Getting interesting now

[Hawkk33]

finally got into elk this weekend. I called in a cow to 25-30 yards but let her go. 10 minutes later I called in a herd of 2 cows, 2 calves and a 4 point bull.

Was at full draw and could have taken the first cow out but waited for the bull to show himself and when the 4 point stepped out I was debating whether or not I was gonna let one fly. But the damn thing stopped behind a tree as the other elk winded me. He then spun around and went straight downhill leaving no shot.

But I have no remorse for not taking a shot. It was my first time calling anything in (2nd year bowhunting) and it was a kick ass experience.

I know that may have been my one chance for this year but I am still pumped up about getting out there and trying to call something in again.

weather conditions are just right for the start of the rut, 33 degrees this am with rain mixed in and the highs are only going to be in the 50-60's all week.

 

[Bornforhorns]

Very similar experience, with same experience pardon the repetiveness. Awesome isn't it!!!!! Sounds like you did the right thing.

 

[Hawkk33]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-14-04 AT 01:27AM (MST)[p]Got even better tonight (somewhat) ..I called a 5 point to me at around 6:30 tonight and put the 30 yard pin on his chest and let the arrow fly. I don't know how he did it but he dropped and spun and the arrow hit him in the hind qtr.

I hiked back up to my bronco to get my pack (yeah I know I should have known better and taken it, and my big flashlight. I hiked back into where I left my bow and sat for a few minutes. Put up the flagging and started looking for blood. I found the trail and eased my way down the slope putting up flagging as I went along. Found the arrow about 1/8 mile downslope covered in blood. Blood trail was still thick and nightfall was approaching, boy that 9 volt flashlight came in handy. As I working my way down the boys starting up their singing. I had 3-4 bulls talkin to each other but still I had to focus. I wanted to find this bull and get it taken care of but nightfall came fast.

I found a bloody bedding site about 9:00pm and canvased the area but didnt find anything. The blood was clotting where it had bedded and it made me wonder how fatal a shot to the hindquarter would be.

I know I did a rookie mistake by going after it so soon on a non fatal shot. I wanted to keep looking but had to get home. but I will go back tomorrow a.m. and look all day.

I enlisted my son and nephew to help me ..damn I hope I can find it still in tact and salvagable. The nighttime temps here are down to mid 30's at night so I am hopeful.

Beat myself up on the drive in with the ..only if.. what if and everything else. will let you all know what the outcome is.

 

[Bura Nut]

Hawk, sounds like you are having fun and to call in your first few elk is absolutely a great feeling. As to this bull you hit, I dont know where you hit it but in the hind quarter this bull will probably be just fine. They clot and heal pretty quick. Hope all goes well with the rest of your hunt...... Allen Taylor......

 

[Hawkk33]

Thanks Bura,

We went out this am to look for him and I was sure we were going to recovering (hoping more like)and we got to the last blood site and spent hours finding and flagging the blood trail down the mountain. After awhile the trail got fainter and fainter and eventually dried up. Man why did this have to happen this way?

He came out the timber into a scrub flat and we tracked him for about a 1/2 mile or longer then lost the fresh track. We spread out and tried to find the tracks again but couldn't.

Then 4 of us gridded all the way back to the truck but I think he got out that area.

I keep seeing that shot in my head and wonder how I hit him that far back (did he move, did I move? did I torque my hand? what ?) and wishing to beat all that I hit him in the boiler room. I know that I can do I put groups together at 20 and 30 what happened with this shot ?

Later

 

[antlerrick]

Hey Hawk.
Even though elk are big animals, they are very quick and have a unbelievable reaction time to noise. I caught one on video that I shot at last year that dropped over 18 inches and leaned backwards, before my arrow could get to him from 36 yards. You can run the video and see the arrow make it halfway there before the reaction, and he still dropped and leaned far enough to where I hit him in the top of the shoulder blade. The arrow made a solid thunk and broke off right at the broadhead as he ran off thru the brush. I watched him all the way up a sage hill and could see a small smear of blood right on top of his shoulder. Got 5 guys together and scoured the area for 2 hours to find nothing. Seen him 5 days later acting as if nothing was wrong. I figured if my bow was shooting 300 fps(?) and the bull was 36 yards, that is 108 feet. The arrow should have got there in about 1/3 second, but I could see it leave my bow and fly about halfway before the bull reacted. Cut the distance down to 54 feet and that bull reacted and moved in less that 1/6 second.
I watch that video over and over and it amazes me how fast and graceful an animal that large can be. Many things can go wrong in a shot, but just keep your chin up and concentrate harder next time!!!
Good Luck
a*r

A bad day hunting is better than a Good Day at Work!!