I had a few minutes last evening to slip into a little woodlot near home. There had been a drizzle all day which made the woods really quiet. I grabbed my cheap little stool and my new to me Talltines and slipped out with about an hour plus left in the day. I knew where a few white oaks were dropping their wares and the deer were hoovering them up.
I am 2 weeks back from the elk hunt of my life. It was a great experience and I dogged a herd bull all week. I finally got him alone from his cows as he was chasing off a satellite bull the last day. I thought I made a perfect shot: up until my Doug fir arrow clipped a little sapling I didn't account for and the Ace standard slammed directly into his shoulder bone. A loud crack and heartbreak for this bowhunter...and a 1.5 mile track job, robbed by darkness. The next day instead of hiking down the mountain to my truck with the bull of my dreams, I was back up top on hands and knees looking for a bull I knew to be not dead but not healthy either. It was a lost cause no matter the 12 hours I had into the search. It was then a long hike out and a long 18 hour drive home, heartbroken. I still am. But even though I can return in October with another weapon I notched my tag with tears in my eyes when I got truckside. Unit 7 WY tag be damned. My elk is on the mountain somewhere I hope keeping the orbit bulls off his cows.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/image-11.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/image-11.jpg.html)
*My healthy bull day two of my hunt. What a stud.
Almost a cruel punishment, or a reward depending the view, I found last years shed at a wallow. I got to bring something home to my little girl who really wanted an elk. Greedily, I passed 10 different cows and 4 orbit bulls at ranges that are obscene. I didn't tell her about those.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/image-8.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/image-8.jpg.html)
*Elk shed is bigger than her.
After returning home these two weeks I have received so much love from my family knowing what those animals mean to me and so much encouragement from my friends (many of them Tradgangers). I want to say thanks as a man and fellow bowhunter.
With that late last week I decided to quit feeling sorry for myself. Quit wallowing in my failures and think about the future. I started shooting again and it happened: I forgave myself and that damn sapling. I decided I was a bowhunter and that the love I have for this way of life is rivaled only by my love of God, family, and country. Time to get on with it.
Fast forward to yesterday. I short still hunt to clear my head from work and life. It was a "soul walk" as my wife would say. As I set my little cheap stool against a blowdown to wait out a bit of drizzle I had a feeling of peace wash over me. I knew what was going to happen before that first deer started crunching acorns. When I saw the family group emerge from the thicket I eased off my stool and tip-toeed in. The first deer in range, 20 yards or so, was a yearling doe. I figured it was time to start collecting some venison and picked a spot on her right side. Quickly the arrow was away but the crack I heard brought back a hauntingly familiar memory, albeit for a short time. She began a death run and crashed in site, sending the rest scrambling back to the thicket beyond.
When I got to her I realized the crack was offside shoulder, and that my shot was good. No sapling, no drama, no heartbreak. As I thanked God I realized the albatross was lifted, I was whole again, washed in the feeling of success that brings me back time and time again to this single string weapon that I love. It sure does make things better, anyway. I won't forget my bull or the feeling of losing something so incredibly difficult to obtain. It will always be there. But this little yearling will always be remembered as a symbol of the recovery I needed to move on. For that I will be forever indebted!
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/image-10.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/image-10.jpg.html)
Way to go, Mike...
Great story.
Good for you congrats
In archery, it seems that.. 'if it can go wrong it will' Very humbling.
Big Mike, I feel for you. I know it did not matter to you if it was a giant bull or a little cow, they all get the same treatment and respect. Good luck buddy :thumbsup:
Enjoyed your story and feel your heartbreak but glad to see you know how to keep trucking along. Great job on getting a deer. :thumbsup:
Elk hunting gets into a mans heart and soul like nothing else can. I'm awfully glad you experienced the highs - and seeing you deal with the lows in a way that makes me glad to call you friend and to share a camp with you anywhere anytime Mike.
Hey Mike, sorry your elk hunt didn't have a happier ending. Congrats on your redemption deer though... Have a great season.
Joe
Great job and story. I really enjoy your threads.
Great recovery hunt!!!
Sorry the elk didn't end up the way you wanted.
:bigsmyl:
Congrats!
great shot on the Doe Mike. Congrats!
:thumbsup:
Thank you gents. HOPE springs eternal as they say...speaking of: I get "her" the rest of the month. Wonder what help she can be to my continued recovery :campfire:
QuoteOriginally posted by Terry Green:
:bigsmyl:
X2
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :archer:
Way to go, congrats. :thumbsup:
Excellent, Mike! :thumbsup:
Way to go on the doe, Mike! Sorry about the elk. I have been elk hunting 3 times and never been able to get in position to pull the string back. I want to go again someday and fill an elk tag myself.
And good luck with Hope! She is a beauty and sweet shooter.
Congrats again, brother!
Bisch
Good job on the story and congrats on the tender doe..ENJOY!
Congrats brother on the fine doe. Was so happy to get that first pic of a deer down. The elk hunt u will never forget as i know u worked so hard and waited so long for. As u have told me keep ur chin up good things happen. I know for sure i wouldnt want you shootin at me with stick n string. Very happy for you with ur doe and thers still many more outings to come by gosh someone around here is overdue and might be you. For me and several others you are still the man for getting us all started in this pure bowhunting sport
Mike,
Got back from Colorado last week myself...empty handed. Something about pouring your guts out on a hunt only to have to tell everyone you didn't get one. I can imagine how you feel. Way to make things right again by getting back up on horse.
CK
QuoteOriginally posted by jshperdue:
Great job and story. I really enjoy your threads.
X2!!!
Congrats on the doe, that elk is a toad!
Sorry about your elk. It happens to all of us.
Congrats on your doe, she will help ease the pain with every delicious bite.
Mike Sorry about the bad luck on your elk hunt but I know you did all you could to retrieve it.
Congrats on the deer and tell the family a big "HI" for me. Hope to see you in late winter in La.
:wavey: :thumbsup: :campfire:
Great story and fine animal. Congrats!!!
Tom
Nice rebound.....even for such a short guy. :thumbsup:
congrats!
:thumbsup:
Brother Mike,
I know I have already told ya. But there was no failure in your hunt. You have chosen to use a weapon many look down upon. Most lack courage to even try. You took this pure thing all the way to WY, from our home here in the flat lands and chased the great wapiti, the Cervus Canadensis. You have all of my respect and much admiration. I understand all to well the anguish of a shot not finding the intended mark. As I told you before. Keep your head high my friend. As Brock Donald said, you introduced me as well to this sport and for that I will forever be indebted to you my friend. Congrats on your fine doe. She gave her life to a great man and I know your family will enjoy the spoils of that hunt. Good luck in the rest of the season! Your Friend, David
Thanks again everyone. I can't tell you how much my friends close and far mean to me. I look forward to sharing a campfire with all of you that I have in the past again...and those who I have not I sure hope to soon!
Now go out and get after it. Daylight's burning pilgrims :archer2:
All a man can do is his best and sometimes it doesn't work out .... I did the very same thing in Montana many many years ago and I still can relive that moment like it was yesterday .... there will be more elk and we will all wish that big bull well and to live another season :thumbsup: good job on the doe
:clapper:
:thumbsup:
Way to go Mike! You certainly are a great story teller. You're story about the guy with the turkey in your office takes the cake....but this was good too!!!
Thanks Ryan I forgot about the turkey story. Man I just broke out laughing and my kids want to now why. I think I'll wait a couple of years to tell them the stories heard around a stickflingers campfire.
:thumbsup:
Mike,
And just think..... was it last year or the year before when you fell..... This year you lose a elk.... BUT you got that never say die attitude and never give up. That is what seperates you from most of us who would be tempted to just give up. I have had a rotten day today and this thread lifted me up bud. Made me ashamed of my poor attitude. You are an inspiration.
A tip of the hat to you sir...... :thumbsup:
Enjoyed your heart felt story. Losing an animal is tough. Congratulations on getting back out there and harvesting a beautiful animal!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Congrats again big guy!! Haha the elk might have beaten Team Yeti but the deer don't stand a chance!! :thumbsup:
Hey Mike,
Sorry to hear about the elk. Having seen you shoot I am surprised anything gets away from you. Time will heal and the fire will still burn to chase the elk. It will happen. Congrats on the doe. I am sure many more will fall this year. Hope to see you in Manitoba again sometime.
D.P.
Good looking doe! Congrats. :thumbsup:
What don`t kill you will make you stronger.
Nice doe and a great story.
Ah yes...this thing we call bowhunting. Be brave.
:campfire: