Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Michael Arnette on September 04, 2016, 06:26:00 PM
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The entire experience was amazing: The high country mountains, rivers, forests...The rain, snow, sunshine...warmth and cold...The comfort and pain...blisters, bruises, gasps for oxygen...and a clean kill that gave a merciful death.
On this trip I used my TallTines recurve with my 62 pound limbs. I was shooting a 525 gr. gold tip .300 spine arrow and 250 grizzly single bevel.
Ok so the story:
Day 1:
I hiked in and set up camp the day before opening.
Day 2:
Opening day was exciting as I still hunted and hiked the north and south side of a canyon and had 2 really close encounters and stalked 40-50 yards away before the elk essentially walked away from me and out of my life.
Day 3: Nada except lots of mule deer
Day 4: Nada but Had some wonderful encounters with other wildlife.
Day 5: Saw some mule deer and had a great encounter with a nice buck, late in the evening got about 45 yards for broadside cow before she walked out of my life.
Day 6: Regroup, pack back down the mountian and head to another area
Day 7: Nada for me but saw nearly 30 mule deer and had a good day
Day 8: hunted all morning without luck stopped for lunch and then in the afternoon decided to sit on the waterhole/wallow. At about 7 o'clock in the evening a cow and calf stepped out of the woods followed by my bull. I sat motionless with the downhill thermals being perfect and the cow and calf started to wander off as my bull came in. I mewed to stop him in about 25 yards broadside but because of the poor position I didn't reach my full draw length and shot just a few inches low. The bull ran off into the thick brush and I lost sight of him almost immediately although I had just enough time to see my fletching sticking out of the entrance wound. I thought I heard a crash but wasn't sure and follow the blood for a few yards before deciding to back out until the next morning.
Day 9: after a virtually sleepless night I took up the trail of my bull in daybreak and found him within 20 minutes. He had only gone 50 to 70 yards. The shot have been slightly low although not bad but the grizzly Single bevel head had angled up into the chest coming out perfectly centered in the exit. I took a few moments to take it all in and get some pictures before starting the skinning and quartering. My buddies Gabe and Travis were a huge help with the pack out which took two trips.
I learned a lot on this hunt, one of the most important things I learned is the value of stand/ambush techniques for hunting elk. I spent days of running all over the mountains and failing to get within 40 yards but having good success getting 40-60 yards. I wouldn't shoot at with traditional equipment.
These calling/run and gun techniques work well for compound shooters who are able to take 40 to 60 yard shots with ease. Between this trip and last season I had a total of seven solid shot opportunities between 40 and 60 yards on bulls and cows alike. Unfortunately I need a shot at 40 yards or less as most other traditional shooters. Because of this I will not be using standard techniques anymore for elk but will focus on ambush techniques and I would recommend other traditional archers do the same.
I still have a cow tag to fill, after giving it a few more days all I can do is wait for next September!
(http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy206/cottonwood88/Mobile%20Uploads/image_32.jpeg) (http://s792.photobucket.com/user/cottonwood88/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_32.jpeg.html)
(http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy206/cottonwood88/Mobile%20Uploads/image_34.jpeg) (http://s792.photobucket.com/user/cottonwood88/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_34.jpeg.html)
(http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy206/cottonwood88/Mobile%20Uploads/image_35.jpeg) (http://s792.photobucket.com/user/cottonwood88/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_35.jpeg.html)
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Congratulations .
Waiting for pictures .
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Congratulations!!!! Looking forward to reading your story and seeing the pictures. :clapper:
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Congratulations! I can't wait to see the pics and hear the story.
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That's awesome Michael! Can't wait to hear the story!!!
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Awesome!!! I'm in for the whole story.
Jake
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Congrats. Can't wait for story and photos
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Congrats!! Can't wait!!
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:thumbsup: :clapper: Congrats.
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Congrats Michael!
Bring on the pics and story.
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congrats man well done cant wait to see pics
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congrats
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Nice Raghorn. He will be tasty.
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Congrats! An elk is on my bucket list.
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Congratulations Michael. Bear, elk, good year so far!
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:thumbsup:
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Big congrats Michael. Many have tried without that result.
Well done man!
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Congratulations Michael
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Atta boy Michael gotta go scoutin in the morning maybe some pics by the time I return!
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I love it when the success stories start rolling in!
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Michael gets it done! Good work! looking forward to hearing the details.
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I saw a little pic on Facebook. :thumbsup: Can't wait to see some more pics and to hear the story! Congratulations, again, Michael!!! :thumbsup:
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:campfire: :coffee:
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Great job, Michael. Can't wait for the story.
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Awesome!
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Holy cow Michael!
Congrats... can't wait to here the whole story!
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You somed up elk hunting.
Can't wait to see the pictures.
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Nice Elk, congratulations.
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Congrats, I like good elk stories!
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:thumbsup:
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Way to go!
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Congratulations... I remember my first bull with the bow. Something you will cherish forever.
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Congratulations Mike!
More of the story would be great!
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Agree with hearing more of the story-guess you're hooked now-nice bull.
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Well done....nice bull.
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Very nice.... :campfire:
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Congrats, I wait for the full story.
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Congrats
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Congratulations Michael!! Excellent! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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congrats
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Congrats
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Sounds like a sweet adventure, congratulations :thumbsup: Looking forward to the story... :campfire:
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Congrats Michael. Look forward to the story. Thanks for posting. :notworthy:
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Congrats!
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Way to go Michael! I'm still looking for my first elk - 0/3 so far (no shots taken).
Congrats!
Bisch
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Way to go Michael! Congrats! Looking forward to more pics and the story!
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:clapper: Congratulations!
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Awesome man! Big Congrats!
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I spoke with Michael earlier today when he had a little signal. He's got one more tag and still hunting. Hope he doesn't mind me passing this along. Go get em buddy!!!
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Congrats Michael and thanks for sharing with us.
Tony
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Nice Mike!! Can't wait for the story... GREAT JOB!!
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There ought to be a really good story behind this trip. Can't wait.
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A resounding congrats to a fine contributor of the traditional family.
Most Excellent Harvest!
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Congrats Michael and well said!!
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Congratulations on a great experience/harvest. Sounds like you had the complete package.
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Congrats!! :thumbsup: :campfire:
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Congrats
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Awesome job! I really enjoy following your adventures.
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Great Job! Congrats!
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Way to go! Congrats!!!!
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Awesome Michael! Can't wait to hear the story!
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Congrats!
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Glad for you Michael.Looking forward to your next visit to hear the story.
Terry
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Outstanding Job Michael. Beautiful Bull and congrats on the shot placement!
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :campfire:
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Congratulations!
What was your bow setup?
Penetration? Blood trail?
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Fantastic!!! Congratulations
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Nice job Michael! Great pic!
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Awesome job!
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Congrats. But aaaa where's the story :-)
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Nice work! Congratulations Michael!
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OK I updated the original post with a story
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Congrats, way to get it done!
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Congrats Micheal, way to stay after it and adapt and get the job done!
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Great story. How about a bit of location? General area, not specific, of course...
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Good job Micheal :clapper:
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Your'e having a good year Michael! The deer are next and they are starting to worry!
Congratulations on another fun and successful hunt!!
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Congratulations! That's a bucket list item for me for sure. My son is 8 and soon to be 9. Once he's old enough to shoot 50+ lbs...we are going.
Congrats again!!!
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Good job Micheal, congrats on a very rewarding hunt.
Thanks for sharing.
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Originally posted by lt-m-grow:
Great story. How about a bit of location? General area, not specific, of course...
Of course! Started in unit 81 around platouro Colorado, ended in 78 in the weimanuche wilderness
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Awesome!
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Nice Job Michael! :thumbsup:
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Great job Michael!
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Congrats Michael! Way to go!
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Real nice great job.
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Great job!
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Congrats Brother that is fantastic!
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Originally posted by Michael Arnette:
Originally posted by lt-m-grow:
Great story. How about a bit of location? General area, not specific, of course...
Of course! Started in unit 81 around platouro Colorado, ended in 78 in the weimanuche wilderness [/b]
Thanks man.
Have a great and safe trip remainder of your trip. I am leaving tonight for MT by the Big Hole. Hope to have some of your luck.
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Congratulations
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Great job! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Originally posted by Michael Arnette:
Originally posted by lt-m-grow:
Great story. How about a bit of location? General area, not specific, of course...
Of course! Started in unit 81 around platouro Colorado, ended in 78 in the weimanuche wilderness [/b]
Good for you mike. You did it at the right time. This weekend opens the muzzle loading season and the weimanuche gets very crowded. :clapper: good on you for sticking it out and giving it a good go!
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Really happy for you Michael, congrats! I know you work extremely hard every time you hunt and your positive attitude is infectious. Looking forward to sharing camp and a hunt with you again.
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Ah ha another trad archer who has seen the light on ambush techniques! Congrats man!
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Very cool! Congrats!
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Congrats Mike!! You have achieved something I have only been able to dream about, well done!!
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Congrats brother! Well done!
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Well done brother , just back from the mountains of Colorado myself. Great hunt , Big Congrats sir..
,,,Sam,,,
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Congratulations :thumbsup:
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Hooah!!!
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Great story my friend! Agree 100% on the distance. I spent all week in that 40-60 range last week and only closed the deal on the last night when I put myself in their way on a narrow bench. Very well done. Congrats :campfire:
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congrats!
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Originally posted by J. Cook:
Congratulations! That's a bucket list item for me for sure. My son is 8 and soon to be 9. Once he's old enough to shoot 50+ lbs...we are going.
Congrats again!!!
That should make for some good times!
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Congrats on a fine bull Michael. That was the same game unit I was hunting without your luck.
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Oh,Ho,Haw,Haw,he,he! Ya dune good!
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Congrats!
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Congratulations on a great bull.
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Congratulations!
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:clapper:
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Good job. I know you got it bad. Ha ha ha. Very cool! Mike
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Originally posted by Herdbull:
Good job. I know you got it bad. Ha ha ha. Very cool! Mike
Thank you....it's addicting