T
Toby14
Guest
Archery hunting the high country of Colorado has been a way of life for me for many years now. Each year it's a test to my ability and to what I've learned over the years. I constantly try to better myself each year as a hunter; most of my lessons have come from the countless mistakes that I've made in the past. The hardest part, I feel, is truly learning from ones mistakes and applying them to every new hunting situation that is presented. This year, just as I do every year, I put myself to the ultimate test; to try and kill the biggest mule deer I could find in the high country with a bow. Once again I still have a lot to learn as I just fell short of my number one goal, but I was fortunate enough to connect with his running mate after a patient 5 hour stalk and a well-placed 40 yard shot. Green gross scoring 187 1/8, I was very pleased with him and he bested my buck from last year by a 1/2".
After hunting mule deer and chasing mountain goats with my dad, time was starting to slip away. My girlfriend and I started chasing elk the 3rd week of the season. It was her first archery hunt or any kind of hunt at all for that matter. I didn't really care to get an elk for myself I just wanted to show her a good time for her first elk season. On our third day out we got into the middle of a herd in some thick oaks and aspens. With a little sweet talking we pulled one of the satellite bulls off the herd and in front of our position at 20 yards. She took care of the rest.
After all that had happened I was pretty content with the season. I did however have one more day to hunt for myself. I got in touch with a buddy of mine and the next day?s game plan was set. Just after first light we began to hear bulls bugling in the distance. Shortly after a quick scan of the area and a game plan, we were right in the middle of them. Everyone who has tried to call in a herd bull knows it's tough and it's a game of patience and a lot of cat and mouse. We stayed with the herd all day, shadowing their every move but not pushing them to hard. Finally late that afternoon the herd began to feed back our direction through the thick timber where they'd made their day beds. We moved to intercept them. I set up back from my buddy about 60 yards and began cow calling as if we had just gotten up and started feeding as well. Milling around calling quite frequently and with a few different tones and pitches, the three bulls in the herd began bugling aggressively back and forth at each other and at me. Before we knew it we had created what I call a, "bull frenzy" when every bull in the area that is within ear shot is screaming. Seven different bulls were bugling all around us. We were finally right were we needed to be. I kept calling and breaking branches trying to entice the bull that was closest to my buddy. In the process one of the bulls from up the canyon started advancing toward my position. I held my ground and kept calling. We both had bulls coming in on either side of us, now it was just which one would get there first. The bull to my right screamed a long nasty growl and I knew he was coming in hot and fast. I dropped my pack and ran 30 yards in his direction to get away from my last cow calls. Just as I got to some stunted pines I could hear him glunking and he popped out in a clearing 30 yards out. Quarting toward me he stopped and bugled. I knew he was going to have to break and come into the next clearing for me to get a good shot. Sure enough he broke and went behind a few trees; I eased my bow back and focused on where I needed to stop him. Guessing that it was more than twenty and less than thirty I split my pins and let out a chirp. He hit the brakes, as I focused on a spot behind his shoulder. Without hesitation the arrow was on its way and zipped straight through the bull and both lungs. I knew right away he wouldn't go far. With a few cow calls he stopped 60 yards away behind some trees. A few seconds later I heard him crashing down the mountain.
I couldn't have been happier. We collected on two great bulls, both public land, DIY and both on OTC tags. My buck was an awesome, high country, clean typical that I couldn't be more proud of.
After hunting mule deer and chasing mountain goats with my dad, time was starting to slip away. My girlfriend and I started chasing elk the 3rd week of the season. It was her first archery hunt or any kind of hunt at all for that matter. I didn't really care to get an elk for myself I just wanted to show her a good time for her first elk season. On our third day out we got into the middle of a herd in some thick oaks and aspens. With a little sweet talking we pulled one of the satellite bulls off the herd and in front of our position at 20 yards. She took care of the rest.
After all that had happened I was pretty content with the season. I did however have one more day to hunt for myself. I got in touch with a buddy of mine and the next day?s game plan was set. Just after first light we began to hear bulls bugling in the distance. Shortly after a quick scan of the area and a game plan, we were right in the middle of them. Everyone who has tried to call in a herd bull knows it's tough and it's a game of patience and a lot of cat and mouse. We stayed with the herd all day, shadowing their every move but not pushing them to hard. Finally late that afternoon the herd began to feed back our direction through the thick timber where they'd made their day beds. We moved to intercept them. I set up back from my buddy about 60 yards and began cow calling as if we had just gotten up and started feeding as well. Milling around calling quite frequently and with a few different tones and pitches, the three bulls in the herd began bugling aggressively back and forth at each other and at me. Before we knew it we had created what I call a, "bull frenzy" when every bull in the area that is within ear shot is screaming. Seven different bulls were bugling all around us. We were finally right were we needed to be. I kept calling and breaking branches trying to entice the bull that was closest to my buddy. In the process one of the bulls from up the canyon started advancing toward my position. I held my ground and kept calling. We both had bulls coming in on either side of us, now it was just which one would get there first. The bull to my right screamed a long nasty growl and I knew he was coming in hot and fast. I dropped my pack and ran 30 yards in his direction to get away from my last cow calls. Just as I got to some stunted pines I could hear him glunking and he popped out in a clearing 30 yards out. Quarting toward me he stopped and bugled. I knew he was going to have to break and come into the next clearing for me to get a good shot. Sure enough he broke and went behind a few trees; I eased my bow back and focused on where I needed to stop him. Guessing that it was more than twenty and less than thirty I split my pins and let out a chirp. He hit the brakes, as I focused on a spot behind his shoulder. Without hesitation the arrow was on its way and zipped straight through the bull and both lungs. I knew right away he wouldn't go far. With a few cow calls he stopped 60 yards away behind some trees. A few seconds later I heard him crashing down the mountain.
I couldn't have been happier. We collected on two great bulls, both public land, DIY and both on OTC tags. My buck was an awesome, high country, clean typical that I couldn't be more proud of.
