Shot my first elk on Saturday, nice little 5x5 up in unit 4. We had been working this area since bow season and hadn't got a shot at a bull yet, saw lots of elk, just no shot opportunities. I hunted Monday through Saturday with out seeing an elk and was starting to think our honey hole had run out of honey. Went back up Saturday and went into the area from a different approach and I spotted some elk feeding below me right as it was just getting light enough to see. Worked my way down to check and make sure there were no spikes after they were out of sight and heard this guy let out a god awful grunt from the trees. I sat down on the logging road and waited for him to cross where the others did. Seemed like forever, but I happened to be looking through my scope, making sure I could see the area well enough, when I saw his antlers pass behind some little trees as he came up an embankment. I panned over and there he was, broadside at about 70 yds. 1 shot from the 300 mag and he was done. Hit him in the neck and didn't tear up any meat.
After 11 years of chasing the elusive spikes in the Blues, I finally got to experience what elk hunting was meant to be. The moment was surreal and I thought no way could it be true. Shot a lot of deer, but shooting my first elk was probably the greatest moment I have experienced while hunting. After all the scouting, hiking, and work that went into it, I sure was great to finally have a bull on the ground. Ill be hunting out of state from now on, until I get a draw tag in Washington. I think a special thanks is due to the old timer at the bar who told my buddy to check this place out, he said the elk were here, and sure enough they were.
