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2009 Colorado Archery Elk
The Colorado archery elk season doesn't always start on opening day. This year I decided to spend more time in the areas I would be hunting elk with my bow during the summer months. Fortunately I was able to find an elk that interested me. Although there are bigger bulls in the area they are few and far between. Hunting less than an hour and a half away from your own home can be beneficial. I was able to spend quite a few days in the field scouting for elk. I had narrowed it down to 2 bulls and I really had my heart set on the one I spent the most time scouting. As early August passed and opening day arrived, I was ready and overly excited. I had found a bull I wanted, patterned him and knew the nooks and cranny?s he hid in. At least so I thought.
Opening day arrived and I was there mid morning. I couldn't be there for first light because I worked the day prior to the hunt (off work at 7AM, 24 hour shifts) and was unable to get out earlier. I hiked back to the rocky bluff where I usually start and the second I put my eyes through the 15x56?s I saw 2 cow elk. Keep in mind it is approximately 10 AM and I figured the elk would be down in the cooler drainages where the thick aspens could keep them shaded. I searched for the bull but just like that they had disappeared into the burnt forest. I concentrated on the area they had been bedding during the afternoons and where I had seen quite a few of rubs and a nice wallow. I saw nothing. Later that day, after a quick power nap I jumped behind the glass again and once again within 30 seconds elk! They were on the same ridge I saw them on earlier. The only difference was it was the bull completely sky lined with all 6x6 points shimmering in the sun. The elk were about ? of a mile away and I had a good feeling I knew where they were heading.
It didn't take me but 5 seconds to get my bow and pack together and take off. I made a quick stalk to where they were and was able to keep the heard in my sights. It wasn?t until after I had heard some brush breaking just beneath me that I realized the elk I had been keeping my eyes on were the back half of the heard. The bull was 100 yards below me and something spooked them. I thought to myself ?just great, opening day and you already blew the elk out of the country.? I kept my cool and continued the stalk in the direction they had trotted to. As I crept around a bend I cautiously peeked my head around the trees and there they were. I watched the bull nestle down into aspen thicket where a small trickle of a stream ran. I slowly stalked towards him keeping all 20 of the cows, calves and satellite bulls in my sight. I was able to move to within 60 yards of him and decided to wait until he moved to where I could possibly get a shot. As predicted the afternoon thunderstorm had hit and it was raining something fierce. This actually proved to be a good thing. The cows started mewing and I joined in. The big 6x6 bull started screaming as well and he bugled the rest of the evening continuously. Within a couple calls off of my hyper lip a 5x5 bull comes to within 35 yards of me! I was honestly tempted to end it right then and there but I knew I had the entire hunt ahead of me.
Finally, after about an hour and a half of waiting, the 6x6 bull decided to get up and move but it was in the wrong direction. I decided to make my move only to be nailed by the alpha female. She didn't bolt out of there but they were in enough of a trot to warrant calling it a day and not pushing them out of the area.
I hunted extremely hard with my buddy Sean for the entire hunt. Although I do not know the exact number of days I'm guessing I was out at least 14 days off and on from start to finish. With few elk sightings and witnessing my back up bull being taken directly below me by a muzzy hunter, hunting was tough. I saw the bull one more time during these days until the last day of the hunt.
I had been broken, beat up and ready for the rifle season. I had a week to scout for my antelope and I had to prep for 2 mule deer hunts that were coming up. I was ready to hang up the Mathews and call it good. You see, I don't use a quad or just drive around. I rely on my own two feet. I just knew I would regret not going out again though. On the last day of the hunt I decided to hunt a little differently and not sit behind the glass so much. The plan was to cover as much of the public land as possible. It was about 8:30Am and I hiked back a mile and half or so working my way into the dark timber. I worked my way over a saddle and slowly snuck through the dark timber on the back side of a huge bluff. Stopping every few yards and glassing the aspens, Douglas firs and other foliage I heard the snap of a twig across the small finger. I stopped immediately and 300 yards away was a cow and her calf. She was moving my way with a purposeful step. I jus stood there watching to see the direction she would veer off to. The decision I had to make was do I take a cow on the last day? She peeped her head over the 6 foot newly grown aspens to clear the path from any predators. I slowly moved 10 yards down to where I would have a clear shot. As she moved out of the aspens her calf followed, then another cow, another and another. With all eight of them moving directly towards me, I knew a bull had to be trailing. Sure enough twenty yards behind was the 6x6 I had been hunting the entire hunt! I looked for a small clearing through the deadwood which lied in front of me. The lead cow crossed 20 yards in front of me! If the rest of the heard followed I would have a perfect broad side shot. One by one they passed and I waited for the bull. As he quartered towards me I drew back. I could hear my heart pounding but I was as calm as I've ever been. He was moving and I knew if I tried to stop him he may not stop where I could make a clear shot at his vitals. I waited for the opening and put my 20 yard pin on his front shoulder. As I pulled the trigger I saw the arrow fly true and disappear behind his shoulder. He flinched and all hell broke loose. I just sat there with calm over me and watched the path he took. As I waited out the drama I made a couple phone calls letting my girlfriend and buddies know I just killed. I was very confident it was a double lung shot.
After a half an hour of waiting I began my search for blood and tracks. I was unable to find the arrow but I found good blood not far from where I shot. To my surprise another hunter came up to me and said ?I hope I didn't ruin your set up.? I let him know I had just shot a bull and asked of he wanted to help with the tracking. Charlie was more than willing and this proved to be vital in finding the bull. With the blood we were finding initially we thought it would only be 200 yards or so until we found the downed animal. A mile later we were at the end of the blood trail. We were able to follow the tracks another half a mile or so and from there on it was tough tracking. He had joined his cows again and this made it tough to determine which were his. Charlie had to go and I would never had gotten as far as I did without his tracking abilities. I let him know I was going to start gridding the mountain side and would be doing that for the next 4 days.
I returned Monday and had no luck. I prepped for my antelope hunt on Tuesday, and returned Wednesday to find Turkey Vultures not 400 yards from where we last cut his tracks. I knew he was close but once again after a days worth of gridding the face of the mountain I came up empty. I had to work on Thursday but with talking to a few friends we all agreed I had to go back on Friday. I couldn't sleep Thursday night. I new inside I was going to find him and was torn with knowing the meat was long gone. I woke up, grabbed my girl my gear and made the hour and a half drive to where I last saw the birds. As I got out of the truck I saw a black bird on the top of the ridge. I was more excited than ever when I saw another black bird, then another. I could have ran up the mountain but I slowly made my way directly to him. He was there and I was thrilled to say the least.
I have to thank my girl for understanding how important hunting is to me. Also, thanks to my buddy Sean. And finally Thanks to Charlie for helping me track out my bull on the last day of the hunt when he could have been hunting.
My 6x6 Bull ended up rough scoring around 300 inches. Not the biggest but I'm very happy.
The Colorado archery elk season doesn't always start on opening day. This year I decided to spend more time in the areas I would be hunting elk with my bow during the summer months. Fortunately I was able to find an elk that interested me. Although there are bigger bulls in the area they are few and far between. Hunting less than an hour and a half away from your own home can be beneficial. I was able to spend quite a few days in the field scouting for elk. I had narrowed it down to 2 bulls and I really had my heart set on the one I spent the most time scouting. As early August passed and opening day arrived, I was ready and overly excited. I had found a bull I wanted, patterned him and knew the nooks and cranny?s he hid in. At least so I thought.
Opening day arrived and I was there mid morning. I couldn't be there for first light because I worked the day prior to the hunt (off work at 7AM, 24 hour shifts) and was unable to get out earlier. I hiked back to the rocky bluff where I usually start and the second I put my eyes through the 15x56?s I saw 2 cow elk. Keep in mind it is approximately 10 AM and I figured the elk would be down in the cooler drainages where the thick aspens could keep them shaded. I searched for the bull but just like that they had disappeared into the burnt forest. I concentrated on the area they had been bedding during the afternoons and where I had seen quite a few of rubs and a nice wallow. I saw nothing. Later that day, after a quick power nap I jumped behind the glass again and once again within 30 seconds elk! They were on the same ridge I saw them on earlier. The only difference was it was the bull completely sky lined with all 6x6 points shimmering in the sun. The elk were about ? of a mile away and I had a good feeling I knew where they were heading.
It didn't take me but 5 seconds to get my bow and pack together and take off. I made a quick stalk to where they were and was able to keep the heard in my sights. It wasn?t until after I had heard some brush breaking just beneath me that I realized the elk I had been keeping my eyes on were the back half of the heard. The bull was 100 yards below me and something spooked them. I thought to myself ?just great, opening day and you already blew the elk out of the country.? I kept my cool and continued the stalk in the direction they had trotted to. As I crept around a bend I cautiously peeked my head around the trees and there they were. I watched the bull nestle down into aspen thicket where a small trickle of a stream ran. I slowly stalked towards him keeping all 20 of the cows, calves and satellite bulls in my sight. I was able to move to within 60 yards of him and decided to wait until he moved to where I could possibly get a shot. As predicted the afternoon thunderstorm had hit and it was raining something fierce. This actually proved to be a good thing. The cows started mewing and I joined in. The big 6x6 bull started screaming as well and he bugled the rest of the evening continuously. Within a couple calls off of my hyper lip a 5x5 bull comes to within 35 yards of me! I was honestly tempted to end it right then and there but I knew I had the entire hunt ahead of me.
Finally, after about an hour and a half of waiting, the 6x6 bull decided to get up and move but it was in the wrong direction. I decided to make my move only to be nailed by the alpha female. She didn't bolt out of there but they were in enough of a trot to warrant calling it a day and not pushing them out of the area.
I hunted extremely hard with my buddy Sean for the entire hunt. Although I do not know the exact number of days I'm guessing I was out at least 14 days off and on from start to finish. With few elk sightings and witnessing my back up bull being taken directly below me by a muzzy hunter, hunting was tough. I saw the bull one more time during these days until the last day of the hunt.
I had been broken, beat up and ready for the rifle season. I had a week to scout for my antelope and I had to prep for 2 mule deer hunts that were coming up. I was ready to hang up the Mathews and call it good. You see, I don't use a quad or just drive around. I rely on my own two feet. I just knew I would regret not going out again though. On the last day of the hunt I decided to hunt a little differently and not sit behind the glass so much. The plan was to cover as much of the public land as possible. It was about 8:30Am and I hiked back a mile and half or so working my way into the dark timber. I worked my way over a saddle and slowly snuck through the dark timber on the back side of a huge bluff. Stopping every few yards and glassing the aspens, Douglas firs and other foliage I heard the snap of a twig across the small finger. I stopped immediately and 300 yards away was a cow and her calf. She was moving my way with a purposeful step. I jus stood there watching to see the direction she would veer off to. The decision I had to make was do I take a cow on the last day? She peeped her head over the 6 foot newly grown aspens to clear the path from any predators. I slowly moved 10 yards down to where I would have a clear shot. As she moved out of the aspens her calf followed, then another cow, another and another. With all eight of them moving directly towards me, I knew a bull had to be trailing. Sure enough twenty yards behind was the 6x6 I had been hunting the entire hunt! I looked for a small clearing through the deadwood which lied in front of me. The lead cow crossed 20 yards in front of me! If the rest of the heard followed I would have a perfect broad side shot. One by one they passed and I waited for the bull. As he quartered towards me I drew back. I could hear my heart pounding but I was as calm as I've ever been. He was moving and I knew if I tried to stop him he may not stop where I could make a clear shot at his vitals. I waited for the opening and put my 20 yard pin on his front shoulder. As I pulled the trigger I saw the arrow fly true and disappear behind his shoulder. He flinched and all hell broke loose. I just sat there with calm over me and watched the path he took. As I waited out the drama I made a couple phone calls letting my girlfriend and buddies know I just killed. I was very confident it was a double lung shot.
After a half an hour of waiting I began my search for blood and tracks. I was unable to find the arrow but I found good blood not far from where I shot. To my surprise another hunter came up to me and said ?I hope I didn't ruin your set up.? I let him know I had just shot a bull and asked of he wanted to help with the tracking. Charlie was more than willing and this proved to be vital in finding the bull. With the blood we were finding initially we thought it would only be 200 yards or so until we found the downed animal. A mile later we were at the end of the blood trail. We were able to follow the tracks another half a mile or so and from there on it was tough tracking. He had joined his cows again and this made it tough to determine which were his. Charlie had to go and I would never had gotten as far as I did without his tracking abilities. I let him know I was going to start gridding the mountain side and would be doing that for the next 4 days.
I returned Monday and had no luck. I prepped for my antelope hunt on Tuesday, and returned Wednesday to find Turkey Vultures not 400 yards from where we last cut his tracks. I knew he was close but once again after a days worth of gridding the face of the mountain I came up empty. I had to work on Thursday but with talking to a few friends we all agreed I had to go back on Friday. I couldn't sleep Thursday night. I new inside I was going to find him and was torn with knowing the meat was long gone. I woke up, grabbed my girl my gear and made the hour and a half drive to where I last saw the birds. As I got out of the truck I saw a black bird on the top of the ridge. I was more excited than ever when I saw another black bird, then another. I could have ran up the mountain but I slowly made my way directly to him. He was there and I was thrilled to say the least.
I have to thank my girl for understanding how important hunting is to me. Also, thanks to my buddy Sean. And finally Thanks to Charlie for helping me track out my bull on the last day of the hunt when he could have been hunting.
My 6x6 Bull ended up rough scoring around 300 inches. Not the biggest but I'm very happy.
