Most Meaningful Hunt

[6ANut]

This year for me has been full of firsts. I have never been drawn for two big game hunts in one year (Rifle mule deer 6B, Late rifle bull elk 6A) and also never popped the big question to my love of my life (September 1st and yes right before the dove season). All things seemed great until I got the phone call I never wanted to recieve, Your Grandpa (Boss, Pa) has had an accident. Instead of scouting for my hunts I had to go sit near my dying Pa in the hospital. It was extremly hard some days it seemed like he might just make the elk hunt. Our Highest man on the totem pole, the man behind the Lane family hunting, My Pa gave into the pain about a month after the accident on Thrusday at 6:00pm 10/11/12. This was a first for me all of my close relatives are still alive and Pa I was the closest with.

 

 

After an extremly frustrating deer hunt, I was ready to head off to elk country.

 

 

Heading into the hunt with the weather being hot and a full moon I didnt have the highest expecations of the week to come. I headed up to elk country on Tuesday night could have drove with the headlights off the moon was so bright. Plan was to get my future father-in-laws lungs accustom to the higher altitude a few days prior to the hunt. We enjoyed a few cocktails and went to bed.

 

Day -1 Wake up ealry and head out to do some scouting........

 

Are you kidden me after 7 days and about 50 miles I didnt see a spike and this guy and his buddy are 20 feet off the road. It was my father-in-laws first encounter with a mule deer so he was excited. We glassed a bunch of great country the rest of the day.

 

Day 0

Headed to the Northern part of the unit to do some more scouting and was able to snap a sweet sunrise.

My Dad, uncle, cousin, and My Best Friend (huntAZ4life) all arrived at elk camp around dinner time.

 

Now if anyone knows me I had my backpack packed the day I heard I was drawn but probably repacked it 3 times a week since then. Yet on that night I find myself re-packing, checking batteries, maps etc....

 

The night before the elk season starts to me is the best feeling in the world. You know your in for 7 days of ups and downs, miles on the boots, and one H*^% of a good time.

 

Day 1

Wake up early and want to get out to my favorite spot before the masses do. Head lamps on walking in a boom their is 4 other guys doing the same thing as me. Okay plan B, still hunt around the quiet area. No elk were seen and a few shots were heard. My dad was more concerned about getting the new Hot Tub working than dinner.

Dad and HuntAZ4life

 

Day 2

Head north to stay away from the masses and the 60 degree heat mid day. We saw about 40 elk that day all cows but at least we were getting into elk country.

 

HuntAZ4Life hard at work

 

Day 3

Back down south to where I shot my bull the last time I was drawn. Stoneman lake rd was a parking lot but we wanted to get South to see if the hunting pressure had moved some bulls into a few lil canyons. No bulls were found but we were treated with some great views.

 

HuntAZ4life had to head back to work in the morning so we sat a canyon till dark and all we were treated to was this great sunset.

 

Day 4

I wanted to scout this area before but didnt have the time, climbed in from the freeway and ran into elk in less than 5 minutes. A few cows but we knew that we were in the elk. This area was covered in fresh elk sign but seemed like it was from the night before. Hunted the area all day and night and never ran into any elk again just warm beds and fresh elk poop. Come to find out that the day before 3 bulls were killed in the same area and they had just moved out of the area. I will be putting a trail camera back here and the pictures should be amazing. Their was one real big bear working the area this rock was the size of a small desk

 

Found this dead calf looked to be shot during the cow hunt.

 

And also this

I found two heads like this they were left upside down and the horns were cut off. With speaking with my dad he said thats how some guys used to take off their antlers.

 

Day 5

My Little brother made it up and I told him I would hunt were ever he wanted me to.

 

So we headed back to the Day 1 spot and walked a few miles and saw nothing, I didnt expect to see anything but it is the area where he shot his first bull. We had shots right above us early in the morning and saw a few deer. The rest of the day we didnt see much until the final 30 minutes of light when I got onto a small herd of about 20 yet again couldnt grow any horns on these cows.

 

Day 6

We decided to head north were all the elk have been seen and couldnt even get to our spot before we ran into 40 elk in an open meadow. We couldnt grow any horns on the cows so we kept driving. What I found next made me the most mad I have ever been out in the woods but even from home HuntAZ4Life can turn a negative situation into some comedy.

This Cow ELF see posting for "Found Dead Cow Elf' was 30 yards off the road in plain sight these hunters knew what they did and just left it. First time ever experiencing such a sight and it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I called G&F gave GPS cords and went on our way. I ran into the all elusive FS and o boy was it a funny conversation, went a little something like this. Asked him if he was out checking to make sure people werent using the closed roads. "Nope I dont even know what roads are legal or illegal myself, I havent even written a ticket. Seemed like all he wanted to do was put some miles on his work truck and get his pension paid, sad.

 

The night hunt we headed back to an area we used to shoot bulls from and within 30 minutes from the truck I jumped a real nice bull. Much bigger than the one on my wall but I got to see him for about 3 seconds. The evening ended seeing a few more cows but I know where I will be hunting tomorrow.

 

Day 7

Last day of a real tuff hunt sun burnt and sore feet. My little brother had to leave so I would be hunting by myself again. I wanted to get near the canyons on the west side of the unit. While driving into the area at sun-up I get out of the truck to help with a little rock navagation, with out my gun. I honestly have never done this before if Im hunting the gun goes with me number 1, number 2, I dont care. Of course my cousin spots a bull at about 100 yards grazing I have to run back to the truck grab the gun and get set up. At this point the bull knows were here and starts moving, I see my opening all I have is a small cedar tree in the way and Boom, right into the tree. Now my emotions are on high I really wanted to get a bull with the bullet my grandpa had found of mine from my last elk hunt 2 years ago, no clue how he knew it was my bullet but I have been using Remington Swift Siroccos 150 gr. for the past 3 elk hunts. I just want to crawl into a hole and cry. I dont feel like talking to anyone just pissed at myself for taking a bad shot. We head down the road to where I had jumped the big bull the day before. We come up with a plan to walk threw the bedding area and push into the cedars.

 

The whole walk im thinking about my PA, how much he means to me and sorry that I had taken a bad shot. We have been using cow calls most of the hunt to keep tabs on where everyone was located. I thought what I heard was my uncles cow call but it just sounded too good. What happends next is hands down the best experience I have ever had in the wild. I look up and have a cow walking almost at me at about 40 yards away. That one cow turns into 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80. They all are filtering up wind of me up a small open valley. Gun up, safety off now just need to see horns. I see a few rag horns behind the cows so the hunt is on. They keep filtering in and out of the cedars crosshairs on every elk I could but just to many to keep track of. I had a few cows stop and stare at me, I was just begging them to leave me alone and keep on feeding and wouldnt you know it they did. At this point the elk have moved to about 100 yards away and moving north west away from me so I get ready to go hunt them down, when out of the corner of my eye I see more elk. Gun up, safety off, cow, spike BOOM. I sucker punched him and watched him stagger, BOOM again, I let the last few cows clear and give him another BOOM and break his back. Last time I shot an elk I never found him and wanted to make sure that didnt happen this time. BOOM again as I am cutting the distance between me and my trophy as I see him trying to struggle to get up. Right into the neck and down he goes. As I get within 30 feet he gets up scares me to death BOOM miss, BOOM kill shot to the neck again.

 

My PA always poked fun at us when we would hunt for big bulls. Just never understood why we wouldnt shoot those tasty spikes. As I walk up to an elk that has more meaning behind it than just a Spike Im over run with emotion and just start crying and nothing is stopping it. I sat their staring up into the sky thanking my PA for he was the only one other than me that got to enjoy this experience.

 

After I wiped the tears away I called for some help. Took a few pictures

 

We did the gutless method and let me tell you how pleased I was, I dont think I will do much gutting after how easy the gutless method was.

 

This Spike was for PA. You will always be with me in every hunt I take, and I will work on not getting so down on myself and the situtations I am placed in. Their is always a spike around the corner when Im hunting with you, PA.

 

Day 8

Packed up, dropped meat off at Camp Verde, and then BOOM again of another kind

 

Three hours later we were eating like kings a little fresh back strap that I know PA enjoyed as well.

[firstcoueswas80]

Way to stick with it. Surprised that elk so many bullets but major kudos pumping lead into him until he was dead.

 

I know what you mean by getting emotional thinking about grandpa being there with you... Had the same thing happen to me when I killed my lion.

[HUNTnTAT2]

Awesome adventure! Great pics and congrats. Nothing like getting it done w family!

[lucky2hunt]

Way to hang tough! Congrats on your success!

[JLW]

that's what it's all about!

way to hang in there and get some meat in the freezer!!

 

James

[cramerhunts]

Way to stick with it and end your great hunt on a good note. Congratulations!

[Anaconda]

Congrats 6A, looks like some good eating !

[kennyazman]

Very cool! Looks delicious.

[bigorange]

Awesome write-up and a good eating spike. This one will always be very special to you...thanks for sharing.

[bowhunter81]

Congrats! 6a was tough this year, a true story of the freedoms we enjoy as hunters to take any size animal we choose. I love this story, makes me think of my grandpa and his pa who passed down the ethics of hunting for future generations to come. I'm sure your pa was smiling down on you! Great story

[randyolson]

That's awesome!! Congrats! Thanks for sharing that!!

[bonecollector]

Awesome story and pics. Way to hang in there and fill your tag in honor of your pa.

[trophyhnter]

Great writeup and congrats on your trophy. Your grandfather was definately there with you and your family!

[Pine Donkey]

Great story, thanks for posting!

[CouesWhitetail]

Congratulations, that's some great looking meat! I am sure you PA would have been proud!