idgaf Report post Posted November 11, 2019 Yesterday may have been my best day elk hunting ever and I did not fire a shot. If you guys are use to me posting pics of stuff that isnt seen very often this is the post for you. Over 60+ branch antlered bulls seen. a group with 36 bulls and bugling like it was the peak of the rut. It started off with a late start but not horribly, I look off to the open field to my right and see four branched bulls. I roll pass them by a few hundred yards get my bow and look to the other side of the road and 113 yards away are two more branched bulls. I try to walk up to them, but they werent having it and take off. second group on the skyline I go back after the first group and they high tail it across the plains like a cheetah was after them. I follow thinking they will stop eventually, taking only my bow and camera thinking I would be going for only a bit. I get to an overlook (hard breath taking hike) I see the two bulls above, but cant find the original four bulls. I look to my left and I think I see a herd of cow elk and at the distance I was at I thought the first four joined the cows (seeing some with antlers). I put my glasses up and I see they are all bulls, so I start wondering where did the first four bulls go. I find them and then I am in interesting juxtaposition. I have 20+ bulls in three different directions, which ones do I go after. after some debate, I decide on the ones with the most and best wind. The herd to my left a little after I first saw them I make a surprisingly hard climb to get to where I think they are going to bed and I look over and in the distance 20+ more bulls. Its like Bulltopia. Bulls as far as the eye can see. These bulls are to my left and have me pinned. They are making a racket with there sparring. Enter Elliot the Elk. I'm staying put taking pics and figuring out where they are headed. I see a smaller 5x6 headed my way. and few 320-330 class bulls just in front of him. a few bulls disappear and I dont really notice where they went. I think they are headed to the main herd but I was wrong. Elliot one of the bulls that disappeared headed right towards me. I have him 60 facing me and he has no idea Im there. I need him to drop to 45 for me feel comfortable with a straight forward shot. I drop to my knees and wait, snapping a couple of pics and grabbing an arrow. As I wait, elliot steps between me and my intended target. Flashback to my strip hunt. I am absolutely not shooting until elliot is clear. after a five or ten minute standoff, the tingling in my right leg is getting extreme. Elliot knows something is not right, he is about 40 yards from me and his warning bark rattles my cellulite. I dont move. he twitches his head and I think I can readjust my now numb leg. He startles, scares the bull I want to shoot and the little guy behind. He circles around and stops at 50, I pull back out of anger and was going to take elliot but change my mind at the last moment. there is nothing like the sound of 36 bull elk stampeding. I watch the direction they go and decided to go after them after lunch. On my way back I remember I left 6 bulls on the south side of the hill. Just then I hear the primal scream of a couple bulls sounding off. I figure 'well I am already here.' and go after them. They sound off every few minutes I get close than I see antlers and about 50 cows. Stampede 2 for the day. I follow and get close enough to go into stealth mode. one of the bulls from the herd with cows. there were about ten branch bulls total with the group. I end up about four miles from the truck, no water. I leave looking at bulls across the field. Great Morning. the afternoon I park 1.25 miles from where I think the bulls went. after some classing I find a couple. I make nearly a great stalk but the bulls moved to the opposite side of the bedding area and I blow five more bulls out of the country. I sit on tree stump have a drink and enjoy the view. I put my camera next to me before I walk back. I leave and .25 miles from that I remember I left my camera at that spot. I drop my pack and bow and jog back to get it. as I am on my way back I see this. Murphys law biting me in my butt. They play tag with me until I get to my bow then the wind shifts and it's bye felicia headed out again in a few minutes. Than two painful days in phoenix so my boss can see me at the office and Ill be back at. GREAT DAY 18 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NOTAGS Report post Posted November 11, 2019 HOLY CRAP! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Delw Report post Posted November 11, 2019 Never disappointed in your posts and pics. They are always f'ing awsum. in your deer post and this one you proved what most hunters would call bullshit and you have pictures to back it up. Better not answer your emails, phone or pms cause you going to have a bunch of escouters as well as guides hounding you. awsum pics!!!!!!!!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
creed_az_88 Report post Posted November 11, 2019 This hunt just got harder to draw. 😬 5 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Delw Report post Posted November 15, 2019 Cool vid. that squirrel running just infront of the bull didnt ever get noticed by the elk. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
idgaf Report post Posted November 15, 2019 Productive Morning. I'll get for serious this afternoon and weekend. Headed to a place this morning where I left the large bull in an open field the night before season. He's back and has nine friends. I know where I will be this evening. the first "little guy" I see. Apologies for the quality of the pics, it was right at first light. The group of nine bulls. The big guy is in the trees going to bedding area. Where they went and where I will be going this afternoon 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigbuckfever Report post Posted November 16, 2019 Once again you have me on the edge of my seat. Can't wait for more. Thanks for sharing Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
idgaf Report post Posted November 16, 2019 Screwed the pooch twice this morning! Once on a very large bull that I had at less than 30 and even worse on a MTN lion that saw me before I saw him at less than 50. Pics to follow this evening 5 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flatlander Report post Posted November 16, 2019 21 minutes ago, idgaf said: Screwed the pooch twice this morning! Once on a very large bull that I had at less than 30 and even worse on a MTN lion that saw me before I saw him at less than 50. Pics to follow this evening And I am stuck working in the yard. Keep us updated Fred! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
idgaf Report post Posted November 17, 2019 Today hurt on several levels. Ive been sick so my food intake for the last couple of days has consisted of a bowl of frosted wheats (yesterday) and three little debbie oatmeal cakes. Couple that with a 1.85 mile to get to bulltopia and my energy has been sucked from my body. It didn't disappoint. I get there and with a minute or two I find these bulls. The herd was split up in four groups 'only' around 25 bulls total that I counted. I see a group below and I take cover. I'm watching them then I notice big deep forks feeding my way, I range the tree next to him and its 40 yards. I wait for him to turn broadside, thinking You know I can put the arrow through his antlers and into his spine. I wait. He starts feeding to my left (I'm behind a burned ponderosa) now under 30 yards with two other full sized bulls to the right. I step out and pull back he catches my movement and bolts causing a mini stampede of 13 bulls Guess which bull I was drawing back on. There group headed to the main herd and I follow in the trees. There's a couple of giants in the group. I head to the main group and I get to a point and I look to my right a bit and there is MTN Lion less than 50 yards away. I grab an arrow and try to do my best Legalos impression for Lord Of the Rings. He wasnt having it and bounced away. I reach what I think is the front of the group, But I was 85 yards on the wrong side of the group (very bad wind) they move into the baby aspens where it is to noisy to go after them. I gave up kinda early because I just didnt have the energy. Ive got the pattern now and barring any operator error on my part or outside influences (a couple of other hunters have found bulltopia as well and they drive there diesel into the middle of it) tomorrow will be an exciting day oh for you cow lovers 97 in this group that I counted. 9 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Delw Report post Posted November 17, 2019 Aswum pics as always. good luck to you. sucks about the lion Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flatlander Report post Posted November 17, 2019 Hopefully you are right in the middle of them right now! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
idgaf Report post Posted November 17, 2019 5 hours ago, Flatlander said: Hopefully you are right in the middle of them right now! 5 hours ago, Flatlander said: Hopefully you are right in the middle of them right now! Another plot twist this one is epic no matter the outcome 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
