Observatory quality Elk Success

[elkoholic1]

well like most who drew bull tags I was supper excited about the opportunity to finally arrow a bull elk, been 7 years since last opportunity and that year didn't go well with a divorce screwing up most that season, it took a week to sink in then one morning figured id better get my sh*t together if I was going to make sure I took every opportunity to get myself a bull, starting with preparation, I've hunted this unit basically my whole life and think I know it well, physically I new I better do something fast if I wanted to be able to get my tag notched on a bull, I stepped on scale and whooooooo 268lbs well that's not gonna work so next day got on a strict diet and hiking regiment, goal was 240 before I left for camp,  next 3 month seemed to fly by trying to get everything prepared for this hunt, got both bows down to Rock Creek archery and let Denton do his magic and put the killer super tune on the bows like he always does, I'm sure there are a lot of good archery shops around but for me having the confidence that my equipment will hold up and do its job as long as I do mine is why I drive 2.5 hours each way to have Denton at Rock Creek work on my equipment, I know when all done my stuff is rock solid and good to go and will perform when the opportunity comes. (If your archery shop doesn't give you that super confident feeling when you leave the shop I suggest give Denton and Rock Creek Archery a shout) started practicing everyday and got every yard from 1-100 dialed in and felt super confident that given the opportunity I would make my shot count, finally time to leave for camp headed out on Thursday (weight in at 241 )  figured would get camp set up and give me all day Friday to scout and see if able to locate some elk, weather cooled off and thought the elk would be talking but ended Friday with a big 0 for elk found/seen.. no sleep Friday night with the anticipation of the opener, up bright and early out of camp well before light hitting a few of my honey holes and ended the day 12.7 miles on the boots and not 1 elk seen or heard..      day 2 started a lot like the first legs little sore from day 1 took it a little easy realizing its a long season and better destroy my legs on first 2 days of hunting stayed little closer to camp still not a peep out of any elk anywhere to be heard, sneaking down a old overgrown logging road when I darn near stepped on a coiled rattle snake not very happy with me, took a few moments to naturalize the situation and then continued on down the road that lead down into a draw full of brush and thickets, just cleared last tree before last 100 yards to bottom and caught a glimpse of movement at thicket edge, threw up binos yep definitely and elk and with horns as he slipped into the tall thickets I was hopeful if I could get close to where he went in I could push him out the other side as that hill side was pretty open with a lot of room to get some open shots, quickly got a few ranges on far hillside and new it would be around 70 yards, move sight as I move quietly and as quickly down road as possible caught quick glimpse of him moving away from me through thicket made it about 10 more steps and he came out of the other side of the thicket trotted about half way up hill got a cow call off and he stopped already had arrow knocked quick range 76 yards dial sight in to yardage draw and do my quick checks of bubbling up and holding pin right in sweet spot behind shoulder squeezed trigger and made darn sure to hold pin on target till I heard arrow hit, he bolted made it about 5 yards when I seen blood coming out from right behind shoulder gave out another quick cow call he stopped 10 yards from where I shot behind a clump of trees and stood there looking over in my direction what seems like minutes but I'm sure was seconds when he started to waiver and get stiff legged and over he went, I couldn't believe what I just watched I have never had an elk go 10 yards and fall over dead, woot woot  I couldn't get over to him fast enough I new he was a decent bull but had no idea how heavy horned he was nor how big of a body he had, one of the few occasions of the animal getting larger as you approach rather than shrinking some.. day #2 tag filled and now the work began to get him gutted and packed back to camp and hung, knew I was in for a ling night of work, thank goodness by brother and 2 other buddy's in camp where there quickly to join in on the celebration and work packing him back to camp

[Tschaefer72]

Awesome bull! Congrats on a great hunt. Thanks for sharing the story!

[bowhunterforever]

Great bull and hunt

[TVHunts]

Congrats on a very nice Bull! 

[coachcw]

Way to go buddy ! congrats

[ribka]

Great story would have been even better if you shot him last hour of season

Good to see hard work and dedication pay off. Would have been easy to give up in your situation.

Nice bull btw

[LongBomb]

Congrats man! Great story 

[10mmg]

Nice bull. Congrats

[jackelope]

Congrats, Kris! Stud of a bull.

[boneaddict]

Great bull!

[FWilliams]

awesome bull and write up. congratulations

[full choke]

Congratulations!

[bracer40]

Congratulations on a great bull! As for the shop recommendation, I’ll second that...

As an aside, I think I was in the shop the same time you were back in the summer. Denton does good work for sure!

[CedarPants]

Great story and great bull!!

[bornhunter]

Great bull. You should submit rhia story to Eastmans magazine. Great story$