HighPlainsDrifter
New member
As some of you might know, I had my Appendix removed on August 25th. The timing was pretty bad since I was leaving on the 30th of August for a September 1st thru the 14th archery Elk hunt. I was not able to change the dates since I had to attend a Capital Murder Trial starting September 15th in which my younger sister was the victim. I had very little wiggle room and because of my passion for bow hunting elk, nothing was going to keep me out of elk country.
Exactly one week post operation opening day fell and I gingerly set out to find some elk. Generally I prefer to hunt Elk from about September 7th to the 21st but beggers cant be choosers. The pain was significant at first and a couple of slips on wet slippery ground did not help matters. I quit taking anything stronger than Ibuprofen to dull the pain because I didnt want my senses dulled while hunting what I can only term as some pretty steep and rugged terrain. I was into Elk every day although early on the elk were not very responsive to calls. But each and every day, my physical condition improved as did the response of the elk.
Somewhere around the 9th of September I noticed a significant improvement in the response of the bulls and it was evident they were feeling the early stages of the rut. I knew I could create some opportunities but I had to play it just right since I was alone. Its much easier to call in a bull elk and make a kill when you have a caller behind the shooter. Unfortunately I very rarely, if ever, have that luxury.
On the morning of the 11th, I made a long, tedious climb to the top of ridge where there is a narrow valley between two ridgelines. Experience has taught me that this narrow valley was a movement coridor for many elk in the area. No sooner than I topped the ridge, I heard a bull bugling about 300 to 400 hundred yards to my east. I knew my set up was critical due to being alone and I sent a couple of estrus cow calls the bulls way. I got an immediatte response and I could tell from his bugle this bull was hot and coming in quickly. I moved up as quick as I could so the bull would not pin point me and seconds later I could see flashes of tan and antlers through the sparse trees. I picked my spot the best I could and set up. The bull came charging through a small clearing and as he came in he started to throw his head from side to side and began bucking like a bronco and spinning circles. I knew he was hot and looking for some action. He closed the distance to about 80 yards and I could clearly see he was a big 6X6. He was easily a 350" class bull. At about the 80 yard mark he started to horn the ground, tearing up several small trees and some sagebrush. Dirt and vegetation was flying everywhere but he seemed to have forgotten about the cow he was looking for. I turned my head away and made several small mews trying to throw the sound away from my position. He snapped his head up and immediattely bugled sending chills down my spine. He seemed to remember what he was looking for and continued my way. I needed for him to move to his left and my right to pass through my ideal shooting lane. Unfortunately he did not read the script and went to his right and my left. He passed the clump of trees I was behind at about 10 yards and stopped. I had no shot whatsoever. Being screened by the trees I was behind I drew my bow undetected. I then tried to inch around the trees since in 2 or 3 more steps, he would have my wind. No such luck. He caught the movement and bolted. I quickly cow called and stopped him at about 30 yards but I still could not pull of a shot. At that point he knew something was not right and although he wasnt spooked, he walked off, never giving me my oportunity. I decided to move in his general direction thinking I might get another chance.
I moved up to the second ridge line, cow calling along the way when I heard what sounded like a lone cow chirping. I figured I had stumbled into another hunter but quickly realized that was not the case as I saw the tell tale flash of tan moving in my direction. I watched as the cow came up the timbered draw and to the top of the ridge I was on. I was hoping there might be a bull with her but I never saw any more Elk. Since I had an additional cow/calf license in my pocket, I decided if she gave me the opportunity I was going to send an arrow through her lungs. She stopped behind a large spruce tree and I guessed her to be about 25 yards. I drew my bow as she began to move again and she stepped into my lane mostly broadside with an ever so slight quartering away angle. I had two branches about half way between her and I that I had to thread my arrow through so I settled my 20 yard pin about 6 inches below her spine and touched the release. My Hoyt Viper Tech sent the Gold Tip arrow tipped with a Grim Reaper broadhead on its way and I watched as the arrow buried to the fletching high in her chest cavity. The shot was a tad higher than I would have liked but I knew it was a high double lung shot. 30 minutes and about 125 yards later I had my hands on a beautiful mature dry cow. Then the work began.
Two days later (September 13th) found me in the same narrow valley between the two ridgelines. Things had really heated up and I had no less than 7 different bulls bugling in response to my cow calls. I badly wanted to arrow a bull bigger than my best archery bull to date which is a 330" 6 point but I knew I was running out of time. The next day was likely the end of my archery hunting opportunity with the approaching trial so I decided that any mature bull that came in I was not going to pass. Seconds later I heard the clatter of antlers on limbs and directly in front of me I saw a bull making his way through a pile of boulders. The bull came off the rock pile at less than ten yards and as he passed a tree, I drew my bow. Dang it, he caught the movement and started to bolt. Not having a call in my mouth and now at full draw, I cow called 3 times with my voice the best I could. The bull stopped in an opening at about 30 yards quartering away from me pretty steeply. I put the 30 yard pin close to his last rib aiming for his far shoulder and released. I watched the arrow bury itself to the fletching and I knew I had made a good hit. It looked to me like the far shoulder had stopped the arrow from completely zipping through him. I quickly cow called as he went over a small rise and stopped him about 30 yards from the shot. I continued to cow call as he slowly walked off with his head low and swaying side to side. I knew he was sick and less than 20 seconds later I heard what sounded like him going down. I forced myself to sit down and wait 30 minutes. After my wait I walked over the small rise and realized there would be no tracking job. He was down and out less than 50 yards from the shot. He certainly did not top my best bull but I was proud of him anyway. A nice little satellite 5X5 bull.
Before going to work, I took off my pack, laid down my bow and knelt by the bulls side. I gave thanks to God for allowing me to spend time in the wild places and blessing me, not with one elk but two elk in less than 3 days. The adversity that I faced going in only made the feeling of accomplishment that much sweeter and I knew that God had carried me and rewarded me for my persistance and dedication.
I never did get pictures of my cow because I forgot my camera when I packed back in after retrieving my pack frame to quarter her and pack her out. I did not make the same mistake with the bull though /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif which hopefully will save me from the wrath of Weasel. These two elk make 9 bulls and 1 cow for me with archery gear in the last 10 years. To say I feel blessed is an understatement. Blessed to have a wife that understands and supports me. Blessed to have a job where I can take the time. Last but not least, blessed with a passion to pursue an animal that haunts my dreams 11 months of the year. I live for September.
Exactly one week post operation opening day fell and I gingerly set out to find some elk. Generally I prefer to hunt Elk from about September 7th to the 21st but beggers cant be choosers. The pain was significant at first and a couple of slips on wet slippery ground did not help matters. I quit taking anything stronger than Ibuprofen to dull the pain because I didnt want my senses dulled while hunting what I can only term as some pretty steep and rugged terrain. I was into Elk every day although early on the elk were not very responsive to calls. But each and every day, my physical condition improved as did the response of the elk.
Somewhere around the 9th of September I noticed a significant improvement in the response of the bulls and it was evident they were feeling the early stages of the rut. I knew I could create some opportunities but I had to play it just right since I was alone. Its much easier to call in a bull elk and make a kill when you have a caller behind the shooter. Unfortunately I very rarely, if ever, have that luxury.
On the morning of the 11th, I made a long, tedious climb to the top of ridge where there is a narrow valley between two ridgelines. Experience has taught me that this narrow valley was a movement coridor for many elk in the area. No sooner than I topped the ridge, I heard a bull bugling about 300 to 400 hundred yards to my east. I knew my set up was critical due to being alone and I sent a couple of estrus cow calls the bulls way. I got an immediatte response and I could tell from his bugle this bull was hot and coming in quickly. I moved up as quick as I could so the bull would not pin point me and seconds later I could see flashes of tan and antlers through the sparse trees. I picked my spot the best I could and set up. The bull came charging through a small clearing and as he came in he started to throw his head from side to side and began bucking like a bronco and spinning circles. I knew he was hot and looking for some action. He closed the distance to about 80 yards and I could clearly see he was a big 6X6. He was easily a 350" class bull. At about the 80 yard mark he started to horn the ground, tearing up several small trees and some sagebrush. Dirt and vegetation was flying everywhere but he seemed to have forgotten about the cow he was looking for. I turned my head away and made several small mews trying to throw the sound away from my position. He snapped his head up and immediattely bugled sending chills down my spine. He seemed to remember what he was looking for and continued my way. I needed for him to move to his left and my right to pass through my ideal shooting lane. Unfortunately he did not read the script and went to his right and my left. He passed the clump of trees I was behind at about 10 yards and stopped. I had no shot whatsoever. Being screened by the trees I was behind I drew my bow undetected. I then tried to inch around the trees since in 2 or 3 more steps, he would have my wind. No such luck. He caught the movement and bolted. I quickly cow called and stopped him at about 30 yards but I still could not pull of a shot. At that point he knew something was not right and although he wasnt spooked, he walked off, never giving me my oportunity. I decided to move in his general direction thinking I might get another chance.
I moved up to the second ridge line, cow calling along the way when I heard what sounded like a lone cow chirping. I figured I had stumbled into another hunter but quickly realized that was not the case as I saw the tell tale flash of tan moving in my direction. I watched as the cow came up the timbered draw and to the top of the ridge I was on. I was hoping there might be a bull with her but I never saw any more Elk. Since I had an additional cow/calf license in my pocket, I decided if she gave me the opportunity I was going to send an arrow through her lungs. She stopped behind a large spruce tree and I guessed her to be about 25 yards. I drew my bow as she began to move again and she stepped into my lane mostly broadside with an ever so slight quartering away angle. I had two branches about half way between her and I that I had to thread my arrow through so I settled my 20 yard pin about 6 inches below her spine and touched the release. My Hoyt Viper Tech sent the Gold Tip arrow tipped with a Grim Reaper broadhead on its way and I watched as the arrow buried to the fletching high in her chest cavity. The shot was a tad higher than I would have liked but I knew it was a high double lung shot. 30 minutes and about 125 yards later I had my hands on a beautiful mature dry cow. Then the work began.
Two days later (September 13th) found me in the same narrow valley between the two ridgelines. Things had really heated up and I had no less than 7 different bulls bugling in response to my cow calls. I badly wanted to arrow a bull bigger than my best archery bull to date which is a 330" 6 point but I knew I was running out of time. The next day was likely the end of my archery hunting opportunity with the approaching trial so I decided that any mature bull that came in I was not going to pass. Seconds later I heard the clatter of antlers on limbs and directly in front of me I saw a bull making his way through a pile of boulders. The bull came off the rock pile at less than ten yards and as he passed a tree, I drew my bow. Dang it, he caught the movement and started to bolt. Not having a call in my mouth and now at full draw, I cow called 3 times with my voice the best I could. The bull stopped in an opening at about 30 yards quartering away from me pretty steeply. I put the 30 yard pin close to his last rib aiming for his far shoulder and released. I watched the arrow bury itself to the fletching and I knew I had made a good hit. It looked to me like the far shoulder had stopped the arrow from completely zipping through him. I quickly cow called as he went over a small rise and stopped him about 30 yards from the shot. I continued to cow call as he slowly walked off with his head low and swaying side to side. I knew he was sick and less than 20 seconds later I heard what sounded like him going down. I forced myself to sit down and wait 30 minutes. After my wait I walked over the small rise and realized there would be no tracking job. He was down and out less than 50 yards from the shot. He certainly did not top my best bull but I was proud of him anyway. A nice little satellite 5X5 bull.
Before going to work, I took off my pack, laid down my bow and knelt by the bulls side. I gave thanks to God for allowing me to spend time in the wild places and blessing me, not with one elk but two elk in less than 3 days. The adversity that I faced going in only made the feeling of accomplishment that much sweeter and I knew that God had carried me and rewarded me for my persistance and dedication.
I never did get pictures of my cow because I forgot my camera when I packed back in after retrieving my pack frame to quarter her and pack her out. I did not make the same mistake with the bull though /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif which hopefully will save me from the wrath of Weasel. These two elk make 9 bulls and 1 cow for me with archery gear in the last 10 years. To say I feel blessed is an understatement. Blessed to have a wife that understands and supports me. Blessed to have a job where I can take the time. Last but not least, blessed with a passion to pursue an animal that haunts my dreams 11 months of the year. I live for September.
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