Quick update on my season and then my story. I got drew the multi season tag this year so I have put in a lot of hours hunting. I spent all eary archery hunting elk and keeping my fingers crossed that we would see deer along the way. No luck on the deer. Since we had the extra season we decided to explore new areas during the rifle season for deer. Went to twisp one weekend, saw a few deer, alot hanging in camps but no luck for me, one weekend in vantage and ellensburg, saw a few does and a really nice 2 pt but nothing legal, hunting several week nights during archery and rifle and no luck. Finally the last weekend of rifle for I deer I stumbled upon a 3 pt in vail. Finally meat in the freezer, not huge but a decent 3 pt.
Ok, now about my elk story. Like I said I spent every weekend of early archery camping, took every friday or monday off so I could hunt three days in a row. Chased a herd of cows every weekend I was out but just could not get a shot. This is only my second year of archery hunting so I am still learning, tips are definitely appreciated. Anyways, along came rifle season. Every year my dad and I always say, "we need to be the first ones on that hill next year." SO this year up at 4 and hiked in the dark, first ones on the hill. We set up on opposite sides. Just as it was getting light my dad calls me on the radio and says I need to get over on the other side because he can hear the elk in the woods. When I get over there I could hear several cows and a couple of bulls. We sat and listened for 30-45 minutes. Neither of us have every got an elk before. My dad has helped pack out several for friends but never had the shot and this year I am the one with the tag so he is just there to help. We watch the herd walk out into the clear cut and I spot one with horns. The heart starts to race. The herd walk around several brush piles, I set up and wait for a shot. At first it looks like I have alot of time to wait for the perfect shot, then I start to hear voices somewhere down the hill to the left, laughin it up having a good time. Now I am thinking I need to take the first possible shot. Finally a small window opens and I take the shot. I knew it wasn't a great shot and felt like I pulled it a little. The elk run a few steps and then re-gather, the bull is in the back in a little low spot. I line up for a second shot. As the cows start to move we could see the bull in the back trying to walk out of the low spot on the high side and couldn't make it out, looked like his back legs were going out, still no clear lane for a second shot. The bulls turns around and walks out the low side of hole and finally a shot opens. I line up and just as I put pressure on the trigger, BANG, some guys down below and off the left droppend him, unreal. By the time we got down to him he was huffing and puffin, could hardly talk, started throwing up. My dad talked to him first and asked him how many holes he thought were in the elk because we shot him first. The guy was set on it being his said, I don't care, my shot dropped him, my shot killed him that's my elk and I am cutting my tag. Pulls out his tag and puts it on him. I am so ticked I just had to walk away. As we start to walk away he starts throwing up and a bunch of his buddies come walking up the hill. My dad and I think that my shot got his attention and he ran up to take a shot. That was the first and only shot I have ever had on a bull, oh well, the hunt continues. I will be out during late archery trying to save the season. Any suggestions?
