Post by: Sliverslinger on September 08, 2013, 03:17:44 PM
Please forgive the long story - more of a rant and release:
I'm absolutely sick to my stomach right now. I've spent all summer scouting this one particular honey hole of mine and I had identified 6-7 different bulls that were passing through the area and one monster bull I've been trying to get for 2 years. We backpacked in Sunday morning and spent the day getting our camp set up. Monday we scouted and checked my game cams again - The bulls were there! Opening morning found us slipping down off a rock bluff into big old growth timber and patches of thick huckbrush. Within minutes we bumped a small herd, realizing that they must have been standing on the back side of a brush patch. We saw neither hide nor hair, but the thundering of hoofs heading down the hill left no doubt. That was our closest encounter for several days.
Throughout the course of the week we put in 51.7 miles total, leaving camp and arriving at the top of the bluffs well before first light each morning and hiking back in to camp around 10 each night. Despite all of the effort and scouting, the elk were nowhere to be found. It was as if they had simply disappeared. The storm on Thursday dumped so much rain in our camp that everything except our sleeping bags ended up absolutely soaked as our camp site became filled with up to as much as 3 or 4 inches of standing water and mud. Our packs, bows, and boots were almost unuseable from the grime that coated everything. Rather than just stay in our sleeping bags, we elected to pack up and drive all the way home, spray all of our gear off, and throw our boots on a drier and clothes through the wash and head back out.
2:30 am came ridiculously early as we grabbed just a few hours sleep. Sunrise found us hiking back up into the basin, still without hearing a single bugle all season thus far. After a few hours we found ourselves checking familiar meadows, timber patches, and trails, with not even a fresh elk track in sight. At 11am the weeks exertion and lack of sleep were catching up to us and exhaustion was setting in. On the edge of a meadow my buddy and I sat, with next to nothing left in the tank. All of the hopes, time, excitement, and effort put into to this hunt and the last full day was half over with no indication that there was a single elk within miles. We made a hasty plan to hunt down hill and somewhat cross country, my partner on one ridge system and I on another. I left him there for a quick nap, indicating that I was going to move about 500 yards away down another small ridge into thick, nasty timber and perhaps do a series of calling setups with a Montana decoy as I move down.
Within 20 minutes I found myself slipping ridiculously slowly down a ridge that was covered in incredibly thick timber, frequent brush patches and blow down. As the water from brush and small pines soaked down my boots and ran down the back of my neck and under my collar, I found myself formulating a tentative plan to simply bomb down off the mountain and sleep the rest of the day warm and dry in my truck. Fighting the temptation to follow through and give in to the fatigue, I paused and began looking for any possible place to do a calling setup and still have a shooting lane. As I looked straight down immediately in front of me, my heart nearly stopped as I saw between two trees the unmistakable snapshot of an elk midsection. I stepped behind a tree and froze, slipping my rangefinder up and confirming that I was looking at a vertical cross section of the back end of a rib cage and a great pot belly on an elk that was facing left.
A slight movement above the back of the animal caught my attention and I was slowly able to make out great sweeping antler beams, tainted the color of cedar on top of an incredibly tubby body. He stood perfectly broadside at 40.2 yards, almost entirely concealed. I could see nothing of his head and nothing of his hind end, just his beams with points coming off and a small section of his body. I deemed the only shot I had to be makeable, but too far back and so I slowly nocked an arrow and waited. And there we sat, frozen in time as I searched desperately for nearly nonexistent shooting lanes in the event he took a few steps forward or back.
The winds had been frustratingly fickle all morning, changing directions sometimes by the minute and I knew my time was very limited. He also clearly knew something was up. I decided to be aggressive and came to full draw while slowly side stepping to the right and around a small tree to move my 10 inch wide shooting lane to the side and hopefully exposing more of the bulls vitals. I took my first step and I saw the great beams turn indicating the animal was looking straight at me. Frozen at full draw for what felt like forever I began to contemplate letting down. Knowing that no matter what movement I made, he would likely bust me I decided to take another very slow step or two and hope for a lane. As I took my next step, I realized that it took me behind another small fir tree and out of his vision. As I brought my back foot up to where I was standing I snapped a twig causing a small crack. The bull whirled 180 degrees in place facing to the right now but still perfectly broadside. Leaning around the tree I identified that his head was still behind a tree as was his back end but I now had a 3-4 inch wide window to his vitals. I could just see his neck mane through some limbs, then my window to his shoulder with antlers sweeping back above it and and the crease behind it. I identified horizontal limbs at about 20 and 30 yards and crouched slightly clearing both of my top pins before settling my green 40 yard pin right behind the shoulder. A feeling of total confidence was firm in my mind as I settled into my anchor, born from thousands and thousands of arrows shot - ramping up to daily shooting session from 5-75 yards on all but two days in August. I distinctly recall my knuckle behind my ear and the tip of my nose touching the string. I knew I had just an inch or so either way and up and down to slip my arrow through. With my pin floating right behind the shoulder, not as low as I would like but exactly dead center up and down on the body, I tightened my shoulder muscles. The shot was a complete surprise as I was just starting to squeeze the trigger. The whole sequence felt great and the release was met with a loud tthhwwaappp! The bull lunged forward running full speed down a trail before bailing off and circling to run straight down the hill. I cow called as I heard him run longer than I would have anticipated crashing through everything, I estimated 75 yards before all was quiet.
I dropped to my knees and took huge breaths while replaying the shot in my mind. It was perfect; if it wouldn't have been, it would have hit a tree before ever getting to the bull. I dug in my pack for some ribbon and marked where I was standing before pulling out my bugle tube and radio. Giving three loud, consecutive bugles I turned my radio on and informed my partner that I had just shot a big bull, quite possibly even the monster bull we had pictures of. It was 11:30am. I waited about 10 minutes before walking quietly down to where the bull had been standing. The spot was obvious as there was a large splatter of blood on a log and fern on the left side of the trail. I sat down and breathed huge sighs of relief as I waited another 15 minutes for my buddy to work his way towards me. Once he arrived I recapped the whole story for him and showed him the bright red and thick blood. I noticed a conspicuous lack of frothiness but it was clearly an arterial hit and was on the left side of the right facing bull so I knew my arrow had passed through.
We looked around for my arrow for a while without success and decided to give the bull some more time just to be sure before picking up the trail. After a while we got started trailing. Within a few feet I found another large blood splatter and a few step later I found my arrow laying on the ground covered from broadhead to nock with bright red blood and blood all over the ground. At the point it was clear the bull had bailed off of the trail and was headed straight down the hill towards the creek. Out came the camera documenting the highest of highs as we recounted the week with all of its' lows. Now, finally, a big bull was down! Picking up the trail again we found bright, red blood about every 10 feet, in one case all up the first 2 feet of a tree. We lost the trail for a short period of time where the bull blast down through a brush pile, but breathed sighs of relief when we found blood on the other side. Then it took another 10 minutes to find the next blood 10 yards further down the hill, still bright red, but no bubbles and not as much. It appeared to have both fat and possibly a very small bit of lung tissue in it. 40 minutes later we found more blood further down the hill. Working our way back we found blood again so about every seven to ten yards, but from that point on no more blood was found. From the shot to last blood was 104 yards.
We looked for 2 more hours up and down the hill for blood before coming back to the point of last blood and then using my GPS I walked a grid every 50 ft, 300 yard across back and forth with the point of last blood being the center. My partner walked both sides of the creeks on both sides of the ridge. We checked every log jam, every massive brush pile, with only one brief break to talk out a plan we searched for the entire rest of the day with a frenzied determination. There was no blood and there were too many fresh tracks going up and down to determine which set was his. We did everything we could to leave no spot uncovered. My GPS showed my grid alone to be a massive honeycomb extending down into the drainage. Panic set in and from the highest of highs we were now back in the bottom.
Soaked and exhausted, cramps began to set in. We re-examined all the blood we had found - bright thick red blood. The arrow was still covered with blood, an incredible layer of fat stuck and dried around the fletching. Still we looked and looked, finding no sign of the bull. Everything we knew pointed towards a dead bull. Instant bright red blood, a pass through arrow covered in blood, blood spray from an exit wound, the bull bailing off a trail after 20 yards to run straight down hill into a nasty thick hole. We look further, branching out in every direction. As dark began to set in we knew we had done everything we could possibly do and there was concern about physically being able to make it out of the canyon and back to the truck.
Some time later we eventually collapsed back into the seats of my truck. Soaked completely to the bone and beyond exhausted, we made a plan to go back in to town and call friends and talked to some people about what they thought might have happened. After calling everyone we could come up with to call that late at night, we came up with only one person who was willing to come out and help look. The consensus of most of the rest was that most likely the arrow was a little too high and only nicked one lung and that the elk could be a mile away or might have survived and was gone completely. Another suggested that a shot can actually be too tight in to the shoulder, even without hitting bone.
At this point I don't know what to do. My feet are so swollen I can hardly walk. It's been more than 24 hours since I shot the bull and I'm sure the meat is probably no good now as warm as it is out. I can't take anymore time off at this point, but I intend to go back next weekend with my brother-in-law. A buddy suggested the best bet would be to do just that and hunt for him with our noses as he should smell pretty bad by then. We plan to check every creek bottom from 1/2 mile down up to where last blood was at. I'm just crushed. I know I made a good shot on a great bull and it's quite possibly the bull I've been after for a couple years now. I know I hit him right behind the shoulder. My broadhead and blades are in great condition and I know it passed through so it didn't hit the shoulder itself. My elk the last two years in a row hit with this combination didn't go 50 yards combined total and there was a blood spray everywhere. I just can't figure it out.
I guess if there are any thoughts on what might have happened or how he might have been hit, or pointers on how far a bull might go after being hit like that, I am open to hearing it. I can't imagine him not being dead, but I suppose it is possible.
For the curious, the arrows are Gold Tip Kinetic Pros with 125 grain G5 Strikers. Total arrow weight is 502 grains shooting at 289fps. I put together this setup specifically for blowing through big bulls.
Post by: Odell on September 08, 2013, 03:22:00 PM
Post by: shrek on September 08, 2013, 03:43:18 PM
Post by: Jellymon on September 08, 2013, 03:45:25 PM
Post by: Sliverslinger on September 08, 2013, 03:47:44 PM
Why don't you guys keep this to yourselves? I for one am tired of hearing about this. This is coming from a guy that has killed bucks and bulls with all 3 weapons, that's wh I don't archery hunt anymore.....
Your comment was most useful- a great contribution to the topic and helpful for all - thank you.
:dunno:
Post by: notellumcreek on September 08, 2013, 03:51:43 PM
:yeah: :bash: derrWhy don't you guys keep this to yourselves? I for one am tired of hearing about this. This is coming from a guy that has killed bucks and bulls with all 3 weapons, that's wh I don't archery hunt anymore.....
Your comment was most useful- a great contribution to the topic and helpful for all - thank you.
:dunno:
TO THE OP... That's a tough break man, hopefully you guys can find him when you go back out.
Post by: shrek on September 08, 2013, 03:59:13 PM
Why don't you guys keep this to yourselves? I for one am tired of hearing about this. This is coming from a guy that has killed bucks and bulls with all 3 weapons, that's wh I don't archery hunt anymore.....
Your comment was most useful- a great contribution to the topic and helpful for all - thank you.
:dunno:
Really? Now tell me rifle hunters lose as many animals... Good one...
Post by: Mudman on September 08, 2013, 04:08:16 PM
Post by: Sliverslinger on September 08, 2013, 04:16:12 PM
Why don't you guys keep this to yourselves? I for one am tired of hearing about this. This is coming from a guy that has killed bucks and bulls with all 3 weapons, that's wh I don't archery hunt anymore.....
Your comment was most useful- a great contribution to the topic and helpful for all - thank you.
:dunno:
Really? Now tell me rifle hunters lose as many animals... Good one...
Debating the merits of one hunting method over another is simply not congruent with the topic of the situation I had. If you would like to start your own thread on that topic, I would be more than happy to provide my input and feedback, but I'll not be baited into a debate on the issue here since it is not on topic. Frankly, yours was a pot stirring comment with no value other than to instigate.
Being as that you have killed so many animals - "bucks and bulls with all three weapons" - perhaps you could spare some of your overflowing expertise and put it to good use by providing some feedback or useful input on where I might best hope to find my bull or what kind of a hit might have caused the scenario I recounted.
Post by: rasbo on September 08, 2013, 04:30:07 PM
Post by: lokidog on September 08, 2013, 04:37:32 PM
Post by: RClare1223 on September 08, 2013, 04:40:22 PM
Post by: Sliverslinger on September 08, 2013, 04:49:43 PM
My guess would be a high hit. You'd be surprised how much empty space there is in the top quarter of an elks body. Besides the spine.
If this is the case, is it possibly or even perhaps likely that he survived? Would a wound to that area really bleed bright red like that do you think?
Post by: firefighter4607 on September 08, 2013, 04:50:05 PM
Why don't you guys keep this to yourselves? I for one am tired of hearing about this. This is coming from a guy that has killed bucks and bulls with all 3 weapons, that's wh I don't archery hunt anymore.....I see you have been around for a while and don't post much; maybe that is a good thing. If you are tried of hearing about it don't read these topics! And you don't have to post your comments.
Silverslinger; I know how you feel. It is a very hard pill to swallow, my was a deer with a 270wsm rifle.
Sounds like you have tried hard to find the bull and you are going to continue to try hard to find him. Hopefully you will find him. If you would of posted eariler maybe a couple members would of voluteered to help find the elk, but I am guessing you don't want everyone to know your honey hole also.
Archery hunting I would imagine is hard work and takes a lot of patients. I for one don't think I could do archery seems like too much of a pain. :twocents:
Post by: blacktail luv on September 08, 2013, 04:52:34 PM
Post by: Sliverslinger on September 08, 2013, 04:54:25 PM
This is exactly why most "successful" hunters don't post here.have fun whinning dummies.....
:dunno: :stirthepot: :dunno:
How did I go from asking for input, feedback, or advice to being called a dummy?
Post by: CamoDup on September 08, 2013, 05:05:10 PM
This is exactly why most "successful" hunters don't post here.have fun whinning dummies.....
:stup:
Post by: huntnphool on September 08, 2013, 05:06:00 PM
After calling everyone we could come up with to call that late at night, we came up with only one person who was willing to come out and help look.It never occurred to any of you to post up a help request for search volunteers on this site? :dunno:
I'd be willing to bet that you could have had a dozen of us that would have laced up the boots and been there first thing in the morning, I would have. :twocents:
Post by: chukar58 on September 08, 2013, 05:15:17 PM
Post by: Jellymon on September 08, 2013, 05:20:56 PM
My guess would be a high hit. You'd be surprised how much empty space there is in the top quarter of an elks body. Besides the spine.
If this is the case, is it possibly or even perhaps likely that he survived? Would a wound to that area really bleed bright red like that do you think?
It's possible if you missed lung or major arteries that he could survive. Never hit just muscle so I cant give advice on blood color for that hit. Next time you quarter an elk look at how much the vertebrae stick up above the spinal cord, its a good 6" or so. Add to that the 3" spine and the maybe 2" of "no mans land" below the spine, and your looking at almost 7-10" of non vital area above the lungs. A low hit on an elk is much better than high. Good luck. :tup:
Post by: shrek on September 08, 2013, 05:27:34 PM
Post by: bowhunterwa87 on September 08, 2013, 05:37:34 PM
Post by: huntingfool7 on September 08, 2013, 05:41:55 PM
Post by: Eli346 on September 08, 2013, 05:42:52 PM
Post by: turkeyfeather on September 08, 2013, 06:18:30 PM
Post by: shrek on September 08, 2013, 06:35:07 PM
Post by: Jonathan_S on September 08, 2013, 06:53:07 PM
And you guys will wonder why the antis will go after archery first? Lol
Nope, I don't wonder. It's easy to understand. Antis divide and conquer just like any progressives do. Archery is less popular than modern firearms and it's easy to make a "primitive" and "inhumane" selling point to non-hunters.
It's also easy to convince Weekend Warrior Walmart deer hunters to make a push against archery hunters so that gun hunters can take a bigger slice of woods time.
Post by: bowhunterwa87 on September 08, 2013, 06:57:53 PM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on September 08, 2013, 07:09:46 PM
And you guys will wonder why the antis will go after archery first? LolDude ...you have issues :dunno: I was trying to stay calm and not say anything but your a little off ...Many animals get shot and wounded by rifle and muzzleloaders and yes arrows too ...its hunting ....a lot of things can go wrong ...hit a twig ...buck fever ...not waiting long enough before tracking and on and on ... I hunted my whole life with a bow and killed many critters but I have lost one deer in my 30 yrs of hunting with a bow ...knock on wood for that ...its hard to say what caused him to loose that bull but for you to pick on bowhunters is just ignorant ...I have watched more animals flop over before my eyes when hit correctly with an arrow than I have watched run off and get away ...and with a little 85 gr broadhead ...tiny little killing machine :dunno: :yike:
Post by: AKBowman on September 08, 2013, 07:17:05 PM
Post by: Shooter on September 08, 2013, 07:19:01 PM
Post by: SemperFidelis97 on September 08, 2013, 07:28:27 PM
Post by: AKBowman on September 08, 2013, 07:29:39 PM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on September 08, 2013, 07:34:17 PM
Post by: bowhunterwa87 on September 08, 2013, 07:38:02 PM
Post by: shrek on September 08, 2013, 07:52:49 PM
Post by: lokidog on September 08, 2013, 07:56:45 PM
Nope didn't earase nothin... Gonna bow hunt, get used to it... Catch and release that is...
Quit being such an Anthony.... Also, learn how to spell.
Post by: Wea300mag on September 08, 2013, 07:59:28 PM
Instead of bashing each other, why not discuss some search techniques or other helpful advice.
Post by: Mudman on September 08, 2013, 08:13:55 PM
Post by: cryder on September 08, 2013, 08:57:48 PM
First off I would just ignore shrek. The pot stiring seems to be his m.o. As far as your elk I think you keep looking until your satisfied with what you have done to find him. And don't worry what others say. I do think there's a chance you might see him another day though. Good Luck, it happens to us all regardless of weapon choice. :tup:after my last rifle hunt im just glad to be alive thank you very much I don't think a bow hunter will be tring to blow my head off at 430am any time soon better the elk than me or maybe you !
Post by: mtman on September 08, 2013, 08:59:55 PM
Post by: Slimdog350 on September 08, 2013, 09:01:32 PM
Why don't you guys keep this to yourselves? I for one am tired of hearing about this. This is coming from a guy that has killed bucks and bulls with all 3 weapons, that's wh I don't archery hunt anymore.....:bdid: why kick a guy when he's down? I'm sure it was hard enough to post this on here without having someone rub it in. Sliverslinger I know how you feel man and wish there was something to make you feel better. I shot a cow last year in what I thought was the money spot. Turns out after viewing the tape I hit just a little far back and a little low and had great red blood for quite a ways until it petered out. My buddy and I searched every where with no luck( my buddy is an elite special forces soldier with vast tracking experience). I would go back and give it another go and if you are not able to find it at least you gave it your all. Better than most people would do.
Post by: turkeyfeather on September 08, 2013, 09:12:11 PM
I have no idea what that has to do with what I said or this thread, but ok if you say so. :dunno:First off I would just ignore shrek. The pot stiring seems to be his m.o. As far as your elk I think you keep looking until your satisfied with what you have done to find him. And don't worry what others say. I do think there's a chance you might see him another day though. Good Luck, it happens to us all regardless of weapon choice. :tup:after my last rifle hunt im just glad to be alive thank you very much I don't think a bow hunter will be tring to blow my head off at 430am any time soon better the elk than me or maybe you !
Post by: 3nails on September 08, 2013, 09:20:26 PM
:chuckle: I had to read it like eight times and I still don't get it.I have no idea what that has to do with what I said or this thread, but ok if you say so. :dunno:First off I would just ignore shrek. The pot stiring seems to be his m.o. As far as your elk I think you keep looking until your satisfied with what you have done to find him. And don't worry what others say. I do think there's a chance you might see him another day though. Good Luck, it happens to us all regardless of weapon choice. :tup:after my last rifle hunt im just glad to be alive thank you very much I don't think a bow hunter will be tring to blow my head off at 430am any time soon better the elk than me or maybe you !
Post by: RadSav on September 08, 2013, 09:59:47 PM
We re-examined all the blood we had found - bright thick red blood. The arrow was still covered with blood, an incredible layer of fat stuck and dried around the fletching.
Bright red blood with an incredible layer of fat on the fletching...doesn't sound like a lung shot to me! Lung shots usually have frothy bubbles and the arrow will have very little if any fat. In fact it doesn't sound like a high shot to me either as high (over spine) blood is usually dark also with little or no fat.
Could you have hit low?
Under lungs and behind the heart or hitting brisket and angling down without entrance to the chest cavity would both give you what you are describing. Both would be minor irritations' to the animal and blood would dry up after a few hundred yards. Usually after one or two big globs where they stand still for a moment and allow a clot to form. You will find some light transfer blood after that, but that's about it.
Sorry to hear of your troubles. Hopefully you can get a second chance at him and find out exactly where the arrow went. My guess from your story and blood/arrow detail is he is still kicking around waiting for you send another one home to the boiler room.
Post by: Limhangerslayer on September 08, 2013, 10:18:55 PM
Post by: Pigfuz on September 08, 2013, 10:21:41 PM
Post by: longstevo on September 08, 2013, 10:30:24 PM
Silver, the more time we spend in the woods hunting and shooting at animals increases the chances of us losing one. Unfortunately that's just the way it is. And if anyone says that they've never lost one is either lying or incredibly lucky. More power to them.
I've lost two deer while muzzleloader hunting in fifteen years. The first was a young forkie I shot as a kid. I found him three days later, but the meat was bad. The second was a small three point I shot a few years later. There was gallons of blood all over the ground, but several hundred yards later the blood trail simply dried up. What's a guy supposed to do? Tear up the hillside looking but sometimes even that doesn't work out.
Go back and look for him some more with some back up. That's about all you can do.
Post by: Labs07 on September 09, 2013, 09:04:14 AM
Post by: rtspring on September 09, 2013, 09:10:50 AM
Post by: judojudd on September 09, 2013, 12:30:33 PM
I appreciate my buddy's candor in sharing this story. Most decent human beings who understand the strength of these animals can at the very least empathize with this sickening feeling.
Too often a site like this becomes a bragfest where everyone paints a rosy picture of their hunting exploits and shames anyone who would admit to anything resembling failure. I'm glad to see so many who are keeping this a place for real hunters to share info and become better hunters and human beings. Of course there will always be those who insist on taking things the opposite direction.
As for anyone questioning Silverslinger's shot choice or shot accuracy, my money would be on him every time to take this kind of shot. He is obsessive when it comes to shooting his bow. If you are out there and have never been in his shoes and think it could never happen to you, just hunt a few more years. It happens to the very best. Unless you never take a shot. In which case, you can take to lurking on hunting forums and judging those who are unable to find the animals they've worked hard for.
Post by: ICEMAN on September 09, 2013, 12:43:22 PM
Post by: Eli346 on September 09, 2013, 05:06:59 PM
Good post by both of you. You guys had a lot more composure than I would have had with certain replies on this post. As you said 'If it hasn't happened yet you haven't been hunting long enough'. I still think you guys might find him alive and well!
Post by: Smossy on September 09, 2013, 05:14:10 PM
Post by: Bronson on September 09, 2013, 05:23:44 PM
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on September 09, 2013, 05:28:13 PM
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on September 09, 2013, 06:29:45 PM
Great post mr judd.:yeah:
Post by: coachcw on September 09, 2013, 06:39:43 PM
Post by: bowhunterwa87 on September 10, 2013, 10:44:35 PM
Post by: elkboy on September 10, 2013, 11:22:39 PM
1) The realization that no predator, even modern 'Homo sapiens' with any weapon he can contrive, is 100% efficient. All predators lose or wound prey at some point. Deer are seen with mountain lion claw marks on their flanks. Elk or moose with the scars of wolf teeth. And so on. You are not alone, not in the austere world of nature.
2) The loss of a game animal is a galvanizing moment. You can walk away from the bow or gun forever, or you can use your feelings to motivate you to be the best hunter you can be in the future. After losing those two animals, I hit the shooting range a LOT more. And I studied the hunt even harder. And hit the training trail harder. Use this moment as a watershed moment for your hunting career.
3) If your loss resulted in the death of the animal, you just made a difference, perhaps a vital difference, for organisms from soil insects to scavenging bears and ravens. They are not regretting the death of that animal, and they are ensuring that nothing happens in vain out in the landscape we love, perhaps making the difference of a winter's survival. Please let that temper your regret.
4) It is OK to grieve over this. Any honest hunter will respect your remorse.
5) Let it motivate your conservation ethics. Speak up for habitat conservation. Join a hunter-conservationist organization, if you're not there already. The realities of nature present a challenging deal to individual animals. But fight for the species as a whole- and you can ensure that those individuals will be there to even take up the challenges of the deal in the first place.
Sorry for the long missive. My own experiences compelled me to write.
Post by: Turner89 on September 10, 2013, 11:47:18 PM
First off I would just ignore shrek. The pot stiring seems to be his m.o. As far as your elk I think you keep looking until your satisfied with what you have done to find him. And don't worry what others say. I do think there's a chance you might see him another day though. Good Luck, it happens to us all regardless of weapon choice. :tup::yeah:
Post by: Smossy on September 11, 2013, 12:01:46 AM
Out of the fourteen big game animals I have shot at, I have lost two (one with muzzle-loader, one with archery). The feeling is indeed sickening, and I lost a lot of sleep over those lost animals. But the following made the difference for me::tup:
1) The realization that no predator, even modern 'Homo sapiens' with any weapon he can contrive, is 100% efficient. All predators lose or wound prey at some point. Deer are seen with mountain lion claw marks on their flanks. Elk or moose with the scars of wolf teeth. And so on. You are not alone, not in the austere world of nature.
2) The loss of a game animal is a galvanizing moment. You can walk away from the bow or gun forever, or you can use your feelings to motivate you to be the best hunter you can be in the future. After losing those two animals, I hit the shooting range a LOT more. And I studied the hunt even harder. And hit the training trail harder. Use this moment as a watershed moment for your hunting career.
3) If your loss resulted in the death of the animal, you just made a difference, perhaps a vital difference, for organisms from soil insects to scavenging bears and ravens. They are not regretting the death of that animal, and they are ensuring that nothing happens in vain out in the landscape we love, perhaps making the difference of a winter's survival. Please let that temper your regret.
4) It is OK to grieve over this. Any honest hunter will respect your remorse.
5) Let it motivate your conservation ethics. Speak up for habitat conservation. Join a hunter-conservationist organization, if you're not there already. The realities of nature present a challenging deal to individual animals. But fight for the species as a whole- and you can ensure that those individuals will be there to even take up the challenges of the deal in the first place.
Sorry for the long missive. My own experiences compelled me to write.
Post by: Elkrunner on September 11, 2013, 06:21:31 AM
Why don't you guys keep this to yourselves? I for one am tired of hearing about this. This is coming from a guy that has killed bucks and bulls with all 3 weapons, that's wh I don't archery hunt anymore.....
Your comment was most useful- a great contribution to the topic and helpful for all - thank you.
:dunno:
Really? Now tell me rifle hunters lose as many animals... Good one...
I have seen it man times from rifle hunters...
Post by: Chainsaw11 on September 13, 2013, 03:47:29 PM
With that being said, my high shot didn't bleed at all, so I'm guessing you might have hit low like some others have said.
Post by: Hunterman on September 13, 2013, 09:23:01 PM
Nope didn't earase nothin... Gonna bow hunt, get used to it... Catch and release that is...
Quit being such an Anthony.... Also, learn how to spell.
Ouch, what did I do ??
Silver, sorry on your let down. As has been said numerous times " it happens to HUNTERS". I too have killed many, many animals, with all 3 weapons. Yes I have lost a few with ALL 3 WEAPONS. You sir have done one HELL of a job looking for your elk. I just wish more so called hunter worked as hard as you and your buddy. My hats off to you sir, and may your next shot on this big boy hits pay dirt.
Hunterman(Tony)
Post by: Sliverslinger on September 14, 2013, 11:58:30 PM
Out of the fourteen big game animals I have shot at, I have lost two (one with muzzle-loader, one with archery). The feeling is indeed sickening, and I lost a lot of sleep over those lost animals. But the following made the difference for me:
1) The realization that no predator, even modern 'Homo sapiens' with any weapon he can contrive, is 100% efficient. All predators lose or wound prey at some point. Deer are seen with mountain lion claw marks on their flanks. Elk or moose with the scars of wolf teeth. And so on. You are not alone, not in the austere world of nature.
2) The loss of a game animal is a galvanizing moment. You can walk away from the bow or gun forever, or you can use your feelings to motivate you to be the best hunter you can be in the future. After losing those two animals, I hit the shooting range a LOT more. And I studied the hunt even harder. And hit the training trail harder. Use this moment as a watershed moment for your hunting career.
3) If your loss resulted in the death of the animal, you just made a difference, perhaps a vital difference, for organisms from soil insects to scavenging bears and ravens. They are not regretting the death of that animal, and they are ensuring that nothing happens in vain out in the landscape we love, perhaps making the difference of a winter's survival. Please let that temper your regret.
4) It is OK to grieve over this. Any honest hunter will respect your remorse.
5) Let it motivate your conservation ethics. Speak up for habitat conservation. Join a hunter-conservationist organization, if you're not there already. The realities of nature present a challenging deal to individual animals. But fight for the species as a whole- and you can ensure that those individuals will be there to even take up the challenges of the deal in the first place.
Sorry for the long missive. My own experiences compelled me to write.
Thank you- those are wise insights and I'm certainly going to mull them over and chew on them a bit.
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on September 15, 2013, 07:22:24 AM
Post by: splitshot on September 15, 2013, 07:54:35 AM
Post by: Sliverslinger on September 15, 2013, 11:13:03 AM
I am really surprised on how many bowhunters think they need heavier arrows and broadheads ,,, may have been the case before faster bows have came along .... I would lighten up a bit ...85 to 100 gr broadhead and let the speed do its thing ... :twocents: ;)
Why not have both? 289 is pretty fast I think- and with very heavy arrows? But that might be for a different topic.
Post by: Sliverslinger on September 15, 2013, 11:29:19 AM
While this is a horrible thing to have happened and I know there are some out there who say these thing shouldn't be posted, I do think it is important to recognize that not all hunting ends as ideally as we as hunters would hope and strive for. The fact of the matter is, I can now rest assured that there is no way we would have found that bull, but we definitely did everything possible based on the info available. The foliage was thick as it was, but that bull crawled into a little hole where we wouldn't have seen him without stepping on him. The bees and flies were so loud that I heard them from 25 yards away, otherwise I probably wouldn't have found him that day either. We went back again yesterday, but it's going to be another couple weeks at least before I can start trying to make sense of what happened, where I hit, and to get the antlers. I plan on going back up at the end of the month or beginning of October.
Of course, this has certainly been a learning experience. Some have suggested in PMs that I practice more, others that I considered giving up archery hunting altogether. Many of you have offered encouraging words while others apparently have found the urge to kick a downed man before he has a chance to regain his footing as irresistable. Here's my thoughts on the subject - I prepared so continuously and meticulously that I cannot imagine improving there. I was OCD about tuning my bow and practicing almost daily for months. I had a good shot, but a tough one, and I elected to take it. I still have no concrete idea on what went wrong. Regardless, I've come to accept that there are things that happen some times. I took the shot and did everything I possibly could to recover the animal before the meat went to waste and then we hiked for hours to locate the bull and gain closure after the fact, knowing the meat was bad. Still, there has been a lot of learning that has taken place as well. Both from reading many of the PMs and also the replies to this thread I feel as though I acquired a great deal of tips and information which, in combination with the process of locating my bull, has definitely made me a better hunter when it comes to what happens after the shot. Hopefully, the knowledge gained throughout this experience will help prevent it from happening again.
Once again, I'm thankful for this forum and the many of you who chose to provide valuable tips and input.
Post by: turkeyfeather on September 15, 2013, 11:35:59 AM
Post by: bobcat on September 15, 2013, 11:37:18 AM
I don't suppose it was possible to get pictures?
Post by: lokidog on September 15, 2013, 11:37:58 AM
Post by: cld40 on September 15, 2013, 11:42:26 AM
i think you are a stand up guy for talking openly about this and your diligence in finding the animal
i would have handled same situation the same way
you found him
congratulations, im sure you will get some sleep for the first time since shooting him, you did the bull proud with your persistence and bowhunters like myself proud as well
great job.
disregard any negative comments you may receive, you dont deserve them....
i would hunt by your side anytime...
Post by: trophyhunt on September 15, 2013, 11:43:58 AM
Glad to hear you found it.:yeah:
I don't suppose it was possible to get pictures?
Post by: Slimdog350 on September 15, 2013, 11:45:08 AM
Post by: tgray on September 15, 2013, 11:54:24 AM
Post by: EDT on September 15, 2013, 12:01:02 PM
So are you waiting a couple of weeks for the animals to clean off the elk a little more before you go back?
Post by: washelkhunter on September 15, 2013, 12:02:15 PM
Post by: Birdguy on September 15, 2013, 12:20:01 PM
Post by: KFhunter on September 15, 2013, 12:58:01 PM
I think I would.
edit: ok nm I see that you are going to go back to get it.
also, I think your story is a good one for new archers to read. It's pretty easy to go plunk down a fist full of cash and start flinging arrows at critters.
The hard part of archery hunting is well demonstrated in your story.
Post by: boneaddict on September 15, 2013, 12:59:21 PM
Post by: Bean Counter on September 15, 2013, 01:06:20 PM
can't you tag it and do a euro mount? I know you got no obligation to do so but you said you were going to call it a season might as well have a mount huh?
I think I would.
..
I would tag it. And +1 for the euro. But I think you ARE under an obligation if you find it. Not sure though.
Post by: KFhunter on September 15, 2013, 01:09:09 PM
can't you tag it and do a euro mount? I know you got no obligation to do so but you said you were going to call it a season might as well have a mount huh?
I think I would.
..
I would tag it. And +1 for the euro. But I think you ARE under an obligation if you find it. Not sure though.
are you? I honestly don't know for sure at this point, I think this recovery is well beyond the scope of what is spelled out in the regs.
Post by: Bean Counter on September 15, 2013, 01:11:59 PM
Seems like we're in agreement as to what the ethical thing to do is, but I hope one of the hunters ed guys can clarify the law for us.
Post by: bobcat on September 15, 2013, 01:15:37 PM
Post by: kisfish on September 15, 2013, 01:25:47 PM
Post by: firefighter4607 on September 15, 2013, 01:47:31 PM
Post by: whacker1 on September 15, 2013, 01:54:09 PM
Post by: Sliverslinger on September 15, 2013, 01:56:13 PM
I am glad you found him, even with the meat spoiled. Im impressed you stopped hunting. That's what I'd expect of myself if not others, but know many blow it off and go shoot another. I look forward to seeing your trophy when its cleaned up a bit. :tup:
I don't want to misrepresent what happened or what I did. Originally, I was certain that I had made a good shot and killed that bull. However, after speaking with dozens and dozens of people and describing the situation and the type of blood, I was convinced by the vast majority that I hit either high or low and the bull was running around just fine and none worse for wear. I went back to look Friday to make sure, but was fully expecting to either see that same bull running around or see him on one of my cameras. Consequently, I did not stop hunting. In fact, I was in a calling set up about 150 yards from where I shot him when I got a whiff of something dead. Until that moment, I had become completely convinced that he was just fine. We had planned to hunt our way through the area and give it one last final look, but I felt like we had covered it so thoroughly already that if he was dead, we would have found him. Admittedly, I was obviously wrong on this point.
I guess my point is that I don't want to give a dishonest impression and wouldn't feel right soaking in praise or admiration for assumed ethical behavior that is based on a false premise, even in an online forum. I consider myself to be an ethical hunter and an honest man, so it should be known that the truth is that after doing everything I possibly could to find the animal, I did not stop hunting.
That being said, when I go back after it is possible to get close enough, I will be tagging it and bringing the antlers home.
Also- it's a fine bull, but not the big one from my cameras that I thought it could be.
Post by: turkeyfeather on September 15, 2013, 02:03:54 PM
As far as you knew to the best of your knowledge and the advice you had gotten from others that bull was still alive. I would've continued hunting as well. Makes no sense to me to notch a tag for an animal you believe to be alive. Your good in my book. :tup:I am glad you found him, even with the meat spoiled. Im impressed you stopped hunting. That's what I'd expect of myself if not others, but know many blow it off and go shoot another. I look forward to seeing your trophy when its cleaned up a bit. :tup:
I don't want to misrepresent what happened or what I did. Originally, I was certain that I had made a good shot and killed that bull. However, after speaking with dozens and dozens of people and describing the situation and the type of blood, I was convinced by the vast majority that I hit either high or low and the bull was running around just fine and none worse for wear. I went back to look Friday to make sure, but was fully expecting to either see that same bull running around or see him on one of my cameras. Consequently, I did not stop hunting. In fact, I was in a calling set up about 150 yards from where I shot him when I got a whiff of something dead. Until that moment, I had become completely convinced that he was just fine. We had planned to hunt our way through the area and give it one last final look, but I felt like we had covered it so thoroughly already that if he was dead, we would have found him. Admittedly, I was obviously wrong on this point.
I guess my point is that I don't want to give a dishonest impression and wouldn't feel right soaking in praise or admiration for assumed ethical behavior that is based on a false premise, even in an online forum. I consider myself to be an ethical hunter and an honest man, so it should be known that the truth is that after doing everything I possibly could to find the animal, I did not stop hunting.
That being said, when I go back after it is possible to get close enough, I will be tagging it and bringing the antlers home.
Also- it's a fine bull, but not the big one from my cameras that I thought it could be.
Post by: CAMPMEAT on September 15, 2013, 02:04:39 PM
Post by: Simcoe hunter on September 15, 2013, 02:09:26 PM
Post by: huntnphool on September 15, 2013, 02:33:59 PM
if it were me, I'd tie my tag on that bull's antlers and bring the head home.+1, why would it have been left and planned on a return in a couple weeks? If the plan is to keep the head then just do it now, waiting is only going to complicate matters. Go back in today while the season is still open, notch the tag and bring it home. :dunno:
Post by: turkeyfeather on September 15, 2013, 02:35:34 PM
I think the wait was due to it being infested with bees. :dunno:if it were me, I'd tie my tag on that bull's antlers and bring the head home.+1, why would it have been left and planned on a return in a couple weeks? If the plan is to keep the head then just do it now, waiting is only going to complicate matters. Go back in today while the season is still open, notch the tag and bring it home. :dunno:
Post by: Bill W on September 15, 2013, 02:39:08 PM
All three had the same issue. The hunter wasn't well versed in tracking. In my defense not finding the bear had to do with having an eager youngster along who was cautioned "do not walk on the blood trail. we may need to reconstruct things".
Later on I learned to be more patient and found a archery deer that travelled a whole 200 yards and took 2 hours to find. Another was on another hunter shot with a bow. Deer travelled on a trail, came to an obstruction he couldn't get past, doubled back on the trail and then took another trail that branched off. That deer took 4 hours to find and entailed crawling the length of the trail on hands and knees examining suspicious leaves and such. Once we discovered the deer doubled back (blood trail ended there) and went back a ways to go off on a side trail it was only about another 30 minutes to find it.
At one time the archery store down by the airport taught an archery class and also a simulated tracking exercise out behind the shop. This was the family that helped found Pope & Young.
Patience and attention to little details aid best in tracking jobs. It's not fun and definitely not easy.
Post by: huntnphool on September 15, 2013, 02:41:18 PM
Take a couple cans in with you. :dunno:I think the wait was due to it being infested with bees. :dunno:if it were me, I'd tie my tag on that bull's antlers and bring the head home.+1, why would it have been left and planned on a return in a couple weeks? If the plan is to keep the head then just do it now, waiting is only going to complicate matters. Go back in today while the season is still open, notch the tag and bring it home. :dunno:
Post by: turkeyfeather on September 15, 2013, 02:43:15 PM
Yeah if your not worried about the meat that would probably do the trick.Take a couple cans in with you. :dunno:I think the wait was due to it being infested with bees. :dunno:if it were me, I'd tie my tag on that bull's antlers and bring the head home.+1, why would it have been left and planned on a return in a couple weeks? If the plan is to keep the head then just do it now, waiting is only going to complicate matters. Go back in today while the season is still open, notch the tag and bring it home. :dunno:
Post by: Jonathan_S on September 15, 2013, 02:45:33 PM
I would not really want to get after the season.
Post by: huntnphool on September 15, 2013, 02:53:04 PM
All he needs to pack out is the head and saw at this point. :tup:Yeah if your not worried about the meat that would probably do the trick.Take a couple cans in with you. :dunno:I think the wait was due to it being infested with bees. :dunno:if it were me, I'd tie my tag on that bull's antlers and bring the head home.+1, why would it have been left and planned on a return in a couple weeks? If the plan is to keep the head then just do it now, waiting is only going to complicate matters. Go back in today while the season is still open, notch the tag and bring it home. :dunno:
Post by: 6haase6 on September 15, 2013, 03:00:56 PM
Post by: Kuduman on September 15, 2013, 03:05:39 PM
My advise would be if practical go in late in the evening or very early in the morning and saw off the head and tag it.
It sucks you lost the meat but it would suck even more if you received 100's of yellow jacket stings recovering the antlers.
good luck
Post by: sled on September 15, 2013, 03:33:42 PM
Post by: boneaddict on September 15, 2013, 03:34:56 PM
Post by: huntnphool on September 15, 2013, 03:43:05 PM
I'm not fan of stinging insects especially yellow jackets that can become very protective of a food source that there on. a few weeks ago I found pile of yellow jackets feeding on a dead mouse that my cat had discarded. seeing as i never pass up an opportunity to kill a bunch of yellow jackets I quickly grabbed a can of wasp spray and took aim. before the spry could reach the 20-30 yellow jackets they were off the carcass and headed my way. they finally gave up chase about 75 feet away and I was lucky not to get stung. THAT WAS A MOUSE.............I would say this situation is X 1000 :bdid:Go buy the spray, pack a gamebag, water, your tag and send me a pm. Ill meet you tonight and hike in with you to get it. Im in Tacoma so allow for travel time but i'm willing to help tonight if you're serious.
My advise would be if practical go in late in the evening or very early in the morning and saw off the head and tag it.
It sucks you lost the meat but it would suck even more if you received 100's of yellow jacket stings recovering the antlers.
good luck
Post by: Sliverslinger on September 15, 2013, 03:43:15 PM
I'm not fan of stinging insects especially yellow jackets that can become very protective of a food source that there on. a few weeks ago I found pile of yellow jackets feeding on a dead mouse that my cat had discarded. seeing as i never pass up an opportunity to kill a bunch of yellow jackets I quickly grabbed a can of wasp spray and took aim. before the spry could reach the 20-30 yellow jackets they were off the carcass and headed my way. they finally gave up chase about 75 feet away and I was lucky not to get stung. THAT WAS A MOUSE.............I would say this situation is X 1000 :bdid:
My advise would be if practical go in late in the evening or very early in the morning and saw off the head and tag it.
It sucks you lost the meat but it would suck even more if you received 100's of yellow jacket stings recovering the antlers.
good luck
Yellow jackets are horrible - but these are bald faced hornets - the black and white ones and they are even meaner I think. They were noticeable less already within one day and maybe we could have managed to get close enough. Come to think of it, I did not see one yellow jacket on the carcass. Just an unbelievable morphing pile of maggots, along with crazy black flies and a ton of those hornets crawling all over it. They should be gone once the meat is gone.
Come to think of it, I hadn't even pondered the legality of packing it out after at least a few more days. I've already found it, but I do not think it would have been physically possible to tag it with causing a severe disturbance to a lot of hornets, which would likely have resulted in me somehow having to get to a hospital, since I swell up really bad from only a single sting. The problem being that it is a long hike back to the truck and at least an hour and a half drive to the nearest hospital if I were really hauling @!#. It's not worth that risk when I know I can wait a little bit for the bees and bugs to be done. But, I hadn't thought about what the WDFW would have to say about going back later to get it. I'll have to call them tomorrow and see what can be done.
Post by: Sliverslinger on September 15, 2013, 03:50:52 PM
I'm not fan of stinging insects especially yellow jackets that can become very protective of a food source that there on. a few weeks ago I found pile of yellow jackets feeding on a dead mouse that my cat had discarded. seeing as i never pass up an opportunity to kill a bunch of yellow jackets I quickly grabbed a can of wasp spray and took aim. before the spry could reach the 20-30 yellow jackets they were off the carcass and headed my way. they finally gave up chase about 75 feet away and I was lucky not to get stung. THAT WAS A MOUSE.............I would say this situation is X 1000 :bdid:Go buy the spray, pack a gamebag, water, your tag and send me a pm. Ill meet you tonight and hike in with you to get it. Im in Tacoma so allow for travel time but i'm willing to help tonight if you're serious.
My advise would be if practical go in late in the evening or very early in the morning and saw off the head and tag it.
It sucks you lost the meat but it would suck even more if you received 100's of yellow jacket stings recovering the antlers.
good luck
I really appreciate the offer but I simply do not have this option. I absolutely have to be at work early tomorrow morning and I cannot leave tonight as I am watching my daughters. From my house in Centralia it is a two and half to three hour drive, probably about 5-6 hours hike time in the dark, and then the drive back. It is very generous of you to offer it and I do wish I could do it, but I just can't tonight.
Post by: mulehunter on September 15, 2013, 03:52:12 PM
:dunno:
Post by: huntnphool on September 15, 2013, 03:56:54 PM
Lets go, you can watch from a distanceif you dont want to get stung.I'm not fan of stinging insects especially yellow jackets that can become very protective of a food source that there on. a few weeks ago I found pile of yellow jackets feeding on a dead mouse that my cat had discarded. seeing as i never pass up an opportunity to kill a bunch of yellow jackets I quickly grabbed a can of wasp spray and took aim. before the spry could reach the 20-30 yellow jackets they were off the carcass and headed my way. they finally gave up chase about 75 feet away and I was lucky not to get stung. THAT WAS A MOUSE.............I would say this situation is X 1000 :bdid:
My advise would be if practical go in late in the evening or very early in the morning and saw off the head and tag it.
It sucks you lost the meat but it would suck even more if you received 100's of yellow jacket stings recovering the antlers.
good luck
Yellow jackets are horrible - but these are bald faced hornets - the black and white ones and they are even meaner I think. They were noticeable less already within one day and maybe we could have managed to get close enough. Come to think of it, I did not see one yellow jacket on the carcass. Just an unbelievable morphing pile of maggots, along with crazy black flies and a ton of those hornets crawling all over it. They should be gone once the meat is gone.
Come to think of it, I hadn't even pondered the legality of packing it out after at least a few more days. I've already found it, but I do not think it would have been physically possible to tag it with causing a severe disturbance to a lot of hornets, which would likely have resulted in me somehow having to get to a hospital, since I swell up really bad from only a single sting. The problem being that it is a long hike back to the truck and at least an hour and a half drive to the nearest hospital if I were really hauling @!#. It's not worth that risk when I know I can wait a little bit for the bees and bugs to be done. But, I hadn't thought about what the WDFW would have to say about going back later to get it. I'll have to call them tomorrow and see what can be done.
Here is the enforcement number, you should call them today and talk with them or at least leave a message of your intentions before the season is over. 360 902-2936
Post by: huntnphool on September 15, 2013, 03:58:28 PM
How about your buddy?I'm not fan of stinging insects especially yellow jackets that can become very protective of a food source that there on. a few weeks ago I found pile of yellow jackets feeding on a dead mouse that my cat had discarded. seeing as i never pass up an opportunity to kill a bunch of yellow jackets I quickly grabbed a can of wasp spray and took aim. before the spry could reach the 20-30 yellow jackets they were off the carcass and headed my way. they finally gave up chase about 75 feet away and I was lucky not to get stung. THAT WAS A MOUSE.............I would say this situation is X 1000 :bdid:Go buy the spray, pack a gamebag, water, your tag and send me a pm. Ill meet you tonight and hike in with you to get it. Im in Tacoma so allow for travel time but i'm willing to help tonight if you're serious.
My advise would be if practical go in late in the evening or very early in the morning and saw off the head and tag it.
It sucks you lost the meat but it would suck even more if you received 100's of yellow jacket stings recovering the antlers.
good luck
I really appreciate the offer but I simply do not have this option. I absolutely have to be at work early tomorrow morning and I cannot leave tonight as I am watching my daughters. From my house in Centralia it is a two and half to three hour drive, probably about 5-6 hours hike time in the dark, and then the drive back. It is very generous of you to offer it and I do wish I could do it, but I just can't tonight.
Post by: scoyoc5 on September 15, 2013, 04:05:31 PM
Post by: Jonathan_S on September 15, 2013, 04:10:24 PM
You really need to consider the great offer that phool has out there. We all owe it to the animals we hunt and the sport we love. Dont let this animal be totally wasted.
I don't think he's planning on letting it be "totally wasted" it's just that he can't expedite the process.
I agree though, I hope there is a work around that can get it done tonight.
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on September 15, 2013, 04:10:53 PM
Post by: Bean Counter on September 15, 2013, 04:24:52 PM
Great offer huntnphool! :tup:
:yeah: :brew:
Post by: Sliverslinger on September 15, 2013, 04:41:20 PM
Post by: huntnphool on September 15, 2013, 04:58:04 PM
I'm not planning on wasting anything. The only thing salvageable is the antlers and you can't eat them. I absolutely cannot leave tonight and I cannot take even one more day off. I've already spoken with the WDFW and let them know of the situation. I explained everything from beginning to end, and I've got the number of an officer who has basically given me permission to go retrieve when I can get in there next and after it can be expected that the hornets will be gone. I've informed him of the trail I will use to access the area, the approximate cross country route I will take in and out, and the approximate location of the animal, as well as the driving route I intend to take out of the area. I will be calling him as soon as I have taken possession of the skull and antlers and have cell service. If he is available, he may be meeting me to take a look. There's nothing more I can possibly do. I love antlers as much as the next guy, but I would have much rather had the meat. Since that is not an option, I'm just trying to do the best I can which is to go up on my next day off and see what I can do to get what I can out of there.Glad you got in touch with them today. :tup: Be sure to take pics when you get there and finish off the story when you get back.
Post by: Birdguy on September 15, 2013, 05:06:10 PM
Silverslinger, best of luck on the recovery and finishing out this story, glad the WDFW is aware and I hope you make the best of it.
Post by: 6haase6 on September 15, 2013, 08:05:11 PM
Post by: Sliverslinger on September 15, 2013, 08:06:48 PM
Probably just missed it but what unit was the bull shot in? Or if you want to keep it on the DL the east or west side?
Gifford Pinchot Ntl Forest
Post by: 6haase6 on September 15, 2013, 08:18:00 PM
Post by: M_ray on September 15, 2013, 09:03:00 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on September 15, 2013, 09:59:26 PM
Post by: Simcoe hunter on September 15, 2013, 10:41:29 PM
Vicks Vapor Rub
For before or after? Then bald faced hornets are nasty. They will hunt you down. That has to be the meanest bug in the woods.
Post by: ICEMAN on September 15, 2013, 10:43:33 PM
Vicks Vapor Rub
For before or after? Then bald faced hornets are nasty. They will hunt you down. That has to be the meanest bug in the woods.
Apply a dab under the nose and you will not smell the putrid slop as you cut the head loose....
Post by: boneaddict on September 16, 2013, 07:05:16 AM
Its funny that Phool offered to go get the Bee infested head??? He is also is allergic to bees :yike: I personally would have carried a saw my tag and a epi pen ... I have carried Phools before since he usually leaves it in the truck! :rolleyes:
Good hunting partners are hard to find. :chuckle:
Post by: C-Money on September 16, 2013, 07:48:20 AM
Looking forward to seeing the antler pics!! And like Bone said....Get those Ivories!
Post by: JohnVH on September 16, 2013, 07:55:37 AM
Post by: steen on September 16, 2013, 08:46:16 AM
Post by: huntnphool on September 16, 2013, 09:14:46 AM
Got that right!!Its funny that Phool offered to go get the Bee infested head??? He is also is allergic to bees :yike: I personally would have carried a saw my tag and a epi pen ... I have carried Phools before since he usually leaves it in the truck! :rolleyes:
Good hunting partners are hard to find. :chuckle:
Post by: smartazz171 on September 16, 2013, 10:15:20 AM
I just want to thank everyone for the kind wishes, posts, PMs, and thoughts. We went down day before yesterday again and finally found my bull approximately 324 yards from where I shot him. He had run straight down the hill into a thick mess of small pines and huckbrush. It was 6 days later and I've never seen such a mess. One hind leg was completely missing and the other and been drug up between the antlers. Clearly a bear or two had been at work. There appeared to be a full on colony of bald faced hornets that had taken up residence in the body cavity which, in conjunction with the maggots and flies, and also the smell prevented us from doing much research into what happened.
While this is a horrible thing to have happened and I know there are some out there who say these thing shouldn't be posted, I do think it is important to recognize that not all hunting ends as ideally as we as hunters would hope and strive for. The fact of the matter is, I can now rest assured that there is no way we would have found that bull, but we definitely did everything possible based on the info available. The foliage was thick as it was, but that bull crawled into a little hole where we wouldn't have seen him without stepping on him. The bees and flies were so loud that I heard them from 25 yards away, otherwise I probably wouldn't have found him that day either. We went back again yesterday, but it's going to be another couple weeks at least before I can start trying to make sense of what happened, where I hit, and to get the antlers. I plan on going back up at the end of the month or beginning of October.
Of course, this has certainly been a learning experience. Some have suggested in PMs that I practice more, others that I considered giving up archery hunting altogether. Many of you have offered encouraging words while others apparently have found the urge to kick a downed man before he has a chance to regain his footing as irresistable. Here's my thoughts on the subject - I prepared so continuously and meticulously that I cannot imagine improving there. I was OCD about tuning my bow and practicing almost daily for months. I had a good shot, but a tough one, and I elected to take it. I still have no concrete idea on what went wrong. Regardless, I've come to accept that there are things that happen some times. I took the shot and did everything I possibly could to recover the animal before the meat went to waste and then we hiked for hours to locate the bull and gain closure after the fact, knowing the meat was bad. Still, there has been a lot of learning that has taken place as well. Both from reading many of the PMs and also the replies to this thread I feel as though I acquired a great deal of tips and information which, in combination with the process of locating my bull, has definitely made me a better hunter when it comes to what happens after the shot. Hopefully, the knowledge gained throughout this experience will help prevent it from happening again.
Once again, I'm thankful for this forum and the many of you who chose to provide valuable tips and input.
Any guys who suggested you practice more or quite are idiots. Not to :stirthepot: but (1) you explained how much practice you had done DURING THE OFF SEASON, and (2) these "hunters" must be perfect! I have never been in your shoes but anyone who has been hunting for any length of time knows stuff can happen. This wasn't like you lobbed an arrow at 75 yards because you didn't control yourself. The only thing people could question was whether or not you SHOULD have launched an arrow with such a small window of opportunity. You made an assessment and took the shot. NO one else was there, no one else can judge. IF you shouldn't have launched the arrow, you have paid for it with your own blood sweat and tears. You didn't just say oh well and leave the animal. and lets not forget that You did place a killing shot. If the average elk runs at 7-10mph down hill, he died pretty quick after only running 300+ yards from arrow impact. If he hadn't had fallen where he did (no ones control) this would have been a successful post and these critics would be sitting at there computers watching others success, while killing the "big one" in there cabelas big game hunter video game.
I say good job :tup:, :sry: for the waste of the meat after your hard work, and :pee: on the haters. I forgot how every shot flies true, and the animals stand like 3d targets at 10 yards for them. :mor: Keep your head high!
Post by: turkeyfeather on September 16, 2013, 12:04:20 PM
Post by: bullcanyon on September 17, 2013, 06:31:20 AM
Glad you found him. Way to be persistent.
Post by: Jonathan_S on September 17, 2013, 06:38:09 AM
My buddy shot a bull Sunday that covered over 300yds in less than 10 seconds with lungs deflated
:o That's like 60 mph
Glad he got it back.
Post by: Labs07 on September 17, 2013, 08:29:19 AM
Post by: bullcanyon on September 17, 2013, 09:46:18 AM
Post by: bobcat on September 17, 2013, 10:52:32 AM
Guess I'll take my stop watch next time so I can be more precise. Just throwing it out that they cover some ground in a hurry.
:chuckle: Maybe the 10 seconds was closer to 20 seconds. That would bring it down to 30 miles per hour. Yeah, next time be sure to have your stop watch ready.
Post by: snowpack on September 17, 2013, 11:07:38 AM
Post by: Jonathan_S on September 17, 2013, 11:12:35 AM
Guess I'll take my stop watch next time so I can be more precise. Just throwing it out that they cover some ground in a hurry.
:chuckle: Maybe the 10 seconds was closer to 20 seconds. That would bring it down to 30 miles per hour. Yeah, next time be sure to have your stop watch ready.
Thanks, I appreciate the effort. :police: