After 5 seasons, elkless, finally pulled it together Thurs night. I've had my chances in the past, but never could seal the deal. Well things have changed, and elk tenderloin tasted good tonight! Story to follow, I need to sleep right now, can barely type and make sense.
OK, back now and much more awake! Left home for elk camp Wed night, and had high hopes that Thursday I'd be into some elk, as I was going to ride my bike in about 8 miles, then hunt on foot. After 4 miles in, it was cracking daylight, and a bull, similar size, comes walking out right towards me, on the road I was riding down. I had the arrow nocked, animal ranged at 93 yards, and was just waiting for him to walk to me. At 70 yds, he realized something was wrong, so took off. Still though, a great way to start a morning/season.
So went in another 3 miles, to an area where I've seen elk every year, kind of a flat, high ridge swamp area with alders. Hiked around it, saw 3 cows, about 900 yds off. Tried to get above and then behind them (the direction they were going), and they either bedded or dropped down off the ridge. Still, feeling pretty upbeat, worked my way back to my bike, after this little 3 mile hike.
Decided to start working my way back to the truck, made it down the road about a mile, and decided to work up a road to a little peak (another high swamp/flat area on top with lots of sign). Got up there, and right away a elk bugles, about 100 yds away. I worked him over for about 2 hrs, had him within 40 yds, but couldn't see him (I could see the trees being racked, but too thick to see fur). He would come in, but wouldn't cross the overgrown road I was hoping he'd step out on. (learned, or rather cemented this lesson into my head, it's happened to me far too often).....
Finally, he either winded me, or had cows to tend after, he slowly worked away from me and I gave up. I don't think he really winded me, as he wasn't in a huge hurry to get out of dodge, but he definitely was done playing around. After he dropped away about 200 yards, in thick stuff, I called it quits on him, decided he'd be good for a morning playtime with my bugle....
So, it's about 4:30, decided I'd at least get down to the last 3 miles before my truck, which, would be a climb all the way back to the truck. There is one little road down there, overgrown, which has sign. Got down there at 5 or so, rode almost to the end, and parked the bike about 100 yds short of the end. Got off the bike, heard a bugle not 100 yds away, in thick stuff, next to the creek. I decided to walk past the end another 100 yds, to a little meadow where I could possibly call the bull into.
Sat above the meadow, about 20 feet above, and started calling. Bugles, then some cow calls. Immediately this bull responded, sounded like a HUGE bull, very deep, with chuckles.... I could tell he was working towards me. Then another bull behind me was coming in as well!!! Found out yesterday, while finishing the pack out that bull was much bigger!!! Dad should be on it today
So, sitting above the meadow, the first bull, shows itself, 70 yds out (had time to range it, and where it would come into the meadow, was 20 to 30 yards from me. At 70, it was quartering toward me. Watched it walk to 15 yds from me, just below me. I couldn't shoot, bad angle, he finally turned 180, at 18 yds in front of me, started racking the tree, so I let it fly. Hit was perfect in height, but at the angle went through a little low in the lungs (later found out it was a low lobe piercing on one lung).
He jumped back 10 yards, turned 180, and I could see red forming low on the chest, could tell he was in good shape. So I sat there at full draw watching him, then started worring what to do? I ended up shooting again, at 30 yds (and missed!!!). I have no idea why I missed, I think I used the 20 yd pin and aimed low as well. Then, he jumped back to about 40, stood broadside, and I missed again! wfh???
Finally, he decides to leave the meadow, goes back to where he came, I watched him go about 40 yds, and couldn't hear anymore noise. I was sure he bedded on the edge of the meadow, next to the creek. I waited 25 min (timed it), and decided to go down there. Found the first arrow, covered in blood. Put the arrow back in the quiver, followed the blood trail, finally found the elk, in the timber, down at 10 yds from me exactly where I saw him last, but head up. Decided to shoot one more into the lungs (with the original arrow). Shot a little too high due to it being in a hole, and a little too forward, but it did the trick. The elk jumped up, ran 40 yards across the creek, and fell over dead, no movement at all! Later found out, the arrow went through the shoulder blade and both lungs, and broke off. I guess that's where the 70 lbs pull and heavy arrow paid off. Either way I think it would have dropped after crossing the creek.
Checked the clock, it was 6:15, and I had a lot of work to do. Well I switched packs 2 nights before, from my bear hunting pack to my camo elk archery pack. I had everything in there.... Except.... My knife..... I found my leatherman, and gutted, skinned, and boned most of the elk before 9:30, then rode out to meet my dad. What a day!
