2008 Archery Elk.

[cramerhunts]

Well I know the seasons been over for a while but it took this long for me to get over my “elk hunting hangover” and actually be able to write a somewhat of an understandable account of everything that took place during the 2008 Archery Elk Season. So buckle up it’s going to be a long one.

 

Even though I did not draw a tag myself my good friend and hunting partner Jim Parker (Rut on the forum) drew one so I knew I would get to be in the woods once again chasing hopefully screaming bulls.

 

As usual Jim spent countless hours, money, and miles scouting and hanging trail cameras well before the season began. He covered a lot of country spending time checking sign, glassing, and living out of his truck where ever he ended up that day. Keith Goyen, Stacy Higley, and I would join him when our work schedules allowed us to but the majority of the preseason work was done by Jim. A little over a week before the opening day Jim headed off to live in the woods until the season was over and even though he had narrowed it down to two main areas that we would hunt the decision had still not been made. The two areas were almost two hours apart by truck over some serious rough roads, and that’s just where each camp would be.

Camp 1.

Camp2

 

Keith was able to get away a few days early and he and Jim spent the last few days of scouting moving between the two areas until the day before the actual hunt began at which point a few bulls were spotted sealing the deal on where we would spend the entire season. I was supposed to arrive at camp that night but due to work obligations I was stuck in Utah.

 

A few scouting pictures.

 

A little scouting clip.

Scouting

 

The first morning started and some great video was taken with Jim passing on a large bull that we think would go around 370-380” and the bulls were bugling pretty well and this would be pretty much the routine for the next few days with Jim passing bull after bull. The guys would call me everyday with updates until I couldn’t stand it any longer and I hauled tail home to pack and get up to camp. I arrived at camp on Sunday night and was amazed at the video that they showed me which made for a sleepless night until the alarm sounded at 3:30. We ate a quick bite and took off. We would drive to our parking spot and listen to try and locate the direction of the most bugles and head off in the dark to try and close the distance without spooking anything. Right at first light we set up and Keith started calling with Jim and I out front, it didn’t take long for a nice 370” six by seven to come in on a string. I got some good video and once again Jim passed.

 

Video of that bull.

Sticker Bull

 

We continued on to see some more bulls but nothing that peaked our interest. Jim and Keith said we needed to find “Jumbo”, a bull that they spotted and videoed on the first morning so that’s what we did for the next four or five days.

 

After the first few days of good rutting activity we were really surprised when it kind of died off and the hunting got pretty tough. Stacy made it to camp and would go to different areas filming and taking pictures looking for a bull that would be worthy of Jim’s tag. Even though we weren’t experiencing much of the rut Stacy seemed to be getting in on a lot of it. Jim, Keith, and I had been spending day after day trailing and trying to get in front of Jumbo and his cows without much luck and I know it was running through all of our minds if maybe we shouldn’t abandon him and go to some of the areas Stacy had been. We talked it over and decided that we were still seeing enough elk and some good bulls to stay with it and hopefully Jumbo might make a mistake. Stacy had to pull out and head back to the valley for work so it was down to the three of us again. We eventually lost track of Jumbo and his harem but found another bull that Jim had taken some good pictures of while scouting. We had heard him bugle two or three times and could tell he was getting closer but we thought it sounded like a small bull so we didn’t get too excited. We eased over to a clearing to get some video of the “small bull” and when he stepped out we knew we had messed up because the bugle didn’t match the bull. We all kicked ourselves and watched helplessly as the beautiful six by seven took his group of cows off to their bedding area. That evening we went back to the same area but couldn’t relocate the group and didn’t hear a bugle until dark thirty but we did glass what appeared to be several large bulls and a lot of cows almost three miles away.

 

The next morning we headed back into the same area in hopes of finding either Jumbo or the six by seven. The woods were pretty quiet but we ended up calling in a really big bull to about 20 yards, unfortunately he was all broke up. This caught us off guard because this was the first broke bull we had seen and we didn’t expect it since the rut seemed to be in a holding pattern.

 

Video of Busted Bull.

Busted Bull

 

By now its day ten and everybody is getting tired but since Grong was sending us pictures of amazing bulls hitting the dirt around the state we knew it was just a matter of time before we could send him one of our own. And of course I was checking coueswhitetail.com from camp every night keeping up with everybody else’s hunts and the thought crept into my mind that we were crazy for passing on the bulls that we had. I learned a valuable lesson from Jim that if we would have taken one of those bulls the hunt would be over and even if we left empty handed you couldn’t ever replace the memories and experiences that we were enjoying.

 

A little internet time.

 

After another evening spent glassing and waiting for bugles only to rush off and get caught out in the dark trying to close the distance the decision was made to get up early, put on our hiking shoes and cover the three and a half miles to where we had seen all of the cows and large bulls, we knew we would have to do this in the cover of darkness because it was across a wide open flat and the elk were making it to the tree line by first light. On our dark trek across the flat our feet became lighter with each step because the bulls were screaming at each other off in the distance. Sun up found us on the edge of the trees and we called in, stalked, and cut off more bulls then I can actually remember, the only problem was almost every one of them were busted or broke. The rut definitely hadn’t slowed down over here! We took some great video and started easing out of the area because we hadn’t found what we were looking for when I spotted a nice bull bedded only ninety yards ahead of us. I started filming him when it dawned on me that this was a really nice bull. Keith and I added up the bone quietly and came up with a solid 375-380”, we looked at Jim and he gave us a look that said duh, what are you two idiots waiting for? I stayed back to film while Jim and Keith made a great stalk to 33 yards when they ran out of cover. Jim had to draw bent down behind a little cedar and then step out for the shot. Unfortunately when he stepped out it was at a very difficult angle and the arrow went just under the bedded bull. It was a long quiet walk back to the truck but I was on cloud nine because I had never experienced a morning so filled with bugles of every type and so many different bulls.

 

We got back to camp fairly late in the afternoon so we decided to head back to the area where we had lost Jumbo for the evening hunt. We got set up on our glassing point to listen and glass when I spotted a small raghorn and some cows feeding out into the open, I quickly dismissed them and continued glassing when Keith said Phil take a look at this bull with your 10x15x50’s and see what you think. Since Keith and Jim only had their 10’s they could tell it was a nice bull but not how nice. As soon as I got the Leicas on him I about fell over. We spent the rest of the time until it got too dark to see taking turns looking at the awesome bull that didn’t seem to be broke up at all. I don’t know if we ever heard a bugle that night or not.

 

On the morning of day twelve we were set up where we had seen the big bull the night before and we never dreamed that there could be so many elk with so many bulls in such a small clearing. The noise the bulls were making was almost overwhelming; there were bugles, horns crashing, glunking, and some noises I’ve never heard before. Keith immediately spotted the bull from the night before and another bull that was just as big or not bigger. We had two bulls over 400” in front of us and the most intense rutting I’ve ever seen. All of our attention was on the two giants and we didn’t even see the group of cows that spotted us and slowly took the whole group towards the tree line and away from us. We walked over to a little rise above a tank where we could watch the progression of elk move off and we were all in awe when we noticed a bull walking down toward the tank. He was a bull we had seen before and really unique with a great right side and only an eye guard on the left. He came in watered and we filmed him until he headed off.

 

Video of that bull.

One horn bull

 

We figured this might not be too bad of a spot to wait a while and sure enough it wasn’t long before two more bulls slowly made there way to the tank and watered. Both were full rack six points with one appearing to be real nice so Keith and Jim eased down to cut them off when they left the tank. I got the camera set up and started rolling film when Keith cow called and the bulls came right for them. The bigger bull walked behind a tree and Jim drew back, of course the bull stopped and Jim had to hold at full draw for what seemed like an eternity. Finally the bull walked out and Jim made a great shot at 25 yards. The bull started to take off and I cow called to stop him which gave me some good video footage.

 

Video of Jim's Bull.

Jim's Bull

 

The bull eased off and we waited for a while and made the short track job to find the bull piled up about 150 yards from where he was shot. We then realized that this was not a six by six but the same six by seven that we had messed up on earlier in the hunt except now he was missing about 20-25” of bone from fighting. When we had last seen him he was the herd bull but now he was just a satellite but of course that didn’t matter because nobody could have been happier then we all were. He wasn’t the biggest bull we had seen, in fact I still haven’t even put a tape to him, but it didn’t matter because we had a hunt of a lifetime and one that will be very hard to ever beat……but there’s always next year!

 

Jim's Bull.

Jim's Bull on the Hoof.

 

I’ve got to say thanks to Jim and Keith for allowing me to be part of this hunt and even though I’ve hunted all of my life I still am amazed at how much these two guys teach me every time we’re out in the woods.

 

Sorry for such a long story but Jim has over a thousand pictures taken before, during, and after this hunt, Keith and I have over three hours of video, so it’s pretty tough to summarize the whole thing.

 

Thanks for letting me share our hunt with you,

Phil

 

Some of Jim's Great pictures.

 

 

[HBU]

Great story, sounds like a good time to me. Fantastic bull, congats.

[devinv]

That's a great write up! Awesome pictures, did you digiscope some of those because they came out good

[cramerhunts]

That's a great write up! Awesome pictures, did you digiscope some of those because they came out good

 

No scope used in the pictures. Jim has quite a set up for photo's but I don't know the details....he would have to answer any questions on the still photos.

 

Phil

[azcouesandelk]

Wow what a hunt! Great write up pictures and video made it feel as if I was there!

[Coues Sniper]

Great write up, and an awesome bull. Sounds like a hunt none of you will forget any time soon. Congrats.

[Elkaddict]

Amazing photos and videos!! Love the story. I've been trying for years to get a little bit of the type of video and photos you've amassed in one season!! Great bull, congrats to the hunter. I am envious.

[flagpknmule]

WOW!! great story and great pics CONGRATS ON A GREAT BULL!!!!

[flagpknmule]

WOW!! great story and great pics CONGRATS ON A GREAT BULL!!!!

[ajohunter]

Great write up and pics! Sounds like you guys had an awesome hunt!

[Chef]

I've been logging on everyday waiting for the story to unfold on here.

 

First off...CONGRATULATIONS JIM!!!

 

Sounds like you guys had a great time. I am really happy you tagged out.

I've yet to meet anyone that spends so much time dedicated to their hunt than you.

 

Awesome pictures as usual and the video clips are great Phil!

That was cool too, how you guys got the shot on video.

 

Jim, so what are you going to hold out for when you draw the tag AGAIN next year?!

[Coueser]

WOW!! Best write-up of a hunt that I have seen in a long time. Amazing pictures and videos. Looks like you had an amazing couple of weeks. Thanks for sharing.

[AZ402]

Good stuff and congrats to Jim, he deserved a good one.

[azpackhorse]

Very nice write up Phil, big congrats to Jim!

 

Those are some amazing photos for sure.

[War7664]

Those are AWESOME pictures!!