2008 Backcountry Elk Hunt - The Hard Way!!!

[archery288]

Well I will start off and say that this elk season was probably the hardest season yet... After 8 days in the backcountry and only hearing maybe a half dozen bugles the entire hunt (during daylight that is) it made for a pretty frustrating time!  One thing is for sure, it wasn't for lack of effort on our part though.  We got on a few bulls and a couple good ones at that, but just couldn't make anything happen.  Most of the elk we called in came in silent and busted us before we could get the shot.  Others you could hear crashing in snapping limbs and twigs as it was so dry and quiet, so no one could be quiet.  The elk were just not vocal with the 80 - 90 degree temperatures each day and would only sound off at around 9 or 10 at night. 

I did get lucky as the hunt rolled on and it was apparent this year that if an elk came in and you could get a shot no matter the size - take it!  So that's what I did!  We got on this bull around 7:30 in the morning and after I bugled to see if we could locate any bulls he screamed about 70 yards out!  We quickly sat up and cow called and he came crashing in bugling and looking for that cow.  He came out at 30 yards and walked behind a tree as I was at full draw... I let down and he turned and walked out in the open at 20 yards and I drew back for him yet to go behind another tree!  I had to let down again and he seen me and went up the hill!  We chased him up and down the hill for 3 hours with him bugling every 2 minutes or so and 6 more draws later with several encounters at 20 yards we decided to back off of him at 11 in the morning and come back in the afternoon. 

We headed to the next drainage over and began cow calling around 5 pm and had one bull bugle below us.  We sat there cow calling for a bit more as the wind was wrong for the bull under us.  6 pm rolled around and I thought I heard something coming down the hill behind us?!  I knocked an arrow and turned around looking up hill and sure enough about 2 minutes later he walked out at 40 yards!  And the unbelievable thing was it was the same bull from the morning!  He came down the hill cut to the right at 25 yards and stopped in some evergreens looking for the cows.  He then started walking again and went behind a big old growth and I drew back and he came out at 15 yards and WHACK!  I smoked him with a good double lung pass through shot.  He ran back up the hill about 60 yards and we gave him a half and hour. 

I went up the hill looking for him and went to where he walked out of sight and looked up and he was standing there looking at me at about 20 yards!  I about fell over as it was a perfect shot and there was blood pouring out of him standing there! Another bull was behind him and took off running of course spooking him and he ran down the hill about 300 yards before crashing through some thick vine maples... I went down the hill looking for him and spotted him staggering around getting ready to fall over.  I put another arrow in him and that was it - he fell right there!  After taking a bunch of pictures and boning him out, we pulled out the lungs thinking at that point I had maybe only clipped one lung or something?  But after getting them out there were 2 holes - 1 through each lung and I mean dead center in each lung!  Though critters are a lot tougher than a guy thinks!  Anyways, he is on the ground and that's the only luck we had in 8 days.  Definetly the toughest year yet and the weather really got us! 

Anyways, Enjoy the pics!

[scoyoc5]

great job Jon! your having a awesome year man. I too was in the backcountry and although we saw elk everyday we just couldnt get close. They were bugling at night (11pm-2am ) just our luck. I went out again yesterday got soaked so i threw in the towel..lol. Oh well this was my first year hunting the backcountry and had a blast..anyway congrats
John

[DeKuma]

Nicely done Jon.  Any bull with a bow is a trophy as far as I am concerned.  You have had a good year so far.

[Ironhead]

Way to go, sounds like you made the right decision and capitalized on your oppurtunity. You have had a good year, curious to hear if your going late for deer?

[archery288]

I will be hunting whitetails in November - yes!  One of my favorite hunts of the year!

[shag]

Excellent!!   Good work.

[hard hunter]

great job, sound like you deserved it with all your work.

[Ray]

Cool Jon. That is a great looking elk.

[tmike]

Great job Jon! It's definitely been a strange year as far as the elk talk goes. Any bull is a good bull in my opinion so that's a great one.

[MichaelJ]

SWEET stuff man great season so far!  Lets hope your hard work and preparation pays off later in the season as well!!!

Michael

[bucklucky]

Way to stick with it man! At least you didnt finish your hunt off by running over your bow with the truck like I did  So much for the Switchback XT
Great storry man! Glad you go twhat you did! 2 Bou and a cute bull  Good job!

[archery288]

I heard about your bow man.... WAY TO GO!!!      We'll fix it up for you!  And I know he is pretty cute huh?!    

[bucklucky]

 

[popeshawnpaul]

Great bull.  Great story.  Congradulations.

[X-Force]

Nice bull, pics, and write up. Hard work pays off. Sorry to hear about your bow bucklucky.