Hirshey's Family Clockum Muzzleloader Antlerless Elk Hunt

[hirshey]

My mother and I decided to spend the early afternoon exploring new country, and turned up another mature bull. He was pretty leery and didn't allow us a long viewing period. We continued to stalk quietly around the drainage when ANOTHER bull erupted at about 150 yards... at 3PM! I told my mother to get her camera ready and we set up to try to talk him in... He wasn't impressed, however, and bugled about 8 more times, before half-heartedly almost doing would I would describe as "mewing". It was almost as if he was saying, "Come on, baby! I'm over here. I'm not coming over THERE." We let him be, and continued stalking around the hillside. The light was getting long, and we were about 1.5 miles from the nearest road... just on the edge of my comfort zone for what work I wanted to sign my mom up for this late in the day, and by ourselves. We started back in the general direction of the vehicle as I smiled and quietly told my mom that the hillside to our left is where I would be if I were an elk... the terrain shadows the slope for the majority of the day, there was plenty of feed, they had the sun in the faces of anything trying to put a stalk on them, the meadows and water in the valley-bottom nearby were easily accessible... the list goes on. I stopped hunting for just one moment, and unfortunately it was a critical one... the hillside above us produced the unmistakable snaps and cracks of multiple animals moving off... two animals out of about six were within shooting distance with good vital shots, but I couldn't see if they had headgear. They had bested us as they headed back up the drainage towards the bugling bull. Drats! I looked back as my mom smiled, acknowledging my correct assessment of the elk habitat. Right assessment, wrong time to lose focus!

[hirshey]

We headed back to the vehicle with one more location in mind to burn the rest of the day.. We were slightly delayed as we pulled over on the narrow road to let a truck pass, and he kind of blocked us into the pullout and asked us what we were doing.

"Hunting!", we said while smiling. We were met with a frown. "For what? What season?" We explained, and a slow smile crossed the long-haired gentleman's face.. "OH! Me too. Been seeing them, haven't gotten one."

After a few moments and a marriage proposal, the truck pulled forward and we were back on our way. 

[SniperDanWA]

Great family!  Thanks for sharing your hunt.

[hirshey]

Our last spot, one suggested by my mother, didn't fail to produce results. She spotted a bull working a small meadow, and there was a cow with him. I slowly snuck into position, and sat over my knees (my favorite position to shoot from, one I am generally very comfortable with). I put my sights behind her shoulder, and looked over my gun at her.. thinking, "wow.. this is definitely under 100 yards but it's longer than I am used to". With that in mind, I aimed just at the top of her back (MISTAKE) and squeezed the trigger. She and the bull ran off, not seeming to be worse for wear. My mother, who had been watching the cow through her binoculars told me she had seen hair fly, but that I did not wound, let alone mortally, that animal. I had shaved the hair off of her back. That is my FIRST EVER miss with my muzzleloader, and a slightly disappointing end to the season... but everyone has to miss at some point, I suppose, and I do find comfort in knowing I did not wound her without recovering her. I went out to her location in the meadow and followed her tracks to ensure (although I trust my mother with binoculars over my view through smoke) she wasn't wounded... no blood, as I followed her tracks for about half a mile. Shucks!

It was a great season, and I'm so lucky that my mom got an animal and took the pressure off so that I could just... be. And take photos. And enjoy taking my gun for a walk in the woods. And have a good, humbling experience to remind me to first and foremost trust my sights, and to continue to strive to be a better markswoman and huntress.

Three tags, one elk. We are thrilled, and feel so lucky to have had such a fun, exciting season.

Most of all, it was so wonderful to spend that time with my mother and father... I am so fortunate to get that kind of opportunity time and again.

Now, on to the remainder of the general deer rifle season!

[chucker]

Great story, great hunt, congrats on a successful season.. can't wait for the deer story. 

[Mfowl]

Nice write up Hirshey. Sounds like you've had an eventful hunting season so far. Good luck the rest of the season!

[buck man]

EXCELLENT! As usual!

[coachcw]

I wish I had half the writing skills you have kiddo. I know where you get you good looks ..... your mother is a fine looking woman and great hunter to boot ! congrats on the season .

[wildmanoutdoors]

Too bad the pics are all Red X's for me.

[elkoholic1]

 

[mkcj]

Another great story and picture's Hirshey, thanks for sharing.

[bowhunterforever]

Great story and pics

[oneshot12]

  nice story  and nice pictures as well

[Hornseeker]

Great hunt, story, Pics! Thanks!