My season started out rather rough. My "bowyer", who has made me a couple of bows and been a good friend got first dibs. Three days for just him to finally get his first elk with a bow. We made a go of it two years ago for a day, and he couldn't connect on several opportunities. But, this year was to be different!
There must be more....... :thumbsup: :campfire:
:campfire:
:campfire:
After getting my wheelie friends out of the way, Bill (names have been changed to protect the guilty) and I headed up for a three day hunt. It started out bad, having to not leave the house till 6 in the morning due to family issues on his side, getting us a start hunting time of roughly noon after getting camp up and such.
After some doing and alot of work we had multiple missed opportunites on good bulls. The elk were really coming in for us, but he just couldn't quite get set up in the right spot, or draw at the rigth time, etc... Finally, after throwing two arrows over the back of the same bull at a dozen yards, Bill was starting to see it as his fate. Eventually he went home, stating that it was the time of his life, having drawn his bow more in that time than the rest of his trips put together. I am still bummed we couldn't make it work.
Mixed in here was one of the most incredible experiences I've had in the elk woods, and I've had a few.
While calling to a bull that was out front of us and with the wind right I suddenly haerd a bunch of cow calling and hard running thumps behind me. Twisting my head backward I got a glimpse of a giant of a bull running down through the sagebrush hillside we just crossed, mewing constantly. He came into the aspen grove I was kneeling in with all the enthusiasm of a bird dog on opening day, headed right at me. He had me pinned! Though I was there to get my buddy his bull, I decided right off I was shooting this bull if I get the chance. With anxious trepidation I slowly pulled an arrow out of my quiver and got ready, and somehow he never noticed. Problem was he didnt stop either. Walking stiff legged and chuckling staccato thumps under his breath he approached me till he was standing directly beside my frame at a yard, kneeling and slightly trembling in pure joy. Looking down the hill the same way I was facing we sat there like we were watching a show together on a sofa, me just waiting for him to make the next move. We sat on the hill like that for what seemed like an eternity, as everyone of our senses were at their peak, me wallowing in the smell and presence of a mature rutting bull with in arms length and waiting for him to overcome his hormones and smell my sweaty human flesh. Eventually, my left eye and his right eye made contact, though he weighed 800 lbs plus, he found that to be unnerving. Slowly turning to leave as if he was honestly reluctant to do so, he took a few steps dead away from me, still confused where that cow went. As he was leaving I tensed my bow arm and got ready to spin and draw. Mindlessly, I mewed a short and ever so soft cow call through my nose.
Upon hearing that sound of his lost date down the hill he spun like on a top, facing me again, and reached down from somewhere in those massive lungs, letting rip a high pitched and mournful scream that undualted up and down with all the urgency of a husband watching his wife go out on the town. As his breath rolled from his lips I could literally feel it on the back of my neck, the vibrations of sound pounding into my skull. MY ears were absolutley ringing and my nerves completely shot.
I decided right there that I could be done for ever. My life complete. With the bull unawares, he literally connected with my spirit on a level I previously only thought could be accomplished by seraphim gurading the throne.
More confused and worked up then I have ever seen a bull he finally turned to leave again, I was however in no position mentally to kill this bull, thouhg I figured I'd give her a go. Good thing that he walked dead away to 35 yards, never giving me a shot, glunking and peeing all over the place on the way. He hung out just out of range for a long time, singing love songs and searching anxiously, eventually fading into the bush and out of my life. But not before leaving me with what is one of the most incredible moments I will ever experience.
After getting Bill home, I drove back up to the mountain for my selfish hunt, hoping to find that bull in the same moood!
Yow I'm still shaking!!!! :notworthy: :notworthy:
Thursday morning, first morning that I was there for myself, found my good buddy and I in what is my favorite place in the world. After years of experience, we call it the rock concert. These bulls are not afraid to advertise their presence to the world. Though we are hunting National Forest in a Gneral OTC area, we see mature bulls in there every year. It is a mere 2.5 mile (as the crow flies) hike from the car in the dark, but for whatever reason we always have it all to ourselves. The above experience happened on the outskirts of this magical staging area. We were returning hoping for more.
What an awesome experience. That my friend, is "counting coup" in its finest sense. You got to take that bull home with you without firing an arrow. Great story!
What an awesome experience.
There's the magic of a close encounter of the elk kind. WOW!!! That would definitely feed the sensory neurons of your mind to overload. What a great experience Dan. :goldtooth:
Indeed it was!
Getting in there at dark 30, things were oddly quiet. After some impatient waiting, I couldn't let it slide anymore and let her rip with a long location bugle. Before the sound could echo back off the trees, the concerted started. And before long I was able to shut up and just let em sing. What a great day that was! We had bulls singing all around us.
We had one nemesis though, the wind. IT seemed that everytime we'd close the distance on a bull and set up to bringin him in the wind would be headed right at him. IT happened over and over again. Rather then going for it anyway, I always back out and try to get it right first. Finally by 10 am we were starting to get a stable wind. It turned out we had some weather coming in, so things were a bit squirrely, but luckily so were the bulls!
Hanging out down in the staging and feeding areas longer then usual they all started to move up the ridge to bed about the same time the wind did the same. Hustling, we went with them.
Setting up just above the hill, preferring to always call from an uphill position and with the wind right, we were looking for a place to shoot, but nothing was offered!
The beetle kill is really starting to take its toll on the hills, as more and more trees pile up into an endless logjam. Things are getting very tight in there, making travel nearly impossible in most places. I've noticed elk are bedding more and more on aspen south facing slopes and in mixed conifer creek bottoms. Also, they are taking alot longer to get in because of the difficulty of travel. I had no bulls sneak up on me this year!
Because of this, I set-up in the aspens and open lodgepole as much as possible, calling elk out of thick spot rather then going in like I would usually do.
Finding a suitable location, we set into calling. Immediately, the heard bull (who we call chuckler) started crying marco polo, trying to get me over there. Soon the other bull, whom we had not seen but named growler, started to sound off. He was on the opposite side of the canyon and higher then us.
After some cow calling, they kept answering but not coming. So, I mixed in a few long chuckles, giving the impression of a subdominant bull with the cows, keeping them from coming down. That did the trick! Almost immmediately you could hear the growler bull crashing, jumping, stumbling, bashing, jogging, his way down the opposite hillside and through the piles of sticks and logs. Pausing only to sound off a low guttaral growl, with no high pitch at all. The further he got from the herd bull, the more the herd bull screamed in protest, what a cacophony of sound this was! Finally, he reached the creek below us, splashing through it and heading up the other side in our direction.
WOW,this is a great story!
anxiously peering under the brim of my cap I scanned the hill below for any sign of his presence. Finally, there were antler tips just above the junipers bobbing and weaving their way up the hill. Once his whole body could be seen, and still out about 70 yards down hill through golden yellow aspen, mixed conifer and juniper brush and straight down a trail carved by elk, reminiscent of a roto-tillers carnage. The bull paused to gussy up on a defensless pine tree, rubbing his antlers with feigned violence.
Pausing from raking he looked up the hill, giving me a moment to blow a soft cow call through my nose. He decided the time was right, kicked back his rack and came up the hill growling another call of dominance in our direction. Now I know things were about to get serious.
He headed straight up the hill, right at me with full purpose and intention. at about 15 yards and still ambulating I was starting to worry this was going to be another case of head on hand shaking or nothing. But, at 7 yards he could no longer take it, needing to know right where that cow was, now!
He was standing to the right and just behind the asepn in this photo.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img42/1926/20120920120342.jpg)
Curling his lip, and pushing his head down and and head back in the classic pose of a dominant bull tasting the air for a molecule of cow elk, he postured arounf for a few seconds.
As well timed as possible, my buddy, who was sitting 30 yards to my left, let out a tiny mew. It was just enough, the bull turned broadside like magic and growled that incredible sound in the direction of the noise, simultaneously stepping just behind the aspen tree. As he did so I tensed up and began to draw in anticipation of him clearing that tree.
:campfire:
He cleared the tree and finished his bugle as I felt my back tense and the arrow loose on its way. Like going through a feather pillow, the arrow met little resistence as it dissapeared clean into his side, slightly above center and straight up the leg.
When the bull whirled and headed down the mountain, I bugled to slow his march out of force of habit all the tension built up over that sequence came out in a flood of emotion only felt by those who experience nature by being part its cycle and in reverance of those rhythms. All control was lost, I layed on my back in silent thanks to my creator for an amazing experience, while uttering a prayer of quick death and speedy recovery.
Upon sitting up I could see my arrow resting in a brush down the hill a ways, with everything tinged a slightly different color then it had left my bow.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img191/2479/20120920115724.jpg)
The track job was short, having stumbled directly back down the hill and without the strength to climb eth other side, we saw this upon approacihng the creek.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img696/5310/20120920123918.jpg)
Congrats must be in order.
This was my first bull using a bow I made.
The simmons tree Shark more then did his job, opening a huge hole for the 800 gr hammer head to slip through unencumbered. I am very impressed with these heads. There was a gallon of blood covering the 75 yard trail to the bottom.
entrance
(http://imageshack.us/a/img228/7938/20120920124115.jpg)
exit
(http://imageshack.us/a/img688/8030/20120920125009.jpg)
In thanksgiving he returns to the earth
(http://imageshack.us/a/img163/3321/20120920124540.jpg)
After a few happy photos
(http://imageshack.us/a/img689/2425/20120920124300.jpg)
we began the process of turning this
(http://imageshack.us/a/img809/1999/20120920124001.jpg)
into this
(http://imageshack.us/a/img32/3001/20120920141940.jpg)
and finally into this...
(http://imageshack.us/a/img211/9136/20120920145404.jpg)
Outstanding! Excellent story and bull.
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper: Awesome.
Congrats! I'm sure glad someone can kill them :)
Congrats great bull!
Well done, I can only dream and live through your guys post of hunts that I think about. Thanks for sharing and congrats. :bigsmyl: :clapper: :clapper:
Incredible hunt!!! Thank you so much for sharing.
What a tale, well told!
This Elk hunting really gets the blood flowing for an Eastern boy. Thanks for taking the time to share.
Congratulations!
Great job thanks for the report ! awesome hunt
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Great write-up and photos, congrats on that bull! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
My heart is still pounding from reading the story!
Well done man and what an awesome season you had!
Absolutely outstanding read Dan! You done good, felt like he was blowing snot on me too ;) thanks for sharing!
That made my hair stand up! Great story and thank you for sharing...makes me think back to all the encouters I had this year calling elk in. I can not imagine being so close to such an amazing animal. God's creation at its finest. Thanks again, and great job.
That is so cool. Thanks for sharing with us. . .
Way to go, Dan! Congratulations on a fine bull! Great pics and story too! Outstanding.
Kenny :clapper:
Way to get it done Dan.Congatulations.Great read.
Congratulations brother. That is a great bull. God Bless
Congrats!!!
Nice job. :thumbsup:
Congrats.
Wonderful story telling.
Great story and good job.
Congrates on a fine bull. Excellent story telling and shot. :clapper:
If that story doesn't put a fella there, I don't know what does! A big congratulations on a fine bull and an amazing hunt!
Thanks for sharing your story
Congratulations , That was a great story , pictures and really nice elk.
God bless , Steve
what a story!! what a hunt!! thanks for sharing and congrats man!
Well done Dan. Love the pictures and story.
Well done Dan. Love the pictures and story.
Great story and experience, thanks so much for taking us along!
Thank you so much for bringing me along on your hunt .. I couldn't go this year and this really helped bring it back. However, Lord willing, I will be going out next year.
Thanks again!
Congrats! Great story and bull! Thanks for sharing :thumbsup:
Congrats and well written - read like a good book - with pictures of a very nice elk!
:thumbsup:
So very cool! Congrats!!!! :clapper:
Great story. What kind of game bags are those? Congrats on a great bull
Great story and bull. Thanks for shaing.
Great story!
Wow, That about covers it!!
Congrats ! Great story and elk!!
Wow! Way to go sir! Beautiful animal!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
Dan, way to go bud!!! With your own bow to boot, sweeeet!!
ElkNut1
Wow!
Wow great adventure and bull.
Great story !
Congrats on a super bull..
Great bull Dan. Congrats!
Fantatic story and hunt,a tip of the Fedora,and people wonder why we shoot traditional bows.It doesn't get any better.
Fantastic bull and story telling, well done and congrats! :thumbsup:
Man! That is some great story telling! Nicely done!
Great written account of a fantastic hunt!!! Great photos too. CONGRATS!
Congrats! I must say it felt like I was there. Thanks for bringing me along.
Fantastic set of hunts. I was with you through your story telling. Thanks for bringing me along and congratulations!!
AWESOME!! Congrats, Great story!
Steve
I love elk threads and this is a good one. Thanks and congrats to all.
Hey,it looks a lot of TradGangers are been successful on elk!
:archer2:
Congrats! Great story and a great bull.
Nice job, congrats!!!
Very cool! That was a great read! Even better that you did it with a self-made bow!
Enjoyed the story. thanks for sharing your adventure. congrats!!
Great story bro!
They were definitely bugling hard this year. I have a very similar story I'm writing with a slightly different ending.... Thanks for sharing yours, and congrats on a beautiful bull there. :thumbsup:
Kirk
WOW. :thumbsup:
Very well written, felt like I was there, oh and damn fine Bull!
Hey guys! finally got off the mountain today. Thanks much for the comments, thoroughly glad you enjoyed them.
I wanted to throw in one more thing. I contemplated making this a separate thread, but decided not to.
I cannot say enough on how well that simmons head performed! By all accounts, the placement of this shot would generally produce a meager blood trail, with mostly internal bleeding (high lung entrance). However, that was FAR from the case here.
this photo was TYPICAL of the entire trail. literally looked like someone poured paint constantly.
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn33/elkbreath/photo5.jpg)
They were razor sharp after the shot, and easily got complete penetration. At the moment I think I have finally found my broadhead!
And finally, a parting shot from elk country 2012!
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn33/elkbreath/photo6.jpg)
That parting shot is a perfect pic man! Says it all.
Outstanding. Enjoyed the read and pics. Congrats!
Awsome stuff.
Outstanding! My elk hunt this year needs to be lived through the eyes of others, and you sure got the chills running up my spine with this thread! Thanks for taking me along, and congratulations on a fine bull!
Fantastic story, felt like I was right there with you!
Wow, incredible story and pictures, very well done and a hard earned congratulations :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Dan,
Beautiful elk, great story!! Congratulations.
I second the performance of the Simmons heads!! I used a Tree Shark on a 7 pt whitetail, made a marginal hit, at best, that left a profuse, 75 yard blood trail. Nicked the rear of the nearside lung, got liver, and offside lung.
Thanks for sharing! Great story and awesome bull! Congrats! :clapper:
Fun. Thanks for sharing...
Great story,thanks for sharing
Well done on your successful hunt. Your meat bags look interesting, maybe keep the meat from flopping around when packing. What kind are they if you don't mind me asking. Thanks for your story.
Congrats! Thanks for sharing.
Really enjoyed the parting shot pic EB!
Nothing like finding a couple of nice elk sheds to remember those days afield.
Thanks for sharing and keep the wind in your face!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
Lone hunter, they are all Kifaru. They are super lightweight, drain at the bottom and are designed to keep the meat feeling like an integrated unit, with most of the weight on top and less on bottom, making it a far more stable load. Great stuff patrick makes!
right after he missed the same bull twice
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn33/elkbreath/photo13.jpg)
Homemade and tuned Grunt tube and Bow
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn33/elkbreath/photo12.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn33/elkbreath/photo11.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn33/elkbreath/photo9.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn33/elkbreath/photo10.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn33/elkbreath/photo8.jpg)
final product
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn33/elkbreath/photo7.jpg)
Congrats! Great pics and story! You now owe me a computer screen. I just took a bite out of mine! :clapper:
That was an awesome story and photos. Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks for the info, I'll look them up now and see about getting some. Sometimes we can't get the mules to the meat and they would be a big improvement over cotton bags. Thanks again. Mike
Wow u have a way with words it was like I was ther with u
Cheers Jim
So cool! I hope to hunt Wyoming again some day.
Congrats on a fine bull. I was shaking myself with that great story. The pics were awesome too!
Jim, I'm so sorry I missed you! It can be remarkably hard to make time when a whole season is compressed to just a few days. I sincerely apologize. The season came and went before I knew it.
Alot of guys wish they could come elk hunting, yet a big part of me wishes I could hunt deer and hogs for months like some of ya'll, and within 20 minutes drive no less.
If I could find a ranch that'd let me hunt, I could chase whiteails tll novemeber... next on my list of things to do I suppose.
Awesome job with the story and pics. Thanks so much. Beautiful Bull. Congrats.
Thanks for the story and the pics. I noticed the game bags you are using, could you tell me where you got them, the ones we use, we have been having trouble with the last couple of years.
Nice bull larger than mine!
Thanks
Fred
I have tried, almost to the point of begging, to get a number of people to shoot just ONE animal with a Treeshark, just so they could see what a truly HEAVY bloodtrail looks like. I've killed critters with the biggest 3 blade, and 4 blade heads, but have never seen anything put out so much blood, and on a consistent basis, as a Treeshark. Unreal...
Congratulations on a fine hunt!
and to top it off landshark, it appears that you we get plenty of penetration with them too.
If these result continue, I'll never shoot another head, i swear. I'll build arrows around using a glue on tree shark with steel insert from now on.
Though for next year I believe I will be shooting a sinew backed self bow with a glue on centaur or treeshark on a wooden arrow. Ivory from this bull will be inlaid. its the next level of progression. :-)