This call is just awesome, I love the sounds it makes.
I had to work the week of the opener but was able to get Friday off. So at 330 on Thursday afternoon I headed out of town and for my cabin in the Colockum. I arrived at 6pm and hurried into the woods. 20 minutes into the woods I started hitting the call every once in a while as I slipped deeper into the woods, immediately I had a cow respond to the call and calf came running in to 29 yards. With a cow tag in my pocket and the future of the herd standing in front of me I held off and waited for another elk. They ended up getting spooked by a couple of other hunters that were hiking out of the woods as the weather was heading in. They apologized for busting the elk and I said no worries that is hunting on public ground. They asked where I was going and I told them deeper to find the elk. Another 20 minutes and a single cow came in at 70 yards and then retreated over the horizon. When I came over the top she was gone. I kept hiking and got into the middle of several bulls bugling. As it got dark I was confident that I had a great spot to hit first thing in the morning. An hour after dark I made it back to my truck just as the sky opened up and start to dump rain. There was thunder and lightening all night. I figured that would keep the elk down all night and I would go straight to them in the morning.
The next morning I got back to the spot and when I got out of the truck I could hear 3 or 4 bulls bugling on the other side of the road than I had been on the night before and close. I made a B line for what I thought was right in between the bulls.
I blew the call once and the bull to my right responded. I moved closer and a spike ran through the opening in front of me. To the right I could see yellow moving through the trees. I ranged the trees on the other side of the opening at 29 yards. Just as I got my arrow nocked a cow stepped into the opening at what had to be under 20 yards, right behind her was a 6x7 bull that looked right at me as I drew back. She was quartering away from me and never saw the arrow release. The old school 100 grain thunderhead hit the mark entering in the middle of the ribs and exiting dead center of the far shoulder. She went thirty yards still in my sight and stumbled to the ground, stood up, took two or three steps and then fell over for the finish.
It all happened so fast I couldn't believe it. This call is awesome and I was proud to have it with me.
Good eats in the freezer. Thanks Jason for the great call and thank you Aaron for you service and sacrifice. RIP
