The day before opening weekend my cousin and I hiked way in to one of our favorite vantage points to do a little scouting from afar. We spotted around 90 elk total, way more than we usually see in this area.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/tlclum/DSC04052_zpsc5ee5555.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tlclum/media/DSC04052_zpsc5ee5555.jpg.html)
One group of 30 elk was on the mountain that my Dad planned on backpacking into with my Mom. The herd bull with this group was impressive. All morning he would run around the cows with his head tilted back. Of course we were too far to hear him bugle, but we watched him stretch out his neck and cut loose every few minutes.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/tlclum/DSC04041_zpsa58fd4c0.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tlclum/media/DSC04041_zpsa58fd4c0.jpg.html)
We hurried off the mountain so we could catch up with my Dad before he packed in. We got out our topo maps and showed him where the elk were. The cows all bedded down in the wide open, but at 9am that herd bull got them on their feet and pushed them through a saddle. Since we have hunted this area quite a few times in the past we knew that on certain years the elk get in a pattern where they pass through that saddle twice a day. My Dad knew exactly where to be the next morning. We all wished each other luck and headed out to our separate camp sites for the following morning's hunt.
My brother, Danny, and I headed to the drainage where we saw the majority of the big bulls throughout the summer.
Danny and I crept through this beautiful area with that morning's elk sign all around. We must have barely missed them because we didn't see a thing and nothing bugled near us.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/tlclum/DSC00916_zps3ea2d7e6.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tlclum/media/DSC00916_zps3ea2d7e6.jpg.html)
We all carry Garmin Rino GPS/Radios with us these days. It is fun to be able to check in with each other, or get coordinates to another's position with the push of a button. We all agreed that we would check in on the hour if it was convenient, but that we would make a real effort to check in at noon.
With the morning hunt mostly over Danny and I found a beautiful spot to take a break and eat a few snacks. 11am rolled around and I turned on my GPS to see if anybody else had theirs on. I was just about to turn my unit off when I got a half a second of static. I called back, anybody out there? A garbled message came back, something about a "bull behind the shoulder". I looked at my GPS, it was Dad!
"Come again Dad, what did you say?"
"I hit a bull right behind the shoulder. I thought it was a heart shot but I don't see any blood. I'M FREAKING OUT!".
My Dad asked how far away we were, and we told him it didn't matter.
I asked back, "Was it the big bull, and do you need any help?"
"Yes the big bull, and yes I need help."
Danny and I gave each other a big high five, we were PUMPED! Dad is color blind and cannot see red hardly at all, so him not finding blood didn't concern me. We gathered our things and started walking. We had a long, long, looooong way to go.
A half hour into our walk and we could finally see the mountain that dad was on.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/tlclum/DSC00925_zps0e6d77d9.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tlclum/media/DSC00925_zps0e6d77d9.jpg.html)
Here's a zoomed in shot of the picture above. You can see the small saddle that the herd went through.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/tlclum/DSC00926_zps8e276d61.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tlclum/media/DSC00926_zps8e276d61.jpg.html)
Five hours of straight walking, 1,000 ft down, and 2,000 ft up later, we walked up to my Mom and Dad taking a nap. My Dad just shook his head and said, "You guys are studs". I told him I didn't feel like a stud, and as I set my bow down I lurched to the side so I could yak in the bushes.
My Dad apologized for making us walk that far. He couldn't find any blood and spent the previous 5 hours zigzagging through the trees looking for tracks, blood, elk, anything. He said it was the biggest disappointment in his hunting career, and that he was flabbergasted. He thought that the shot was perfect, he saw the bull run away with only a small bit of his arrow sticking out in the crease of the front leg.
Even though Dad was bummed out I knew that we were going to find him. My brother is special, he has a sense, he has uncanny woodsmanship, and he's a total bloodhound on the trail. I said, "Don't worry about it Dad, you got Danny here now, we'll find him".
My Dad told us the entire story and showed us the last drop of blood, if you could call it a drop.
Danny found a scuff mark a little ways down the hill from the blood. "Here you go Dad", he says. My Dad didn't think it was from his bull and told us that the herd ran the other way. Danny insisted on following the track. He reasoned the next few steps and walked through some bushes. "Here's another speck of blood!" Danny called out. Unreal, he doubled back?
Danny finds another speck of blood and then turns the corner around some trees, and there he was. My parents were napping within 50 yards of the elk. The bull didn't even make it 75 yards from where my Dad shot him.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/tlclum/DSC00969_zps4748deed.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tlclum/media/DSC00969_zps4748deed.jpg.html)
My Dad did shoot this bull right through the heart. You can see the entrance in the picture below, and the exit in the next. In the entire 75 yard long track we found a total of 6 droplets of blood. He just didn't bleed through the legs like he obviously would have if the arrow went through his ribs.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/tlclum/DSC00931_zpsc5e7d6f7.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tlclum/media/DSC00931_zpsc5e7d6f7.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/tlclum/DSC00954_zpsffb68b8b.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tlclum/media/DSC00954_zpsffb68b8b.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/tlclum/DSC00963_zps61b39510.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tlclum/media/DSC00963_zps61b39510.jpg.html)
Me, Danny, Mom, and Dad
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/tlclum/DSC00975_zps3c29f845.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tlclum/media/DSC00975_zps3c29f845.jpg.html)
My mom is TOUGH. It took us 4 hours and 45 minutes to walk back to the truck that night, mostly in the dark (we walked out that night to call for help with the packout). We kept having these nasty little storms come over the mountain and hammer us with sideways rain and hail. She had a hard time walking through all the rock fields and busting through the stunted pine. Not one time did she ever make a comment about how difficult it was. I was miserable, so I know that she must have been too.
One more picture of the bull we are really, really hoping to find again.
Good luck everybody!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/tlclum/P1040382_zps1f0072eb.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tlclum/media/P1040382_zps1f0072eb.jpg.html)
WOW!!!!
:thumbsup:
Very awesome! Thanks for sharing that with us and the great pics!
Congrats to all of you to experience that together. One a fine animal.
Wow! What an animal. Congratulations!
Tommy,
You guys are studs. That is awesome. Ken
Congratulations!! That is a great bull, and to have the family there to share the event is priceless.
Good things happen to good people!
Holy Crap, what a dandy. Congrats to all of you for that animal. Hard to believe the lack of blood for a perfect heart shot. :clapper:
Fantastic!! congrats to your family.
Great story , congrats on the fine bull Tom.
By the way , never underestimate a good nap in the woods.
Wow! What a stud of a bull.
Now that is one h*ll of a bull, congrats to your Dad and whole family for a job well done.
What a family story! Should be in a major magazine!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
That's one nice bull! Congrats!
Congrats everyone!!
what a great Bull, and having the whole family there is special!
Nothing better than to do it as a family. Great Bull and congratulations to you all!
That's a wonderful bull! Treasure the memories and the photos.
:clapper: MAN THAT IS AWESOME!! Great story and a great backcountry adventure.
Thank you for shareing. Stories like that keep my dreams alive
Congratulations to the entire family! Personally I think it is even more cool that your Dad and Mom didn't find it earlier. Yes, I'm sure it made for some anxious hours, but to be able to share the recovery with the two of you makes it all the more special. I think I heard the celebration all the way back here in Wisconsin!
What a great story and a fantastic bull. Good luck on the next one!
Joe, that really is a fact. I'm glad that they didn't find it until we got there. To be together made the whole experience what it was. In the back of my mind I never had any doubt that we would find it. It only took my brother three minutes.
My Dad was sure on an emotional roller coaster that day. Before we found it he said that at least he knew what the feeling was like to kill a big bull...for 30 minutes.
Freaking Awesome. Congrats.
Wow! That's amazing. Thanks for sharing your story and those awesome picture.
What a awesome job and for all of you to capture the moment together is what its all about...CONGRATS!!
No words!!
One of the best stories I've read on here - Congrats!
Well done!!! Happy for all of you! Congratulations Tom on a magnificent bull...
I was waiting for the 1st elk story...great job guys! Beautiful bull!
Kris
That is awesome on all accounts!!
That awesome, congrats to your whole family! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Unreal!!!! Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations to all of you!
Quite an experience and memories that will last forever!
Fantastic bull!
Great story! Awesome bull!! Lasting family memories!!!
what a bull and what a story. that was just great. absolutely made my day. congrats to your dad and your whole "hunting" family. i'd be lying if i said i wasn't very jealous.
I can only repeat what everyone else has said...awesome elk...thanks for sharing your adventure with us.
I had to go back and read the entire story a second time just so I could experience the goose bumps all over again. What a thrill that had to be!!!!
Wow! What a awesome story and dandy of a bull!! Congrats to all of you!!
Steve
Congrats!What a great family adventure. :thumbsup:
Congrats to your dad on a great bull...nothing like a family that enjoys being outdoors together. :thumbsup: :archer:
What a beast and great experience. Congrats to you and your family :campfire: :clapper:
Congratulations, a excellent story and a great bull,
What a wonderful story! Thanks so much for taking us along. Congratulations to your Dad and the entire family!
Great story and congrats
What a great bull! The Clum family sure has taken some great animals over the past few years. Congratulations.
Super story congrats to dad and the family :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
No that my friend is a nice family picture. What a nice memory to have. You are all very blessed to be able to share that experience together as a family. Congrats!
Great story and bull!! I'm glad you were able to find him and shared the tale. It also goes to show that even with a perfect shot sometimes they don't leave much blood. Crazy. Looks like a 3 blade head.....how about a few details about your dad's gear when you get a chance. He must still be on cloud 9!!! Rick.
Great story and what a fantastic bull. Your Dad sure put a nice shot on that one.
Thank You for sharing. An awesome animal and what a blessing for you as a family. Most people will only dream of such a hunt. CONGRATULATIONS!
Congrats to Tom and Tommy and Danny and........"Mom".
homebru
Awesome!!
Really Awesome!!!!
Love it! Well done by all!
Awesome Story on all accounts. What a beautiful critter Congrats to your dad and family. Its about time some real hunting threads with substance arrive here at Trad Gang.
Thank you and congrats again.
Thanks for sharing this with us. Stories like this really make Trad Gang. Wonderful animal, great country and family; it does not get any better that.
Congratulations to the whole family for the shared experience. What a great story!
Outstanding. What a great story shared with family. Congratulations to your dad.
Chris
Awesome bull. Thanks for taking us along!
Awesome story and bull! Congrats!
That's awesome. Great family outing!
~To all~
Any time you are in Denver, hell, Colorado for that matter, you owe it to yourself to visit Rocky Mountain Specialty Gear. The Clum family are truly wonderful and sincere people. Sure, traditional archery is unlike much else that we get to experience but it is the personalities, the spirit and the great relationships you will build while visiting RMSG.
Kudos to the Clum family
Andrew
Wow, Tom got a monster! Congrats! Great Bull!
Awesome bull! Congrats! Good luck to you and your brother as well!
Congrats! awesome bull
Beautiful Bull! The mass is very impressive. It's awesome that y'all all can share that. Various family members from my Dad to my Wife have helped me "track" animals, but I still hunt solo. I also would like to hear some specs on your Dad's setup.
Thanks for sharing. I always hope for a good double lung pass through that gives lots of blood.
Great story, nice bull, awesome shot. That is a hunting adventure.
Great accomplishment for dad and all of you guys,you work hard and smart,congrats. I can't wait to visit you at the end of the season. :clapper:
Fantastic job by all. You giving your dad the scouting info, he making the right decision on where to position himself, making a great shot, and then you and your brother enduro hiking over to help. A big congratulations on a true team effort!
Wow. My jaw dropped when I saw that bull! Incredible! What a great experience for you whole family. Thanks for sharing!
WOW! Great Bull and love the story and the close knit family ties.
What a great family event, will long be remembered. Your Mom is one great lady.
That's so cool! I look forward to y'all's hunts every year. You guys are the real deal!
congrats on a fine bull
from a flatlander, all I can say is...wow
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Just awesome!!!
You are all studs! Thanks for sharing with us.
Really Awesome!!!
Wow that is one great bull. Congrats on a fine trophy and great hunt. It don't get any better than hunting with your parents. I sure had some awesome times with my dad.
Tommy, that is awesome! You have an amazing piece of country and some real majestic animals. Real nice. Thanks for sharing.
Congrats Tom, beautiful bull. Congrats to the entire family, great team effort. You guys are the best!
Simply fantastic
:clapper:
What a great bull and wonderful story! Congrats to your pop and his whole family. Looks like a lot of your toughness was inherited through your mom as well! Awesome!
What a story!!
Well done guys. Congrats to Tom on a fine bull indeed!
You guys continue to produce year after year:)
Congrats on an amazing bull!!! Very cool story thanks for sharing. Good luck to you and Danny on the other bull!
Congrats to Tom. Nice job by the whole family. I sure hope we get to see this one in person at the CTAS banquet.
What a Toad!
That's awesome, what a beautiful bull! Glad you all got to share the memories together.
-Jay
Wow what a great Bull!
Good things happen to good people, and there aren't any finer than Tom.
Congradulations to you all!
Ditto on what these guys are saying. Very blessed family and thanks for sharing with us! Greatness!!
Awesome!!!
Just read it a second time with my 15 y.o. stud....
Hopefully one day I can have my kids help find and pack out an elk for me... Not an Elk like that... but any elk...
Now I just need him to put away electronics and balls long enough to become serious about archery...or it ain't gonna happen for me...
The pics say it all!!!
Way to get it done! Nice Bull!
Wow. That is fantastic. Great Job. Congrats.
Great story
Great family effort
and a fantastic bull..
Congrats to all !
Very nice!
:thumbsup:
Congrats Tom! Great job guys. :thumbsup:
Unreal! Congrats to you all.
Hey guys I really appreciate all the nice comments. I'll share them with my Dad, he is vaguely aware of the internet but he calls every website a "blog". Thank you, guys.
Here are his gear specs for those that asked.
Hummingbird Recurve - 53@28 - 62"
Beeman Centershot Arrows
VPA Terminator 200 grain broadhead
The bull walked by my Dad at 5 feet, but he let it walk out to 17 yards before he shot.
Great story and an awesome Bull!!! Thanks for sharing! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
QuoteOriginally posted by highPlains:
Hey guys I really appreciate all the nice comments. I'll share them with my Dad, he is vaguely aware of the internet but he calls every website a "blog". Thank you, guys.
Here are his gear specs for those that asked.
Hummingbird Recurve - 53@28 - 62"
Beeman Centershot Arrows
VPA Terminator 200 grain broadhead
The bull walked by my Dad at 5 feet, but he let it walk out to 17 yards before he shot.
I cant imagine having that TOAD at 5' :readit:
What an amazing animal and story, your effectiveness as a family is a very fine thing, you have something special, but you already know that :saywhat: :campfire:
Way to go guys! That is amazing! :thumbsup:
Awesome adventure! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Tommy,WOW This couldn't have happened to a better man. :notworthy:
What a beast!!!!
Great story and Bull. Headed to CO from MI on the 18th to hunt through the balance of the archery season.
Congrats to the entire Clum family. This was obviously a family effort. So good to see hard work rewarded!