Post by: Wahoo on October 16, 2009, 09:23:25 AM
I hiked in the day before opening and the elk were bugling just getting me more amped. I arrived at my campsite finding everything in 2 inches of snow. I set up my tarps anticipating a wet time and boy was I glad I did as the first three days it was constantly either snowing, raining or hailing on me.
Opening Day: I wake up to three elk bugling, crawl out of my tent, hear about three more bugles from them and everything goes quiet (darn). I fail trying to get a response so I head to one my familiar areas. I get into a bedding area and hunker down for little. 10 Min's later I hear elk coming and a cow pops out with two calves. I sit tight waiting for horns to follow and here they come, a 4 x 4. I decided immediately he is too small but when he gets within 10 yards of me it sure made it difficult to pass up such an easy shot. Later that afternoon I finally get a response to a bugle and thought he sounded further away then he was. I go charging after him, thinking I had a lot of ground to cover, and ran right into a herd of cows busting them everywhere, oops. Finally when it got close to dark I was working my way back to camp when I jump two cows hearing another elk take off in a different direction. I go to investigate what went on its own and end up getting into a 5 x 5. He had long tines but still wasn't big enough for opening day as I had told myself only a 6 x 6 or a huge 5 on opening day. End up going to bed pretty excited after the first day’s action.
Second Day: Hunted my butt off all day not even bumping an elk and got very wet in the process (thank goodness for fleece).
Third Day: Woke up to a very cold morning. With all my clothes and boots being wet from the day before they were frozen solid in the morning. I had to breathe on my sleeves to loosen them up so I could get my arms through and had to walk a ½ mile in my boots before they thawed enough to lace them up (tongues were frozen straight up). Hunted hard all day without seeing elk (trying a new area) until that afternoon when I decided I need to get back to an area I know. After getting to this area and making a big loop to get the wind in my favor I am sneaking through the woods when I hear something that made me cow call. A bugle came instantly back that was a clean bugle but sounded like a 5 year old kid had done it. My first thought was it was another hunter but knowing there weren't many of us back in here I looked for a position I thought had the best window if an animal approached from where the bugle came from. I got into my shooting position cow called again and it came charging in. Lucky enough it popped out broadside in my window at 30 yards. I didn't even bother counting the points as I just saw a lot of horn and decided this was it. He only went 30 yards and he was down. Gutting him I found that I had double lunged him. I didn't get back to camp until 10 that night after the skinning and bringing out the first load and ended up doing that in a complete white out blizzard. With the snow falling so hard I ended up sticking to the horse trail instead of taking my shortcuts which added almost a mile and a half to my hike back to camp.
Got everything back to camp the next day with the wonderful help of a neighboring camp who had horses. The two fellow hunters were awesome guys and are getting some nice whiskey and meat soon for the favor. Ended up hiring an outfitter to bring the meat down off the mountain and considered the payment to be one of my best purchases in quite some time. Ended up making the pack out with all my gear in one heavy trip. Horns are at the taxidermist now where I am getting a European mount (compromise with the wife). I am still on a high from this trip and can't wait to draw another bull tag. Hopefully it won't be 12 years again. Unfortunately, I didn't have the best camera with me and all my pictures were on the timer being alone.
Post by: jollyskwala on October 16, 2009, 09:46:41 AM
Post by: halflife65 on October 16, 2009, 09:54:36 AM
Congratulations on a fine bull.
Post by: Elkpiss on October 16, 2009, 10:08:54 AM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on October 16, 2009, 10:12:19 AM
Congrats on your bull
Post by: scoyoc5 on October 16, 2009, 10:16:03 AM
Post by: Ridgerunner on October 16, 2009, 10:30:10 AM
Post by: brianmtsinc on October 16, 2009, 10:36:10 AM
Thanks for sharing! It gets me pumped for the late season!!!
Post by: bowsandhose on October 16, 2009, 10:52:25 AM
Post by: Holg3107 on October 16, 2009, 10:53:29 AM
Post by: Austrian Hunter on October 16, 2009, 10:57:02 AM
Post by: NWBREW on October 16, 2009, 12:05:03 PM
Post by: markts on October 16, 2009, 12:14:39 PM
Post by: bullchaser on October 16, 2009, 12:30:01 PM
Post by: SkookumHntr on October 16, 2009, 12:33:35 PM
Post by: agchawk on October 16, 2009, 01:20:39 PM
Post by: GoldTip on October 16, 2009, 01:34:37 PM
Post by: vfilbert on October 16, 2009, 02:21:01 PM
Post by: buckhorn2 on October 16, 2009, 02:43:42 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on October 16, 2009, 03:00:36 PM
Post by: coldsteel3d on October 16, 2009, 05:38:46 PM
Post by: ribka on October 16, 2009, 05:57:58 PM
Again congrats
Post by: SnakeEyes on October 16, 2009, 06:26:25 PM
Post by: BENCHLEG on October 16, 2009, 06:31:38 PM
Post by: jason4429 on October 16, 2009, 06:59:29 PM
Post by: WAPITIHUNTER on October 16, 2009, 07:03:17 PM
Post by: nw_bowhunter on October 16, 2009, 07:08:04 PM
Post by: bow4elk on October 16, 2009, 07:32:05 PM
Post by: Wahoo on October 16, 2009, 09:27:07 PM
I was able to recover the bullet between the skin and the ribs on the opposite side. I read a lot on here about people not caring for the PowerBelts, especially in the 295 grain, and it got me thinking a lot but it was too close to the season to change. After recovering the bullet I couldn't ask for a better performance. I don't know if I was just lucky on this occasion but seeing this bullet sure makes me a believer in it.
Post by: BoomWhop on October 16, 2009, 09:37:54 PM
Post by: Todd_ID on October 16, 2009, 10:08:11 PM
Post by: SuperDave on October 17, 2009, 10:39:38 AM
Post by: mtndew on October 17, 2009, 12:02:38 PM
Post by: shag on October 18, 2009, 07:41:34 PM
Congrats!
Is that a westside tag??
Post by: Cylvertip on October 18, 2009, 08:34:50 PM
Very nice
Post by: PA BEN on October 20, 2009, 12:13:29 PM