3c elk hunt

[huntin4...]

After my son Cyr, 14, drew this tag we made a couple of trips from the south east corner of the state to do some scouting and a little fishing at and around Black Canyon Lake. We seen plenty of elk and the fishing wasn't bad either my two younger boys couldn't throw in a line with out a fish getting on it.

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We put in for this tag in February and not knowing Cyr would have a JV football game one the first Saturday of the hunt, and he's not going to miss a football game. We left for hunting late Saturday afternoon and find a spot about midnight to throw out a trap and our sleeping bags to get a little sleep before morning. Morning comes early; we get up just before light and start to get everything put away. We hear a few shots so I walk to opening and glass a couple of hunter about mile away didn't look like they got anything. Glass a little more and see a big bull making his way to a draw but no cows. Go back get Cyr and all of our stuff and head out to do some hunting, we are planning on being back late afternoon to set up camp and go back out that evening. We do a little walking and glassing find a nice spring a 1 1/2 miles from the truck and decide to sit there for the afternoon. We thinking good thing we brought some snacks since we didn't bother to pack a lunch but we have plenty.

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We sit on the spring until 4:30 and start hearing the bulls bugle and they are not getting any closer so we head out to if we can close the distance. As we are walking we see another bull feeding a couple hundred yards away and has no idea we are close but no cows with him. We keep heading to the bugles moving slow and glassing as we are heading over a ridge. Finally find the bull and he has a couple of cows with him. Cyr gets set up for a 250 yard shot but the elk keep moving behind trees and more bulls show up. The bull with the cows has to chase them off and he moves his cows further down the ridge. Still can't get a shot lined up Cyr is getting nervous that it won't work out. Right below us in a draw a bull states in tearing up a little tree. We can just see the top of his horns. Now there are five bulls in the area and we have only seen the two cows. Finally the bull with the cows gets tried of all the attention and moves the cows just over a little ridge out of sight. Cyr starts to thinks things won't work out and then we look below us in the draw and there are two bulls two cows and two yearlings and about 80 yards away. They hear us whispering as we see them they start looking for us. Cyr is trying to get repositioned for a shot but the cows decide not to stick around and head to the other side of the draw before stopping to see what was going on behind them. Cyr is set up for a shot now he says he can't believe he is not shaking. I tell him they're only 157 yards and take your time, shot the lowest one in front of the bull, just squeeze the trigger, do you have a good shot?, can you see her? Take your time, go ahead and shot when you're ready. Well the shot breaks I flinch and am not sure if it's a hit. She goes up the hill twenty yards and stops behind a tree. I say she didn't look hit but I'm not sure. Cyr says the shoot felt good, he didn't feel like he pulled it, he still can't believe he wasn't shaking like he has on deer hunts past. The elk are just standing around not knowing what to do. Cyr says he can see on of the yearlings and another cow. I tell him to wait and make sure he didn't hit the first cow he shot at. I have to move about ten yards to she the cow. I tell Cyr she is lying down looks like you got a good lung shot on her. He can't she her to shoot again. She gets up and tries to leave only goes a few yard and down again behind a log, still can't get another shot off, and then she is done. The bull wouldn't leave her until we start walking over to retrieve the cow after congratulations.

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Will its right before dark when he shot the cow and by the time we get to the cow and start taking pictures it is dark. We have to quarter her out to be able to pack it back to the truck. First time to try the gutless method works pretty good, we will see what Jeremy says about that since he is cutting up the meat. Any way we get this all done and it is about 9:30 and we are tired. Remember I said we planned to be back at the truck in the afternoon to set up camp. Will we are about out of water no food, only took out day packs, and forgot to get the gps out of the truck when we left. I told Cyr I would head back to the truck and get our packs and some water and food. I hiked about an hour and got to where the truck was suppose to be and I'm 95% sure it's a little further east but I'm 100% sure I can get back to Cyr. So I decide 5% is too much of a chance of not getting back to Cyr that night. I head back to Cyr and the elk, he is glad I'm back. We gathered some wood and got out our ponchos to sleep on and stayed close to the fire to keep warm. Not much sleep that night. Get up early the next morning and head to the truck. Moved the truck about 3/4 of a mile away and head back with the packs. The trail is through all the dead falls and it's a lot of work going over the downed trees with heavy packs on. We take two trips to get out all the meat and we are worn out. It's now 1:30 no time to eat lunch just grab a few more snacks and get the meat in to Jeremy's'. We get to Payson about 2:30 give Jeremy a call his wife and son meet us there to take the meat; they were very nice and was glad to meet them. Finally hit Taco Bell for what Cyr calls his first real meal since leaving home Saturday and now it is Monday afternoon. Then it was time to head home. We will go back in a couple of weeks to pick up the meat. I was a good experience for both of us. We were tired and a little sore but felt good we had got it all done and had a good story to tell.

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[bowhuntaz1]

Nice cow Cry!!!!! good job!!!!!

[Browning'sCustomMeat]

Congratulations to Cyr on the harvest. Kari told me the whole story when she got home from the shop. Very exciting!! Thanks for the business and I will be in touch with you in about a week.

 

Take Care!

 

-Jeremy-

[Coach]

Awesome job! Way to get it done Cyr! Sounds like an exiting hunt to say the least. Thanks for sharing the story and pix.

[loco4coues]

great job and thanks for sharing.

[huntin4...]

Thanks for the replys my son really enjoys them. Coach you guys did a great job up there also. Jeremy look forward to hearing from you.

[izquik72]

Now that's a memory

thanks for sharing.

One shot kills are always nice

[stanley]

Way to go!!!! Great story!!

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

S.

 

[willhunt4coues]

Great Cw bud looks like it will be good eating.

[mcelkhunter]

Great story!! Congrats. Cyr is one big boy, I bet he can really play football too!!