Spent 8 days in Hells Canyon this month. Primarily looking for Elk. A little early, but the flowers and feed were amazing. Elk all over everywhere, and the horn growth was amazing. Some of the biggest bulls we've ever seen in Oregon. Typical of archery hunting, we had some very close calls, but didn't close the deal. While taking some pics of the sunrise, I didn't notice a nice 6x6 about 100 yrds away. Moved on him, but like usual, he drifted off
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Last morning, I went back to the same area. Time was limited, so I left earlier and was easing along in the pre-dawn darkness when I heard foot falls in front of me. I saw a butt, figured it was a calf, but it was a doe Mulie. I slipped around the last tree, and there she was about 35 yrds infront of me. It was dark enough I couldn't make her out well. Slowly lifted up the binocs, and found her boyfriend about 20 yrds further. I didn't move except for range finding for almost 30 min as the light freshened.
Finally, the buck moved up and toward me. The doe just kept looking my way and feeding, not worried. I think that was the longest time the wind held steady the whole trip! The buck entered the olny open shooting lane at 38 yrds and it was light enough for a shot. I centered the 40yrd pin low in his chest and touched the release. My arrow flight looked great in the air. The buck hunched and ran left. I didn't move for another 30 min, and the doe initially ran off with the buck, then came back and started feeding in the same shooting lane I had busted the buck in. After 30min, I began the traking. Easy track. Lots of blood within 10 yrds, and 70 yrds later, I found my buck, lying down and watching me come up behind him. He was obviously hit hard, and his head was drooping. There was no way to close on his vitals, so
I croutched down in the only clear lane to the buck, expecting to let time do it's job
Suddenly, he jumped up and tried to leave quick. I only had one shot- the dreaded Texas heart shot. I shot quick and hit just to the right and blelow his tail. Arrow went to the fletching. Needless to say, this was a very effective shot. I would never have taken it as a primary shot, but with a wounded animal, I'll throw as many arrows as possible to knock hiim down.
About 40 yrds later I had anchored my first archery kill mulie deer. Not big, but a great hunt.
