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Stoke the Fire!
Keenan:
It about -12 here this morning. Time to put another log on the fire. Gather around lets tell some stories. ;D
Here is a good one: Several years ago I took a group out elk hunting. Seven of us total, my wife and I and a life long hunting buddy, as well as 4 rookies. My hunting bud (James) and I were the guides and callers, and as we hiked into the wilderness I kept thinking there is no way we are going to get elk in close with this much noise and human sent.
Set up after set up and no results. By this time it was late afternoon and we had worked down into the bottom of a deep drainage. about 1,200 ft down in elev. James and I decided to do one last set up just above the creek bottom. We spread out along a bench paralleling the creek and started calling. James was on one end and I was on the other, with all the others between us. After about fifteen minutes of calling, I looked over and saw a 4x4 bull walking right toward Lulyn. who was between me and the bull. She was in a depression next to a blown down ponderoosa. I went silent and watched as the bull finally stopped about 5 yards from Lulyn. What I couldn't see, was the 5x5 bull walking just in front of Lulyn (over the bench) that she was about to come to draw on. She had not noticed the 4x4 walking in from the side. She then caught the movement and noticed the legs beside her. I stayed silent knowing that James would eventually call from the other end and turn the bull for her,,,,this then happened as planned. The bull turned back and walked out about 10 yards and I cow called stopping the bull. Lulyn stayed calm and still, until the bull looked back towards James, Then turning to make the shot she bumped a rock making a little noise. The 5x5 that was below her busted and ran off, then the 4x4 busted and ran right up behind one of the rookies, (Ryan) At the same time what we could not see was a 3x3 that had come in on the other side by James and Tim. Tim had shot at the same time and missed at 25 yards. (right over the shoulder) and that bull ran up and stopped in front of Ryan, Now Ryan is a good friend, who had shot tournament compition for years yet had never hunted. He was shooting a compound and kept saying that anything within 60 yrds. was dead. Lulyn and I had warned him that those words would haunt him. Now with a 3x3 bull in front at ten yards and a 4x4 behind him at ten yards, he threw up and shot an arrow right over the 3x3. The 4x4 busted and ran a tight circle between all of us and straight toward Rob and his wife Jean. Jean being tired, had dosed off next to a log and upon hearing the commotion jumped up as the bull was running straight at her. She screamed while waving her arms in panic, "It's going to run over me" The bull then veered off and jumped over a root wad that Rob was behind. He took a shot has it leaped right over himand the root wad, yet another clean miss. After the dust had settled there had been four shots at under 25 yards and not one hair was cut. As I watched the cohos unfold I started laughing hysterically. Elk running,,hearts pounding and adrenaline running rampped. The elk got quite and education that day and some first time elk hunters memories for a life time.
Just got to love elk hunting! I am always amazed at how easily they can humble us humans. ::) Has happened to me more times then I can remember. ::)
rileyconcrete:
Great story Keenan. Reminds me of all my misses on bulls, then looking back laughing at how I think a shot at ten yards would be so easy, dead elk for sure, Yeah Right!
The last weekend of elk hunting this year, My dad and I began calling a heard we had spotted only 100 yds away. We had a great 6x6 coming in to us, my cousin set up to my right, the bull walked in straight to him, I cow called to turn the bull for him a shot, and at 7 yds he missed, right over the back. The bull coming towards me now, I draw at the only time I can and wait for the bull to stop. ( I am new to trad hunting and was not comfortable shooting the long bow so I took my compound, having been shooting them for over 15 years.) As I move with the bull my damn wheelie bow hit a limb and pushed the string right off my cam and BOOM!! the bow explodes, bull standing within 10 yards but no blood. Now I thought how in the world could both these opportunities end up with no blood. Just as I got done cussing and throwing my stupid compound in the brush and stomping on it, my cousin says " I got him good" I start laughing becausse I saw his arrow miss. He says" I got one more shot on him" sure enough while my bow was busy ruining my day he got an arrow in the bull this time at about 35 yards. Man I am glad he did because it sure made my day alot better. We ended up with that bull on saterday, then on sunday my other buddy shot a nice 5x5 at 13 yards, made out for a great weekend for those guys, all I got was a broken bow and to help pack meat. Thats usually how my hunts end up.
Tell
Keenan:
Now thats the spirit Tell, thanks for sharing. It's good when we can look at those missed opportunities and laugh and learn. ;)
bryan irwin:
great storys wish we hade elk.
Sparrow:
Great storys ! Thanks for sharing them.
I Don't have alot of good bowhunt stories to go with elk. (I haven't ever stuck one with an arrow yet) Used to have a ball hunting them with the muzzle stuffer.
Nearly run over several times while crawling around ( literally ) in bedded herds, They can pick some really nasty places when they get pressured. Had a calf walk up hill to me and sniff my boot. He did'nt like the smell and took the whole herd down the hill with him. Some of the best solo hunts I've ever made was for elk. They are always fun. Can't wait to hunt them next year. Primitive all the way ! I live in the Washington Blues now, Elk city, 30 minutes from home. Hope to have a bow elk story next winter. Stay tuned ! ' Frank
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