My hunt

[naturegirl]

As you all know, I was beyond excited to get a 2^nd opportunity to hunt bull elk. My 1^st was 4 years ago with a late rifle hunt, which was an unfilled tag after seven solid days of hunting. A little history on me is a couple years ago I started hunting mostly by myself and I do this because it gives me the say in the choices I make in the field and also any mistakes that are made are all my own.

 

I started this hunt off way too conservative with my stalks even though people told me (wink wink) I would need to be more aggressive. On day 3 there was a HUGE (yes HUGE) bull rubbing a tree and here I am sneaking up slowly when I shouldve been moving much faster. He meandered into some thick trees and I followed. I had a nice little slip during this adventure that left me prone on my backpack. I was laughing because it couldnt have been a better fall. There I was laying on my back, feet in the air, and laughing. I just couldnt help it, it was funny. I thought I had taken the brunt of the fall not my bow. After losing this bull, I moved my way back up to the top of the mountain and came across a nice satellite 6x who was limping really bad. It was a perfect shot opportunity for me.,30 yards and he had no idea I was there. I wait and he stops with his head, neck, and barely his front shoulder hidden by a tree. I draw back, release my arrow, and low and behold my arrow went in the dirt right under him. Now, I had no clue what happened with that shot until I get back to camp and checked out my bow. After shooting four arrows and missing our target from 40 all the way to 20 yards I had to wait for my husband to get back to camp for help or I was gonna be out of arrows in no time. My husband looks at my bow and asks me about 6 times are you sure your form isnt off, anchor point, blah, blah. I said This is me. My form is on, I know what Im doing. Its gotta be the bow. We could not figure out what was wrong with my bow so the easiest fix was to adjust the sight. The next day I by chance noticed that my rest was a little bent and Im guessing this mustve happened during my earlier fall. I will say though that I was relieved my shot was a complete miss.

 

On day 6, I stalked to within 50 yards of a bedded bull with a cow. He wasnt a monster, but I knew I would take him. He was lying down and my shooting lane was tiny between two pines. I was not confident in this shot because I felt it wouldve been too much of a gut shot so I had to wait for him to get up. Finally after what seemed like forever they get up and then decide to graze right on down to where my husband was and this bull ended up being the bull he took. He wouldve been a 5x, but his right antler appeared to have been damaged or ?? so he was a 5x4. Hes a neat looking smaller bull and we think he looks like hes got a big ole mule deer rack. We were both relieved as the freezer is now full and I felt the pressure lifted. (I tried editing the tongue out of my phone pic...haven't found real camera in camper yet)

 

By day 7 I had really gotten the hang of the stalk on moving herds. I had now been within 70 yards of at least 20 bulls of all sizes and at least half of the bulls I got close to were spikes or forks. My honest impression of spikes is they arent very smart yet. They seem really confused and just want some company (yeah even I called spikes in...lol). My biggest challenge was closing those last 10-20 yards to get me within my comfortable range. One time I had a huge 6x walk in (and out) at 60 yards. When I was done chasing him, my husband asked me what was wrong with that 60-yard shot? I was like where were you last night when we were all talking about our max shooting distance and I said mine was 50.LOL (guess he wasn't listening or he thought I would up my yardage). Its not that I cant shoot 60 accurately, but its not where Im most confident and I feel that's a lot of yards for an elk that a lot of different things can go wrong in.

 

Ill skip to day 11 the last day of my hunt. Two mornings in a row I had chased bulls across this same area and I knew where they were going now so my game plan was set. We get there early and wait in the dark for them. I hear the bugles starting to get closer. This time I had to creep since it was not light yet. As it got lighter I could see thru my binos who was making all the noise (can't say enough about those swaro's) and he was a good bull with 2 cows. He was at least a tall 6x, but not a toad in anywayjust a great bull. I did NOT concentrate on his antlers amazingly, which is why I really dont know his exact size. I just know that he was a good bull. The cows now graze to within 20 yards of me. I wait motionless and he walks around a tree. I draw. There are no limbs, twigsnothing in the way and none of them know I'm there. This is exactly what Ive been waiting for since I missed the shot at the 6x on day three. I put my 40 yard pin midline height just behind the shoulder, thinking if it was lesser yardage (and suspecting it was) it would still be a good vital shot. I release and hear the thump. Its a hit. The odd thing was he never even flinched and just stood there for a second or two and so did the cows and heres my arrow sticking about halfway out of him, which surprised me. There was no doubt where I hit him since the arrow was just sticking out and he was standing there. He then turned his rear to me. I had knocked another arrow, and they then decided it was time to trot away. I watched them go over the hill. I call on the radio, husband gets here, I mark where I shot and where the bull was. Instantly my heart sank when there was no blood near the hit site. I hear a bull down the hill bugling who sounds very much like the bull I hit so I decided to leave husband searching for blood while I see if I can get a visual through binos to see if this is the same bull. I flanked them for about a mile. I did not want to bump him in anyway, I just wanted to see if this was my bull. After about an hour of this, Im getting close enough where I should be able to get a visual, I see through the trees some elk butts. I could ID a spike and another butt and then I see a hunter straight ahead walking and elk butts now trot north due to other hunter. I cry and cry some more. My worst hunting fear is coming true.

 

My husband picks me up, we go back to hit site, and I call a fellow CWT member for ideas. We comb the area & comb the area. Finally he finds blood about 200 feet from the hit. There were 3 good size circles of blood that had dried along with this tiny meaty thing about 2 feet away from the blood that looked like a tiny intestine smaller in diameter than a worm and maybe the length of a pencil, but it was kinda bunched up. We dont know what this was?? I had a renewed since of hope since we now have blood. Using my knowledge of the area, I searched all the beds I know of in the area. I hiked to a canyon where I thought he could be. This is now 9 hours and counting that we have been looking for him.

 

Im perched halfway up a VERY steep canyon and my phone vibrates. It was my ex-husband and I answer. He tells me his wife had died tragically that morning. He wants me to tell the kids because he cant. Our children are older teenagers. I decide I have to call them because Im at minimum 6 hours from home by the time we pick up camp. I had to make the call to them from the mountains when all I wanted was to wrap my arms around them. At this point, my hunt is done and I need to return to my children. Hes either a lost bull or hes still out there bugling. I will never know.

 

This is not how I envisioned it would play out. I believe I showed restraint and only made ethical shots, but still I lost him. I will say though I have learned so much these last months. I also met some wonderful fellow hunters who I hope all had great hunts. Unfortunately, I also met numerous people who werent the most ethical of hunters and I heard things from them that really, really bothered me. My heart is sad not knowing for sure what happened to the bull I shot, but I'll take all of my newly learned knowledge and apply for the next draw in hopes that I'm one of those lucky ones who gets drawn for back-to-back tags (haha).

 

Again, a big thanks to everyone here who took the time to help me before and during the hunt. This really is a great site full of wonderful people who are willing to help each other.

 

PS On a side note, I was unsuccessful trapping the white cockatoo that was raiding our camp so hes still out there being a bandit!

 

 

[Guest akaspecials]

Sorry to hear you didn't recover your bull. You did almost everything in your power to find him and you took a lot of restraint waiting for the right shot at the right time. It sucks, but it happens. As long as you learn from it and don't go shooting 2 or 3 bulls till one falls, I see no harm done. Good luck next year and thanks for the writeup!

[jim]

Much respect to your hunting ethics. I wish alot more people had yours.

[Coues Sniper]

You mentioned you could see the arrow sticking out - where was he hit and how much did arrow penetrate? Elk are incredible animals and can survive devastating injuries. A buddy of mine killed a bull that had a broadhead and couple inches of arrow in its lung. Hopefully your bull makes it through. Lessons learned

[naturegirl]

it was about half in and half out a little high and a little back. he was slightly higher than me and i had used 40 yd pin on 33 yard shot.

 

that was the exact thing that angered me was people shooting multiple bulls! if i had stayed another day it would've been looking for him. they all said their shot (but lost) bulls were gonna live.

 

I had the best summer in the woods (minus day 11 of my hunt) and lost a ton of weight from all the high-speed hiking!

 

now my father-in-law's champ deer hunt is coming up and we can't wait to get him out in the woods.

[trophyhnter]

Great writeup! Sounds like agood time regardless of the outcome! The fact of the matter is that you can do everything within your power right and things will not always turn out for the best. That's the law of nature........the scavengers have to eat also! Better luck next time and congrats to your husband!

[Elkaddict]

It's tough when you loose an animal, it happens. Been there.Sounds like a great hunt up to day 11. Your husbands bull looks like a deer! Congrats on some good elk meat, enjoy!

[Coues Sniper]

High and back with an uphill angle might mean he makes it. Fingers crossed anyways. That's part of hunting. You did everything in your power and you can take comfort in that. It surprises me too how much of a knucklehead the average guy is. Sad really. Anyways, good luck on the deer hunt!

[lucky2hunt]

Great write-up Christina! Man, I know how hard you worked out there and how conscientious you were about trying to find that bull. Glad you had a good time and happy and you guys did get some meat for the freezer! I'm also glad I got to know you even though it was just through text messages and a short call, hopefully we get to meet in person in the near future!

[tjhunt2]

Christina, your writeup was great even though you didn't tag out. As I read it I could feel the excitement you were experiencing along with the frustration and disapointment. My condolences for the loss of your exhusband's wife. I'm sure that was hard to explain to the kids. Thank you for sharing your hunt with us and let me say you have had a tough outcome that so many of us have experienced for ourselves. Archery hunting is a tough way to go and sooner or later it all happens to everyone loosing a critter and believe me it hurts and it's all you can think about at the time. I feel your pain but let me reassure you it is going to get better and you will succeed in your quest for a bull someday. I'm positive of it by the attitude you have for the sport. You did everything right and your ethics need to be applauded young lady. It's obvious your shot wasn't the best but we've all been there. It's people like yourself that make us hunters proud to say your one of the good guys. Congratulations to your husband and enjoy that elk meat. I have always enjoyed your posts and once again thank you for bringing us along on your hunt.

 

TJ

[CouesWhitetail]

Wow, sorry to hear you lost that bull, but as has been said, the elk are tough and based on where you say you hit him, I bet he survives. Thank you for being diligent on searching for your bull. And I wish more people thought the same way as you about wounding animals and just moving on. Congratulations to your husband on his "mule deer"!

[naturegirl]

I looked at vitals before the hunt but haven't since after. I looked this up and this is what I remember seeing. The hit could've been as far back as the black line. It was on his right side though. Things happen fast, but I'm pretty clear on the hit memory since it's kinda engrained in the memory.

[Pine Donkey]

Christina, I have so enjoyed your scouting and hunting reports. You truly are a dedicated hunter. Let us know how the champ hunt goes.

[AZ_XL7]

You did everything in you're power after the shot. Great write up.

[naturegirl]

actually I was dang near a member of PETA and a vegetarian about 12 or so years ago. My friends & family still can't believe that I hunt. I just really care about animals and i like to eat them too.

 

I'm struggling with predator hunting but I'm pretty sure I would've shot the one who was 20 yards from me between me and the BIG bull who was about 200ish yards away. Yote was up above me barking like my lab for what seemed like a minute. I couldn't quite get a shot but did draw back just in case. unfortunately I saw a lot of butts this hunt and watched 2 of them (didn't know there was 2 til then) hightail it away from me. time will tell on that one.