WOODSAZ

David, how much did those run? I need a new set for my Ranger and was looking at all the options. Hows the ride with those on the trails?

how about all the places you scouted before the season.........

Cory, is that you on the right there!!

Great Job Casey!! Great buck. Congrats

Headed up the hill on last wednesday to have Thanksgiving at my parents place and help my dad on his first elk hunt. Rob and his little brother came up and spent the holiday with us and set out to fill Josh's tag as well. We woke up on thursday to a a light dusting of snow on the ground and snow on and off all day. We hung out and and made our game plans, while glassing up elk from the comfort of a hot fire, a cozy couch and glass of beer. Glassing up elk on the snowy hillsides (unfortunatley they are in the wrong unit) Rob glassing from the living room Headed out on opening morning and hiked up in the 6 inches of fresh snow. Visibilty was very low which made for a tough hunt but the scenery was awesome. We couldnt see more than 50 yards so we ended up following fresh tracks and ended up bumping a small herd of cows and calves. That evening we went lower and glassed out of the fog but had no luck. The next moring we made the trek back in and got set up near an area we knew elk moved through. It was much colder and windy but clear skies and fresh snow made glassing much easier. Immediatly I spotted a few cows and a calf on the hill across from us. My dad spotted 2 bulls that were making there way across the hill but went into the trees before we could make a move on them. I then saw some bulls through an opening coming up from below us. They were working their way towards were the other bulls had went so my father and I quickly skirted down the hill to get with in range of were I thought they would cross. As we got set up the elk had turned and head directly for us. I got a good look at all 6 bulls working there way towards us and determined which one we wanted to shoot. As they worked there way through the down timber the one we had picked out and turned broadside and the shot rang out. The bull dropped after about 50 yards and to say the least my Dad was pretty excited. Big thanks to Rob for heading up and helping with the pack out. Unfortunalty Josh wasnt able to fill his tag but got very close. I dont think I could have endured the abuse he went through on this hunt when I was 11. __________________

Good Gawd!! Thats a stud.

Holy Crap!! Great Buck! Congrats!

Hooray Bucks! Those are beauts!

Well, once it was known that Rob and I had bull tags the scouting process had begun. Basically every weekend since early june was spent scouting, setting trail cams and watching every elk hunting video we could get our hands on. We located a few new areas that were holding alot of elk and had our honey holes that we had used for a few years now. We got a ton of trail cam pics and some really good bulls as well. Well once that time of the year rolled around and the velvet dissapeared so did the elk. We crammed a bunch of scouting in the few weeks before the hunt started in our "back up" areas and relocated some good bulls. Met up with with Rob and Ron on thursday night after an excrutiating few days of work and headed up the hill full of anticipation and Monster energy drinks. We headed out opening morning and got into a few elk right off the bat but with shifting winds and bulls coming in quiet behind us we never were able to get close enough. That after noon we got out to one of our back up spots to do some early afternoon glassing and found a few bulls an one very good one. They were concentrated in an area a mile or so out so we took of in there direction. Got in close as they started to bugle and got to within 50 yards of a good sounding bull but he wouldnt leave his cows to check out our calls. Ron was behind both of us calling, taking pics and running the video camera and as we were trying to sneak in on this bull I turn around to signal Ron to call and he is facing the opposite direction filming. Im trying to figure out what the heck he is doing but later found out that as we were moving in on that bull a very nice 4X4 mule deer buck walked on by at 60 yards, and Im sure he was well aware that the season was over. Ron got a few seconds of video that Im sure they will post up. The next few days were filled with close calls, long days, and very little sleep. The bulls were not rutting very hard and seemed to shut up by 8:00. The full moon had them up all night and bedding down early. Some days they were bedded down by 6:30. Ron doing some glassing Rob taking a beer bong One evening Rob and I split up and I headed out with Ron to glass and area we had seen quite a few elk. We saw a few small bulls and some cows but Ron then blurted out a phrase that you do not here that often, " Ive got a Lion!" Sure enough he was bedded down under a pinion pine about 700 yards out. Well after watching the kitty lay there, roll over on its back a swing that long tail around I sat there cursing myself for not throwing the rifle in the truck ,"just in case!!!" I offered by bow to Ron to sneak in on the kitty but after a small discussion on what to do, we decided on moving in on him. Heres a few pics of him bedded down We determined the best plan of attack and picked out a few landmarks and a Juniper that looked like i could get a shot from. I dropped off the hill and worked my way over to the juniper with help from Ron on the hill. Like in many cases the terrain looks much different once your down there and I could not get a visual on the cat due to a small rise in the hill. I worked my way in a little closer picking apart the area with my binos. I finally saw the flicker of an ear and a outline of the cats head through the brush. I didnt have a clear shot due to the brush but ranged the tree he was laying under at 35 yards. I tryed to work my way around to my left hoping to find an opening to thread a shot through when the cat took off in the opposte direction. He must have seen or smelled me but slipped out with out a sound. He dropped down into a rocky ravine and i ran to the edge. I could see his figure going up the other side and he stopped in between to trees framing his vitals. I quickily ranged him at 50 yards and started to draw my bow. I started to dropped the pins onto his outline as he turned and dissappeared into the brush. I ran down to the bottom of the cut to see if I could get a another look but never saw him again. I have to say its amazing how your mind set changes when you have the cat in sight, focused on being the HUNTER, and when that cat vanishes into the shadows you start thinking about being the HUNTED. Ron saw the cat farther down the ravine heading away from me. Unfortunatly I didnt get a shot on him but I am so grateful to be able to experiance something like that. I enjoy every minute Im out there but when situations like this come across your plate it really makes you realize why we do what we do. The red X is were I snuck in to before he took off. Any way back to elk.... Saturday night we made our game plans for the next day and Rob and I went different directions. He headed out to an area we got into a good bull the night before and I headed out to one of the areas we had been hitting alot. Houston drove up that night and headed out with me in the morning and we got into bugles right off the bat. As we closed the distance and shooting light quickly approached we could here the rumble of a deisel truck heading right for the area we were in. The truck rolled through and the elk shut up and left. We heard another bugle off in the distance and headed that way. he would only sound off every 10 minutes but we finally saw him at about 100 yards feeding to our left. We snuck around the ridge to try and cut him off but as we did he changed directions and started to head up to his bedding area. We trailed that bull but never got closer that 200 yards or so. Frustrated, we headed up to a nearby ridge to glass the late morning. We sat ther for about 45 minutes and saw a few antelope and one mule deer. Getting ready to make the trek back to the truck and took one last look to see a figure behind a juniper. Realizing it was a cow elk and scanning the surrounding area, Houston spotted a good bull. Being late morning and they were still up in moving we decided to get off the hill and head in a direction to cut them off. We got down to what we thought was within 300 yrds or so and started picking apart the country to relocate them. Heard a buge that sounded close and off to my left saw a good bull walking through a small opening in the trees. We cut back to our left in the direction they were going and noticed an elk moving behind a juniper. We knelt down and i loaded an arrow and Houston was ready with the range finder. A small bull stepped out from behind the tree, a small 4X4 and workd his way slightly toward our position. He walked in to about 15 yards and turned behind a few other trees. Just as he stepped behind the tree a spike came out to our right at about 20 yards and walked across in front of us at about 12 yards. We could here the big bull raking a tree off to the right and had to wait for another cow, then a calf to walk right in front of us. The big bull started working his way out into the clearing. Houston whispered he will step out at 56 yards and I just hoped that the other elk would not bust out as soon as I went to draw. That 4X4 had worked his way to my left and was literally get ready to bed down 5 yards to my left. The Big bull stepped out and i was already at full draw. Houston let out a small whistle to stop him and I let it fly. The shot felt great and I heard the thawack sound I was hoping for. He took off running and after 10 yards started to walk. Houston put up his glasses and confirmed that my arrow was hanging out the other side. We waited about 30 minutes or so and headed over to were i had hit him and found no blood. Getting nervous we sat it out a a while longer. We slowly headed in the direction he went in search of any blood when Houston spotted him laying down about 60 yards. He was still alive so I got into 50 and put another in him and he was down. We got Rob and Ron on the radios to bring in the ranger to help get him out to the truck. I cant say enough how much I appreciate Ron and Houston and Brett for coming up and helping us out. It says alot when people take there own vacation time to help. It also makes the experiance that much better with good company. Loaded in the ranger Everyone that helped

Congrats Doug!! Great pics

Just another punk kid, but I beat up younghunter and stole all his optics That couldnt have been that hard

Two awesome bucks!! And great job with traditional equipment. Did you guys spot and stalk or sit treestands?

Well, had a great weekend. Its amazing how 1 extra day makes such a difference. Headed out Saturday morning for some deer hunting/ elk scouting. Got in before first light and started hearing bugles right off the bat and that got the blood pumping! Headed in that direction and slipped in a a small herd. Had about 6 Bulls bugling and after getting in pretty close saw a descent 6X6. Watched hima and a couple cows for awhile when I heard what sounded like a mature bulls bugle. Went in towards the sound and just over a small rise saw this bull raking a tree. The wind was right and he was facing directly away so I ditched my pack and bow and grabbed the camera. He was pretty focused on that little sapling so I manage to sneak up to about 35 yds and get some pics before he saw me. Sorry about the quality of the pics. It was a little dark and I didnt want the flash to spook him so I had trouble focusing. Anyways enjoy the pics and just curious what you guys think he would score. All I know is if hes standing 35 yards away in 2 weeks Im sending one his way. Jay

Well, heading up tonight for another weekend. Hopefully stick a deer and really dial in where I want to hunt next weekend. Ill make sure to have my telephoto lens this time so hopefully Ill get some more pics. Ill will say that I have have been absolutly worthless as work the last few weeks and will continue until next thursday. Its gettin close!! Schmitty, good luck to you as well, stick a biggun!

Please keep this thread rolling! That Barb wire Bob crap is killing me!!

Great story, Great pics and a Beautiful Buck!!! Way to stick with it as well. Sticking it out says a lot about you and your brother. Great job!

My dads been up all week deer hunting. He said they have been sounding off good in the mornings. Its gettin close fellas!!

Stole this from a friend /movie but it makes a lot of sense to me. Dont take life to seriously..... youll never get out alive

Definatly get them in the freezer fast! I shot a little 3 point in Utah last year and its still in my freezer. In the time I drove home it statred to turn foul. It smells so bad I think Ive ruined the chest freezer. Ive also heard if you inject mineral spirits under the velvet it will help dry it out.

Incredible bull and great story! Congrats to everybody involved. Great pictures Jim and thanks for sharing!

Awesome video! You should tell everyone how far away that shot you missed was! Great job

Holy Crap!

They gotta be. Pics are only 5 min apart. Great pics thanks for posting! Looks like hes gonna be a good one. These trail cams are addicting little pieces of equipment. Its like Xmas morning everytime I go out to check one.