thegunsmith2506 Report post Posted October 2, 2013 Well to say I was excited to draw this tag with my best friend would be an understatment. Last year we had plans to hunt his Unit 8 archery bull together, but he was deployed before his hunt started. I thought this year we would finally get to hunt elk together. I was wrong... In June we learned that he would again be deployed during the hunt. Not knowing who would be available to help me on my hunt, I called my dad. As always, he was up for the adventure. Wednesday befor the hunt we headed up after work to set up camp. That night was too windy to do much so after a quick dinner we went to bed. Thursday we got in a little scouting before the wind got too bad. My buddy Jason headed up that afternoon and must have brought some wet weather with him. Shortly after he arrived in camp it started to rain. All night it rained on and off. Finally!!! 4am Friday and we were up and brewing coffee. Everything was wet so we loaded up the muzzy and wrapped the barrell with tape to keep the rain out. At 5:23 we piled into Jason's jeep and headed to our favorite spot. We arrived at our parking spot at 6:03 am. As we gathered our gear we knew this would be a great morning. Bulls were scraming all around us. Our quick prayer before we started out was inturepted by several bugles. I headed out on my normal trail with high hopes. Just a few yards in Jason convinced me that we needed to check out a bugle that sounded really close. With the wind in our face, we headed up the ridge towards the closest bugle. After about 200yds I realized we were going too slow. The wind picked up, and we picked up the pace. A few minutes later I eased over the top of the ridge and there he was. A big 5pt bull running back and forth screaming his head off. I saw a few cows about 125yds below me and set up on the shooting sticks. It was thick. I couldnt get a clear shot. After a few minutes Jason finally convinced me to move to our right into a small saddle. Just as we made it to the saddle my dad and Jason were pointing down into the brush. I moved to a big pine and set up the gun again. I couldn't see anything, but that is when the whole hillside came alive. Elk were running everywhere. Instinct took over as a big cow stopped in a shooting lane 80yds below me. Up came the gun, checked for horns, and dropped the crosshairs to her shoulder. BOOM! Too much smoke to see, so I look back at my dad. He is looking through the binos, so I look back at Jason. He is shaking his head. Nothing! Shoot again. What!? I was sure it was a hit! Now in a panic I set the gun on the ground and start to reload. As I do this, I look down the hill where I shot and see 4 hooves up in the air. I look back at my Dad and Jason and tell them it was a hit and she is down. I guess we were all looking at different elk. We make our way down the hill 80yds and there she is. Dropped in her tracks Now what? Jason walks down the hill and finds a loging road about 50yds away. We are in Luck! After the pictures I look at the time and it is 6:45. A 40min hunt and it was over. Some slick manuvering by Jason and we had the Jeep backed up the hill 50yds from the elk.It took us 2 hours to load her in the jeep, but at 9am we were back on the road headed to camp. At 1pm we had all the meat on ice and could finally relax. I really couldn't have done this without the help of my dad and Jason. Nothing better than a great hunt with family anf friends. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest wdenike Report post Posted October 2, 2013 WOW!!!! All I can see is her on a plate with taters and gravy!!!! Nice job, and with your dad ta boot. Hope your buddy stays safe!! Take care, Willie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lucky2hunt Report post Posted October 2, 2013 Nicely done! Congrats!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted October 2, 2013 Way to get it done and in quick fashion, Congrats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cvw789 Report post Posted October 2, 2013 Congrats she should eat good Cole Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ccran Report post Posted October 2, 2013 Thats good eaten right there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
More D Report post Posted October 2, 2013 you wernt kidding...you put the cow IN the jeep! congrats!! More D 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
out2hunt Report post Posted October 2, 2013 Best use of space ever!!!! Congrats on a great time! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flatlander Report post Posted October 3, 2013 Awesome pics (except for the U of A hat). Congrats on a good time. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Old Buck Report post Posted October 3, 2013 Good story and a nice elk. Looks like it was Hart shot! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HUNTnTAT2 Report post Posted October 4, 2013 Conrats. Love unit 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m77 Report post Posted October 4, 2013 Nice. Seasoning and a hot grill is all you need now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt Meyer Report post Posted October 5, 2013 Great story. Congrats and enjoy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
