This hunt actually started in 1997 when a friend of mine said we should apply for an elk hunt in N.M. and Arizona. We contacted United States Out Fitters & started applying. We were drawn in Arizona in 2000 (my friend's dad passed away the day before we were to leave and he couldnt go) so I went on my first elk hunt and did I ever get biten bad. Since that hunt I had only missed one year that I didn't go elk hunting, mostly by buying landowner tags in New Mexico. On one hunt I missed 5 shots the first day. The word got out on me that I couldn't kill an elk. I began to think that God just didn't want me to kill one. In the meantime I was having no trouble with bear, caribou, javelinas, small game and I better not shoot at a deer if I didn't want to kill it. But I still could miss an elk at 7 yards? We began to think that I was jinxed or maybe some witch doctor had put a spell on me. I might mention that my friend who had been on most hunts with me and hunts with a compound bow, had not even drawn on an elk. We finally drew the Gila National Forest, Unit 15 this year and both of us killed bulls sitting on water holes in the afternoon. Jim, my friend shot his the first afternoon and I got mine the third afternoon. He came in behind a single cow, as calm as any animal I have ever seen, walked down into the water and I took a broadside shot at 16 yards. I met my guide at 8:15pm and we agreed to wait until morning to look. The next morning we got right on the trail and in about 5 mins spotted the bull down but still alive. I slipped in to about 25 yards behind him and shot another arrow into his vitals. He didn't even try to get up, he just stretched out and took his last breath. I finally had my elk. Now I think the witch doctor is in my computer. As soon as I can get it fixed I will post some more pictures. The high southwest desert was at its best this year. Hope to post pictures by Monday. Thans for looking at my post.


After 10 years of frustation and putting unused tags in a drawer, the witch doctor stayed home. Sat. Sept. 4th, after a long sleepless night I finally put my tag on a bull in Unit 15, NM        

congrats! thats a nice bull. i am very jelous.

Congradulations!!  Elk Steaks all around!

                   

fantastic.  Nice work, and I am expecting to hear the story also.

Congrats! Nice bull.

Awesome bull!  Story?

Tell us the rest of the story! Congratulations!

Waiting....

Great!  Congratulations!

Good for you.Thats a long journey.But well worth it judging from the pics.

Congrats!!!

Congratulations on a well deserved harvest!      

Need to know more, thats a beautiful elk.
What state ?
Carl

Nice, congrats.

Great job, now you have all the MOJO!

YAHOO! Beeeeeautiful bull.

Congrats! Looks like a great bull!!  

Wooo Hoooo!!!!

very nice...lets hear the story  

Nice bull...no bull.  Congrats