Millhouse Report post Posted September 20, 2012 This past weekend I was able to take my nephew on his first archery bull elk hunt. We had a lot of action on Saturday and he was able to arrow his first bull elk on Saturday evening. The shot was 24 yards, but not perfectly broadside. He had a pass-through and we watched the bull for about five minutes before walking out of sight. He was hurt and hurt bad. We waited an hour before tracking and found the arrow right away. There was a good size pool of blood and lung material that the bull had coughed up. We figured we had given the bull enough time, and pursued the trial. After about 60 yards we bumped the bull.......we could not believe he was still alive. We made the choice to head back to camp and return in the morning. It was not an easy choice, but one made easier by a thread that began here entitled "Leaving a Bull overnight" http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/34418-leaving-a-bull-overnight/ One of the things that really caught by attention that Coosefan said was "I'd rather lose some meat instead of the entire elk!" We found that bull at sunrise the next morning. After a very short celebration (and a sigh of relief), we instantly rotated the bull placing the downside up. Next, we made the cut Coosfan had mentioned down the back of the neck to the tail to cool meat off. Gutted, skinned and quartered the bull on the ground and found that he hit one lung and hit the liver. The bull was filled with blood from internal bleeding. We got the bull to the butcher (Casey's actually) and did not loose any meat! I wanted to thank all of those who posted on that thread giving advice, especially COOSEFAN. I believe we did the right thing and wanted to thank you guys for helping us be able to handle a tough situation correctly. Thanks again guys! 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pine Donkey Report post Posted September 20, 2012 Great post. Congratulations to you and your nephew. Now, how about some pictures! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rossislider Report post Posted September 20, 2012 Cogratulations to your nephew and your whole party! Thanks for sharing. What you mention here is one of my many favorite things about this site, hunters, and hunting in general. Fellow enthusiasts coming together to share knowledge and skill passed down from generations of hunters to keep an awesome sport and way of life alive and pure. Thanks everyone! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lucky2hunt Report post Posted September 20, 2012 Awesome! Congrats and way to be patient, sometimes it's that's way easier said than done! NOW post up some pictures of that bull!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trophyhnter Report post Posted September 20, 2012 Cool story! Congrats to your nephew! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues Sniper Report post Posted September 20, 2012 Love it when a plan comes together Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
200"mulie Report post Posted September 20, 2012 Congrats on the success!! and with family it must have been an awesome time Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gr8 White Jr Report post Posted September 21, 2012 Congrats to you and your nephew! You guys did the right thing by leaving the bull overnight. Tough to do but the right thing to do. However, the wrong thing to do is post a story with no pics! PARTY FOUL! Haha! Congrats again! -Tracy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snapshot Report post Posted September 21, 2012 Excellent! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DCS Report post Posted September 21, 2012 This is where this website excells-people that know, are willing to offer advice to people that they have never met,or may never meet to make them better hunters.Thank you again Amanda!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted September 21, 2012 This thread here is what makes this the best site on the web. Ok we need some pics now. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted September 23, 2012 You all are welcome.....thanks for the kind words.....I love this kind of story and it's things like this that keep me working hard to keep this site going. I was thinking of that exact same thread the other day while up in Unit 27. Someone shot a bull and it was a little far back. They came back to camp and waited a few hrs, but then went out and bumped the elk which was sick but still alive enough to cover some ground. They had to come back and wait some more before going back out in the evening. I kept thinking about what Coosefan and others had recommended and suggested to the hunter to wait longer, but they kept wanting to go out. Not sure if they ever retrieved that bull, but I think it's good advice to wait as long as possible since these elk are tough animals that can seemingly go forever even with deadly wounds. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted September 23, 2012 WOW! I'm excited to hear sharing some of my experiences has helped you and possibly others! That is exactly what I love about CWT.com and why I'm proud to be part of it! Huge congrats to you Millhouse and your nephew, I'm sure that was an experience he'll never forget! You did a great job in tracking and taking care of that bull and I guarantee Casey will do a great job with the meat! I took a bull to him last week as well and hopefully picking it up this week! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
