I returned from a week of elk hunting in Colorado last night. What a hoot! Here are our reactions after having a shootable bull within range.
M'boy Matt.
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd43/MnFn/elk2009007.jpg)
Had the bull at 25 yards, no shot available.
Me.
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd43/MnFn/elk2009009.jpg)
Had him at 35 yards quartering away, but my personal limit is 25 yards. Still, I raised my recurve and started to draw but something inside me said "no, it isn't a good enough shot". Matt was a lot more frustrated than I.
In the end we had a great time. Saw a few elk, heard a lot of bugling. I stalked to within 20 feet of two mule deer bucks, ( no tags). Best of all I got to spend a week hunting in the Colorado mountains with my best hunting pard- my son Matt. (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd43/MnFn/elk2009010.jpg)
My thanks to a few people on this site who helped with some suggestions:
Kendall Techau, Pinecone, and Dave2old.
Dave, your book was validated many times over in our experience. It was well worth the price!
Thanks very much, Gary
Sounds like a great time.
Tough luck. Really impressed to hear you admit that you had a shot, but did not take it because it was out of your comfort range. Love hearing ethics like that. Hats off to you.
Sounds like a very successful hunt to me. Congrats.
That's bow hunting, you go and enjoy the hunt, meat is a bonus. Close encounters with critters is also a bonus of bowhunting.
Oh yes, the old biting the lower lip response! Glad you see you guys had a great time chasing the mighty wapiti. You'll be back! haha
Feel your angst brother. Elk is head of my list. You both have my ultimate respect for limiting shots. What a lesson & great hunt.
Next time, eh!