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BML

First Archery Elk

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Not really any cool stories to tell about this bull. I hunted hard for 6 days, hearing bugles only two of those days. We struggled with an abundance of hunters, very little rut activity, and even a fight on a water hole with a couple guys who thought that because there blinds were up I had no right to be sitting there before they got there.

 

On night number 2 I had a nice 290-300 inch 6x6 come to water about 10 minutes before dark. I let him get to the water and start drinking, but soon realized that at 22 yards he was WAY too close for me to be able to draw my bow without him seeing me. I waited until he lifted his head out of the water and he still saw me and took off. I never had another shot opportunity until the last night I was up there.

 

I had a small spike coming to water right before dark and decided that it had been such a terrible hunt so far that I would go ahead and fill my tag and put some good meat in the freezer. I drew on him before he got to the water and shot him right as he lowered his head. Shot was only 18 yards.

 

He bolted and took off right through the water. I waited 30 minutes and decided that it was too dark to track him so I waited until the next morning to recover him. My dad and I found him a mere 60 yards from the tank.

 

DSC_3095.jpg

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Funny you say that Josh. About an hour before I shot my bull a nice male coyote came to water. I was sitting flat on my rear trying to stretch my legs when I saw him. Unfortunately, flat on my rear is the only position in which I cannot draw my bow back! I tried to draw and could not for the life of me get past the let-off point. Too bad too, because he never knew I was there and he watered 24 yards away and left.

 

 

 

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thats going to taste good. I know what you mean about the blinds on water holes, I am real tempted to start throwing them dang things into the water hole. we had a dumb butt that thought the same thing. this is getting out of hard. I thought everyone knew the rules first come first serve. but we have conflict still. the next conflict I have over water thats what I will do. in the water with there blind.

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Nice shot and you got the first one out of the way. Bull in velvet that is pretty cool.

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Thanks for sharing your hunt, the archery hunts this year really stunk. I hunted with a friend in 6AS and his hunt mimicked your story, very few bugles, herds with 3 to 4 bulls and cows, not responding to calls.....just a terrible hunt. He did have a few slim opportunities, but just could seal the deal. A good learning experience.

 

Redman.

 

p.s. who stayed at the water hole?

 

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Thanks for all the comments. I went back and re-read my story and it does sound a little like I was disappointed. I was just flat out beat from a week of hunting when I wrote it. I am very happy with my bull. I feel it was a huge accomplishment just to even fill a tag this year as bad as the hunting was.

 

Now the wait begins for my next tag!! :lol: :lol:

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thats going to taste good. I know what you mean about the blinds on water holes, I am real tempted to start throwing them dang things into the water hole. we had a dumb butt that thought the same thing. this is getting out of hard. I thought everyone knew the rules first come first serve. but we have conflict still. the next conflict I have over water thats what I will do. in the water with there blind.

 

 

Congratulations on your first archery Bull.

 

I think a lot of hunters misinterpet the "first come first served" rule. In their minds I really think they believe that by placing their blinds or stands at the tank they are "first" and have dibbs on the tank.

 

Way to go Blake!!!

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Great job Blake! Since you don't seem to have a black eye in your photo, I guess you won the waterhole fight? :lol:

Thats a bummer about the waterhole scenarios.

 

Any bull with a bow is a good bull! Congrats! :)

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