I haven't posted much hunting stuff to CGN for a few years, this is what I've been up to each September the last while
2007
I was invited on an elk hunt, and luck was with me and my work schedule as I got three days off in a row. I blew through the door at work 5:01pm on Saturday and I rolled into camp before midnight, catching up to the rest of the crew which had been there for a day or two already. I didnt waste much time setting up my "tent" (thermarest and sleeping bag in the back of my Blazer) and 5am came awful quick, although I was awake before the wakeup call came, as I couldnt sleep through the excitement of my first elk hunt!
Morning of day one, we got onto two bulls right away. We had a shouting match going between the two of them as we cow called between them. Eventually the more aggressive sounding bull came out of the timber 500 yards away, but as hard as we tried we couldnt make him grow a 6th tine. He was a mature 5x5 though, a beauty of an animal. Later that morning a 4x4 came out of the timber below us, bugling as he made his way toward our cow calls.
That evening we headed back to the same area, hoping a 6 pointer was kicking around. We moved into the slash and spotted a herd of cows feeding 400 yards in front of us. There was a spike and the 5x5 from the morning, who was chasing cows around and bugling back to our cow calls, but had no intent of leaving the herd. An unseen cow 200 yards away must of caught some glare off our equipment in the setting sun, as she barked and within seconds there was a dozen elk booking it for the timber. A smaller bull a half mile away was one of them. We waited until dark, hoping they'd return, but the bulls bugles only got further away.
The next morning we headed in again, and glassed a smaller 5x5 with three cows slowly feeding their way towards the timber. We set up downwind of the bush and began cow calling, and within 10 minutes we heard the crashing of some elk coming our way. Out came the smaller 5x5 and his cows, and they eventually circled in downwind of us before catching our wind and spooking.
That evening we were back in earlier than the day before, hoping to get into position downwind of where the herd was feeding before.
Anyways, we silently glassed our way into the cut, and we hid in a slash pile line abreast. Nothing came out and the sun had set already, and no bugles had been heard, and we'd been cow calling every 10 minutes or so. I suggested to my parnter to try a bugle, which so far in the hunt hadnt given us much luck. Well 15 seconds after he bugles, a bull replies, sounded like he was within 3/4 km and in the timber. This got my confidence up!
Partner bugled a few more times, but no responses other than a pack of coyotes. On the fourth bugle (10-15 mins after the first reply), I heard the bull chuckle back at us and it sounded closer but it was hard to be certain. Two of us cow called every few minutes, trying to lure the bull out. Well a few minutes later he screams back at us, and is FOR SURE closer. MUCH closer. That got the heart goin I tell ya!
A few more cow calls and the bugle screams again from just inside the timber. Seconds later he steps out 120 yards away and I raise my binocs and note his right antler is a 5 point, but his left antler has a 6th tine! woo hoo! I turn to my parnter and whisper "who's gonna shoot him?" he says "#### I dont know!...you shoot him you havent gotten an elk before!"
I wasnt going to argue him - I watched the bull work his way towards us slowly. The wind is perfect, in our face and he is on a string heading for me. He turned straight on facing me at 98 yards, and I settled the crosshairs of my 30-06 on his chest. He stopped, lowered his head, and opened his mouth getting ready to bugle when I sent a 165 grain Accubond on its way.
The bull was rocked and on his side before I regained the sight picture. Sticks and dirt was flying 15 feet in the air as he kicked and kicked. I stayed on him for a few seconds making sure he didnt get up, then quickly got off the slash pile and got over to the bull. He was all messed up but trying to get to his feet, so my partner let fly from 20 feet into his neck and all was done.
He is not the biggest bull out there, but for my first elk, let alone my first elk hunting trip, he is awesome and I am hooked on elk hunting. It's like nothing else.
1 km quad pull across the block and by 2am he was back in camp skinned and quartered. Back home at the butchers he went 591 lbs (4 quarters with no legs). Butchered him tonight, should be some good eating!
2007
I was invited on an elk hunt, and luck was with me and my work schedule as I got three days off in a row. I blew through the door at work 5:01pm on Saturday and I rolled into camp before midnight, catching up to the rest of the crew which had been there for a day or two already. I didnt waste much time setting up my "tent" (thermarest and sleeping bag in the back of my Blazer) and 5am came awful quick, although I was awake before the wakeup call came, as I couldnt sleep through the excitement of my first elk hunt!
Morning of day one, we got onto two bulls right away. We had a shouting match going between the two of them as we cow called between them. Eventually the more aggressive sounding bull came out of the timber 500 yards away, but as hard as we tried we couldnt make him grow a 6th tine. He was a mature 5x5 though, a beauty of an animal. Later that morning a 4x4 came out of the timber below us, bugling as he made his way toward our cow calls.
That evening we headed back to the same area, hoping a 6 pointer was kicking around. We moved into the slash and spotted a herd of cows feeding 400 yards in front of us. There was a spike and the 5x5 from the morning, who was chasing cows around and bugling back to our cow calls, but had no intent of leaving the herd. An unseen cow 200 yards away must of caught some glare off our equipment in the setting sun, as she barked and within seconds there was a dozen elk booking it for the timber. A smaller bull a half mile away was one of them. We waited until dark, hoping they'd return, but the bulls bugles only got further away.
The next morning we headed in again, and glassed a smaller 5x5 with three cows slowly feeding their way towards the timber. We set up downwind of the bush and began cow calling, and within 10 minutes we heard the crashing of some elk coming our way. Out came the smaller 5x5 and his cows, and they eventually circled in downwind of us before catching our wind and spooking.
That evening we were back in earlier than the day before, hoping to get into position downwind of where the herd was feeding before.
Anyways, we silently glassed our way into the cut, and we hid in a slash pile line abreast. Nothing came out and the sun had set already, and no bugles had been heard, and we'd been cow calling every 10 minutes or so. I suggested to my parnter to try a bugle, which so far in the hunt hadnt given us much luck. Well 15 seconds after he bugles, a bull replies, sounded like he was within 3/4 km and in the timber. This got my confidence up!
Partner bugled a few more times, but no responses other than a pack of coyotes. On the fourth bugle (10-15 mins after the first reply), I heard the bull chuckle back at us and it sounded closer but it was hard to be certain. Two of us cow called every few minutes, trying to lure the bull out. Well a few minutes later he screams back at us, and is FOR SURE closer. MUCH closer. That got the heart goin I tell ya!
A few more cow calls and the bugle screams again from just inside the timber. Seconds later he steps out 120 yards away and I raise my binocs and note his right antler is a 5 point, but his left antler has a 6th tine! woo hoo! I turn to my parnter and whisper "who's gonna shoot him?" he says "#### I dont know!...you shoot him you havent gotten an elk before!"
I wasnt going to argue him - I watched the bull work his way towards us slowly. The wind is perfect, in our face and he is on a string heading for me. He turned straight on facing me at 98 yards, and I settled the crosshairs of my 30-06 on his chest. He stopped, lowered his head, and opened his mouth getting ready to bugle when I sent a 165 grain Accubond on its way.
The bull was rocked and on his side before I regained the sight picture. Sticks and dirt was flying 15 feet in the air as he kicked and kicked. I stayed on him for a few seconds making sure he didnt get up, then quickly got off the slash pile and got over to the bull. He was all messed up but trying to get to his feet, so my partner let fly from 20 feet into his neck and all was done.
He is not the biggest bull out there, but for my first elk, let alone my first elk hunting trip, he is awesome and I am hooked on elk hunting. It's like nothing else.
1 km quad pull across the block and by 2am he was back in camp skinned and quartered. Back home at the butchers he went 591 lbs (4 quarters with no legs). Butchered him tonight, should be some good eating!
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