GoatT
Active Member
- Messages
- 389
Well, since there hasn't been any real activity on the Elk Forum, I'd thought I'd share my first ever Elk with a bow story and pics.
All year I have been anticipating the opening of the General Archery Elk hunt. I went down to the division Early July and purchased an over-the-counter Elk tag. A couple of friends and I have been watching a certain area since mid June and found a few good bulls that would be great to harvest as a first time bow harvest. As the season drew closer, we found ourselves scouting this certain area and anticipating where the bulls would be on opening morning. This particular area was a good hike in with our backpacks full of gear, food and water for 3-4 solid days of hunting.
Fast forward to August 22, 2007: The four of us left work Wednesday and drove to our starting point. We threw on our packs and boots and started the steep hike into our bowl. The weather started out a little cool as a storm in the horizon headed our way. As we got to our camp-spot, shortly before sundown, we had only about 20 min to set up our tents and gear before the torrential downpour that was headed our way hit. We got our tents set up just in time to duck in and take cover. The wind blew extremely hard and the rain followed for about 15-20 min. As the storm subsided we emerged from our tents to see the beautiful sunset and an awesome lightning show miles away. We watched the show for about an hour before heading to bed. As I slipped into my sleeping bag, I contemplated where I was to begin in the morning. I dozed off while listening to a faint bugle in the distance.
August 23, 2007: 5:30 a.m. comes awful fast. As I arose, little did I know what the experience I would have in two short hours. I got up and started throwing my camo on. It was a slightly cool morning and as I emerged from my dwelling, I could tell it was going to be a great morning. The storm clouds had passed as the sun was beginning to peek over the horizon. I quickly ate a mountain house breakfast and then grabbed my pack and bow and headed down the bowl. No sooner than I began my decent, I heard some mew?s in the bottom of the bowl. I raised my 10x42 Alaskan Guides and saw 3 cows feeding in the bottom. Just then, a bugle up the hill from the cows. It was the herd bull. I slowly worked my way down the trail keeping the wind in my face. About 300 yards down the mountain I spied some movement, ears, going through the sage. Suddenly two cows and a calf came out of the trees on top of this hill about 20 yards away. They slowly fed across the meadow in front of me and over the hill. I still could hear the bugle of the herd bull down the canyon about 200 yards away in the trees. The bottom of the bowl seemed sounded like an orchestra of bugles and mew?s. I worked my way down to the edge of the meadow and decided how I was going to make my play. I figured the bull would work his way down the edge of the clearing about 60 yards away. I knew I could make a shot out that far as I had practiced all summer. Even though I was confident in the distance, I wanted to get a closer shot. I eyed a patch of quake?s and pines about 40 yards below and decided that's where I would set up as I had a good view of two different meadows that would be their escape routes. As I got set up, He bugled again and began to rake every tree around. Out of the corner of my left eye I saw a couple of cows and a calf walk by at 30 yards down the ridge?then another...and another. I turned to be ready if he showed his face. About 5 minutes went by and still bugling and raking trees. Just then, on my right I spied a cow walking by at 15 yards. I thought to myself that they would have gone the other way with the other cows, but changed course. I turned and got ready for the show. By now, cows, calves and spikes filed past one by one moving up the hill to the side of me. I was concealed back in the trees using the natural cover to camouflage myself. Suddenly a 5x5 stopped 10 feet broadside. I just about drew back, but I knew the bugling wasn?t from him. He moved on. A few more cows walked by then a couple of small 5x6?s that looked like identical twins?body and all. Just then He bugled once more just on the other side of the trees. I couldn't see him, but knew he was coming. I had two openings to shoot through and had ranged the first cow at 30 yards. The others were passing at 35 yards. Just then he bugled again and stepped in the opening. I slowly drew back so as to not make any sudden moves. As I got to full draw, my arrow not being on the string all the way in the rush to nock it, fell off and hit my rest. I gazed at the elk to see if they would bolt?nothing. I re-nocked my arrow and waited for the bull to enter the second opening. He appeared broadside in the second opening 35 yards away. I began to draw when a cow ran and stopped right in front of the shooting lane. It seemed like an eternity before she moved. A calf behind her started jumping around and spooked her a little. The bull just stood there. He turned his head looking in my direction. I now had decided to draw and fire when he turned his head back looking forward. He turned his head forward and I drew back then he kept turning and looked away from me, still broadside. I settled my 30-yard pin in and picked out a hair and pulled the trigger?Whack! I began cow calling and a few quick bugles with my diaphragm call to calm him down. The forest came alive with elk crashing through the trees. I removed my facemask and let things calm down a minute before going to check out my arrow and for blood. I sat back and waited, just then out of the meadow to my left about 35-40 elk began moving down the mountain then they turned and began to walk directly at me. They got to about 10 yards and stopped. A few began to look right at me and realized I wasn?t a very convincing pine or quakie. Just then the wind swirled and one caught my scent and the stampede began again. Elk began busting through the trees and then it got quiet. I walked over and found that my arrow had passed all the way through and was covered with blood. I scanned the hillside and there he was piled up 60 yards from where he was shot. My arrow had hit it's mark double lunged and had sliced an artery. Now the work begins! I got him cut up, packed out and home with the help of a few friends.
I spent Friday cutting up the meat at home re-living the experience. This was a great first D-I-Y Archery Bull taken in an open bull area of Utah. Not a 400 bull by any means, but respectable. He's a 7x7 that will score roughly somewhere between 300 and 315. I have taken other elk in the past, but never with a bow. What an experience I will never forget! A little pre-season scouting and some miles on the leather CAN pay off!
Good hunting to everyone this season.
HAPPY HUNTING!
http://www.trophyblogger.com/Goat
http://www.trophyblogger.com
All year I have been anticipating the opening of the General Archery Elk hunt. I went down to the division Early July and purchased an over-the-counter Elk tag. A couple of friends and I have been watching a certain area since mid June and found a few good bulls that would be great to harvest as a first time bow harvest. As the season drew closer, we found ourselves scouting this certain area and anticipating where the bulls would be on opening morning. This particular area was a good hike in with our backpacks full of gear, food and water for 3-4 solid days of hunting.
Fast forward to August 22, 2007: The four of us left work Wednesday and drove to our starting point. We threw on our packs and boots and started the steep hike into our bowl. The weather started out a little cool as a storm in the horizon headed our way. As we got to our camp-spot, shortly before sundown, we had only about 20 min to set up our tents and gear before the torrential downpour that was headed our way hit. We got our tents set up just in time to duck in and take cover. The wind blew extremely hard and the rain followed for about 15-20 min. As the storm subsided we emerged from our tents to see the beautiful sunset and an awesome lightning show miles away. We watched the show for about an hour before heading to bed. As I slipped into my sleeping bag, I contemplated where I was to begin in the morning. I dozed off while listening to a faint bugle in the distance.
August 23, 2007: 5:30 a.m. comes awful fast. As I arose, little did I know what the experience I would have in two short hours. I got up and started throwing my camo on. It was a slightly cool morning and as I emerged from my dwelling, I could tell it was going to be a great morning. The storm clouds had passed as the sun was beginning to peek over the horizon. I quickly ate a mountain house breakfast and then grabbed my pack and bow and headed down the bowl. No sooner than I began my decent, I heard some mew?s in the bottom of the bowl. I raised my 10x42 Alaskan Guides and saw 3 cows feeding in the bottom. Just then, a bugle up the hill from the cows. It was the herd bull. I slowly worked my way down the trail keeping the wind in my face. About 300 yards down the mountain I spied some movement, ears, going through the sage. Suddenly two cows and a calf came out of the trees on top of this hill about 20 yards away. They slowly fed across the meadow in front of me and over the hill. I still could hear the bugle of the herd bull down the canyon about 200 yards away in the trees. The bottom of the bowl seemed sounded like an orchestra of bugles and mew?s. I worked my way down to the edge of the meadow and decided how I was going to make my play. I figured the bull would work his way down the edge of the clearing about 60 yards away. I knew I could make a shot out that far as I had practiced all summer. Even though I was confident in the distance, I wanted to get a closer shot. I eyed a patch of quake?s and pines about 40 yards below and decided that's where I would set up as I had a good view of two different meadows that would be their escape routes. As I got set up, He bugled again and began to rake every tree around. Out of the corner of my left eye I saw a couple of cows and a calf walk by at 30 yards down the ridge?then another...and another. I turned to be ready if he showed his face. About 5 minutes went by and still bugling and raking trees. Just then, on my right I spied a cow walking by at 15 yards. I thought to myself that they would have gone the other way with the other cows, but changed course. I turned and got ready for the show. By now, cows, calves and spikes filed past one by one moving up the hill to the side of me. I was concealed back in the trees using the natural cover to camouflage myself. Suddenly a 5x5 stopped 10 feet broadside. I just about drew back, but I knew the bugling wasn?t from him. He moved on. A few more cows walked by then a couple of small 5x6?s that looked like identical twins?body and all. Just then He bugled once more just on the other side of the trees. I couldn't see him, but knew he was coming. I had two openings to shoot through and had ranged the first cow at 30 yards. The others were passing at 35 yards. Just then he bugled again and stepped in the opening. I slowly drew back so as to not make any sudden moves. As I got to full draw, my arrow not being on the string all the way in the rush to nock it, fell off and hit my rest. I gazed at the elk to see if they would bolt?nothing. I re-nocked my arrow and waited for the bull to enter the second opening. He appeared broadside in the second opening 35 yards away. I began to draw when a cow ran and stopped right in front of the shooting lane. It seemed like an eternity before she moved. A calf behind her started jumping around and spooked her a little. The bull just stood there. He turned his head looking in my direction. I now had decided to draw and fire when he turned his head back looking forward. He turned his head forward and I drew back then he kept turning and looked away from me, still broadside. I settled my 30-yard pin in and picked out a hair and pulled the trigger?Whack! I began cow calling and a few quick bugles with my diaphragm call to calm him down. The forest came alive with elk crashing through the trees. I removed my facemask and let things calm down a minute before going to check out my arrow and for blood. I sat back and waited, just then out of the meadow to my left about 35-40 elk began moving down the mountain then they turned and began to walk directly at me. They got to about 10 yards and stopped. A few began to look right at me and realized I wasn?t a very convincing pine or quakie. Just then the wind swirled and one caught my scent and the stampede began again. Elk began busting through the trees and then it got quiet. I walked over and found that my arrow had passed all the way through and was covered with blood. I scanned the hillside and there he was piled up 60 yards from where he was shot. My arrow had hit it's mark double lunged and had sliced an artery. Now the work begins! I got him cut up, packed out and home with the help of a few friends.
I spent Friday cutting up the meat at home re-living the experience. This was a great first D-I-Y Archery Bull taken in an open bull area of Utah. Not a 400 bull by any means, but respectable. He's a 7x7 that will score roughly somewhere between 300 and 315. I have taken other elk in the past, but never with a bow. What an experience I will never forget! A little pre-season scouting and some miles on the leather CAN pay off!
Good hunting to everyone this season.
HAPPY HUNTING!
http://www.trophyblogger.com/Goat
http://www.trophyblogger.com
