This hunt actually started in 1997 when a friend of mine said we should apply for an elk hunt in N.M. and Arizona. We contacted United States Out Fitters & started applying. We were drawn in Arizona in 2000 (my friend's dad passed away the day before we were to leave and he couldnt go) so I went on my first elk hunt and did I ever get biten bad. Since that hunt I had only missed one year that I didn't go elk hunting, mostly by buying landowner tags in New Mexico. On one hunt I missed 5 shots the first day. The word got out on me that I couldn't kill an elk. I began to think that God just didn't want me to kill one. In the meantime I was having no trouble with bear, caribou, javelinas, small game and I better not shoot at a deer if I didn't want to kill it. But I still could miss an elk at 7 yards? We began to think that I was jinxed or maybe some witch doctor had put a spell on me. I might mention that my friend who had been on most hunts with me and hunts with a compound bow, had not even drawn on an elk. We finally drew the Gila National Forest, Unit 15 this year and both of us killed bulls sitting on water holes in the afternoon. Jim, my friend shot his the first afternoon and I got mine the third afternoon. He came in behind a single cow, as calm as any animal I have ever seen, walked down into the water and I took a broadside shot at 16 yards. I met my guide at 8:15pm and we agreed to wait until morning to look. The next morning we got right on the trail and in about 5 mins spotted the bull down but still alive. I slipped in to about 25 yards behind him and shot another arrow into his vitals. He didn't even try to get up, he just stretched out and took his last breath. I finally had my elk. Now I think the witch doctor is in my computer. As soon as I can get it fixed I will post some more pictures. The high southwest desert was at its best this year. Hope to post pictures by Monday. Thans for looking at my post.
After 10 years of frustation and putting unused tags in a drawer, the witch doctor stayed home. Sat. Sept. 4th, after a long sleepless night I finally put my tag on a bull in Unit 15, NM (http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/NMElk.jpg)
congrats! thats a nice bull. i am very jelous.
Congradulations!! Elk Steaks all around!
:thumbsup:
fantastic. Nice work, and I am expecting to hear the story also.
Congrats! Nice bull.
Awesome bull! Story?
Tell us the rest of the story! Congratulations!
Waiting....
Great! Congratulations!
Good for you.Thats a long journey.But well worth it judging from the pics.
Congrats!!!
Congratulations on a well deserved harvest! :thumbsup: :clapper:
Need to know more, thats a beautiful elk.
What state ?
Carl
Nice, congrats.
Great job, now you have all the MOJO!
YAHOO! Beeeeeautiful bull.
Congrats! Looks like a great bull!! :thumbsup:
Wooo Hoooo!!!!
very nice...lets hear the story :thumbsup:
Nice bull...no bull. Congrats
:thumbsup:
congrats sure is a nice bull; :clapper:
Sweet. The devil is in the details, so let us have it.
awesome congrats dude !
ChuckC
About time Charles, congrats. You earn that bull.
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Now for the story and more pics.......
congrats!!! ................ someday I will join the club.
EXCELLENT!!
Nice Bull a Tip of the cap to you !!!
D
Congrats Charles, way to keep after it.
Nice! details details
Good stuff Charlie!
Charles, you deserve to be cogratulated......can I borrow a few peices of back strap ???? :clapper:
Congratulations!!! Thats really a nice first, second or third or 10th or thirtyith. God has blessed you sir!!! Steve
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now......
You better bring some when you come fishing. :readit:
:bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
Nice one Charlie! Let's hear the tale.
Very nice bull!!! Love to hear about your hunt. congratulations. :clapper:
Congratulations!
Thanks to all, I'll get more pictures up and the details tomorrow. Promise
SWEET!! Shawn
Way to stick with it, Congrats! on a hard earned bull. :clapper:
Excellent ! Thats stickin' with it !! Great payout !!!
Congrats!! Awesome animal!! :clapper:
Very nice!
:clapper:
:clapper:
Way to go. Standing by for the story.
Congrats buddy! I am 0 for 4 on those magnificant animals!
Congratulations Charles....Great Bull
Congratulations! Tell us the story.
Thats some fine tablefare you got there. Congratulations are in order! :thumbsup:
Congratulations, and it's a dandy for your first@@
WAY TO GO :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
awesome elk man!! congrats!
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congrats Nice job
:thumbsup:
Well done! Give us the campfire story.
nice!!!
Good looking bull there! Congrats!!!
Congrats! Great bull! :clapper:
Congratulations on a well deserved kill! :archer:
That is awesome!!! Now lets hear some details!
awsome :notworthy: :notworthy: :clapper: :clapper: :jumper:
The best feeling in the hunting world :)
Nothing like ELK screaming in the woods .....
My favorite game animal....
Way to stay the course and collect your reward !!!!!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Know how you must feel. Good Luck.
Well the witch doctor is in my computer now,looks like hard drive is gone.I'll get rest of story and more pictures when I get it fixed. sorry, Charles
That a nice well deserved bull. Send some luck this way. :clapper: :clapper:
Way to go! Looks like the wait was worth it.
Great bull,Congrats. :clapper:
Very nice Charles ... congrats
what a Grrrrreat Bull, there is nothing like it. I really think taking a mature bull elk is mile stone for any archer!
---------------
Keep the faith----
Nice job, especially staying with it, believe me I know it is frustrating. Enjoy every minute of it!
Congratulations!! Awesome Bull.
Nice bull Charles. Go NC guys. Don
Too awesome! congrats!
Man you can't post a pic of an awsome bull like that and not at least throw us a bone or two. :readit: :readit: Awsome bull none the less,Congradulations :thumbsup:
Way to hang in there...congratulations!
Congratulations on a fine looking bull! :clapper:
Congrats.
Nice job Congratulations
Good on you Charles :thumbsup: Doc
(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/210041298005_234109034005_1000_0088.jpg)
Sunset on Day 1
(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/210040322005_234122717005_1000_0034.jpg)
My Blind
(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/210040326005_234122716005_1000_0038.jpg)
Where Bull stopped
More pics.
(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/210041300005_234109026005_1000_0090.jpg)
The "Witch Doctor" sitting in Indian ruins. Actually my friend Jim. He used to shoot trad. until he blew part of his right hand off with a shark stick in the early "90s. His right big toe is now his right thumb, no kidding
Good job Charlie! No doubt an adventure. My #1 animal. None yet. Thanks for the story.
(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/210040360005_234109053005_1000_0072.jpg)
Bull down
(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/210040320005_234122756005_1000_0032.jpg)
Newspaper rock
(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/210041310005_234109013005_1000_0100.jpg)
Desert Beauty
WAY TO GO :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/DSCN0012.jpg)
Didn't realize I had this one.[Had stalked in for final shot]
Congrats on fine bull; Thanks for sharing;; :thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :archer: :archer2:
Right on Charles!! Congratulations to you sir. Awesome....just awesome. :thumbsup:
Great bull! Always fantastic to have great photos to go along with a great hunt.
Persistence paid off! 10 years. That bull certainly made up for it!
:archer:
Glad you were able to shake the jinx off. Congrats!
Wow! I guess you must have a tall ceiling in your home. Great story.
I wasn't able to read this thread when it happened because I was out on a hunt of my own. But I made myself a note to look it up when I got back.
Very cool Charles!! Congratulations on a magnificent animal. All those years of trying had to make it just that much sweeter! Well worth the wait :thumbsup: :clapper:
Congrats! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Awesome. I guess I missed this one while I was gone. Congrats on a GREAT bull.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Like most elk hunter I missed this one too.Congrats very nice bull.
very cool.
Great Job, congrats!
Very cool indeed.
Congrats Charles :clapper: :clapper:
Awsome job Charles :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Did you kill that bull in lower centerfire?,Lord knows I've laid a bunch of boot leather down in that country.
Nice first bull!!! Congrats
Love it when a ten year plan comes together!!!
Way to stick it out Charles!
Thanks Duckbutt,only bad thing about a 10 year plan it gets pretty costly :banghead: kinda like pound cake.