Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Hurricane on October 10, 2012, 09:40:19 PM
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Our group hunted opening morning in an area we have scouted. Unit is 3 point or better. Seen 2 legal bulls during our scouting trips so we knew we had an opportunity. We hit it hard. We could hear bulls bugling off in the timber we set up and start calling and right away get a response. This might be a good season. Opening morning and we have bulls answering our calls. We call some more and the bull is getting closer. Then as quick as it started it ended. All quiet. Don’t know what happened, wind maybe another hunter. We hunted this area hard for the first 2 days and nothing. Day 3 September 6th we decide to go hunt one of our other areas that we have hunted for the last 6 years. In this area there is a meadow that has heavy timber on 3 sides of it. Many times we have seen elk. They have a few nice trails they use getting to this and I like to sit on these trails and try to catch them heading back into the timber. As it is starting to get light out I can see movement in the meadow. I glass and yep its elk. I look them over, cow, cow, cow, and then I see big daddy. A heavy 6 x 7. They are about 200 yards out and moving towards my direction. I’m thinking man what would it be like to have that as my first elk ever. I keep watching range again 150 yards. Oh man. My heart starts racing “calm down” I told myself there not even close yet. I watched some more waiting at 100 yards. Then all of a sudden he pushed them off to the east of where I am and went into the timber. Knowing there is a chance they will come through the timber past me I waited. I can hear them in the timber breaking branches. Then it’s getting quiet he moved them off past me farther down. Damn so close. I sit hoping that they will pass by I continue to wait. Nope nothing. Man what a bull. As I get ready to move I put my arrow back into my quiver and gather some things when all of the sudden I get caught with my pants down. A big heavy 3 X 3 blacktail walks out on this trail 25 yards below me. What the hell not a sound he just was there. I reach for my arrow and when I pop it out of the quiver that was enough he had me pegged. I get my arrow into the rest and we had a stare down. I swung the bow up and he took off. So did I. I tried getting around in front of him but he took off the other way. Man a giant bull and a wall hanger of a blacktail in matter of a few minutes. As I am walking back to my spot I hear crashing through the timber. I stop and look and can see elk coming my way from the direction where big daddy went. I set up by a stump and knock an arrow. I range a tree at 30 yards. A cow walks out up the trail she goes, and then another, another, and then I see antlers. Not big daddy but a big 5 X 5 from a different herd. I draw back as he steps out and I let a little chirp, as he stops I release the arrow he jumped the string and the arrow went over his back. Bummer I wanted to cry. My first elk was there 30 yards. What a big letdown. I pack up and head back to camp. September 7th I got my deer. Saturday September 8th. The search for elk continues. It had been almost 2 days since we seen a legal bull. I checked out another spot and nothing. We are heading back to camp when we see a herd about ready to cross in front of us. The elk stop and go away from us up the hill. Since I was driving I found a spot to pull off. There was about 12 in the herd and you can hear them going through the timber. My hunting partner says that one has antlers. I grab some things and take off. For the next 2 hours I am playing cat and mouse with them. They move I move. Finally I close the distance. I can hear them talking. I move closer. Still can’t see how big the bull is. I walk over this little hill and there is a cow feeding 10 yards from me. The bull is farther up he barks and the cows move off. Man that was close. They continue on and crossed this old logging road and I lost them. Oh well it wasn’t meant to be. I look at my gps and see that the road I am on will take me back down by my truck. I wanted to check out the area so I follow this road. I walk around the corner and there is elk. On the road. Lead cow was watching me. I was busted. She turned and took them up hill. I stop and listen. They went over the small hill top and was milling around. They didn’t bust out of there like I thought they would so I follow the road to the end. There was a nice trail going up so I follow it. I can still hear the elk just on the other side. I moved up farther. It sounded like they were getting closer. They are coming my way. I found a small fir tree backed up by a bigger one and set up range a couple of spots. Ok here we go. I see a cow, another cow, then I see antlers I count at least 3 ok he is good. He walks behind a tree I draw back he is at 30 yards I shoot over his back. No not again. The elk are looking around like what was that. I knocked another and let it fly. This time I watch it hit home. The elk walk off. I watch them side hill and walk around out of sight. I sit down. I think to myself finally. I wait 20 minutes and walk up where he was standing. There is my arrow covered in blood a complete pass through. Ok good. I wait some more. I found the blood trail and followed it. As I come round the corner and I see the cows. What? I get a little closer and I can see the bull he is down. The cows are standing around him. Then they looked at me, I thought oh no their sizing me up and I’m going to get my ass kicked because I got one of them? I want my hands on my elk. My first elk. I walk closer they don’t move. Finally when I get to about 15 yards they walk off. Finally after 7 long years of chasing these beautiful animals with missed shots, blown stalks and other hunters, I finally out smarted one. He wasn’t the big one that would have liked for my first one but I was just as happy. Even though I was beat from the hunt I was still very happy of my first bull elk. What a relief. The elk monkey is finally off my back.
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Sounds like you had a great hunt. Congrats on a nice bull! :tup:
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Congrats on your first bull :tup:
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Awesome work! Great story!
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Nicely done.
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Excellent work
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Awesome patience and tenacity. That's a winner, both bull and hunter. Congratulations and great story.
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Good job! Great story! :tup:
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Nice work, it will be some good eating!
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good job!
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Good Job duder, sounds like you put your time in and worked hard for your first bull... Remember there are Lots and Lots and Lots of High's & Low's in Elk Hunting, its the guys that are mentally tough that kill most the elk and dont give up!.... :tup:
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You are right there has been many highs and lows over the last seven years. The moment when I walked up to the elk when he was down made it all worth it. I can't wait for next year.
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Great job. The first elk with a bow is always special, no matter the size. :tup:
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Thanks everyone. Appreciate the comments.
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Congrats! I am still waiting for my first bull.
