My boy gets his elk 3c (thx Koury)

[apache12]

I'm so happy for my son, we had some close calls on the first two mornings and he could have got down but he stayed positive and Sat. afternoon he got it done. We scouted our area a few weeks ago and lots of people on the forum gave us some good advice. Then we got up Wed. night and scouted all day Thusday and the elk were just were they were on the previous scout trips everything was in place and so opening moring we thought it was as good as done. We sat our canyon and the activity was perfect we thought it would be any time we'd find the cows with the bull we were hearing. My son than started questioning his shooting location and wanted to move. I should have said it was fine just like we planned, but I wanted him comfortable for the shot so we moved across a meadow to another little perch and right was we got across two cows can around our perch and into the meadow about 20 yards from us. I said "shoot", but this was just not like he had planned it in his head, so as he tried to get into a shooting postion 5 more cows came around the corner and all ran right by us within 20 yards and across the meadow. We almost laughed it was so funny. But I knew if we had just sat tight it would have been perfect. good lesson. That night we glassed a few but could get close before we lost daylight. Next morning we went back to same area becase we didn't think we ruined that area. Got in early and the bulls were all around us it just a matter of time. then just as the sun came up shots ran out and the elk moved in all directions and we couldn't get a shot, I know I can't hunt without anyone else in the field but we just started to feel like eveything was going against us. We must have heard 15 shots in the close area while the day before had none, it was weird. He has a couple possible shots but they were good. the best one he had he passed because he said he couldn't see the head to be sure it was a cow, he later learned it was a cow, but I'm proud of him for doing the right thing.

In depseration I called Shane Koury of Koury Guide serivce, we had exchanged emails months earlier and he said if I need help to give a ring. Well, I called because I was getting nervous. He was great, and I told him where we had been hunting and he new the area down to each hidden water tank, very impressive. He said try about two miles east of where you've been. He said hike a wicked steep ridge and glass into the small finger canyons behind that. He said the area you park wont look like much, but "trust me, it's good on top". So, we went to that spot and couldn't find a path up, it was steep and coverd with thick brush, we backed out and hiked a narrow cut up, it was steep, I was in front of my son and through some brush two cows jumped some logs and were looking right at us, I hit the deck and looked back to see my boy rack a round and drop to his knee and fire. Great memory. Both elk turned an went back up the hill, I thought he missed. He said I hit it dad, but I said at that range we'd know. We walked up to the spot and sure enough bright blood, and quite a bit, just to make sure we followed it a few feet more and could see good blood, so I told him to sit tight and why we were waiting for a about 45 min. Well he couldn't make but 30 mins so left and we followed the trail, I had him in front and told him to chamber a round. The cow jumped in front of him and he dropped to a log, and the great thing was we waited while she tried to climb and when she turned and stopped he put one in the shoulder and that was it. So his first shot actually hit the hind quuarter as it was going away and went into the vitals from behind. The bummer is the quaters had some damage. The other bummer was I've never dressed an animal in that steep of an incline. I learned some that night. My boy worked hard, got bloody, and humped out two loads on his frame pack. I'm actually glad we had to hunt hard for a few days, we stayed out all day and I'm proud of how he didn't complain.

 

Finally, I have to say the biggest thank you to Shane Koury for his help, I'm sure he doesn't want get in the habit a giving free advice when he's a guide, so the best I can do it tell everyone that if you need a guide I believe Shane to have all the qualities that I would look for in a guide. Please just call him, I think you'll know in conversation that he's a positive part of our hunting community.

 

Sorry for the long post, but it was a great time with my son, and lots of people on the forum were helpful and I want to thank them.

My younger son as a coues tag to Nov. I hope it's as much fun for him

[arizonaelitefreak]

great read thanks for sharing cant wait to see some pics!

[Will K]

Very nice. Congrat's.

[Chef]

Congratulations!

Definitely has been a stellar year for our youth!

[luvdemcoues]

Shane has been busy this year. Great write up and congrats to the hunter.

[tjhunt2]

Way to stick with it and congratulations to your son on getting it done. I've heard nothing but good things from the Kourey bunch and it shows that we definitely have some great people her on cwt. Great writeup and thanks for sharing.

 

TJ

[Koury Guide Service]

Chad,

 

It does my heart good to see the youth of today have a fun time hunting. Glad I could help with the situation before your son got to frustrated. Congrats to you and your son. There is nothing better than watching you kids harvest animals, it is awesome. I would rather watch my kids kill a 350 bull elk than kill a 400 myself. Kids are awesome. A big congrats again. The good thing about hunting is it can change in a second. Great shot when it counted.

[gotcoues]

I love hearing people are willing to help out when it comes to little ones. It's a great feeling to know they're are so many good people out there. Congrats on sticking in there and getting it done. Sounds like an exciting fun hunt with a great ending.

[CouesWhitetail]

I love hearing people are willing to help out when it comes to little ones. It's a great feeling to know they're are so many good people out there. Congrats on sticking in there and getting it done. Sounds like an exciting fun hunt with a great ending.

 

 

+1!

 

Thanks Shane for helping him out and Congratulations to the young hunter for getting his cow elk!! Dressing a cow on a steep slope is indeed a challenge! Are you familiar with the gutless method? either way it's a challenge with an elk on a really steep slope!