New Mex. - Valles Caldera (Unit 6B) - Here I come!!!

[et1702]

I'm still shaking and can barely type.  I was just notified that I won the only non-resident tag for the second archery hunt at the Valles Caldera in northern New Mexico.  I hunted it in 2007 and never figured I'd be lucky enough to draw again.  This place is the best elk country on the entire planet, and I get 3000 to 6000 acres of the National preserve to hunt ALL BY MYSELF!!!!   Last time I drew Area 11 outta the hat during the orientation meeting and had MONSTER bulls screaming every morning and every afternoon last time I was there.  Still think I'm dreaming.  But, now I won't get any sleep until after I get there!!!

ET

[rasbo]

awesome,gets lots of pics..Im stoked just hearing that news...

[NoBark]

Congrats!   Twice! unreal.  Some are very lucky.  You beat me out both times  Hahaha

[SniperDanWA]

Share the secret

[PlateauNDN]

   Got any pics from the last hunt you can share?

[LivinTheDream]

Right on!! Congrats

[et1702]

Share the secret

I usually just buy 5 tickets for each of 1st & 2nd archery hunts, plus 5 tickets for Muzzleloader bull.  This year I bought 10 tickets each.  If you look at the historical draw odds, they are better than any of our Quality hunts here in WA.  In 2010, I think there were about 150 non-res applicants, and a total of about 500 tickets bought for the second archery hunt.  So, assuming a similar number of tickets were bought this year, plus the fact that I bought 10 tickets, my odds would have been two in a hundred or 2%

ET

[et1702]

  Got any pics from the last hunt you can share?

Unfortunately not on my work computer.  But, the last time I was there it came down to the last day, last afternoon, and last 30 min of daylight left, and I had no less than 12 individual bulls all screaming in the timber above me and starting to come out into the valley!

[PlateauNDN]

  Got any pics from the last hunt you can share?

Unfortunately not on my work computer.  But, the last time I was there it came down to the last day, last afternoon, and last 30 min of daylight left, and I had no less than 12 individual bulls all screaming in the timber above me and starting to come out into the valley!

    My heart just skipped a beat, that sounds like a good story whenever you can get the pics on here.

[bullchaser]

Holy crap Dude good job. I remember watching Gary bogner hunting their on VHS its been on my list to do since then i need to put in more. keep us updated.

[et1702]

Here is the story in the meantime...Suffice it to say I had multiple opportunities at 6pt or better bulls on multiple days.  On the last afternoon, of the last day I could hunt, we had no less than 12 different bulls screaming in the timber above us and all of them were working there way down the mountain toward us!  One bull we nicknamed "Ole Growly" had a big herd of cows and four or five 6pts all trying to take them away.  BTW, we called him Ole Growly because his bugle was more like a loin's roar than an elk bugle.  Very distictive and we had tried hard all week to get close to him.  Well...today was the day.  Wind was right, cows were starting to come out into the open, he was going to be within 30 to 40 yrds of where I was set up.  He was still talking and coming thru the trees...everything was perfect. 
 
Then my buddy Paul let out a single cow call about 30 yards behind me and all hell broke loose.  A HUGE 340 to 350+ bull with a wide and tall rack, perfectly symetrical, absolutely gorgeous satellite bull came charging down the hill right above me and he was coming fast!  He must ahve though one of Ole Growley's cows had strayed.  I decided right then and there that he was good enough, especially with Ole Growly's cows having blown my chances at him earlier in the week.  So, I stood up to get a fix on him and saw antlers breaking branches as he was trotting down the hill and going to come out between Paul and I.  Immediately, I knelt back down and got ready for a shot.  I was on the edge of the trees and would have a perfect broadside shot as this bull broke into the open.  Unfortunately, wind was not right for an elk coming from above and behind me.  Evening Thermals were already starting to come up hill from the valley.   So, either the bull caught my scent or saw me draw after he was passing behind the last set of trees just before the opening.  I was at full draw with him looking my way, but he was still broadside.  I noticed a small window I could possibly shoot thru between two small trees that created a "V" shaped window only 4 or 5 inches across at the top.  I also had to rock back on my heels a little to line up with his vitals and was able to do so without him bolting.  I got set again and released my arrow.  I can still see it today in vivid color as the arrow seemed to be in slow motion.  Coming off my bow it looked to be a perfect shot and just needed to thread the needle of the V slot.  But...the arrow just barely nicked the right side of the V slot and glanced off the tree.  I still see the path of the arrow flying right over the top of his back.  The V notch was only 25 yards away, and the bull another 10 yards past.  Being rocked back on my heels, I think I had the bow canted a little.  Its the only thing I can think of, as I don't even shoot much at 20 or 30yrds or I break too many arrows!  BTW, Paul said he just about pooped his pants when that bull screamed and started trotting down the hill right at him, and he didn't have anything but his call and a pocket knife.  He was worried that bull was going to mount him or be pissed when he saw it wasn't a cow that was waiting on him...LOL.
 
Anyway, there was only about 45 minutes of light left on the last day of my hunt.  Even though I didn't take one of the monster bulls we saw every day (and there were many other setups and opportunities to discuss another time), I was so happy to have been given the chance to hunt the VC that I was ready to call it.  Hunting a place like that gives you 10 years of elk hunting experience in six or seven days!  But, as we were talking about that amazing place and all the fun we had that week, another bull started bugling less than a 1/4-mi away and just around the corner.  So, we decided to hustle along the inside of the tree line and around the corner and get set up again.  We could hear the bull and his cows making their way toward us and it was starting to get dark.  I thought they weren't going to show themselves in time.  I couldn hear them walking along and feeding on the grass in the trees.  So, I'm standing there trying to make out the elk in the trees and Paul is behind me again about 30yrds away on his knees pulling grass (i.e., sounding like a feeding elk).  Well...while I'm standing there looking into the trees, a spike bull popped out in the open to the left and below me.  I never saw him.  Paul couldn't take it, as he could see me and the bull and knew I didn't see it.  He finally did a "psst" noise and I slowly looked his way over my right shoulder.  He was bent over almost laying on the ground with one arm up pointing at the bull.  I looked over my left shoulder, and there he was broadside at 40yrds.  I drew my bow back and double-lunged him where he stood.  Complete pass thru, and I never found that arrow in the tall grass.  He took about ten steps after I hit him and then just stood there with a dazed look.  Almost immediately, he started doing "head bobs" and I knew he was done.  His head rolled a couple more times and then he just fell over dead in his tracks, and only five minutes of legal shooting time left!  The VC is the most memorable and best elk hunting place I have ever been!

I can't wait to go find Ole Growley or one of his kids!!!

[Fullabull]

Of course you know everyone here is going to be waiting on the long story and pictures so we can drool all over our keyboards 

[iRem]

After reading that I'm so ready for part 2!!!

[iRem]

After reading that I'm so ready for part 2!!!

[nwhunter]

You are one lucky dude! I drew back in 06 and agree it is the most beautiful elk hunting on earth. I would love to hunt there again someday and have spent plenty trying! It will be a long summer for you waiting for Sept. Congrats nwhunter