Elk Pics 2005

[BLACK WOLF]

By request from tuffshot

The story

6 am Sunday morning - Went hunting with one of my friends and got in the middle of about 9 bulls bugling with cows all around us. I tried calling a little bit but realized I really didn't have much of a chance pulling any bull away from the cows that were close by...ya know I'm sure they were thinking a cow in the hand is better than 2 in the bush...so I decided we would be better off to try and get closer to the heard and pick a bull and sneak up on him.

We picked a bull that was bugling about 2 to 300 yrds away (I'm not real good at judging long distance) and went after him. As we were getting closer some cows we couldn't see spooked to the right of us because of the thermals still going down the mountain and they ran a little ways down the hill catching our attention and the bull we were sneaking up on. The bull than decided to follow them and crossed right in front of us at about 20 yrds. I was waiting for Jimmy to shoot first and I was than going to immediately follow up with another shot. As soon as I heard him shoot I immediately followed it, but as soon as his arrow struck the bull the bull dropped like a whitetail does when they jump the string and my arrow just missed going over his back. He hit the bull a little far back, but it looked like it was going to be a lethal shot and I bugled and we watched the bull bed down within 60 yrds. of us. We than proceeded to watch the bull for about 20 minutes.

We both than decided to try and sneak up on him and put another arrow in him because he didn't appear to be hit as bad as we both first thought. As we were sneaking up on him another elk caused him to get up and we were only able to get within about 45 yrds. of him and I had a shot, so I asked Jimmy if he wanted me to try and shoot him. I had to shoot between 2 aspen trees that created a foot gap at 20 yrds. and I than made what appeared to be a killing shot. I lost sight of the arrow right before it hit but I could hear it hit him and the line of impact looked good.

We than decided to go mark the last place we saw him, which was where he was bedded. As we were marking the spot a bull bugled about 80 yrds. above us and I looked at Jimmy and said I can't believe we are going to get a double. I than said, “Wait here…I’m going after him”. I could see this tree moving back and forth as the bull was raking it, so it was easy to pin point exactly where he was as I tried to sneak up on him. The wind was perfect and there didn't seem to be any cows between the bull and I. I was able to close the distance fairly quickly and saw him at about 40 yrds. but didn't yet have a shot because of the brush and trees. I was able to close the last 20 yrds. by moving forward every time he put his head down, bugled or started raking the tree. I finally made it to the opening I needed to get to for the shot. It was about a 20 yrds. Shot and I immediately drew back and letter 'er go. The arrow disappeared exactly into the spot I was aiming at and he started to run. I immediately bugled with my own voice and stopped him at 40 yrds. and within seconds I heard him crash to the ground. My bull was down but we still had to find Jimmy's.

Jimmy ended up finding his bull after a long and frustrating tracking attempt…but we were all very grateful for finally being able to find him.

So there ya go...pictures should be up soon.

For those wanting or needing to know...I shot him by using instinctive gap or split vision. I'm not good enough yet to have shot him completely instinctive

It was the quickest, most accurate. most exciting and most penetrating shot I have ever made on an elk or any other large North American game animal. This bow rocks! The arrows weighed about 512 g.

Who says lighter arrows with good broadheads out of a fast bow can't penetrate a big animal...NOT ME or MY DAS!

Ray ;)

[Pinelander]

Ray has been kind enough to post his story and pics in the "2005 Hunting Pictures" STICKY thread also. It is a very nice archive of members' hunting adventures as they progress through the year.

He requested that I delete this thread, but for now... I would like to leave it here for awhile.

[tuffshot]

Thanks Piney and Ray that's what I had in mind when I asked Ray to put them in the Spike Camp.. Great addition to this season.. :highfive:

[Braden]

Awesome story and great pics. I went on my first elk hunt last week and came back pretty frustated. My cousin and I went to the Pagosa Springs, CO area from Sept 17-23. Saw elk everyday, but did not hear one bugle. We tried calling, stalking, and hunting places with good sign. I have a few questions. Was your hunt on private or public land? Do you think that we just missed the rut or is that how hunting on public land goes? We also had warm weather, and a giant full moon.

Great to hear a good story like yours, really inspires me to keep trying.

Braden

[BLACK WOLF]

Braden,

You asked - "Was your hunt on private or public land?"

It was on private land.

Do you think that we just missed the rut or is that how hunting on public land goes?

No, you definitely didn't miss the rut. I shot mine on Sept 18th. and the bulls were bugling like crazy.

Were any of the elk you saw bulls? How many cows and how many bulls?

It's hard to say exactly why you didn't hear any bugles because there can be a number of reasons, but my experience tells me that there wasn't a decent number of elk where you were even though you saw elk everyday.

When a bull has cows and isn't challenged much by another local bull, he doesn't bugle as aggressively.

When hunting public land where elk can be few and far between, I have had much more success getting a bull to bugle by cow calling than I do by bugling myself.

Ray ;)

[swampy]

Congrads Ray,sounds like yoy had a great time for sure!!

[greenghost]

Black Wolf,

Nice elk. Congrats!

Braden,

Just thought I'd add a couple of thoughts. First, in heavily hunted areas it is easiest to get bulls to bugle early in the morning (pre-dawn). It can be nearly impossible to get a rise after about 8 a.m. Ideally, you want to be in where the elk are well before sunrise--which usually means a lot of hard hiking in the dark.

Second, during the peak of the rut, the elk will also be pretty active starting just before dark. But good shooting light is often running out. I find evening hunting more effective when I locate the elk in the morning and try to figure out where they are bedding and feeding. The elk will usually start getting up around 3 or 4 in the afternoon. At this time it is still hard to get any action, but if you have a good idea where the elk are coming from and heading to it is often pretty effective to either still hunt them or ambush them on heavily traveled game trails.

Third, if the weather is cool to cold (snowy or raining), be hunting.

Fourth, in my experience, elk disperse widely for bedding--so they can be extremely hard to locate mid-day (it is sort of hit and miss). If you have located them in the morning, you can sometimes follow them back to their bedding areas as the sun rises and this will increase your chances of getting in close during the day.

Finally, as Black Wolf suggests, go easy on the bugles. Cow calls and estrus whines are usually more effective at getting close.

And remember that spooky elk will often come in silently. Give the elk enough time to tip their hat once you choose a place to set up and call. (I can't tell you how many times I've blown it by getting too fidgety and pushing an elk that was coming in.) I'd say that you should give yourself at least twenty minutes (maybe more) once you've called. Don't just listen for a bugle, listen for raking or snapping twigs.

And take all of my suggestions with a grain of salt, I don't know much.

[DAS]

I'd have to agree with all of the above. Hunting public lands is becoming an increasingly uphill battle. Too many hunters, too little land, and the majority of the elk quickly retreat to the relative safety of private land. If you hear a bugle on public land, it is most likley a hunter. I've had the best results with cow calls as well. I've also seen the best activity right at dark, but you've really got to move to get the job done before the light is gone! I didn't get to hunt this year but next year I'm going looking for private land access!

[tuffshot]

The way you guys describe elk hunting it is alot like the Eastern Wild Turkey hunting we have around here. The older birds shut-up just after day break or when they hit the ground, from hunting pressure and being educated by so many hunters. And the 2 year old birds are the most vocal and can be heard well into the day (lack of experiance)

A good guide would know the traits of the herd he is hunting and know where they could be found during the day. But with limited time and hunting public ground it can be very frustrating I am sure..

[Atlantis]

Great story and pics!! What an amazing challange to shoot a bull with a recurve! I don't think most people can fully appreciate the difficulty involved. Way, way, harder than shooting game over a watering hole in Africa.

Great pics too, my only question is why do you shoot such whimpy poundage with guns like that? Lol!

Inspirational post.

[BLACK WOLF]

Alantis,

Thanks.

I only draw 60lbs. because it's all show and no go...and I wouldn't want TJ to feel insecure ;)

Seriously though...a 70lbs. bow is what I would prefer...but the DAS wasn't available with anything over 60lbs. when I decided to keep it. David sent me the heaviest limbs he could provide at the time.

This bow draws so smooth and feels so light that it is a dream to shoot. I could shoot it all day without ever skipping a beat.

Ray ;)

[Braden]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Now that you mention it, we did not see many bulls (only two) and they were not very mature. The weather got up in the 70's, and there was a tremendously bright full moon (I kept getting up in the middle of the night thinking that it was the sun breaking day).

It definitely was a learning experience. We even saw 5 bears and a bunch of mule deer. A couple of bears got a little close; one even chased after my cousin. Next time, I will run alot more before heading off into those mountains.

I had just heard that it was like hunting turkeys; with the calling . I was not dissappointed b/c we did not kill, but it seemed like we were never really in the ballgame.

Blackwolf, it is stories like yours that keep me pumped up, and encourage me to try it again. Thanks for the story and input.

Braden

[Ray Cover]

Ray,

Good looking animals! Congrats. Everytime I see pics of one of those I am supprised at how big they actually are. They make our local whitetails look like small game.

Ray C.