Better Late Than Never (Pics)

[blackveltbowhunter]

      I did a post under " Deer Hunting" with the same title highlighting a few hunts from the 2010 season. So here is a couple elk from this last year as well.

    It was a good year and I was able to spend alot of time scouting familiar areas and a couple new ones as well. Possibly the hardest thing about elk season is deciding what area to hunt. It seems like every year is the same as I debate the pros and cons to each area and try to figure out where to focus my efforts.

    First up was my friend Joel. He had drawn a mudflow tag the year prior and killed a great bull and his first archery elk, on a memorable hunt in a deep canyon. Memorable not only cuz the scenery was gorgeous, the weather perfect, and the bull a good one. But also cuz packing it out was a test of a mans mettle to put it mildly.
    He was looking to kill his first general tag archery elk. Again he made it memorable! Although the bull wasn't as big in the horn department, it was a great bull, an adrenalin charged hunt calling the bull into 35 yards, and great company. And true to form he killed it in the deepest canyon in the area several miles from the truck. But with reinforcements and alot of cussing from me, we got him out without a hitch. I'll spare you the boring details, But the hunt was a rush from start to finish! Awesome 

    Next up was Adams bull. This hunt may have been my favorite of the year. It was raining buckets, we were miles from the truck, it was alot of uphill. We were beat, muddy, cold and tired. But after a ton of effort, Adam had his first elk!   Following an AWESOME hunt, with the bull literaly running right to us bugling the whole way in big timber, and Adam lacing him with a good arrow after being at full draw for a minute like a seasoned pro. It was cool just watching this hunt unfold, and being their for Adams first archery kill made it even sweeter!
 
   

[Coastal_native]

Great job...way to earn 'em...and thank you for saving this elk forum...this is my first off season as a HuntWA member and the elk forum was getting a little stagnant. 

Good looking first bulls too...something to be proud of, for sure.

[blackveltbowhunter]

   After we got back from taking care of Adams bull it was late, I didn't get to bed till nearly 5 am. But there is only so much time in a season and it was rapidly fading. After catching a few hours sleep and drying out. I was back again. 6 miles from the truck and a herd of 9 cows with a nice bull in it.
   The bull was one we were pretty familiar with, having seen him before in this drainage. He had been frequenting  this drainage alot but was always in the big timber and never very vocal. Today with the rain and lack of pressure him and his cows were playing out in the open.
   Given the bulls history of not being to talkitive and the fact that I was solo and conditions were close to ideal for a stalk, i decided that would be my first option. The rainy drizzle covered my noise and the wind was blowing steadily in my face as I closed the distance to the herds location. My main concern as I closed in was lack of cover. The herd was feeding just past a small bench in a 4-5 yo clear cut, and I was now within 70 yards and could hear the elk popping brush just over the edge. Being unable to see the bull I was afraid to get to close for fear of bumping the cows with the bull still out of range About the time all this is going through my head I see the ears of a feeding cow as she lifts her head to start feeding onto the edge of the bench where I am. Nothing to do now but wait. while waiting I get a range on the cow and she is within my limits. She is gorgeous, beautiful. With a sheen of water on her back and the sun glistening off her as it peeks through the heavy mist and rain now and then. After a while notice her getting agitated and turning to look back over the edge, I get ready. Just as I do I see antler tips coming up behind her and just below the edge of the bench, I draw not wanting either of them to catch my movement in the limited cover, and hoping the bull makes his move quick. He does. Pushing the cow out in front of him he comes up over the edge and turns to nuzzle her, offering a good quartering angle. The shot feels good and I think I hear the sound of the arrow hitting " good stuff". The bull and cow crash over the edge and I hear the herd running back towards the middle of the clear cut. As I make my way over to the edge i look out about 150 yards and the herd is "balled" up. I survey the herd looking for "my" bull and not seeing him. I glance down 50 yards below me in time to see the bull falter and go down, the quartering away arrow angled into his vitals. I AM PUMPED!!
   I get to work on him, as it starts to get dark. I have reinforcements coming, but I get a fire going knowing it will be a long night. 2 days in a row packing elk what could be better!!

[zackmioli]

congrats on some fine bulls! im jealous.

[huntlakewood]

Really nice bulls. Makes me want to hunt elk

[True Sportsman]

Great post and great pics once again. I am almost convinced I need to buy a bow. Thanks for sharing...

[Elknut1]

 Nice, I really enjoyed your stories too! Congrats on some great Rosies there!

  ElkNut1

[HOYT6.0]

Nice Rosies and great write up.  Thanks...

[jager]

Great job! Congrats on the nice bulls!   

[bucklucky]

Nice write up man, I enjoyed it!

[buck man]

Nice rosies. I might just have to give the "wet side" try.

[blacktailer]

Nice elk and story to go along with the hunts.  I too enjoyed it.

[huntandjeep]

a couple nice looking bulls congrats

[Lightning_Rider]

nice bulls, great stories too.

[ser300wsm]

Nice bulls, congrats...