CJs Elk season

[CJ1962]

At 58 you know that you have a lot fewer Elk seasons in front of you than are behind you.  So this year was going to be extra special for me as all three of my sons would be in Elk camp for various parts of the season.  My youngest son Matt would be there the whole 1st week, My oldest son Zach would do 2 three day weekends, and my Son in law Matthew would be there for 5 days near the end of the season.

From left to right.  My son in law Matthew, my youngest son Matt, Myself, and my Oldest son Zach.

[ghosthunter]

Excellent.

There is a lot of issues these days that get in the waY of young men finding time to hunt.
Work, growing a family, unknowns to come. 
Enjoy your hunt and immerse yourself in it. You will draw on it in years to come.


 

[CJ1962]

As the smoky season unfolded everyone had opportunities at various times.  But on Monday the 21st I had about 20 elk 130 yds above me just milling around.  I had no way to get closer. 

Zach was somewhere above me and to the SE, Mathew was somewhere to the north of me.  Unfortunately my youngest Son Matt had left the day before to go back to work.

There were at least 2 Bulls in the group and both Matthew and Zach were calling to them.  I decided not to call at all in hopes that one of them could coax them into range.

So for almost a full hour I got to watch and listen to this group of elk.  It was pretty cool and I was shaking for almost a 1/2 hour and couldn't seem to stop.

When they started to drift down towards me I had decided to take the 1st elk that gave me 40 yd broad side shot.

[CJ1962]

Twice I had two different cows at about 80 yds staring holes though me.  I held as still as I could and they eventually went back to feeding.  I really thought it would be one of those cows that would reach me first.  At this point I hadn't gotten any great looks at the bigger bull which probably ended up being a good thing because the younger bull started heading down towards me and as I previously mentioned I had decided to take the first elk that gave me a 40 yd shot.

[CJ1962]

The raghorn stopped perfectly broadside at 40 yds with his head behind a tree.  I came to full draw and I don't know if it was the way I was standing or the angle of the hill or the excitement, but I was having a hard time getting my bubble to be level.  Fortunately I noticed it and the elk cooperated long enough that I got it level and let the arrow fly.   

As old age and poorer eyesight has started to settle in I had added Lumenok to my arrows this year.  Watching that bright orange light flying at the elk and disappear at the last second was pretty cool.

Based on what I saw I felt it was a good hit.  The bull only ran about 20 - 25 yds and stopped.  As I watched him I kept saying just fall over, please just fall over.  And then he swayed to the left, swayed to the right, and fell over to the left.

[CJ1962]

I was shooting 125 grain standard slick trick broad heads and it zipped right through both lungs.

[CJ1962]

Having a lot of helpers made the pack out pretty easy.

[jrebel]

Loving the story so far.  Those slick trick standard 125's really do a number on game.  Only broadhead me and my hunting partner will use.... man they are tough as nails and fly tru.

[CJ1962]

Looking through some of the trail camera pictures I had from this season I think I got a picture of him from a camera that was at least a couple of miles away from where I shot him.

look at the two eye guards and how the left turns up a lot more than the right.

[JakeLand]

Great work!! I’d shoot him with no regerts!!

[Milkman]

Great work!  Looks like a great elk hunting crew. Good on ya fire teaching your sons this life lesson, some us weren't so fortunate.

[scotsman]

Did you stop at the Warrior Quick Stop in Cle Elim onyour way home? If so I was the guy in an RV giving you a big thumbs up,

[CJ1962]

Did you stop at the Warrior Quick Stop in Cle Elim onyour way home? If so I was the guy in an RV giving you a big thumbs up,

Nope, that wasn't me.

[Taco280AI]

Great hunt 

[redi]

Great memories congrats