First off, thanks to the many members that provided info and assistance over the several months before the hunt. After several years, my partner and I finally drew our first ever bull tags for the Peaches Ridge any bull tag. We both had 10 pts and put in together. We hired Chinook Pass Outfitters for a drop camp and Paul Wilson and his crew did an outstanding job!! Thanks to Paul, who is a hellova guy with a great singing voice, by the way. I was treated to breakfast before the pack in and two Western songs at the breakfast table by Paul before leaving. Weather was great (although a bit on the warm side). I rode in on Friday, Sept 2 by myself and my partner came in on Monday, the day before the opener.
Although I had scouted the area we went to the month before and gotten into elk every day, the first 5 days (including the first day of the season) went by with NO elk seen and only one or two bulls heard early Sunday morning. This was not the start I was hoping for.
I got some high alpine fishing in before my partner arrived and had a great dinner of trout one night.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67484021@N08/6153516350/#On the night before the second day, we had decided to pack up a spike camp and head over a couple basins in search of where the elk where, however around 1:00 am, two bulls started bugling non stop. At 3:45 am, we decided to get up and head towards the larger sounding bull in the dark. We closed the distance to about half in the dark, then set up and waited til light, so as not to bump elk in the dark.
At first light, we saw 3-4 cows feeding on an open hillside and heard the bull bugling occassionally out of sight in some trees on the hillside. While working up the left side in pockets of trees, I heard the rumbling of elk running across the top of the hillside from our left to our right, headed for the feeding cows. We looked up to see a small herd of about 20 elk coming running in. Cows and a couple spikes. Then 10 more, then 15 more and another bull started bugling up to our left, also coming in. This went on for almost 30 minutes! Soon, we had nearly 150-200 head of elk on this hillside, inlcuding several bulls. I couldn't believe my eyes. Now the probelm began to formulate a plan on how we would be able to get within range of a shot, as the closest elk was 200 yrds away and moving away to our right.
We had located a huge bedding area, that I thought they may be moving towards. Fine. We would let them bed down and make a plan. However they pushed right through the bedding area and were headed down the hill into a huge dark drainage, possibly on their way out of the area as fast as they arrived. Ughh!
We backed down the hillside out of view of the elk and began side hilling towards them, as we saw that 90% of the elk were leaving, mostly all following the same path. I could still hear at least one bull up on the hillside bugling, so I decided to make my move across the open hillside while the elk couldn't see us and try to close the gap. We got to a group of trees and knew the bull was still above us. I nocked an arrow and found an opening about 30 yrds up hill and 20 yrds wide. Just as I arrived there, I heard elk running downhill in our direction. Unbeknownst to me at the time, another solo hunter was above them and spooked them down towards us. At thet top of the opening, I saw a 5x5 bull come through the trees running. I drew my bow and the bull saw me, throwing on the brakes and coming to nearly a full stop, 10 yrds from me, quartering to me. I released my arrow just as the bull hit the gas and tried to blow past me. The arrow hit mid section behind his lungs and was still sticking out of him as he ran past me. I knew it wasn't the best shot, but he ran about 100 yrds downhill of me and came to a stop. I cow called to him for a second, then he slowly walked off a knob and downhill into the thick timber and out of sight. I was relieved and freaking out at the same time, as I was sick that I would lose this elk. I decided not to pursue him and wanted to give him at least 4 hrs.
We left the area and went back to camp for breakfast, then hunted another area for my partner for a while. After 4 hrs, we grabbed our packs and headed back to the area. We followed the route that the bull had gone down into the timber, but I was not finding any blood, other than ONE drop. Not good. We came to a trail that went left and right. I told my partner to go right and I would head left. I nocked another arrow and began to quietly follow the trail about 25 yrds down til I came to another trail that went uphill to my left. I stopped and looked up to my left and there was my bull lying down on the trail on his belly with his feet under him, like a cat ready to spring on a bird!! WE locked eyes at 10 FEET. I quickly drew my bow and sent a second arrow straight through the front left side of his chest and it disappeared into his fur. The bull tried to get up, but immediately fell over on his side and his legs went up!!! It was over. I got my FIRST EVER elk and my FIRST EVER BOW KILL all in one!!! Relief and joy rushed over me and I ran to get my partner.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67484021@N08/6153517494/#http://www.flickr.com/photos/67484021@N08/6152972955/#I got to try the gutless method for the first time and it worked well, but MAN is that a task on such a big animal!! We got the bull quartered out and the meat hung,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67484021@N08/6152973675/#and finally I was packing the head/antlers and the hide back to camp. What a great feeling to be crushed under the weight of my first archery bull elk! No tag soup for me - thank you Lord!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67484021@N08/6152973349/#All in all a fantastic trip and one that I will remember for a lifetime!!
