So after a whirlwind of "issues" I got a late start to my elk season. The short story is that we borrowed a travel trailer so my girl could have a decent bed to sleep on. That trailer had some lighting issues, then I lost the keys an hour before we were supposed to leave. Therefore, we got to camp a day and a half late.
We finally got set up and to bed at 3 AM. Needless to say I slept in the next morning.
So that first evening I went out and checked a couple areas, nothing around, no new sign. The only elk I saw were 2 miles away in a very difficult area to access, not enough time to get there before dark.
The next morning I biked into a different area. The loggers were busy as the woods were quite noisy with the sounds of equipment. I did manage to get some cows to answer back to my bugling but the wind was wrong to make any sort of move on them. Back to camp for some lunch.
The evening hunt I headed to my hidey hole dubbed "Huckleberry Hill." On the way in I dropped the mt. bike at the end of the road and start walking in. I make it about 50 yards and spot a cow in the middle of the road. She doesn't see me so I scoot to the side of the road and start closing in. She steps to the side of the road and I slowly get to 50 yards of her. As I'm looking for an opening to get closer another cow steps out and looks right at me. Well, my impression of a tree must've worked because she dismissed me and went back to feeding. I keep working closer and more elk come out. Then a 5x5 bull steps out with brush all over his antlers. Still too far at 75 yards and too many eyes for a shot. I do my best to get closer, a foot at a time, to close the distance but they move off.
Now there's one cow left, so I move closer each time she puts her head down to feed. I make it to 60 yards and that's as close as I can get. She turns broadside, I draw, set the 60 yard pin on her vitals, and release. She heard the shot because she ducked the arrow and it sailed over her back.
Off she goes.....
So I walk down to collect my arrow and see if the herd is still nearby. Of course they're gone as well as is my arrow.
I continue walking down the road to Huckleberry Hill and reach the edge of the hill. Looking around I spot a small young 4x4 bull feeding by himself, 65 yards away. The wind is perfect and I've got room and cover to creep in closer. I stalk to 50 yards and that's all the closer I can get.
The bull has his head down feeding toward me so now it's just a matter of waiting for my shot. In the mean time the bull is joined by 2 calves, then a large cow steps out, then a spike. Finally he turns broadside. I range him again, 50 yards. Last check, none of them are looking. I draw, settle in, and release.... SCORE!
Quickly cow calling after the hit, the bull runs 50 yards behind some hemlock trees and stops....CRASH! BULL DOWN!
Now the work begins...
When I first saw the bull I thought he was a non-typical because of the way his left antler hung down. It turned out to be a BROKEN antler! It was broken at the skull! I thought I was going to get a cool Euro mount out of it. Oh well, I'm more of a meat hunter anyway. Bring on the backstraps!
The first good sign!
As he laid.
Busted antler!
Cheesy grin!
New custom knife that worked awesome!
This is how you get them out by yourself without a trailer....
