My 3 elk year

[Todd_ID]

I had what I considered to be an excellent season, so I thought I'd share with you.  All my hunting is OTC on public land.

Elk 1: Washington Archery
I hiked a camp into an area that I just couldn't seem to get to before daylight.  That night a bull bugled all night long about 200 yards from my hammock.  At daylight I used climbing hooks and a Tree Sling to go about 18' up a tree.  A couple little cow calls got the bugling bull screaming again, and a spike walked right to me.  I drew as he was getting to about 10 yards, and the arrow went through his heart at 4 yards from the base of my tree.

Elk 2: Idaho Archery
I hunted a new area this year and had a few opportunities at big bulls but couldn't seem to close the deal.  I even MISSED a mega-bull 7x7 at 16 yards by hitting a limb and again at 55 by not ranging him.    That one stung, and I'm still kicking my own backside since I may never again get a shot at a bull that big.  I ended up killing a big cow with a good double lung shot just before it was time to leave.

Elk 3: Idaho Muzzleloader
I found a small group of elk bedded in a clearcut opening morning.  I sent my buddy right at them, and I walked about a mile around to get underneath them to try an push them to him.  They ended up close to me, and a double lung shot with a Buffalo Bullet did the job well.

I kept the first elk.  I gave the second elk to my hunting buddy since he isn't a very good hunter.  And I gave the third elk to my mom since they badly needed the meat.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

 

[Bigshooter]

pics

[Todd_ID]

pics

I was negligent in the picture department this year.  We didn't take any success photos.  I think my buddy has a pic of the first two still in his GPS, and another friend has a pic in his phone of me skinning the third.  Many good memories and stories will have to be the surviving legacy of this year.

[NWBREW]

Nice. Very successful even though I am sure you still think about that big bull. 

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Great year Todd!  Glad to hear you donated a lot of meat.  Good on you.  My brother and I also had a banner year both filling our elk tags and deer tags.  I also shot a Idaho muley on the opener.  It's great to have the meat and a great hunting season behind us.

[elkoholic1]

pics??       congrats!! 

[Elknut1]

Todd, way to go on the elk, that's a lot of meat hauling! (grin)

  ElkNut1

[RadSav]

Good to see you had enough friends and family to use all that meat.  Last time I had a three elk year I had to take the next year off cause we did not have enough room in the three freezers to keep hunting!  Didn't take an elk the following season until the late season when we finally found a family in need and willing to take the meat.  Just the wife and I we just can't eat the elk, deer, bear and pheasant fast enough by ourselves.

Did you shoot that WA spike with your longbow?  4 yards from the base of a tree when you are 18' up is a tough shot!  Would love to hear the details on that one!  Sounds like a great deal of ingenuity went into that one.  Glad to see that Anderson Tree Sling finally get some use after sitting in a box for almost 30 years   Selling those was my first Archery industry job back in '84.

[jackelope]

I kept the first elk.  I gave the second elk to my hunting buddy since he isn't a very good hunter.  And I gave the third elk to my mom since they badly needed the meat.

Not sure why you're talking about me but either way, you never gave me any elk meat.
 

[boneaddict]

Congrats on a successful year. 

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

He's cheating on you jack!  He found another!

[Hornseeker]

Dude, Mom needs to come before your buddy who cant hunt!!! Give him some motivation!!!   

Congrats Todd! That is sooo cool!! Ive had several three deer years, but never three elk...

[willapawapiti]

Sounds like a banner year to me! Congrats!

[trophyhunt]

Epic year, congrats!  My best is a two elk year a couple different times.  That big bull will be bigger next season, go get him!