The multi-season elk tag was a blessing this year. No luck with bow and string, but the muzzie scored. Day 1 - After a blown stalk in a clearcut due to another unsuspecting hunter, Mr. bull bailed for the timber with his cows. We got into the timber, my buddy Gus called him in, I got busted shifting positions
Shortly after, the whole herd spooked by me at 60yds, bull at the tailend. It was a steep angle downward, I settled my sights, pulled the trigger, and missed. Don't know how at that range but missed
Day 2- Skipping forward about 23 hours (skip because of the intense sadness and depression that ensued
) I was 20 minutes running late picking up my nephew Zane for the day 2 morning hunt, so it was daylight going by the "scene of the crime" yesterday. He advised me to stop, just in case perhaps some different elk were back in the same clearing. We stopped, got out, and there HE was again!!! Black rack swaying 600yds away, we devised a stalk. 20 minutes later we found ourselves downwind and watching the same bull push his cows right to us. He stopped broadside, "77yds" Zane whispered. I pulled the trigger, smoke cleared, I thought I missed - What? Again?? I fumbled to reload, my supplies flying all over the road. I told Zane "Keep him busy!" Zane bugled, stopping him 3 times, while I reloaded. He thought the bull was lagging a bit, I busy tapping the load down, I wasn't watching. After a 200 yd sprint down the row below him, paralleling the herd, I got one last shot off before he went over the ridge crest. Seriously? I missed him two days in a row!! How can this be?? Dejected, I went back, gathered my supplies from the road. As I was walking back to Zane's location to go look for blood, I noticed a yellow spot at the ridge crest. I put my binos up, there was a big black antler sticking up !! Turns out, my first shot double lunged him & lodged in the far shoulder, just took about 150 yds to know what hit him! Special thanks to my good buddy Gus and nephews Zane & Tyson for all their help this year! Great memories for sure!!!
