First elk.....solo....I'm beat

[FANATIC]

So all the practice calling and scouting paid off. I connected Sun. night. It was by far the coolest hunting experience I've ever had. Heres the story. I arrived at my spot Sat. afternoon and was immediately disappointed to find people in every nook and cranny up the FS road. At first I thought they were hunters, but they were berry pickers, all from California. There were huge groups. Some had 5-6 vans at their camp spots. I make the best, find a spot to camp, and head to the ridge to hike in to the bowl where I'd seen elk a few times. As I hike in, I listen to the berry pickers yell back and forth to each other. I get in and no elk. The next morning I hike the 2-3 miles again, and again no elk. So I come out and choose a different trail, and hike in about another 3-4 miles, calling as I go. Once again no elk.
 At this point I decide to move down into the timber hoping that the elk are seeking refuge from the berry pickers and the heat. I pick a spot that has been thinned, and is surrounded by the thick dark timber. I ease into it and start my routine, move 20 yds and cow call, and repeat. After an mile or so I hit the call and a bull erupts...close. I call again, and he bugles again, this time closer. We keep this up, and at about 50 yds ( I still cant see him), he stops and proceeds to destroy a tree. It sounds like hes running a dozer through the trees. This goes on for about 10 mins. Every time he bugles, I almost cut him off with a cow call. I keep peeking over the stump I'm behind looking for him, then all the sudden there he is, at 35 yds. He is closing the distance fast. I decide he will turn and go down the trail to my left, which will give me a 25yd broadside shot. He decides he will take the trail I'm on instead. This puts him on a collision course with me! I draw behind the stump and stand. He is 10yds and closing. At 5yds I decide it is shoot or get stepped on. The arrow disappears into his chest. He bolts and I call to stop him. It works and I hit him again in the shoulder at 40 yds. Done and done. It took 5 1/2 hours to get him out.
  This is the stuff dreams are made of. Close encounters like this are why I bowhunt. I'm still in awe of this bull bugling right on top of me. I'm hooked.
   He's not the biggest, but hes my first, and one I will never forget. I may never top this experience. I'm glad I was able to do this solo, but I've decided elk hunting is a team sport. Not just for packing, but for calling. Its hard to call, range, draw all by youself. Anyway that's the story. Sorry to be long winded, but I'm still excited.
   The pics are self portraits, so it looks like I'm long arming it, but the camera is downhill. This was the only way to set it up. Enjoy!

[hogsniper]

Awesome bull!!!! Congrats and way to go on doing it by urself.... Justin

[bucklucky]

Way to go man! Nice job!!

[Ray]

Good lookin elk. I know you 

[jackelope]

hot damn....that is sooooo cool. you worked hard for that bull and i'm proud of you. way to go.






now get down there quick as you can friday night....i'll need all the help i can get getting mine.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Great job!

[MichaelJ]

AWESOME!  Congrats man thats a helluva trophy!!

Michael

[mlgunkel]

Great Job, thanks for taking time to write it up & post the pictures.  I really enjoyed the read. 

[jeepasaurusrex]

Nice write up. You should submit it to a few magazines. 

[cohoho]

Terrific job, what a way to go. 

[Bean Counter]

Congratulations. Beautiful bull, and great job on the story! Where was this at?

[Bigshooter]

Great job and a great bull.

[addicted]

awesome

[X-Force]

Awesome story. Congrats on the trophy.

[Gobble]

Awesome Job! Nice story, thanks for sharing