In light of the recent Wyoming draw results being posted, I figure its about time I get around to sharing our WY elk hunt from last year. Hands down the most enjoyable, rewarding and memorable hunt of my life so far. We knew going in we were going to give it our all. Preparation started in February as soon as we knew we had drawn tags. Training, shooting, scouting, its all part of the memories. Here?s a few previous posts to reference in regards to preparation.
http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID23/2152.html
http://www.monstermuleys.info/cgi-b..._thread&om=12396&forum=DCForumID5&archive=yes
Only you guys reading this can truly understand the through-the-roof anticipation as the last few days wound down coming into opening day of the season. We had trained, we had practiced, we had packed and repacked, and we KNEW where the elk were. We were 200% committed and off we went. As we busted in deep to our previously scouted area, nearly jogging down the trail to catch a few minutes of glassing before the sun set, low and behold a lone coyote came book?n down the trail right towards us. He was nervous, looking over his shoulder, rightfully so as a HUGE black wolf was tailing him. As they both continued to run down the trail unaware of us, we finally had to yell and wave out of our own uneasiness. The yote stopped at 10 yards out the, wolf stopped at 20 yards out, they stared at us for a few seconds and then gone. WOW, what a site and what a memory! This all went down not far from where this pic was taken.
We quickly continued on until we finally reached a favorite glassing location. We expected to see elk, and lots of them across the canyon where they always were. What we actually saw nearly sunk our ship right then and there. 1000, no, 2000 sheep, 10 horses, 5 of them nasty polar bear dogs, and a couple sheep herders had taken up residence on ?OUR? elk mountain. We were bummed to say the least. But we wouldn't be stopped, no way, no how. Pull out plan B, 3 more miles of hike?n in the dark and alas we rolled out the bags and hoped for the best come morning. With in minutes of laying down, it started?a bugle in the night, then another and another, hoofs on hard dirt and it continued all night. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.
Plan B, proved to be a great move. First light had us in elk, in close, passing on a rag horn, and just elk hunting heaven all morning. We glassed up a bull, later in the day, and off we went. I hung back and called, Shane went in for the shot. So close, but just couldn't get a shot off. The bull slipped away. We climbed back up and out of the bowl and sat on the saddle and ate lunch. Unbeknownst to us, that same bull left our close encounter and dropped low making his was up the next draw to the very saddle we sat on munching granola bars.
A bugle rang out close. My turn, I dropped in to the dark pines, and stopped cold at an ear ringing bugle. I positioned, rangefound a few trees, and he stepped out beyond the tree I had just ranged at 40 yards. Shane stopped him like a statue with a quick cow chirp. I'd made this shot a thousand times at home in my mind. I drew, settled the 50 pin, breathed deep and let it fly. He was gone, crashing, then silence. I lost the arrow flight in the shadows. I had no idea if I'd hit him or not, what I did know was the shot felt great. We gave him 30, and started in on the tracking. Hoof prints, big, deep and crazy prints, then a small drop of blood, then my broken arrow. Not the vane end but the broadhead end with 20? of bloody arrow. Complete pass through, with the vanes hung up in him?we guessed. A few more drops of blood, a few more tracks. We crested a small ravine and was hit with the powerful smell of elk on the rising thermals. With in a few more yards the celebration, hugs and hollering began.
There he lay, 80 mere yards from impact, with a perfect double lung shot! I'll save the words in trying to explain my thoughts and emotions. Suffice it to say, a guys first mature bull with a bow, is something never to be forgotten.
We broke him down, I bombed out of there the 7 miles to the trailhead to call in the recruits. Wife, Dad, Father-in-law and the horses would be on their way in the morning. I enjoyed a perfect chicken fried steak dinner alone in the small town that night and slept in the truck at the forest service road turn off waiting for the crew. My wife, how lucky am I.
What a wonderful day with those people closest to me. So grateful for their time, help and company! We got him loaded up and off they went. With in a few minutes it was quiet and Shane and I were putting together our plan for the next 6 days.
We cached most of our food, and would return every couple days to refuel. Kept us light and mobile. When it was light we hunted, when it was dark we slept, regardless of where the elk had led us that day.
Found a perfectly located spring. With a little engineering, made for easy refills.
This is how you glass after a hard and fast climb of 1500ft elevation gain. The comradery made for entertaining times!
And this is morning at 10,000ft in elk country!
We hunted hard, I mean HARD. It was Shane?s turn and we were going to make it happen. Had so many close encounters over the week. In close on a 5 point, passed on a raggy 4, passed on a raggy 5, trailed a good six, hunted non stop bulges from 7am to 4pm one day, chased the ?dinosaur? bugler, just out of range on a rut?n +350 bull and his harem, lost sleep to close screaming elk, cliff bound when running down 1500? elevation trying to catch a good bull in the bottom, good 5?er coming in on a rope and winded at the very last second, a screamer jetted in then vanished just as quickly. Then finally?
Heard him, then spotted him and off we went. Closed the distance. Called and called, he went nuts. The herd bull wouldn't leave the girls, but the respectable satellite bull was on his way. Call, come, call, come, it was working out just right. This is only supposed to happen in the movies right? Here he comes, Shane was set, I was calling, then I was interrupted by another interested little spike from out of now where.
THWACK! Crash, quiet. Shane had done it! Celebration again! But wait, no blood., not one drop. Found the nock in and odd spot, no arrow. Things weren't adding up. Back track, re-enact the shot. Some twigs were close, but the arrow should have cleared. Closer inspection showed a crisp razor cut branch. Deflection, then our depression. After 8 long fought days, this shouldn't be. To make it worse, the now safe bull let one more mocking bugle fly from the distance as our heads sunk low.
We were down but not out. What better way to wash away our sorrows than a death march to the bottom. But It wasn?t to be. No elk. Our last morning was silent. Nothing. We slowly crawled our way back up. Hearts beat again with a spooked bear. A dozen bears were spotted on this trip. We passed my bulls carcass from 5 day earlier, not much left.
Then again, way too close. 10 yards, sow and cub, they didn't bolt but were apprehensive. We shook in our shorts. Sorry poor pic, but like I said, I was shake?n.
We made our way slowly back to the trail head. We were worn, we were tired, we had been down, but as the hunt ended, we were content. So many experiences, so many memories, so many elk?we lived with the elk. 8 days deep in the backcountry of Wyoming. Sights, sounds, and happenings that many can only dream of, we lived.
End of Part 1. Stay tuned for part 2, a full rifle season still ahead!
http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID23/2152.html
http://www.monstermuleys.info/cgi-b..._thread&om=12396&forum=DCForumID5&archive=yes
Only you guys reading this can truly understand the through-the-roof anticipation as the last few days wound down coming into opening day of the season. We had trained, we had practiced, we had packed and repacked, and we KNEW where the elk were. We were 200% committed and off we went. As we busted in deep to our previously scouted area, nearly jogging down the trail to catch a few minutes of glassing before the sun set, low and behold a lone coyote came book?n down the trail right towards us. He was nervous, looking over his shoulder, rightfully so as a HUGE black wolf was tailing him. As they both continued to run down the trail unaware of us, we finally had to yell and wave out of our own uneasiness. The yote stopped at 10 yards out the, wolf stopped at 20 yards out, they stared at us for a few seconds and then gone. WOW, what a site and what a memory! This all went down not far from where this pic was taken.
We quickly continued on until we finally reached a favorite glassing location. We expected to see elk, and lots of them across the canyon where they always were. What we actually saw nearly sunk our ship right then and there. 1000, no, 2000 sheep, 10 horses, 5 of them nasty polar bear dogs, and a couple sheep herders had taken up residence on ?OUR? elk mountain. We were bummed to say the least. But we wouldn't be stopped, no way, no how. Pull out plan B, 3 more miles of hike?n in the dark and alas we rolled out the bags and hoped for the best come morning. With in minutes of laying down, it started?a bugle in the night, then another and another, hoofs on hard dirt and it continued all night. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.
Plan B, proved to be a great move. First light had us in elk, in close, passing on a rag horn, and just elk hunting heaven all morning. We glassed up a bull, later in the day, and off we went. I hung back and called, Shane went in for the shot. So close, but just couldn't get a shot off. The bull slipped away. We climbed back up and out of the bowl and sat on the saddle and ate lunch. Unbeknownst to us, that same bull left our close encounter and dropped low making his was up the next draw to the very saddle we sat on munching granola bars.
A bugle rang out close. My turn, I dropped in to the dark pines, and stopped cold at an ear ringing bugle. I positioned, rangefound a few trees, and he stepped out beyond the tree I had just ranged at 40 yards. Shane stopped him like a statue with a quick cow chirp. I'd made this shot a thousand times at home in my mind. I drew, settled the 50 pin, breathed deep and let it fly. He was gone, crashing, then silence. I lost the arrow flight in the shadows. I had no idea if I'd hit him or not, what I did know was the shot felt great. We gave him 30, and started in on the tracking. Hoof prints, big, deep and crazy prints, then a small drop of blood, then my broken arrow. Not the vane end but the broadhead end with 20? of bloody arrow. Complete pass through, with the vanes hung up in him?we guessed. A few more drops of blood, a few more tracks. We crested a small ravine and was hit with the powerful smell of elk on the rising thermals. With in a few more yards the celebration, hugs and hollering began.
There he lay, 80 mere yards from impact, with a perfect double lung shot! I'll save the words in trying to explain my thoughts and emotions. Suffice it to say, a guys first mature bull with a bow, is something never to be forgotten.
We broke him down, I bombed out of there the 7 miles to the trailhead to call in the recruits. Wife, Dad, Father-in-law and the horses would be on their way in the morning. I enjoyed a perfect chicken fried steak dinner alone in the small town that night and slept in the truck at the forest service road turn off waiting for the crew. My wife, how lucky am I.
What a wonderful day with those people closest to me. So grateful for their time, help and company! We got him loaded up and off they went. With in a few minutes it was quiet and Shane and I were putting together our plan for the next 6 days.
We cached most of our food, and would return every couple days to refuel. Kept us light and mobile. When it was light we hunted, when it was dark we slept, regardless of where the elk had led us that day.
Found a perfectly located spring. With a little engineering, made for easy refills.
This is how you glass after a hard and fast climb of 1500ft elevation gain. The comradery made for entertaining times!
And this is morning at 10,000ft in elk country!
We hunted hard, I mean HARD. It was Shane?s turn and we were going to make it happen. Had so many close encounters over the week. In close on a 5 point, passed on a raggy 4, passed on a raggy 5, trailed a good six, hunted non stop bulges from 7am to 4pm one day, chased the ?dinosaur? bugler, just out of range on a rut?n +350 bull and his harem, lost sleep to close screaming elk, cliff bound when running down 1500? elevation trying to catch a good bull in the bottom, good 5?er coming in on a rope and winded at the very last second, a screamer jetted in then vanished just as quickly. Then finally?
Heard him, then spotted him and off we went. Closed the distance. Called and called, he went nuts. The herd bull wouldn't leave the girls, but the respectable satellite bull was on his way. Call, come, call, come, it was working out just right. This is only supposed to happen in the movies right? Here he comes, Shane was set, I was calling, then I was interrupted by another interested little spike from out of now where.
THWACK! Crash, quiet. Shane had done it! Celebration again! But wait, no blood., not one drop. Found the nock in and odd spot, no arrow. Things weren't adding up. Back track, re-enact the shot. Some twigs were close, but the arrow should have cleared. Closer inspection showed a crisp razor cut branch. Deflection, then our depression. After 8 long fought days, this shouldn't be. To make it worse, the now safe bull let one more mocking bugle fly from the distance as our heads sunk low.
We were down but not out. What better way to wash away our sorrows than a death march to the bottom. But It wasn?t to be. No elk. Our last morning was silent. Nothing. We slowly crawled our way back up. Hearts beat again with a spooked bear. A dozen bears were spotted on this trip. We passed my bulls carcass from 5 day earlier, not much left.
Then again, way too close. 10 yards, sow and cub, they didn't bolt but were apprehensive. We shook in our shorts. Sorry poor pic, but like I said, I was shake?n.
We made our way slowly back to the trail head. We were worn, we were tired, we had been down, but as the hunt ended, we were content. So many experiences, so many memories, so many elk?we lived with the elk. 8 days deep in the backcountry of Wyoming. Sights, sounds, and happenings that many can only dream of, we lived.
End of Part 1. Stay tuned for part 2, a full rifle season still ahead!
