It's hard to believe, but this past year marked a quarter century of hunting elk for me. Some of you reading this might not even be that old.
It started when I was fifteen, even though I was legal enough at 14 my Dad decided I wasn't pulling enough poundage for elk, a hard pill to swallow at the time! I was shooting wheels back then, as was my Dad. That first year was the first year UT went to a limited entry type hunt for almost all elk units. A couple years later I had my first true elk experience.
I decided to go out on my own, as most 17-18 yr olds think they are the king of the world and can do everything and anything. I worked my way through some dark timber. I heard a bugle off in the distance. With the attitude of nothing ventured, nothing gained, I fired a bugle back in his direction. After a lot of shouting back and forth, all was quiet. I was set up on a small shelf with good back cover. It was thick timber from where the bull was serenading from. Mind you, at the time, even if the bull showed, I couldn't shoot because it was spike only. But I wanted to see if I could call a bull in.
I decided to give one more call before I left, and no sooner did my call stop, that a thunderous bugle erupted right below me. What happened next is forever etched into my memory and lit the fire that seems to burn out of control with in me to chase these beautiful animals.
A beautiful dark antlered 5 point rack appeared through the pines as if it were an apparition. Almost floating. Then the chocolate mane of a bull elk moved up the bench. By this time he was only 8 yards away. He was a good 5 point, with long tines and the fronts looked like skiis. He got to the screen of dead pines and tipped his head back, trying to maneuver through the mess. I was mesmerized! He got his antlers stuck and at 5 yards screamed an insult at the trees, all the while throwing his head around, showering me with broken pine limbs.
The spell was broken a second later when the wind swirled and he blew out of there, with a young man shaking like a leaf, now knowing I really wasn't king on the mountain....
Fast forward a couple years later. The trad bug had taken over. I really hadn't had many opportunities at elk before then as my elk hunting curve seems to be very skewed. My first opportunity with a trad bow came though. I was sitting in some timber off a pond that I knew were frequented by elk. As the air cooled, splashing from the pond informed me I'd be seeing visitors soon. Sure enough a small group of cows and spikes were headed right to me. I had a valid cow or spike tag, so things were looking up.
At 15 yards the lead cow turned below me and was slowly walking. I drew my recurve back (I can't even remember the brand) and sent a wood arrow on the way. A loud crack and the cow nearly tipped over. I was stunned. The shot looked good, but there sure was a lot of arrow sticking out, too much arrow :(
Confirmed with a short blood trail, and my Dad watching the cow for sometime after the shot, with a red spot on the shoulder. I knew I wouldn't be finding that cow. It was a terrible disappointment.
Life is a constant state of change. My next journey found me living in CO. I love that state!! But hunting elk was tougher than I thought. All the years except one was tough, I didn't get any opportunities, but that one year, was magical....
I'd found a spot a long ways from people, or so I thought, but it looked good. My Dad and I applied and drew the tags. The year was awesome from the get go.
My Dad flew out on Labor Day weekend. We headed up to the spot, and heard elk singing all over! The next morning, we heard a bunch of elk nor 500 yards from camp, splashing, bugling and just being elk. We worked up on the herd as they were leaving the area, and what we later found out, was a wallow.
The elk were filtering up through the timber when I sent Dad down to a lone pine in the middle of the meadow and I started on the call.
A little disclaimer, I'm not the best elk caller in the world, but I'm certainly not the worst. My Dad however, well let's just say I do 95% of the calling.
I hit the call and a nice 5 comes from the timber and works his way, on a rope, right past my Dad. Who proceeds to miss the bull at 5 yards!! I mean, how do you miss a bull elk that close!! I would soon find out. I was excited, bummed and mystified.
We had many more encounters throughout the week, but nothing I could draw my bow back.
It was the last morning of our hunt. We headed up the pine ridge where the elk had been bedding all week. We could hear several bulls bugling in front of us. Dang it! We were too late. We kept working in on the elk, trying to lay catch up to one of the biggest bulls we'd ever seen in the wild up to that point. He kept his cows out in front of him, pushing them away from us. There was no way to catch them. We sat there in an opening in the timber talking about what a great hunt it was, when movement caught my attention.
A nice 5 point was working in behind the herd. Dada and I semi scrambled to get into some kind of position, which meant I nocked an arrow, and dropped to my knees. The bull moved to my right, and was right in front of Dad. I was about to explode! Why wasn't he shooting? The bull then did the unexplained and turned and walked right in front of me, 10 yards away. Framed by 2 pines was his vitals, I mean I couldn't have lead the bull with a lead rope and tied him in a better spot! I drew my longbow back and proceeded to glance the arrow off the tree and over the bulls back! I was sick! So THAT"S how you miss a bull that close. It was very clear!!
Awesome! I've got to go after Elk sometime!
The next several years were spent hunting elk in UT, with hardly any opportunities. I can get into elk alright, but getting a shot at them is something else.
Oh there were a couple chances at cows, where I now have broadheads permanently attatched to trees. But not the opportunities that seem to allude me.
I was then fortunate enough to hunt ID pre-wolf. I did the hunt on a whim, and went up and hiked all over. I did end up missing a small bull the second to last night of my hunt. And sat a small pond that a 5 point desperately wanted to come down to, but was thwarted by a cow and calf moose. I've since had my revenge on the cow moose :)
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Good Stuff Stead. I love this meat and Potato stuff.
Very cool! Is there more? Keep it coming :pray:
Ryan,
Elk are the most challenging and most exciting critters to hunt. For the first time in 35 years I missed Elk season this year, I won't miss another as long as I am able!
Great read keep it coming.
So up until 2007 I really had hit it hard, but still nothing down with a bow. Here is the thread on a 10 day hunt I did with my Dad in Idaho. Again, pre wolf.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=050490#000000
It was a memorable hunt!!
The next few years I had no opportunities to get a shot at an elk. It was frustrating for sure. I even threatened to stop hunting them. No mind you, elk hunting in UT is far different from hunting them anywhere else in the country, just ask anyone who has or does.
Last year I thought I was going to finally break the 0 fer record by drawing a limited entry hunt on a decent unit.
Ryan, I can relate. It has been quite a while since i ate any elk steak that I put on the ground. They still are the most fun to hunt, even if they win almost every time. I actually stopped trying to kill them for a few years and just photographed them. What great animals!
:campfire:
Ahhh, pre wolf. That was the good old days.
Tell us more, you have our attention old timer :D
Here is the link to my hunt from last year.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=135440#000000
Now there is something that happened five years ago. My Dad unexpectedly had clotting issues. We almost lost him a few times. He has clotting factors 2 and 5. Needless to say, between that and age, his elk hunting years are coming to an end. At least the humping up mountains, out of breath, think your gonna puke, all to hear the bugle of a bull hunting.
So my good friend Shane and I made plans to hunt with our Dad's and a couple friends in WY this past fall. We drew the tags and preparation began in earnest. I worked out harder than I ever had, harder than last year, I was going to be ready this year!!
The week finally came and we headed out. The first evening and first full day, Shane took Dad and I to some spots. We heard and saw elk both days and we even managed to miss some grouse!
Saturday evening, a good friend Ryan and I hiked up to a spot he'd been wanting to check out. We worked our way up to a saddle and were pleasantly surprised to hear several bulls bugling below us. Ryan smacked a great blue grouse, and the bulls kept talking. We decide to do a set up. I was in a finger of pines below Ryan and had a meadow to my right. My thinking is if a bull came towards the call, he'd skirt the edge and I'd have a 15 yards shot.
After a couple sequences of calls, a splash of tan, on the other side of the pines, on the other side of the meadow, caught my eye. A 4 point bull was making his way towards the calls. He came up the other side and circled around and caught our wind. He stayed 50 yards away the whole time, with a pine tree screen in front of him. That was cool, but I've been there before.
The next day Shane, Ryan and I went to a spot that required some hiking. We were into a ton of elk sign, but never could seem to catch up to the elk.
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Here is Shane doing some glassing. We also came across an old abandonded mine and some equipment. It was pretty neat!
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Monday morning broke with Shane INSISTING we go with him down the same ridge we'd hunted Sat morning. If there is one thing I learned, it's listen to the guide:)
We worked our way down the ridge with Shane and I taking turns calling, always putting Dad ahead of us. We were sneaking into an area when a stampede erupted! We all chased the herd with some quited explicetives :) We were going to set up there! Uhhhhhh.... We worked down the ridge, and a bull down the ridge farther started bugling. Well at least we didn't spook every elk off the mountain.
We set up again with me calling, I sent Dad to the right of me, but where I could still see him and Shane went off to my left. When Dad was set up, I started my sequence. The bull fired back! Then another, and another!! I hit em again, and the main bull fired back. This was good :)
He would bugle every time I'd cow call. I've found when calling if I can get a bull to bugle at my call everytime, good things happen.
A cow moved down below me 50 yards and for a second I was cussing Shane because he would've had a great shot at her. As I hit the call again, I was interrupted by galloping hooves form above and to the right of me. I turned just in tme to see an rack moving throught he pines right in front of Dad. As the bull walked by I saw Dad's stalker come to life and the thwwwat, thump! The bull spun and Dad was all smiles with a big thumbsup! I was elated. I snuck over and he said he'd put the arrow right in the armpit. I said let's give it some time. Just then I hear Shanes bow go off. Did we really just double?
I worked over to Shane who had a 5 point working towards him, but when Dad shot he'd started getting nervous. The bull then turned broadside and at 30 yards, did the matrix move at the sound of Shanes bow. You wouldn't believe and elk was that fast, but they are! The elk wasn't there when Shane's arrow got there.
We went back to Dad, and took up the trail, we'd gone 10 yards when Shane looked ahead and pointed to a very dead bull elk! Oh Yea!!!!!!!!
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As you can see, it was very much in the pocket. Dad was slightly down hill and the magnus stinger took out the bulls heart and lung on the off side. He shot the bull at 13 yards with his stalker static jackal. 51#@28. Now the work began, and Shane and I took the meat out in two trips. The workouts worked :)
Another thing about Dads condition is he can't pack a lot of weight anymore, so having younger guys around is a must.
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The bull was a 4x5 and actually is a mature bull for the area.
The rest of the week I hunted my guts out. The rest of our camp all got opportunities and Shane even managed to shoot the worlds smallest raghorn!! It's a cool bull, but is a 2x3, kind of a glorified spike :) Unfortunatley I don't have any pics of his. I managed to miss some more grouse, but was never able to get a shot opportunity. Out of 6 in camp 5 got shot opps and 2 got elk. Pretty good year.
Now for a little of my rant I guess....
I've been chasing elk for 25 years. I know it's supposed to be hard, even harder for a guy using a stickbow. But man, I really can't explain it. In the last three years I've worked harder than most. I forgot to mention one of my hunts in CO with South Cox is on dvd. You can clearly see I can get close, just not close enough. The old saying of those who work create more opportunities doesn't apply to me with elk hunting. I put in the miles as well. I honestly can't explain it. Neither can most of my friends.
Don't get me wrong, being there with my Dad as he killed what could be his last elk is one of my top memories.
So now I'm left to the second guessing and hoping. I won't be doing an out of state hunt for elk for a long time and UT elk, well it's somewhat of a joke. So time will tell if I ever can be in the right place at the right time, but for now, I'll contemplate and think of all the elk hunting memories from the last quarter century.
A question to ask yourself:
Would you continue to hunt if you NEVER brought anything back but memories?
Apparently, I would..... :)
Ryan, great read and finally glad to put the story with the pics :)
You just tell me when and I will be there to haul your elk out....it's gonna happen and I hope when it does God blesses you with the biggest bull on the mountain :campfire:
Hey Ryan. Ya, I suspect there are quite a few of us that would and do keep heading to the high country even without bringing home any meat. It is such a wonderful place to be. Something very special happens every year that provides those special memories we cherish. This past season I had a yearling...not sure what he was looking at come in behind me and actually taste the back of my bibs. Ha. I spent a good amount of time talking with your Dad while you and your wife and little girl were out shooting at the CTAS shoot a while back. He is a good guy and knows he has been blessed with a son such as you. Keep going...it pays off one way or the other.
Yes, I would. I've been doing it for 25 years. :thumbsup:
I'd rather "bring home the bacon" but, I can buy it in the store. Not so, the memories.
Get in touch with your dad this weekend. It will be worth it. Life is short.
homebru
yep, its worth it. everyday spent in elk country is a gift.
been waiting for this thread. what a hunt! im actually sure youre going to get your bull, and I bet sooner than later. all streaks come to an end.
thanks for taking us along, taking great pics, and giving me a little glimpse of heaven with September 1 so far away.
Ryan-great read and pics.Thanks for taking us along!
Don't worry you will be blessed one day for your goodness and it will be that much sweeter!
Kenny :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Ryan,elk hunting itself is the success,being able to climb those mountains hear the bugles of the bull,breathing the clean air.
After I killed my first few elks I find myself to don't shoot elk,if not monsters,for not interrupting my stay in the mountains and I still think I am successful. It is all about the hunt.
Thanks for taking us along and congrats to your dad! I think we all have our nemisis. I know mine is the mature mule deer. It's not an inches game but I love chasing mature deer. No matter how hard I try and how often I get close it just never works out. I know I have had more opportunitys than most at them but you know how that goes. I know it took me a long time to get my first elk and when I finally did it was pure luck to be honest. I wasn't even looking for elk and happen to check a pond at 130 in the afternoon. I was wearing flip flops, purple shorts and a tee shirt. Three cows almost ran me over as I made like a tree. It was that easy. After that it came easy almost like they started finding me. It was like when the weight was lifted I relaxed more and sure seemed to capitalize on opportunitys more. This year I scouted more than normal and thought I had several monster bucks figured out but that's a sore subject right now. I even had one big buck I had watched all summer at 30 yards twice and no shot. I just had to move my set up another 20 yards over but once again my hunt was cut short. It sure seems when I try the hardest I fail, maybe it because we set the bar to high. I'm not really sure but when I'm almost not trying they fall in my lap. Last years first elk I was blood trailing my nephews deer when I came accessed her. I think next year all scout hard for elk and go for the luck factor on deer. Maybe then I'll get my nemisis!
Awesome read brother, congrats all around!!!
Don't worry bud, I truly believe..."good things happen to good people"....when it happens, it'll be that much sweeter :pray:
QuoteOriginally posted by steadman:
A question to ask yourself:
Would you continue to hunt if you NEVER brought anything back but memories?
Heck yes. When you
ARE an old timer, you sure will appreciate the memories from all the hunts after all the elk steak are long, long gone. Some of my most treasured memories come from hunts where all I had were close calls.
Why not hunt spike/cow every year in the LE unit you will hunt big bulls again in? Or pick a new unit with quantity over quality in mind?
I'd be pretty content to be a pack mule for your dad for as long as he needed--I'd love that opportunity as my dad does not hunt. Congratulations to both of you!
Ryan, Awesome story here. I am very happy you were able to get your dad on a bull and experience the hunt with him.
To answer your second question. Yes. I need to be in the woods/mountains hunting to help my brain heal from a severely stressful work environment.
Killing an elk would be icing but not the cake.
Ryan,great story. I'm sure there will be more to come.
Ryan,
Great story, congrats to your dad on a fine Bull.
Elk country in the fall is reward in itself, but you know that. It's just a matter of time and when it happens it will be sweet success.
Been looking forward to your dad's story buddy great read :bigsmyl:
Tracy
I killed my last elk in, I think, 1995. I will hunt them until I can no longer hike the mountains. They are magnificent animals that live in magnificent country, and I can't get enough of it. I came so very close this season to putting one down, but while it didn't happen, it gave me hope that it may happen in a season to come.
Hurray for your dad; gives us old farts hope for the future. And the answer to your question is a no brainer; keep on keeping on and enjoy the experience. Elk are addictive!
Ryan, thanks for the great story and congrats to your dad!
Elk hunting is tough by nature and doing it with a stickbow does make it even more challenging. I know, elk are my nemesis too! Your stories reminds me way too much of my own hunts with the same oh so close encounters. It will happen for you, I know it. Just as I know it will happen for me. Just being in the mountains is special, the memories are yours forever.
I was seriously frustrated this year and still am wondering where I will be next fall and what I will be doing differently but I will be there, somewhere...........enjoying the hardest, most frustrating, grueling time with a big smile on my face!
Enjoy my friend, it will happen!
First off, Congrats to Mr. Steadman on the awesome hunt and thanks to you for sharing it with us. What a fine read this is my friend.
I sure hope you don't give up. I keep closer tabs on you than you know during the fall just praying it will happen for you buddy. I've been on an increadibly dry spell as well.
This year with Gatekeeper we were in elk every single hunt. Mostly bulls which sucks when you have cow and spike tags. I called in and feel comfy to the fact we both could have hung tags on bulls (or at least lost arrows trying). Tom came really close to getting an opportunity at the biggest spike elk I've ever seen but it just wasn't meant to be. I did mangage to put a 5x5 right in his lap just for gigles one day and I could tell that was worth the drive out here for him.
What I'm getting at is it will happen for you buddy and when it does the juice will be worth the squeeze...
Keep after em'...
Todd
Super read Ryan! I can't tell you how many times I've elk hunted and haven't got one yet. I know my first out of state Colorado tag was $25. Boy were those the days! My friend never give up as long as your able to negotiate the mountains. I love to go and one day, who knows I may get one too.
Thanks for the encouragement guys. Believe me I won't be giving up. I am truly blessed, that I'm sure of. I think you're right Jimmy, I'm going to do the opposite :)
I agree the hunt is what it's about, and I understand that, otherwise I'd hunt with a different weapon. Steve unless you know the open bull units, which are tough, the spike/cow units are our only choice and that's pretty much all I hunt. I'm not looking for horns, otherwise I'd move :)
Thanks for following along!!
Ha, you're right about it being longer than some of us have been alive! 23 years here and I hope to have some elk encounters like the ones you've experienced some day - some of us are stuck with whitetails only and can only dream of doing an elk hunt one day :rolleyes:
One of my favorite quotes...
"It's paradoxical that the death of your quarry is besides the point and at the same time the whole point. A chase without a kill as its object is like a journey without a destination; a kill without a chase employing all of the hunters craft is killing, not hunting." - Phillip Caputo
We don't do what we do just to take a stroll in the woods - but without the work we don't have those opportunities.
Keep working hard and the stars will align.
Alex
The one thing Dad insisted on carrying out
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Shanes bull he got later in the hunt. He too is shooting a Stalker Wolverine with static limbs.
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Only been on an Elk hunt once........never saw or herd one.......and I would go back in a heartbeat. Just wandering the high country at 10,000+ feet is worth every penny!!
WOW! WHAT A 1/4 CENTURY!!! Thank you for sharing it. I hope to share the elk adventures some day. You must just be a better guide than killer! Seems you always get others into the elk!!
Great story and successes! I too believe that one day all the hard work will pay off! I can only imagine the internal feeling that will be! :bigsmyl:
Thanks for sharing.
Excellent job Ryan!! I'm glad you helped your Dad to get his elk. It all comes back around buddy, your turn is comin! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats on a job WELL DONE so nice for you guys to share your memories and time afield that's what it's all about!
Ryan, earlier in my life I may have said "heck no !" , and don't get me wrong, I WANT to kill whatever I am after, but a hunt full of memories is an awesome hunt and if I never again kill anything i will still go forth for the chase.
There is SO much more than the kill.
ChuckC
:archer:
Great read :notworthy:
Great read brother. Your day is coming. I have no doubt. Anyone with as much passion and drive as you have will always come out on top.
Thanks for sharing. made my morning coffee a whole lot more enjoyable.
Great read Ryan and what an incredible time together with you father, made my day. Hang in there and keep chasing those elk. Your just a young pup it'll happen and of course all time spent in elk country is good time spent!
I know that question was rhetorical Ryan. You've been hooked deep since that first closer encounter and I know you'll be out there each fall until you just physically can't anymore.
You and I know as well as anyone that closing the deal on elk requires a degree of luck. I've been blessed with more than my share and I have no doubt that the odds are going to catchup to you as well. You keep putting yourself in the right places and it is simply a matter of time.
Congrats to you and your Dad on being able to share that fantastic memory. If that ends up being the highlight of your elk hunting career it will all have been well worthwhile. But I'm certain there is much more to come before you hang it up.
Thanks for the great read!
I can see a great elk falling to one of your arrows , it will all happen soon enough , great read....
,,,,Sam,,,,
Steadman!!
Great read man , thanks for your post and congrats to the old man!
I have been chasing elk ( not as hard as you) FOREVER. Still have yet to touch one with one of my arrows in it.
Be well and hunt with real bows and arrows.
I know you don't really need any encouragement but you may enjoy this parallel path...This is exactly what I see happening to you.
Elk Persistence (http://www.probowsociety.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2351)
Ryan, now that's a story! Thanks for sharing. Your time is coming.
Thanks Steve. I remember Terry sending me his picture. I'd be that happy with a cow :)
There are more of us out there then you think. I am at 18 years now I think hunting elk with a bow. Always the brides maid and never the bride for me as well. I will go back until I cant go back. Already I am planning on some new tactics for next season. It has to be more about the hunt to us or we wouldn't pick the gear we do. Congrats to your dad and you, and remember only 10 months to go.
Awesome read. Yes the memories are what lasts. The time it has taken will only add to the sweetness of your success, when it happens and it will happen.
Ryan, I enjoyed the read immensly. Congrats to your dad, and you for helping make it happen. Elk seldom come easy, six in a row for me now, this year it took me 21 days, I thank the Lord for the health to pursue them that long. My sons still think they need to be there to help if I shoot one, yes, I usually do and I cherish the time they spend with me in the pusuit. This year I had to tough it out, I was alone on the mountain for a few more days, Dan had already killed a cow, well it happened and I ended up packing my cow out by myself. It was a test, but I found out that I could still do it at 62 years old. You are still a young man, go easy, it will happen for you my deserving friend.
Great read well done.
Simply inspirational...This kind of story keeps our sport alive for generations to come.
Cheers!
great thread!