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2020 Elk
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Topic: 2020 Elk (Read 2337 times)
hunting4sanity
Non-Hunting Topics
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Sourdough
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 1070
Location: eastern WA
2020 Elk
«
on:
February 25, 2021, 08:47:37 PM »
I normally hunt with one of my sons or all three of them if possible. Last year due to harvest on the farm and the timing of several other things I decided to go solo, thinking in reality it would be more of a scouting trip for later. However, I got into elk and it was now hunting, not scouting.
I spotted the group of elk about a mile away. Through the spotter I could tell there was one mature bull that was either broken or funky on one side. I planned out a stalk and dropped back getting the terrain and wind in my favor. The next time I saw them was at just over 600 yards, but I could only find cows & calves at this point. My next terrain goal put me in the mid 300's from the group and I now saw a spike and the raghorn that were in the group, but still not the mature bull. After a belly crawl up to the last small rise between me and the elk I could now see the bull at 214 yards. He was a busted up 7x7. For a second I thought, do I leave him because he's broken up? In a split second sanity returned. No way I was passing on this opportunity! I was proud of the long stalk I had just made, I realized I had a great old warrior right in front me and the broken antlers immediately became 'character.' I slowly shifted to the right a few feet to get a better opening and shot.
As I was coming up out of the small coulee between me and the bull I could see his good antler sticking into the sky and felt very good about my decision. It was a very special moment, in 2019 I missed all of every season due to a back and leg problem. I was a bit worried about the task ahead that I knew I had to do on my own, but at that moment everything in the world was good. I've decided I'm the slowest elk-breaker-downer in the world, but I got two loads out before dark and got a beautiful sunset going in for the second trip. That night I experienced the worst leg cramps of my life. I don't want to be too big of a drama llama, but when it was done and I came out with the head, I was shot. I just laid on my back looking up at the clouds and smiling at the pack that had just completely exhausted me. During the first two trips packing my elk out I was thinking I can't ever do another solo hunt, especially for elk, now I'm hoping for one more.
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salmon
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Hunter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 105
Location: Gig Harbor
Re: 2020 Elk
«
Reply #1 on:
February 25, 2021, 09:18:41 PM »
Great elk and congrats to you!
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Westside88
Political & Covid-19 Topics
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Sourdough
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1178
Location: Western Wa
Re: 2020 Elk
«
Reply #2 on:
February 25, 2021, 09:59:02 PM »
Great Bull and great scenery and experience. Sounds like you really earned that one.
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Bob33
Global Moderator
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Legend
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 21760
Groups: SCI, RMEF, NRA, Hunter Education
Re: 2020 Elk
«
Reply #3 on:
February 25, 2021, 10:42:05 PM »
That's an awesome story. It really portrays what hunting can be: lots of hard work and immense satisfaction.
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Nature. It's cheaper than therapy.
bearpaw
Family, Friends, Outdoors
Administrator
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Legend
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 38555
Location: Idaho<->Colville
"Rather Be Cougar Huntin"
Groups: NRA, SCI, F4WM, NWTF, IOGA, MOGA, CCOC, BBB, RMEF, WSTA, WSB
Re: 2020 Elk
«
Reply #4 on:
February 25, 2021, 10:46:31 PM »
That's great, congrats to you!
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Dan-o
Global Moderator
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Explorer
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 18129
Re: 2020 Elk
«
Reply #5 on:
February 25, 2021, 10:51:49 PM »
Great bull.
Great write up.
I was cramping up by the end.
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Member: Yakstrakgutp (or whatever we are)
I love the BFRO!!!
I wonder how many people will touch their nose to their screen trying to read this...
redi
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Sourdough
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 2102
Location: centralia
Re: 2020 Elk
«
Reply #6 on:
February 26, 2021, 04:50:42 AM »
Great job on the hunt and photos thanks for sharing
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bracer40
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+3
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Sourdough
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1434
Re: 2020 Elk
«
Reply #7 on:
February 26, 2021, 08:17:16 AM »
Thanks for sharing your hunt! Great bull, story and pics!
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“Just give me a comfortable couch, a dog, a good book, and a woman. Then if you can get the dog to go somewhere and read the book, I might have a little fun.”
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DWBMontana
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Tracker
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 71
Location: Montana
Re: 2020 Elk
«
Reply #8 on:
February 26, 2021, 08:59:37 AM »
Great bull! Wonderful pictures.
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