Well I can honestly say that the July scouting trip paid off. I hung several cameras and cleaned shooting lanes to hang a tree stand while on that trip. I got tons of elk pictures! First morning I hunted one of the spots and saw two elk out of range. We decided to spike in 2 miles that afternoon. By the time we got camp setup it was 4pm. I cleaned up in the creek and headed to the best looking spot I had found back in July. I pulled the sd card from the camera and hung my stand. It was 5:45pm. I scrolled through the pics and my jaw dropped. Three cows and a nice bull had passed at 3pm!
As I looked through the pics there were a lot of elk using that trail. I saw nothing that evening but knew it was just a matter of time. The next morning I climbed in the stand at 5:45 and waited on daylight. I sat till 10am and saw nothing. I went back to camp, ate and looked through the pictures again. All hours of the day the elk were passing so I hurried back and was settled in at noon. As the clock ticked and the hours passed I began to wonder if anything would show. I did a few cow calls and I look left and there's a spike bull at 35 yards! He left without getting closer. I made a few more cow calls and waited. I heard something and here comes this good bull. He came right to the crossing which was 13 yards. Man is this really happening? I ready myself and he never stops so I follow him and next thing I see is my arrow drove nearly to the fletching right behind his shoulder! He runs about 60 yards then all is quiet. I wait 30 minutes then sneak out and hurry back to camp to tell my buddies. Since I didn't hear him crash I decided it best to wait till daylight to track. This morning we all went in and there he was laying where I last saw him!
Shot him with my girly 47# Palmer Longbow.
Goldtip shaft with 250gr up front. Magnus stinger 150gr 2-blade 520gr total arrow weight. I am very blessed to say the least and to be with great friends. Colorado public land DIY
The hole we found him in
 
 
 
 
 
 

Way to go,congratulations! You've been killing all sorts of things lately.

CONGRATS Sir!!

Nice! I'm headed that way Thursday night.

Awesome bull!!!
You put your time and work in and made it pay off!  Way to go!

pretty dang cool man. congrats!

Good for you, way to go!      

Very happy for you, you put the work into it and you deserve it. That girly 47# bow did it too!

Great way to open the season! Thanks for posting the pic of packing out the antlers..I like to be reminded how a lot of the job of a bow hunter is just  beginning when you release that string.

That's awesome-

Looks like everyone's concern of your bow choice was for nothing.

Congratulations Sir!

That's awesome congrats!!! Love hearing stories of hard work pay off!

I'm so jelly!  Someday.  Someday  

47# BOW!?!? Oh how irresponsible of you. That's just pure luck!! Oh wait. My bow is 48#..      
Super many congratulations! Now get your friends on some elk!

Outstanding! I've done that hunt twice and know what an accomplishment that is. All that prep and work paid off big! Congrats!

Great looking bull. Congrats!!!

Way to go! He's an awesome looking bull. Congratulations!

Kenny

Cory I had the opportunity to buy that bow from Mike and let it pass, But I am not sure it would have worked as well for me. Congrats man! You should get home just in time for bow season here at home. Thanks for taking us along!

Congratulations!  I have bow hunted for elk four times, the last two backpacking and no success yet for me.  Very happy all the hard work paid off for you.

Congrats.....nice bull..!

Corey, you my friend are an inspiration. A perfect example of the rewards of persistence and diligence. Way to stick to your guns and shoot what you were comfortable with. Congrats again!