I left home on August 27th for eastern Oregon and set up camp. Had two friends that were coming over later in the season, but I was on my own for a couple of weeks.
The afternoon of opening day brought a big rain storm that settled the dust and made the woods quiet, but the storm broke just before dark and produced a beautiful sunset.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/2014%20elk%20hunt/DSC_0643_zps7f537edc.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/treekiller/media/2014%20elk%20hunt/DSC_0643_zps7f537edc.jpg.html)
The first two weeks brought close encounters and lots vocal bull, especially at night near camp.
The days began to run together, but every hunt produced something to stow away in the memory bank (and hunting journal).
The fresh rubs and wallows were showing up on an increasingly regular basis.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/2014%20elk%20hunt/P1010346_zps2a0fbf05.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/treekiller/media/2014%20elk%20hunt/P1010346_zps2a0fbf05.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/2014%20elk%20hunt/P1010350_zpsfb9c3c80.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/treekiller/media/2014%20elk%20hunt/P1010350_zpsfb9c3c80.jpg.html)
Then on Sept. 15th my friend Kyle and I found a huge double decker wallow and I decided I needed to hang a treestand next to the wallow.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/2014%20elk%20hunt/P1010357_zps90db9f45.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/treekiller/media/2014%20elk%20hunt/P1010357_zps90db9f45.jpg.html)
So we went up to a saddle I had a stand hanging, packed it out and packed it into the new wallow. Finally had the stand hung and ready at 4pm, and my buddy left me sitting over the wallow for the evening.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/2014%20elk%20hunt/unnamed_zpsa08f0d6d.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/treekiller/media/2014%20elk%20hunt/unnamed_zpsa08f0d6d.jpg.html)
At 6:20pm I heard something off to my right that sounded different from all the squirrel and bird noises that I'd been hearing. I took the bow off the tree step it was hanging on and stood up. Then through a small hole in the spruce tree on my right I spot black legs coming my direction. Then the elk came over to within 20 yards and stopped at a tiny clear stream to drink. I could finally see that it was a bull, and could hear it slurping and swallowing the water for 5 minutes.
Eventually the bull had it's fill and walked toward the wallow but stopped with just his head, neck, and shoulders exposed. The bull watched the area and moved his ears back and forth for another 4-5 minutes giving me time to relax and control my breathing. Then he stepped forward to the bottom of the wallow and turned his head to sniff the mud at approximately 10 yds. I was already at half draw and don't even remember completing the my draw...but in an instant my arrow buried tight behind the bull's left shoulder.
The bull took off to my left and crashed away through the downed logs. Within seconds the crashing subsided, then I heard a couple of groan sounds followed by another crash. A few seconds later I heard a strange sound I can't put into words, followed by silence. I knew the shot was good and the bull had gone down within 10 seconds or so.
After waiting a few moments to calm down and collect my thoughts I lowered my bow and climbed down. My arrow had hit a rib on the far side that prevented it from exiting, but there was still plenty of blood to follow. After 100 yds or so I found my bull.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/2014%20elk%20hunt/unnamed1_zps0172444d.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/treekiller/media/2014%20elk%20hunt/unnamed1_zps0172444d.jpg.html)
My buddy was coming back to pick me up at dark, so I went down to meet him and it was dark by the time we got back to the downed bull.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/2014%20elk%20hunt/2014bull1_zps5aed0b1a.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/treekiller/media/2014%20elk%20hunt/2014bull1_zps5aed0b1a.jpg.html)
While butchering that night we found the front part of my arrow inside the chest cavity and that the Woodsman Elite and penetrated through the heart.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/2014%20elk%20hunt/DSC_0725_zpscda46369.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/treekiller/media/2014%20elk%20hunt/DSC_0725_zpscda46369.jpg.html)
This was the first elk I've taken from a treestand. Finding that wallow was a stroke of luck!
I was using my Blacktail 60# recurve, my own doug fir arrows footed with winge, and a 125 gr Woodsman Elite.
AWESOME!
Awesome!
I truly want to kill an elk before I die!
Congrats on a fine bull!
Bisch
Congrats! Great story and picks.
Great job Ron. A great story with a very happy ending.
bretto
Congratulations!
Congrats! :thumbsup:
Way to get it done!
Excellent story Ron, and a great animal. Congrats on the hunt. :clapper: :clapper:
Wow!
Outstanding......Congratulations!!
O Wow!!! That's great! Love the photos too... thank you for posting!
Fantastic! thanks for sharing!
So appreciate you sharing this. . . just awesome. Congrats on doing it well.
:archer:
Super job!!!! :campfire:
Congrats on a beautiful trophy.
Wow! That is so cool! Congrats! :clapper:
Felicidades!
nice bull
Great story, great shot, great bull. Congrats.
dandy bull, great shot, and great story!!
Way to go! :clapper:
I'm surprised that Woodsman elite didn't get deeper then that, but I guess it got plenty deep enough! Great elk!
Very cool! Thanks for sharing the story. Nice elk! Rick.
:thumbsup:
EXCELLENT! Thanks for taking us along and Congrats!
Oh man. That's incredible. Nice wallow.
Would that be a tule elk?
Congratulations. Oh and I'm reading / replying to this from the new iphone plus! Wow reading trad gang posts has never been so easy!
Again, Congratulations..
Been waiting for this one since I got the text and pick, unreal buddy congrats again on a awesome bull I'm so happy for you and what a shot!!!
You've been through a lot and sure deserve such a fine animal, great picks as always and story telling. :bigsmyl: :wavey:
congrats on a great elk
Very fine hunt Ron ... don't ya just love it when it all comes together :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Now go get a BIG Blacktail Buck !
Way cool!
Congrats Ron :thumbsup:
Awesome bull, Awesome shot, Awesome story, Awesome pictures! Congrats on a great hunt! :thumbsup:
Congrats again Ron! Wonderful pics as always and awesome story telling :campfire:
Congratulations
Wow what a awesome adventure...congrats to ya!
FAN TAS TIC !!!!!!! :clapper:
Nice bull, good shot too!
gives me chills just thinking about it. congrats Bud and awesome shot
Shawn
Congratulations Ron! Glad to hear you are getting out there still and getting it done! Sarge. :clapper:
Excellent job Ron!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Fantastic Brother! You have lived a dream of mine.
So cool! My sincere congrats.... :clapper:
Ron, its unfortunate about breaking your arrow and all.... But Man what a Bull!!!!!
Congrats!
that is a great bull and a memory to last a lifetime! Congrats. Any chance you were in the Wallowa's? or the Eaglecaps? NE Oregon is so beautiful!
Great trophy and awesome shot. Did everyone notice where his arrow broke off? Above the footing. Love those footed arrows. I know it could have been coincidence but then again? Anyway congrats again.
Beauty! Congrats!
Congrats,....nice bull..!
Great job and Congratulations
Thank you for sharing
Andrew
Colorado
Great Job, I want to do that someday soon. :thumbsup:
Wow congrats! Nice bull!
Congratulations on a great hunt.
I miss elk hunting and really appreciate you sharing the story and images. Loved the sunset pic.
Chris
Very nice, congratulations on your fine bull. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
What a great story! Very nice pictures and a beautiful animal! Congratulations on a job well done! :clapper:
Bernie
Awesome Bull Ron!!!!!!!!
Congrats on a nice bull!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Thanks guys! Been busy cutting and wrapping meat...just about to start grinding burger.
QuoteOriginally posted by Matty:
Oh man. That's incredible. Nice wallow.
Would that be a tule elk?
Congratulations. Oh and I'm reading / replying to this from the new iphone plus! Wow reading trad gang posts has never been so easy!
Again, Congratulations..
Matty...Rocky Mtn Elk. Oregon has Rocky Mtn elk and Roosevelt elk.
Very cool! The MRI paid off. Congratulations!
Congrats! Great job and enjoy the feast! :thumbsup:
.....Man what a beautiful animal !!!
Congratulations on a great hunt , and a heck of a Bull !
Man that is going to be tasty! Congrats!
Congrats!!!!
Awesome bud!!!! :notworthy:
Nice bull!
What a great bull! Eastern Oregon is some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen. Congratulations!
What a great bull! Eastern Oregon is some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen. Congratulations!
Well done!!! Dandy bull.
:thumbsup: Well done!
Congrats on a fine bull. Awesome.. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
great hunt and great shooting !
That was an awesome story! Congrats!
Wow!!! Great story and great bull, love the last picture. :thumbsup:
As always, great storytelling.
Thanks for reminding some of us how to do it right!
Very nice! Sweet looking arrows too!
WOW!!!
Great pics all around....congrats ....
Thanks for sharing......AND!!!....
WHAT A SKY !!!!!!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Congratulations on a beautiful bull!! Great pictures too!
-Jay
Congratulations on a great bull!
Glenn
Awesome all the way around!! Congrats!!
Thanks folks! I'm already dreaming about sitting in the same stand next year early in the season...you should see the bull that came in to the wallow 4 days after I shot my bull! :scared:
Congrats :thumbsup:
Ron, Great bull congrats on an awesome shot. Enjoy
Congrats..great bull. Just got home today, tag soup for me. Was only hunting spikes, but saw the biggest bull of my life this am. :scared:
Scott.
Fantastic job. I dont know how you hold yourself together to make a shot on a beast that size. When he stopped for those few minutes I would have went to pieces. Congrats on a wonderful hunt
and your pics are great. :eek:
QuoteOriginally posted by Possum Head:
Fantastic job. I dont know how you hold yourself together to make a shot on a beast that size. When he stopped for those few minutes I would have went to pieces. Congrats on a wonderful hunt
and your pics are great. :eek:
It actually helped me calm down and control my breathing. I knew if the bull stepped out that my arrow was going to find the kill zone...100% positive!
My hunting partner arrived early in the second week. On the evening of the 11th I called in a bull and he made a perfect shot at 12 yds with his wheelie bow. The arrow entered the right side and and quartered forward to come out the left side.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/2014%20elk%20hunt/P1010351_zps57b2683f.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/treekiller/media/2014%20elk%20hunt/P1010351_zps57b2683f.jpg.html)
Several days after taking my bull, we returned to find that a bear had claimed the carcass. Hadn't eaten much, just tried to bury it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/2014%20elk%20hunt/P1010377_zps8eae6490.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/treekiller/media/2014%20elk%20hunt/P1010377_zps8eae6490.jpg.html)
Truly a huge accomplishment!
Congratulations on doing it the hard way.
Great story and the photos are very well done.
You should be very proud.
Thanks for sharing.
I have killed one bull about this size with an arrow, but not from trad gear.
Still the feeling stays with you for a lifetime.
sweet! Congrats.
Great Story Thanks for taking us along.
Great Story Thanks for taking us along.
Wow how cool is this, and what a bull. Congratulations.
Ron,I am glad to see you are good and successful,with your trusty BT on your hand,congrats great shot.
Nice shot brother!
Way to go . Nice one. :thumbsup:
Congrats brutha! Nice bull!
We were down on the coast and like to drown in that rain storm this last week.... We did get one nice cow in our group, but unfortunately it wasn't my arrow...
I'm thinking of giving the eastern side of the state a shot next year.
Thanks again folks! :campfire:
QuoteOriginally posted by Kirkll:
Congrats brutha! Nice bull!
We were down on the coast and like to drown in that rain storm this last week.... We did get one nice cow in our group, but unfortunately it wasn't my arrow...
I'm thinking of giving the eastern side of the state a shot next year.
Kirk...will have to drive down and BS with ya one of these days. Back in my timber cutting days I used to drive thru Molalla and Meadowbrook all the time, but nowadays I rarely get as far as Estacada.
Please do bro... i'd love to meet you in person. Always got a pot of coffee going, and keep the wood stove burning in the shop from 7am to 7pm...Just give me a ring first.I'm typically here all the time, but fishing & hunting calls this time of year...