Successful Archery Hunt in CO Unit 10 - See Pics

W

Wallow

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I posted several pictures throughout the summer of Bull Elk I was scouting in my limited entry archery unit. The hunt finally arrived Aug.30th and I had the hunt of a lifetime. My goal going into this hunt was to kill a 350 class bull with my bow, but as any bow hunter knows this is easier said than done. I saw several shooters that I went after throughout the hunt but for one reason or another I never had a good shot. With only only one week to go in the Hunt my standards were slipping a little bit and I decided to take any six point bull that scored over 300 points.

The last morning I could hunt I was working down a Oak ridge and the bulls were screaming everywhere. I kept working toward what I thought was the best bugle, but this can be a little challenging when over 30 bulls are all in a frenzy. I knew there were some great bulls in the area but there are alot of raghorns as well. After passing on a coyote at 30 yds I looked to my left and classed a stud bull coming my way up the draw. He was about 200 yds and working toward me. I could only see one cow and calf with him which was a huge bonus. I can't tell you how many times I was busted by cows when the bull had no clue I was there. As the bull continued to work toward me I could see that he had a whole harem with him and the lead cow started moving it out to their bedding area. I was hunched over and trying to keep in front of the lead cow but she was on a mission to get somewhere and nothing was going to stop her. The bull was out of sight now but I could hear him bugling and moving in my direction. I kept seeing cows at close range so I was trying to be careful but aggressively moving to where I thought the bull would cross the saddle. I ranged three cows at 35 yards and thought the bull was coming right behind them but learned later from my dad and brother that another bull came into the heard and this big boy busted down the ridge to run the other bull off. The big bull came back up the ridge and was running to his cows. I stopped him with my cow call but unfortunately he stopped right behind a bush. I came to full draw and walked out to where I could get a shot. I guessed him at just over 55 yds and was settling my pin when he bolted for his cows. "DANG IT" I think I used those words :). I guessed this bull at a 360-370 class bull.

I continued to work down the ridge toward several more bugles when all of a sudden a cow, calf and bull came busting out of the bushes to my right at about 30 yds. The cow came running right around the oakbrush in front of me with the bull close on her heals. I could tell the bull was a nice 6x6 but it all happened so fast that I cow called and came to full draw in one motion. The bull stopped dead in his tracks at 20 yds. He quartered slightly towards my and let out an angry scream. I couldn't pass up this shot and time was running out. I settled my top pin right behind his front shoulder and let her fly. I heard a thud and I sat there as the bull went about 30 yds and started looking really sick. The sun was coming up to the point that it was right in my eyes and I didn't see him lay down but I knew he wasn't going far. I called my brother and dad on the radio to let them know that I got my bull. I gave him about 45 minutes to expire and found him no further than 50 yds from where I hit him. What a rush!! You will see from the pictures below that he is not a monster but an awesome first bull elk with my bow. The best part was to have my horse pack out the meat and head for me. What a hunt!!

The bull in the bottom picture is a bull I filmed a few days before. He was only a 5x6 but a toad. I was 40 yds from him before his cows busted me. I then took this picture across the draw he ran into.

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That's a nice bull. Was the whole hunt area open country like the place you shot your bull. That looks like a tough hunt.
 
Hey man, congradulations, that is a helluva bull for your first archery bull. what did he end up scoring? 305?

,Utah
 
The Unit is very open which made it extremely difficult to get close. Great rifle unit becuase you can see a lot but less than ideal for archery.

I haven't had the bull officially scored, but I put a tape to the points and then entered it on to the pope and young worksheet and I came up with right close to 300 inches.

Thanks for all the responses. Unfortunately I wasn't able to even scratch the surface of how fun this hunt was. It would be great if every serious elk hunter had the opportunity to see the number of elk and to be as close to so many bugling elk as I experienced scouting and hunting this unit..

Good Hunting!!

Mark (aka Wallow)
 
Congratulations! I got my first elk ever this year as well, a small bull with my bow (yours is about 10 times the size of mine). I got mine in unit 19 (west of Fort Collins). How many points did it take you to draw unit 10 for archery? Thanks for the pictures,
Jeff
 
Jeff,

I'm Wallow's brother and it took him 11 points (out of state). We talked to a couple of Colorado residents that drew with 10. Unfortunately, those good units get pushed back farther each year.

I wasn't there when Mark shot the bull but I can tell you we had the best time this summer and fall. I have never seen so many bulls at one time. This was an experience of a lifetime.

I went out there the week after to get my trailer and took my 11 and 9 year old sons. We saw over 25 bulls that morning. Most were within 150 yards. We had two 6 points screaming at within 50 yards. The boys had a great time. It's a very cool place to see all kinds of wildlife and especially elk.

Rick
 
Congrat's nice bull and good job.

Was it worth the wait? I have 4 points and hope to hunt unit 10 in 20 years, if I am lucky.
 

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