Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: sneakyjake on October 17, 2010, 09:38:36 AM
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I never took the time to write up my archery elk hunt. I think I needed time for it to soak in. I have been hunting the same area for about ten years now, but never concentrated on the elk. I usually just shot a deer and went home. I got more serious over the last five years and started using calling tactics with endurance and really started getting into them. I think I had been into bulls every morning and evening for the last few years. I have drawn on at least a dozen bulls, but have never taken a shot. I think I have become a bit intimidated with the entire aspect of elk hunting. I love the adrenaline rush of being miles back into the wilderness and encountering these amazing animals in their own world. I had hunted with my father and a few of his friends initially, but in the last few years they have gotten too old to navigate the terrain. The last three years I had been with some good friends that I hunt with on and off. I think I pushed them too hard in the area and it tested them physically and emotionally so they declined to return. A couple of my buddies whom have hunted an area close to me have been dry on bugles for a few years, so we talked and decided to go at it together. I was very excited for this because these guys are madmen. Nothing bothers them and they will hunt till they drop. To say the least I had the best year ever. We went in with three day packs and stayed for nine with a couple of re-supplies. We went into the mountains with the intent to follow the herds and be extremely mobile. We went light and hunted hard. We were into animals the entire time. We would hunt in til dark, navigate out of the area and just build a fire sleep next to it. I managed to draw on 4 elk, all between 20 and 35 yards. It was great to hunt with guys who could help me push my own limits. On the second day we were crossing ridges 2 to 3 hours from the truck. We got a bull half fired up. Two shooters moved forward. (Half of my problem over the years has been that I have been the only caller and the others were not very good at getting into position for a shot) Cows were coming in sideways at the caller, the elk was bugling about 300 yards ahead with cows talking. He wasn't coming and he wasn't leaving. After an hour of this the caller moved forward to us and we had a pow wow. Next thing he is breaking branches and lighting it up and we went in towards the bull. Half way to him we looked down and realized the ground was bare cattle trails, you know the kind like they have been living there for a while. We go to a dead sprint knowing that it will be a silent approach. When we get to about 25 yards, we stop, he hears something and just lets out an ear piercing scream. We look at each other with big eyes and he goes right and I go left. I push up next to a tree and hear the bull walking towards my side. I see him, he is at least a 7X. He is 25 out. I have never been given a better shot opportunity. I draw and tell myself when he crosses the tree into the open lane I am shooting. It is all a distant memory, a dream I can barely visualize. I have never taken a more ethical shot than this one. How could this not be a double lunged dead elk? I don't know, my adrenaline was through the roof. I wish I had the answers. I saw the arrow impact and it looked fake. Like it was a toy arrow tickling a dragon. We recovered the arrow and it looked like it had about 9 inches of meat blood on it. We tracked the elk for two days. I do not regret taking the shot. It is the first I have ever taken at an elk. The journey to this point has been incredible. Not luck, not paying for it. Just a life experience. I had more opportunities later in the hunt, but every encounter has its' own set of obstacles. I think about that elk every day. I hope I see him again next year under the same circumstances. Maybe with each encounter, I will become a better elk hunter.
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Sounds like you had a great season with a tough ending. Lots can go wrong in that last 15 seconds to make a hunter miserable or go right and make him ecstatic. Thanks for the story!
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Putting your time in is best you can do and hope for the best. Sounds like you have some great memories at the very least. Don't give up!!
