Trad Gang

I've been back for a few days and been covered up with work and other assorted headaches.I owe a story so lets start with this pic.. They generally attract curiosity.Please bare with me this could take a bit of time.Still got a mountain of stuff to attend to,and it's opening day in CT.

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-75.jpg)

Jeff that looks like a good start.   :campfire:

:campfire:

was waiting to see when you'd post up the story   :campfire:

Great    :campfire:    :coffee:

........looking forward to this one!

I'm enchanted, and waiting for more!

Well how did you like my home state and being able to see for a hundred miles without thick trees blocking your view?

I was up in CT early this summer and nearly went insane not being able to see more than across the street, but it sure was beautiful seeing all that green you all have!

Congratulation on the successful hunt!

Waiting to go Elk hunting  :campfire:

Dang it man hurry up with the story!

:bigsmyl:

Sorry guys smoked a nanny tonight story has to wait a bit goto get skinning it's a bit to warm to wait.Stay tuned...

On pins and needles here Jeff!  Sorry you are having such a tough season!!     :campfire:

:campfire:

:coffee:

Take care of business first! Then spin us a yarn, we'll be here.   :campfire:

Well I had better at least start to spin a yarn before this ends up on page 5.

This has been an odd year around here.I've have  been working more hours than should allowed(I'm not complaining though),putting in and maintaining a few food plots,still dealing with some issues from last Octobers freak storm,some family problems and just general overall life.It's been a grind.On top of it all my shoulder feels like it's was run through a cheese grater.

I also found myself tag rich as I drew 3 western tags..Statistically I shouldn't have drawn any of them.(Again I'm not complaining) My practice sessions seem to be cut short because off all this.

:campfire:

Late August finally rolled around and I found myself with my good friend Perry Hunsaker who live in the middle of some of the best elk country anywhere in tho great nation.

As I was sitting on the porch with a cold beer in hand,I was watching a few of Perry's clients running around assembling gear and shooting there arrow launching devices and tinkering around making themselves crazy.

I got another beer and just enjoyed the evening with friends.It scarcely mattered I was in elk country.I had 10 days to unplug from the grind and figured this was a good time to start.So we just sat watching the sunset.Tomorrow we would start the season.

 (http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-3.jpg)

:wavey:   Hey Jeff .... did ya put the stinger to one ??

I hope there are LOTS of pictures too !!

:campfire:    :dunno:

Sorry Guys My puter started doing some weird stuff yesterday freezing up and flat out not working I think I got it figured out   :pray:

After a fine meal I assembled my bow.I was using my 65# bighorn I was shooting it well all summer.

The first morning was mostly uneventful. The forest was just spooky quiet,the birds were not even talking.So about 10 we called lunch and decided to check a few water holes for the evening hunt.

It didn't take to long to find fresh elk sign.This country is a tinder box and is in bad need of water.So the water holes were being hit hard by the local wildlife.It wasn't very long before I had to many choice for the evening hunt.

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-4.jpg)

Not a ton of water but there were several fresh bull track on this bench.

Well I desided to stay on this upper bench as there was just to much sign to ignore.My second choice was a drinker about a quarter of a mile to the north.The bulls were drinking there and there were several wallows around it.So Perry and I set up a pop up blind and let one of his client sit it.(he was never bow hunted elk before so I offered it to him)

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-13.jpg)

Well I saw nothing and the newbe had 2 different bulls in the wallow @ 22 yds and a third bull behind the blind about 40 yds."Staring at the blind" according to him.When we picked him up I saw that he had all the windows open. I think he pooped himself having 3 bulls that close.He never loosed an arrow.But I knew were I'd be tomorrow.

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-12.jpg)

One from inside looking out at the drinker there are 9 wallows within 30 yds of this blind.I've got a bunch of video but the way this puter is acting I think I'll stick with the stills.

waiting with baited breath for more pics brotha!

:campfire:

I think you know how it ends Mr Anderson.

Over the next few days the elk were getting a bit more vocal but would quit early.Most mornings they were bedded by 8.I personally  
don't like to bother them in there beds.I tend to use the late morning and scout to figure out an evening ambush.

These elk were still in bachelor groups and all seemed to be hanging in the same couple of drainages.We were getting close.we just needed a bit of luck.

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-6.jpg)

Headed up for an evening hunt..About 300 yds after I snapped this photo I bumped a small heard of bedded elk.They jumped I hit the deck and they let me take 14 minutes of video but did manage a few stills.Hope they show.

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-7.jpg)

Nice!

Now that's what I'm taking about.    :coffee:

On about the 4th day I found myself back at camp and was doing a little shooting when one of the guides ask to take a few shots and mentioned that he always wanted a Black Widow,but his archery shop only carried hi-tech stuff.I said no problem sir I just happen to have one in my bow case so it got strung up and the shoot out was on. Sorry guys no stills of the shoot out we were having way to much fun.I really thought that widow was going to end up in Springerville AZ. Kenny took to that bow like a fish does to water.

He told me that the only way he would give it back to me was if I finished the hunt with it.So I did.

Only problem was I forgot to pack the quiver bolts Soooo a bit of cowboy engineering and vwa la. One semi modified GFA QUIVER.Just cut the lanyard string on a cow call, a few knots,the strap off my video camera and there you have it.

  (http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-82.jpg)

To be honest I never liked this type of quiver in the catalog,However after a few days of use It's my new favorite.Thank you G Fred I never should have doubted.I'll be ordering the real deal very shortly     :thumbsup:

Well my buddy Kenny must have known something that I didn't because when I started carrying that widow elk activity picked up tenfold.We had several very close encounters but for one reason or another we could not seal the deal.It still didn't matter I was elk hunting with an awesome friend and loving every single second of it.

About the 6th day We put a semi vocal bull to bed above a small tank and drinker that the elk were hammering big time.there is a ground blind there that I had rebuilt just prior to the season opening.And we had 2 clients sit it and both said they had seen elk but nothing came in to drink.

 (http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-20.jpg)

Haein in about 100 pm when I got to the blind I couldn't believe my eyes.These 2 guys had removed all the back drop and side  cover around the blind.Mann I was muttering some things that I can't print here    :banghead:      :banghead:     :banghead:  It's like babysitting some days.

Well I was there so it was time for a quick redo And I was soon to regret my hasty rebuilding techniques.      

After everything was set I got all settled and decided to draw my bow when I realized my lower limb was awfully close to contacting the inside wall of the blind.Just keep the bow more vertical and you'll be fine said the voice in my head it's elk thirty hurry up and get settled.But the other voice was saying redo your window or it could cost you.

Dam it was perfect on the first build.Man was I cussing clients in my head.They told me later they couldn't see enough country.My response was something like "next time book a bleeping photo safari not a bow hunt"

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-23.jpg)

A view from inside the blind Yes video camera and all,man this part is hard to type brings back some bad visions.

Guess I'll just cut to the chase and say that I had a solid 360 class bull come to the drinker and gave me the shot at 19 yds.My lower limb hit the blind and the arrow flew high and wide and cut the bull behind the ear.I was sick to my stomach.My fault nobody to blame but me.    :knothead:      :banghead:          :bang head:

All on video to rubb salt into the festering wound.

We spent the next morning dry tracking him and knew he would be  
alright except for a sore spot on his neck.

Perry actually sent me some video of him yesterday, a missing patch of hair behind his left ear.Still doesn't make it any easier to swallow

Sorry guys goto get some shut eye, very early am tomorrow stay tuned.

Cool stuff so far.

Jeff, those type of misses are hard to swallow but the good news is nothing bad happened that can't be fixed. Great story and thanks for taking us with you.    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Great read, thanks for the effort.
As above, good the big guy is OK. You're hurtin' more though, but that'll mend.

This is great, Jeff!....thanks!

Well after the debacle of a the previous day I was just in a mood.Just flat out mad at myself for not heeding those inner voices.I know better.Things always go awry when I don't act on that initial instinct.Should have re rebuilt the shooting window.(That will not happen again)

We returned to camp after tracking and Kenny could see my mood and suggested we shoot a bit.So I handed him the widow and he was a bit upset and said "what the heck did you do to my bow look at the lower limb"

I hadn't even noticed there was a very large and deep scratch in it.It must have hit the bailing wire that holds up the side of the blind.   :eek:    :banghead:    :eek: . It for sure hit harder than I felt in the moment.

The next day and a half or so I just felt like I was going through the motions.It's kind of an odd process I somehow need to go through.The one thing that was helping was that the elk were getting more vocal.I just couldn't get out of my own head.

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-16.jpg)

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-15.jpg)

Just a few random pics of some of the wallows that seemed to be appearing by the hour.

Two days later the elk took us up a drainage that was off there normal pattern but man was I glad they did.This drainage was so fell of rub,wallows,fresh sign and elk stink so over powering it was almost to much to absorb.I don't think there was a tree in that drainage that wasn't rubbed.I'll try to get some video up soon.(I struggle with all this technology.)

The one thing that really was cool about this spot was the sheer number of hummingbirds,there were literally hundreds of them.Darting here and there,hovering inn front of you,licking the arrow nocks.Everywere you looked hummingbirds.It was just to cool, we let the elk go up the drainage and just enjoyed the free show that mother nature was giving us.The video doesn't do justice to the actual number of them.

:campfire:          
great story, I am enjoying it.

Thanks guys sorry it''s dragging but my puter/typing skills are terrible.Were having a bad storm here right now and the power keep flitting in and out just to add to my frustration.

I'm enjoying this!   :thumbsup:

Yea I've got power this evening.Lost it last night in a wind storm.Now were was I....

Perry and I continued up the drainage and found a tank that we didn't know was there but the elk sure did.This place was being hammered.I was getting ready to do a bit of video and all of the sudden there was a laud rapid huffing and the sound of something running towards us.   :scared:

Over the dirt berm came a chocolate colored bear running full tilt and he swan dove into the tank kept right on running, took 2 or 3 laps of water,and ran right past us about 10 ft away,shook himself off and kept right on running.Man do I wish the camera was rolling.It was one of those moment in the forest that leaves you thinking (what the heck just happened and did I really just see that) It was a very good morning.

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-24.jpg)

The elk got ahead off us but we had a tree picked out for a stand that evening.

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-28.jpg)

Just a few pics of some of the terrain I think these photos get taken just because I'm usually sucking wind and use a photo op as an excuse to breathe.It's tough being an elk hunter from CT.

Great stuff!!

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-29.jpg)

Some of the things that you run into along the way.Makes me wonder what went on here many moons ago.

Found a shed one day and had this beetle land on the burr.I've never seen one of this color configuration.

 (http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-17.jpg)

Well I grabbed a tree stand and some ladders and let early for the evening hunt to get the stand set and let the area settle down before elk thirty rolled around.If the elk showed up at the water the far side was only 21yds away The wind in this drainage allowed for a very tight set up.

About an hour into the sit I had a 5x6 feeding down the drainage and he just fed around the tank at around 20 tp 25 yds for almost 20 minutes.I just sat there filming him and smiling very broadly.This bull got a pass.For whatever reason it just didn't feel like a time to shoot so I just enjoyed the moment.What an incredible day.

As I left at dark the elk were starting to talk.and I was finally at peace with my inner demons.When I got to the truck Perry reminded me that there were only 2 days left in the season.And I simply said that is still 4 hunts plenty of time.It only takes a magic second.

Well the next morning was fairly uneventful but the elk did go up Hummingbird drainage.And I knew where I would be this evening.I'm sorry there are no stills of the set-up got mostly video.

I got settled on stand fairly early just wanting to absorb as much as I could with the time I had left.About 4 O'clock I looked up and saw a tan hide moving through the cedars at a pretty good trot.It's go time.no mater what this elk was bull or cow if it came in it was going to reside on the east coast.

The camera switched on the bow was ready and I ooozzzed into a standing shooting position.all of a sudden the bull was just there 30 yds and closing coming straight at the stand 25 24 23 still no shot,he needs to turn,Just as he starts to turn I see the wind feather on my upper limb turn towards him for a brief second and return back in my favor.But in that brief second you could see his body language change.still facing me and the shot is slightly obscured by the tree in front of me..

Great story. Thanks Jeff.    :bigsmyl:    :bigsmyl:

"Your a daisy if you do", was what I was thinking at the moment.If this bull turned and left any way other than the way he came I'd get a shot.This mexican stand off lasted almost 6 minutes the wind stayed constant and the bull started to relax.Not me my concentration was so intense there was nothing else in the universe,just this bull and me doing the death dance.The breeze again decided to tickle his nose again but this time he turned to leave quartering away and walking.

I was so focused on this bulls opposite leg bone that my aiming point kept changing as he was moving away.As he cleared the obstructing limbs my bow was anchored and the arrow was away....

At the release it seamed os though the arrow was in the air for a long time but I saw the feathers disappear midship just in front of the left hip.At the hit this bull tore out off there like he was shot out of a cannon,he angled back toward the stand and there was already a football sized splotch of blood forming on his side.   :bigsmyl:    :pray: .

I got out of sight in a hurry so I was sound tracking him.Well I'm telling you this bull was gettin it he was tearing up some country.He took a straight line and stayed on it,literally running through the cedars and knocking down pine trees what a racket.I could still here him running over the 2 track that was 460 yds away...

After the adrenaline started to subside(I come unglued after a shot) I radioed Perry and we assembled for a pow wow.I replayed the shot in my head and knew this bull was done.

With darkness quickly approaching Perry talked me  into leaving this bull lie over night.Hard quartering shot,no exit wound,and the distance that I heard him travel.Lest just leave him till morning and give him a chance to give up the ghost.I did have to agree with his logic though,so I consented.

When we got back to the ranch and replayed the video we both agreed that this time I did it right.We would find this bull in the morning.

We got back to the stand in the morning and began the search for sign.We found the initial tracks were the bull tore out of Dodge,and my buddy looked at me and asked if I knew how far of a shot that was.53 yds with a rangefinder to the tree stand.I told him if I thought about it I'd have never shot.Dam did that look like a long poke in the morning light.

Last night I was in the zone and I knew it.Bash me if you will I'm a tough guy I can take it.

We never had to look for blood on the trail as this bull looked like a bulldozer had just gone through the forest I've never seen a death run like this before. About 600 yds on this is what we saw.

  (http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-32.jpg)

After we decided he was a daisy the celebration began.

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-41.jpg)

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-59.jpg)

This bull literally ran a straight line until he dropped.He was down in less than 15 seconds.In that time he went way farther than I've ever seen one go before.

Wow, great story and shot. Congrats on a beautiful bull!

The first pic told us how this was going to end, but not how exciting and interesting it would be.
Thanks for the read and battling through the "technology demons".
Great effort.

Man that was a great hunt. Congrats on a FINE BULL..  :clapper:

Way to get er done, Jeff. Those death runs from a big bull are sometimes utterly amazing. Congrats.    :clapper:    :clapper:

Nice bull Jeff!  May have missed it in the reading but were you in one of the units in the Gila? Beautiful country, well told tale

Thanks guys I've got a few more finishing touches to add.Got to go do the bill paying thing now.

Outstanding bull Jeff! Congratulations!  New Mexico is quite a place and has captured my heart.

Good for you Jeff ... I bet you had a beer to celebrate that whopper. I have only hunted NM once and it was in January for mule deer. Very pretty country ... I have never seen so many coyotes though.

That will be an awesome mount, good shoot'n

Beautiful bull, congrats!   :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Awesome elk, beautiful country, and amazing shot! thanks for the story it was a good read   :clapper:

Awesome, congratulations.

Gilbert

Congratulations with a great bull!
Thanks for the good story!

Great bull. Congrats.

Congratulations Jeff. great Bull !! I need to talk to you sometime. My Unit 17 Elk Hunt was great. Several opportunities. I did NOT get it done. Need your help with this TRAD Thing.

Thanks, Randy

Great hunt Jeff and memories of a lifetime.  Congrats on the fine bull.

I hate that you had to settle for such a tiny elk, Jeff. Better luck next time.    :rolleyes:  

Allan

Beautiful bull Jeff,  Congrats

Well after we did the grip and grin thing it was time to get busy and do the back breaking dirty work.As it turned out this bull actually did us a favor by running toward a 2 track and falling a couple of hundred yds off.We would be able to get the truck to the kill site.    :bigsmyl:  .

So Perry went to get the truck and I got dirty.This bull was in a serious state of rigor mortis,he has literally lock up tighter than a brinks truck.(I'm sure it shows in the pics we needed props and such just to get semi decent pics)

A little bit of cowboy engineering and I was in bussness.

 (http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-70.jpg)

Wile I was dressing the bull I found the arrow and broadhead buried in his off side front shoulder.The arrows haft was fully intact and still spins like a top.I was quite surprised at that.

I didn't take any autopsy photos but the shaft went through the bulk of the digestive system,through the liver,the right lung and stopped in the inside off right shoulder.The vast majority of the bleeding was internal.

Total penetration was about 35 to 37 inches.

What was your arrow/broadhead configuration Jeff? It certainly did the job. Was the B.W. also around 65 pounds?

Allan

Sorry guys got sidetracked.No Alan the bow was 56#s @28 I pull 29.5 Shooting an easton FMJ 400 with 225 grains on the nose 125gr Stinger and 100 gr brass insert.This bow loves that combo.FWIW this arrow had all the Ashby criteria,internal parabolic taper and all except the broadhead, 4 blade stinger.

Honestly This set up is really making me reevaluate some of my thinking.I'll just leave it at that The info is there if you wan't to find it.I'm a believer it has proved itself time and again IMHO.

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-65.jpg)

Perry doing the Facebook thing.I can't even believe there was cell service on the ridge.

My biggest concern was getting this bull skinned and cooled thankfully the pack job would be easy.The bad thing about all the thinning that the forest service does is the potential for a longer shot is always there.

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-71.jpg)

The good thing is lhat most of the time you can get a truck right to the animal.This unit is not as remote as some but is darn sure not a walk in the park either.

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/bighorncooch/file-74.jpg)

The tools of the trade.A pair off Dunn Customs and the arrow.

QuoteOriginally posted by Ray Hammond:
Nice bull Jeff!  May have missed it in the reading but were you in one of the units in the Gila? Beautiful country, well told tale

Yes Ray this was a unit 15 hunt in the Gila.Not good draw odds but there are some nice bulls in there.

Sorry about not doing the Q & A thing sooner giving a lot of time to a big 9 frequenting a food plot.

QuoteOriginally posted by elkken:
Good for you Jeff ... I bet you had a beer to celebrate that whopper. I have only hunted NM once and it was in January for mule deer. Very pretty country ... I have never seen so many coyotes though.

That will be an awesome mount, good shoot'n

Yes Ken I may have bent my elbow a time or three.   :goldtooth:

QuoteOriginally posted by rlc1959:
Congratulations Jeff. great Bull !! I need to talk to you sometime. My Unit 17 Elk Hunt was great. Several opportunities. I did NOT get it done. Need your help with this TRAD Thing.

Thanks, Randy

No problem I'll shoot you my number in a pm.I'd love to know what went down in 17.I'll do what I can bout the trad thing

Well done and well told Jeff, thanks for sharing!   :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Congrats!!

:bigsmyl:     :bigsmyl:    :bigsmyl: