. I was out in the open in a saddle on top of a ridge so I took a knee and put the crosshairs on the small section of his neck that I could see and this time I gently squeezed the trigger and hit the mark. He dropped in his tracks, game over. So as it turns out my buddy that we had taken out earlier in the day had vehicle problems and was in Yakima getting his truck fixed. So the next day another friend and I went up and loaded him up and I packed him to the road. It was awesome, my buddy got his truck fixed and met me at the trailhead and took the elk home for me so I was able to stay for the second week and help the the other guys. Hunting the second week wasn't that great for us. It started raining on Saturday night and pretty much rained on and off for the rest of the week. Most of the elk brushed up and fed at night.  I didn't see anymore branched antlered elk that I could have shot so I was pretty glad I got the one I did. Since I was tagged out I did see a few spikes but couldn't get anybody on them for a shot so the other guys went home empty. Everybody seemed to have a good trip though, nobody got hurt, didn't kill any horses, and made it home safe late last night. I'll have plenty of meat to share with the other guys, ended up with 195 pounds of boned out meat. Would have had a little more if I hadn't screwed up that first shot. Sure can't beat good times with good friends, this was a season I'll remember forever.

[deerhunter_98520]

Awsome bull...i wouldnt pass on him either 

[logger]

awesome bull. mules,snow,the way elk huntin is suppossed to be.

[stickbuck]

Congrats on awesome bull!!!

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Nothing better than a good wilderness hunt. Congrats!

[FSTaxidermy]

awesome bull. mules,snow,the way elk huntin is suppossed to be.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree great bull and pictures are what an elk hunt should be.

[Jason]

Congrats on a nice Bull!

[pianoman9701]

Thanks for sharing with us. Awesome bull and story. Stud elk!

[bearpaw]

congrats on a great hunt.... 

[Sawbuck]

Thanks guys! Here is a video of an elk from the night before I shot mine. My elk came out of the trees in the upper center of the beginning of this video and ran to the left. Love this stand you are literally in the elk, they love to cross here. A few nights before this video a cow, small six, and a pretty nice five all walked right by, the six was fifteen feet away. This elk was at about twenty five feet when he turned.
http://player.vimeo.com/video/52804602?badge=0"

[ShaneTyTrey]

Awesome congrats

[JLS]

Very nice photos, it's so enjoyable and satisfying to watch your own pack animals work.

[bullcanyon]

  good job!!!!

[Michelle_Nelson]

That is a great looking bull!  Good Job!