Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bow Hunting => Topic started by: wonder on September 15, 2009, 07:20:12 AM

Title: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: wonder on September 15, 2009, 07:20:12 AM: I've got a lot to be thankful for this season. After 38 years of hunting I finally shot a four legged critter with my bow. I wanted to say thanks to many of you on this site for the help and support, you've been great. I haven't worked that hard and those long of hours since my firefighting days 20 some odd years ago. :drool: What an experience. I went out solo for the first time this year and it payed off. Managed to get some help to pack that fat cow out and rewarded them with a lions share of the bounty and that felt good to do. Good thing I was able to finally get something with this old Dynabow of mine because I noticed the upper limb started a slight delamination right at the start of the season so I figured I only had one more shot left. Not real exited about shooting it in that condition but I took a chance. I gained a ton from this experience and will use it to help myself and fellow hunters out when and if I can.

Unfortunately it looks like I'll be needing to go to a modern bow next year. I'm slowly coming out of the Dinosaur age and will have to basically start from scratch which isn't a bad thing eh ?

Haven't had a chance to read all the stories from you guys this season but I'm sure theres a lot to tell. Good luck with the rest of the season. Don't have a really good picture to post because all I had was my camera phone but here it is anyway.
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: luvtohnt on September 15, 2009, 07:22:48 AM: Nice job! Is that an arrow sticking out of her rump?

Brandon
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: addicted on September 15, 2009, 07:34:58 AM: thats awesome wonder. way to go
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: wonder on September 15, 2009, 07:45:18 AM: Yes luvtohnt, I missed my target bad but was determined to find her and bring her home. Still not sure how I missed that bad. :dunno: A bit of a shock to me too. I was just happy that she bled out and I found her.
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on September 15, 2009, 07:48:58 AM: WOW! Congrats on getting an elk! is that the only place you hit her?
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: addicted on September 15, 2009, 07:49:21 AM: Quote from: STIKNSTRINGBOW on September 15, 2009, 07:48:58 AM
is that the only place you hit her?
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: luvtohnt on September 15, 2009, 07:52:40 AM: You must be one hell of a tracker.
Brandon
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: WAPITIHUNTER on September 15, 2009, 08:04:12 AM: Congrats and way to go finding her!!!!!
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: adam.WI on September 15, 2009, 08:41:47 AM: femoral artery, not the best shot to aim for but a great constellation. Way to go on your first and great job recovering it. It sucks to hear about them be lost so again great job. :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: robb92 on September 15, 2009, 09:49:51 AM: Congrats on some good eatin!!!!!!
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: tlbradford on September 15, 2009, 09:53:20 AM: Way to follow up on your shot. I give you huge props for that.
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: oneezreiter on September 15, 2009, 10:02:46 AM: congrats!! way to go.
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on September 15, 2009, 10:08:13 AM: Way to go, congrats on your elk!
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: GoldTip on September 15, 2009, 10:34:03 AM: Congrats on getting your first bowkill, thats awesome. Shot didn't go where you wanted it to, but you played out your hand and came home the winner, good job!
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: sirfunkeybut on September 15, 2009, 03:05:11 PM: Quote from: adam.WI on September 15, 2009, 08:41:47 AM
femoral artery, not the best shot to aim for but a great constellation. Way to go on your first and great job recovering it. It sucks to hear about them be lost so again great job. :tup: :tup:

my friend shot a deer in the femoral artery and from the first drop of blood to where we found her was 30 feet. Not the best shot but it did the trick.

Also nice elk, i hope to get one this year
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: cascademountainhunter on September 15, 2009, 03:25:24 PM: congrats to ya!! i havent even seen any elk yet this season. :bash: hopfully i will atleast see some if not kill one...
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: Jeffrey on September 15, 2009, 08:44:35 PM: :o Whoa- What kind of a blood trail did she leave, for you to follow? High Five to ya!
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: julzzz on September 15, 2009, 09:29:58 PM: way to go, that cow looks goooood :drool:
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: wonder on September 16, 2009, 05:03:55 AM: Jeffrey,
She left a decent blood trail for the most part. Started out weak and had little bursts of blood here and there enough to follow with some serious looking in between. It took me close to 2 hours to find her once I was on the trail. Thanks for the encouragement !
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: KillBilly on September 16, 2009, 06:05:06 AM: Congrats on the Elk.

I am thinking that you might have removed the arrow before taking the picture. That doesn't exactly send the message that Archery is a Clean and painless method of taking game. Strange things happen and this is not meant to demean your success.

Again, congrats.
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: markts on September 16, 2009, 06:30:40 AM: Congrats on your harvest, Even though your shot didnt go as planned, high fives for the recovery. Yes you could have pulled the arrow before pics but the truth was told and thats fine by me. :twocents: Mark
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: wonder on September 16, 2009, 07:42:11 AM: Thanks Killbilly for the input. I don't disagree with anything you're saying. I just always try and be as honest a person as I can. You are not the first to provide this insight. I didn't really give it much of a thought at the time when I walked up on her with that arrow sticking out and all. I felt really odd coming onto the kill for a lot of reasons and I'll just leave it at that.

I was really surprised that I was off that bad. I don't believe she lived more than a few minutes based on where she went down from initial impact. My goal is always to take a good shot. I've turned down many shots in the past for other reasons. In fact I had a cow at 56 yards on opening day last year that I turned down the shot because it was out of my comfort range. My motto is that's it's better to not take a shot rather than take a bad shot. I hope to be more accurate if I get another opportunity in the years to come. Thanks again.
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: KillBilly on September 16, 2009, 08:15:39 AM: Quote from: wonder on September 16, 2009, 07:42:11 AM
Thanks Killbilly for the input. I don't disagree with anything you're saying. I just always try and be as honest a person as I can. You are not the first to provide this insight. I didn't really give it much of a thought at the time when I walked up on her with that arrow sticking out and all. I felt really odd coming onto the kill for a lot of reasons and I'll just leave it at that.

I was really surprised that I was off that bad. I don't believe she lived more than a few minutes based on where she went down from initial impact. My goal is always to take a good shot. I've turned down many shots in the past for other reasons. In fact I had a cow at 56 yards on opening day last year that I turned down the shot because it was out of my comfort range. My motto is that's it's better to not take a shot rather than take a bad shot. I hope to be more accurate if I get another opportunity in the years to come. Thanks again.

No problem, on this site we understand more. It is the non hunters, the lurkers, the general public, etc. that don't understand.
I/we know stuff happens and yes you were honest about it. In all manner of game taking, we all need to see ourselves as Ambassadors of our Sport.

Again Congrats and thanks for the response.
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: popeshawnpaul on September 16, 2009, 08:31:45 AM: That's awesome you found it on that shot. I learned something here with your story. Thanks.
Title: Re: Finally got my first Elk with a bow
Post by: VANANATOR on September 16, 2009, 09:09:21 AM: congrats! *censored* happens but your determantion payed off. where I hunt the elk are chased hard and are on edge 365. I have been ducked @20 & 43 yards by elk. all in the open and refuse to be arrow flingers like some of the locals. *censored* happens but brush and partial body shots are no good=( congrats on your first elk I'm waiting on mine-VAN