So, I think you could choose to make this hunt as easy or hard as you want, although elk hunting is never easy. I chose to make it as tough as I could, but wanted the experience that would last a lifetime. Decided that if I ever drew this tag I'd backpack into the backcountry and make the most of it. I do try to stay in shape year round, but when I saw that I got his tag I ramped it up as I didnt want any excuses for this hunt. We ended up going in and scouting everyway just about possible, opening day came and it was obvious that we werent the only ones who had also done this as there were over 12 people in the basic same area. To give the short version, opening day came with me passing on some smaller bulls, seeing some bigger ones and still no seeing my partner yet, he finally showed up right at dark, seems he wanted to hunt and take the long way into camp, which was a mistake for him. 2nd day we went way back in and got into some of the best elk areas I've ever seen, got on some bulls but no shots. 3rd day partner was already wore out from lack of preperation so I hunted alone, once again passing small bulls and seeing some good ones with no shots. I called my wife that night and she said I should get one of my sons Bryce (16) to go with me for the weekend as he'd be ready and willing to bust his butt to get to come with me. I headed home and got him after school on Thursday. Friday we packed back into the backcountry and set up camp further back than before. We decided just to glass Friday night close to camp. At about 530 Bryce spots a cow and calf and bull about a mile away. I look and decide not to go after them, guess I was now being lazy. The bull starts bugling and continues to bugle about every 15 minutes, so at 630 Bryce asks me again to go after him and I say ok lets go. We take off to get the wind right and do so, we continue to head in the direction the bull went and can hear him every 10-15 minutes. I finally bugle and he answers and so does another one, those 2 bulls start going back and forth, and I tell Bryce that this might get interesting. We keep creeping towards the 1st bull and his bugles are getting closer and closer, I finally can tell that he's within 100 yards or so, so we really slow down. I tell Bryce to stay close and continue on, he bugles again and I nock an arrow, I take about 10 steps and ease up over a small rise and catch movement....I see the bulls head/horns swivel and look in our direction at about 15 yards. I can see that he is facing quarting towards us, I pull back, level the bow and put the 20 yard pin right in front of his right shoulder and squeeze the trigger. The arrow is gone in a flash....the bull turns, runs about 10 feet stops and tips over, stands back up and does a face plant, game over!...I look at Bryce to see if he saw it all and see the amazment on his face... We take pictures, bone out the bull, and start packing it out by 11pm, by 2am we had made it down the hunters trail and to the truck. We got 4 hours of sleep and headed back in with 2 friends to get the rest the next morning. It was a great trip, all that I wanted, met and made many new friends throughout the journey that were very helpful with things, you all know who you are... Best of all was sharing this with my son..
