Absolutely Sickening EDIT: Bull Was Found

[Slimdog350]

I'm glad you found your animal! It sucks that it wasn't in time to salvage the meat, but it sounds like you gave it one heck of a try. Like you said it will be a little while before you fully understand what happened. Losing an animal is a terrible feeling. Kudos to you for seeing it thru. Some people wouldn't have gone to the same lengths. As for the people that said to quit archery hunting, what nonsense. Everybody makes mistakes no matter what weapon you choose to hunt with. Nobody is perfect. Have a beer and reflect on what you learned and get ready for the next season!

[tgray]

Way to stick with it, glad you found him.

[EDT]

I agree...Keep your head up!

So are you waiting a couple of weeks for the animals to clean off the elk a little more before you go back?

[washelkhunter]

What a great hunt and awesome story. We were up indian heaven way and the storms were ferocious and the bugs were worse. Did anyone know bald faced hornets hunt yellow jackets? I had two possible shots on cows. One at 18yds broadside the other at 35 well out of my range, both paunch only, couldnt get a boiler room op before they turned away. Learned alot this season and got really close without being barked at. Way too hot after noon.

[Birdguy]

Glad you found him and way to stick with it  . IMO you are a true sportsman and would be welcome in my camp anytime. I am sorry you were unable to locate him sooner but glad you ended up with no doubts about the hunt now. thank you for sharing your story even though it was not what we had hoped for as an outcome at the beginning.

[KFhunter]

can't you tag it and do a euro mount?  I know you got no obligation to do so but you said you were going to call it a season might as well have a mount huh?

I think I would.

edit: ok nm I see that you are going to go back to get it.





also, I think your story is a good one for new archers to read.  It's pretty easy to go plunk down a fist full of cash and start flinging arrows at critters.
The hard part of archery hunting is well demonstrated in your story.

[boneaddict]

I am glad you found him, even with the meat spoiled.  Im impressed you stopped hunting.   That's what I'd expect of myself if not others, but know many blow it off and go shoot another.   I look forward to seeing your trophy when its cleaned up a bit.   

[Bean Counter]

can't you tag it and do a euro mount?  I know you got no obligation to do so but you said you were going to call it a season might as well have a mount huh?

I think I would.
..

I would tag it. And +1 for the euro. But I think you ARE under an obligation if you find it. Not sure though.

[KFhunter]

can't you tag it and do a euro mount?  I know you got no obligation to do so but you said you were going to call it a season might as well have a mount huh?

I think I would.
..

I would tag it. And +1 for the euro. But I think you ARE under an obligation if you find it. Not sure though.

are you?  I honestly don't know for sure at this point, I think this recovery is well beyond the scope of what is spelled out in the regs.

[Bean Counter]

beats me. 

Seems like we're in agreement as to what the ethical thing to do is, but I hope one of the hunters ed guys can clarify the law for us.

[bobcat]

If he wants to bring the head home, he would need to tag it. I do know that. Not sure if the law requires him to tag it. I don't believe it does. I'm thinking a person could keep the tag un-notched and continue hunting. He still has the entire late archery season to hunt. But if it were me, I'd tie my tag on that bull's antlers and bring the head home.

[kisfish]

  slinger.

[firefighter4607]

I am glad you didn't stop looking. Glad you found him! Can't wait to see pictures. Hopefully your story will help others, that have been in the same situation.

[whacker1]

way to be persistent

[Sliverslinger]

I am glad you found him, even with the meat spoiled.  Im impressed you stopped hunting.   That's what I'd expect of myself if not others, but know many blow it off and go shoot another.   I look forward to seeing your trophy when its cleaned up a bit.   

     I don't want to misrepresent what happened or what I did. Originally, I was certain that I had made a good shot and killed that bull. However, after speaking with dozens and dozens of people and describing the situation and the type of blood, I was convinced by the vast majority that I hit either high or low and the bull was running around just fine and none worse for wear. I went back to look Friday to make sure, but was fully expecting to either see that same bull running around or see him on one of my cameras. Consequently, I did not stop hunting. In fact, I was in a calling set up about 150 yards from where I shot him when I got a whiff of something dead. Until that moment, I had become completely convinced that he was just fine. We had planned to hunt our way through the area and give it one last final  look, but I felt like we had covered it so thoroughly already that if he was dead, we would have found him. Admittedly, I was obviously wrong on this point.
     I guess my point is that I don't want to give a dishonest impression and wouldn't feel right soaking in praise or admiration for assumed ethical behavior that is based on a false premise, even in an online forum.  I consider myself to be an ethical hunter and an honest man, so it should be known that the truth is that after doing everything I possibly could to find the animal, I did not stop hunting.
     That being said, when I go back after it is possible to get close enough, I will be tagging it and bringing the antlers home.

Also- it's a fine bull, but not the big one from my cameras that I thought it could be.