The Hunter: Charlie (Dad)
The Helpers: James(Me) Dennis(son/brother)
Where: Toutle
Equipment: Elite Z28, Easton Axis 340, Slick Trick 100 Magnums
When: Tuesday Sept 14th @ 7:15pm
The Story: After a exciting week (Sept 7-14) hunting in the Toutle area it came down to the last night hunt, after seeing a bull in the same spot the night before our hopes where high for the early season elk hunt finale. We planned it out, Dad would slip into the spot that if was in 60 seconds earlier the night before he would of have had a nice shot at a large bull, and I would hang back about 25 yards in case we needed to try to cow call. Brother would walk up the road and see if he could find anything else. With our hopes high from the previous night we all took our places, we are not in for more than 20 minutes and we start to hear rustling of the brush, sticks breaking and where dad was he saw 15ft trees shaking. It was obvious that there was a mature bull in there doing some Pre- rut rituals. After the first few minutes of this we were on pins and needles, at any minute this bull could step out we just didn't know where or when. After a little more than an HOUR and only 45 minutes of day light and 20-25 minutes of shooting light, the bulls appears out the brush and into the open! The only thing is that he is staring in our general direction, he obvious does not see dad as he draws back his bow, he was well prepared for this as he had every possible spot ranged, he came out at 36 yards standing quartering to us! With in 20 seconds I here the wistling of the arrow and a LOUD thud as it hit the bull in the chest. As the bull quickly turns to run from us I cow talked him several times, he stopped 24 yards from where he was shot. He stops to look at us again and it was obvious he was hit good he immediately starts the wobble and down he goes! We call brother to quickly get back we have alot of work to do! Thank goodness we were only 400 yards from the truck! We got him back to camp hung him up and skinned him. The next morning we boned him out and gave a little meat to the guys that help us at the camp we were staying. We ended up with a little under 225 lbs of meat at the butcher. All in all it was a great trip, we saw over 16 legal bulls and were with in striking distance of three of them. Brother and I gave up a lot of our time in our elk hunting area but it was well worth helping dad scout and hunt for his, after all you don't get a Toutle tag every year and we know he would of done the same!
