Awsome, thats a great way to start a season off.  Now its Ms. Hopes' turn...

After getting 2 full game bags loaded with about 100 pounds of de-boned elk meat minus the backstaps which were already in my day pack, I took the heart to a soft spot in the sage. It is my custom to bury the heart and say a prayer. It is something I strongly believe in. It is a ceremony that I do that is mine...no whooping or hollering. Just a thank you to the elk. The last image I have to share for this day is what God left in the sky that night. It looked as if he had painted it with his own hand. I took the entire cape down for me to tan later along with the backstraps and left the 2 full gamebags cooling on the mountian for the night. I was a blessed bowhunter...

Thanks for sharing!  

Congratulations Mike!!  Fantastic story and pictures!  Now you've really got me pumped up for WY myself.  I'm already about to burn an ulcer in my gut waiting to hit the road.  This story really puts me into overdrive!

Go get 'em Whip! Good luck my friend!

I have a few more images but no mule deer were harmed in the making of this post    

I put the sneak on a giant mulie twice. Once he went to bed in a bad spot and the wind changed. The last day of the hunt I thought I had him. Bedded in a good spot but had several escorts. 9 bucks total, 4 of which I would have jumped out of my skin to kill. On the last stalk of the last day a little 2 point made me as I was planning my last move. 63 yards away from about a 180 inch mule deer    

I nearly stepped on the forky and he exploded out of the sage. Oh well, it happens!

I managed to slip up on two bedded cow elk. My tag was filled and I just wanted to see...so I got these pics. Counting Coup on elk is something I never thought I'd do. Let me tell you 17 yards is close    The first pic was made at about 30 yards. I thought I was busted but the cow looked the other way and I snuck in closer. I managed to get by them without spooking them and continued my stalk on the mulies. The second pic was at 17 yards...she even had a "spot" to shoot at on her side!

I truly appreciate your story. Thank you so very much.

I feel blessed by the reading of your hunt.

Congratulations!!

I'll be watching for your mule deer now.

God bless,Mudd

PS: Isn't God wonderful? He made us to have all this and the emotions that go with it.

Finally it was time to go. I had a great time and will be back. I have enough points to draw a bull tag I hope next year. I saw some awesome bulls but they were always too far to get a pic. I saw a bull that is looking back at 350...I hope to see him next year with my Stalker in my hand.
 
 

My lookout rock that looked like a guy smiling to me...okay so your not into ink blots  

 

 

Finally a desert flower for my lovely wife who allows and understands my need to be in wild places. I am a blessed man in so many ways. Hope you enjoyed my adventure. I have whitetails soon for a month then Ms Hope for the month of November. I think I am already having a good year  

QuoteOriginally posted by wapiti792:
[QB]...no whooping or hollering. Just a thank you to the elk. ...

Perfect.

Awesome.  Thanks for the story and pictures.  Ken

 

Most excellent Mike.

What an awesome story. Congrats and thanks for sharing.

Awesome! Great shooting and wonderful pictures.  

Nice job and thanks for taking us along.

Chris

Cool story and pics!  They made my day.  Haven't been out to Wyoming hunting in over 5 years.  Miss the mountians.  I've been inspired to start planning my own dream cow hunt. Thanks  Chris

The stuff dreams are made of man!  Thanks for the journey!

 

What a ride.  Thanks soooo much for letting us come along!

Very nicely done.

Well done

Mike,

Great write up! Thanks for putting this together; it is a lot more work than most realize.

Sean

Great story and pics. I am very envious of you. Sounds like a wonderful trip. Thanks for letting us go along with you.

Mark

Thanks everyone! Sean you are right    

I forgot to mention the mountian lion!!! I witnessed 2 mt. lion kits with mom leading the way cross a rocky outcropping above me about 200 yards away the day after I killed my cow. I fumbled for my camera but the sighting was over about as fast as it began. There was a pucker factor too as we don't officailly have them in Illinois    

The trip was so much fun and it will make me smile for many days to come.