RUTTIN
Veteran member
Great job JJ, I know how you feel in that one picture, congrats on a great bull!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
****2014 Elk Story with photos contest entry thread***
- Thread starter 25contender
- Start date
Bonecollector
Veteran member
libidilatimmy
Veteran member
Hilltop
Veteran member
Well written- enjoyed the read jjenness. I have experienced just how far an elk can go with one lung hit myself. They are extraordinary animals for sure. Thanks for sharing your story.
Roamer
Member
Good story jj and a great bull. Their toughness and will to live still amaze me even after 40 yrs of chasen em.
Congratulations to your daughter as well. Thanks for the story.
Congratulations to your daughter as well. Thanks for the story.
- Mar 20, 2013
- 1,638
- 90
Danny Plumlee
New Member
I hunted as a caller for a friend in Nevada in 2012. Neither of us had any experience with elk hunting other than what we read and watched on television. We ended up seeing a lot of animals and for two green rookies we put together a pretty good game plan. We ended up with a 40 yard shot on a nice bull and from that moment on I couldn't stop thinking about hunting my bull with a bow.
After that hunt that I decided to take my 12 bonus points and start putting in for the archery tag. I already owned a bow but I had to date never hunted with it. I knew with 12 bonus points that I would have a great shot at drawing the tag so I shifted my focus from target shooting to practical hunting shots. I practiced shooting from around trees, from my ground blind, on my knees, etc... I also started to research and learn as much as I could about hunting elk with a bow. I watched hours of videos. Practiced calling. Hit the gym. As much as I thought I prepared when I finally got the tag I felt that I still didn't know enough. I even started to question my equipment. Was my arrow heavy enough. Was my bow out of date or fast enough.
I now had limited time and a very limited budget to get ready. I ended up liquidating some of my older hunting gear including my old bow, a good pack that I miss, some older camo, a knife and some other gear. Hated doing it but I had to get ready for this basically once in a lifetime hunt in NV. I chose a Mathews HeliM with a 70# draw. It didn't take long for me to fall in love with this bow. It was so light and the back wall was so solid. My old bow was heavy and probably an inch too long of a draw for me. I also decided to change to a heavier arrow and a 125gn broadhead. I chose the Easton Axis Carbon Infused arrow and a G5 Montec 3 blade broadhead. I chose this combination based on reading reviews and of course bang for the buck. I decided to switch my camo to Kings Camo in a desert shadow pattern. All my other camo was basically for cold weather hunting. The kings I ordered was more appropriate for the hot hunt plus I think the pattern fit the Nevada high desert. I heard that scent prevention was very important so I decided for really the first time to use some type of scent blocker. I ended up deciding on Dead Downwind scent blocker. I was reluctant to spend the extra money on good game bags but decided caring for the meat was really important so Alaskan game bags is what I settled on. I carried a Primos bugle, hoochie mama and lip service. I already had redhead boots, readhead pack, Vortex Talon HD 10x42 binos and Vortex Ranger 1000 rangefinder.
My game plan for this hunt was to spot and stalk bulls in the mornings and sit a wallow in the evenings. I decided that i could afford to venture miles into the wilderness while there was light but I didn't want to be caught too far from camp in the dark. I had my wallow picked out and I knew bulls were in the area. I got off work at 4pm, stopped by the house to load up my gear then set out for a 4 hour drive. I ended up pulling up to my camp site around 10pm. My season was already 10 days in and I had 11 more to go. I was prepared to stay there the rest of the season if I had to. Setting up my tent and camp took a little over an hour. I finally climed into my sleeping bag around midnight. It was very hard to get a good nights sleep. Bulls were bugling all night.
Next morning I was on a bull early. Because they were being so vocal, I didn't have to do any locating bugles. I stalked to 150 yards of a nice bull. We were separated by a sage field. He was on the side of one hill and I was on the side of another. I knew I couldn't get to him without being noticed. I got a few glimpses of him going between trees and decided he might not be a shooter. I decided to see if I could get him to come closer and would decide if he was a shooter then. I climbed behind one of the last thick pine trees where I could still keep an eye on him. Pulled out my cow call and gave him what I though was a come and get it series of mews. He bolted out from the trees and into the opening but held up around 80 yards. He stared right at the tree I was in and started to bark... I stayed quiet and still. He was better than I had originally thought and if he gave me the opportunity I would surely put an arrow in him. The barking never stopped. He knew something wasn't right and he moved back into the trees. He continued to bark for at least 20 minutes. I knew it was over and moved on.... This is when I wished I had a caller a 60 yards behind me.
Any way to make a long story short. I stuck my bull on the second evening over water. That afternoon I sprayed myself down with the scent blocker and hiked into the spring. I was using my friends ground blind and I crawled into it around 3pm. I ranged everything then the wait was on. About 6:30 this bull presents himself head on. He knows something isn't right but still comes straight into the water. He looks directly at the blind as I am crouched down out of sight. I have no shot at this point. My heart is racing. My mind is going 100 mph. I try to calm myself down and draw up a plan. I decided that as soon as he stops drinking and turns to exit he should present a 30 yard shot. He drinks for what seems like an eternity then quickly snatches his head up and stares at the blind. Then returns to drinking. Does this several times. Each time I think I'm busted, but then he just starts to drink again. When he takes his last drink he lifts his head then looks right, then left. I knew he was finished drinking so I positioned myself for a shot from my knees. He took two slow steps to his left which gave me an opening to draw and a slightly quartering away shot. I let the arrow fly and saw it hit and bury to the fletchings. He ran to about 50 yards as I loaded another arrow, he turned and stopped at 60 yards wondering what just happened. I let another fly and hit him again then he bolted up the hill. I knew he wouldn't last long so but was taught not to push. I waited an hour to start tracking. I found half of my first arrow covered in blood. Tracked about 60 yards from last hit and I heard him stomp and move around a little. I backed out for another 1.5 hours then came back and found him expired right where I last heard him. Only about 100 yards from first shot.
I was solo so this is when I realized how huge these animals are. I really underestimated the amount of work I had to do at this point. I was torn with how to process this huge beast. I thought I'd just gut him like a deer but decided against that when I couldn't even move him a foot. It's still very hot out so I knew I had to get that skin off and get the meat cooled as soon as possible. I opted for the gutless method of quartering him out. I figured I had watched the video enough that I should be able to do it. I have to admit it was probably the right choice because the next morning the carcass was covered in flies and getting really warm. I ended up getting finished quartering and packed out by 8 am. I did take a break and small nap from 2am-5am. My friend showed up around 10 to help me load it into his truck and we were off to the meat locker and taxidermist.
This was my first Elk ever and my first archery harvest. Green scored by taxidermist 364-5/8 gross.
After that hunt that I decided to take my 12 bonus points and start putting in for the archery tag. I already owned a bow but I had to date never hunted with it. I knew with 12 bonus points that I would have a great shot at drawing the tag so I shifted my focus from target shooting to practical hunting shots. I practiced shooting from around trees, from my ground blind, on my knees, etc... I also started to research and learn as much as I could about hunting elk with a bow. I watched hours of videos. Practiced calling. Hit the gym. As much as I thought I prepared when I finally got the tag I felt that I still didn't know enough. I even started to question my equipment. Was my arrow heavy enough. Was my bow out of date or fast enough.
I now had limited time and a very limited budget to get ready. I ended up liquidating some of my older hunting gear including my old bow, a good pack that I miss, some older camo, a knife and some other gear. Hated doing it but I had to get ready for this basically once in a lifetime hunt in NV. I chose a Mathews HeliM with a 70# draw. It didn't take long for me to fall in love with this bow. It was so light and the back wall was so solid. My old bow was heavy and probably an inch too long of a draw for me. I also decided to change to a heavier arrow and a 125gn broadhead. I chose the Easton Axis Carbon Infused arrow and a G5 Montec 3 blade broadhead. I chose this combination based on reading reviews and of course bang for the buck. I decided to switch my camo to Kings Camo in a desert shadow pattern. All my other camo was basically for cold weather hunting. The kings I ordered was more appropriate for the hot hunt plus I think the pattern fit the Nevada high desert. I heard that scent prevention was very important so I decided for really the first time to use some type of scent blocker. I ended up deciding on Dead Downwind scent blocker. I was reluctant to spend the extra money on good game bags but decided caring for the meat was really important so Alaskan game bags is what I settled on. I carried a Primos bugle, hoochie mama and lip service. I already had redhead boots, readhead pack, Vortex Talon HD 10x42 binos and Vortex Ranger 1000 rangefinder.
My game plan for this hunt was to spot and stalk bulls in the mornings and sit a wallow in the evenings. I decided that i could afford to venture miles into the wilderness while there was light but I didn't want to be caught too far from camp in the dark. I had my wallow picked out and I knew bulls were in the area. I got off work at 4pm, stopped by the house to load up my gear then set out for a 4 hour drive. I ended up pulling up to my camp site around 10pm. My season was already 10 days in and I had 11 more to go. I was prepared to stay there the rest of the season if I had to. Setting up my tent and camp took a little over an hour. I finally climed into my sleeping bag around midnight. It was very hard to get a good nights sleep. Bulls were bugling all night.
Next morning I was on a bull early. Because they were being so vocal, I didn't have to do any locating bugles. I stalked to 150 yards of a nice bull. We were separated by a sage field. He was on the side of one hill and I was on the side of another. I knew I couldn't get to him without being noticed. I got a few glimpses of him going between trees and decided he might not be a shooter. I decided to see if I could get him to come closer and would decide if he was a shooter then. I climbed behind one of the last thick pine trees where I could still keep an eye on him. Pulled out my cow call and gave him what I though was a come and get it series of mews. He bolted out from the trees and into the opening but held up around 80 yards. He stared right at the tree I was in and started to bark... I stayed quiet and still. He was better than I had originally thought and if he gave me the opportunity I would surely put an arrow in him. The barking never stopped. He knew something wasn't right and he moved back into the trees. He continued to bark for at least 20 minutes. I knew it was over and moved on.... This is when I wished I had a caller a 60 yards behind me.
Any way to make a long story short. I stuck my bull on the second evening over water. That afternoon I sprayed myself down with the scent blocker and hiked into the spring. I was using my friends ground blind and I crawled into it around 3pm. I ranged everything then the wait was on. About 6:30 this bull presents himself head on. He knows something isn't right but still comes straight into the water. He looks directly at the blind as I am crouched down out of sight. I have no shot at this point. My heart is racing. My mind is going 100 mph. I try to calm myself down and draw up a plan. I decided that as soon as he stops drinking and turns to exit he should present a 30 yard shot. He drinks for what seems like an eternity then quickly snatches his head up and stares at the blind. Then returns to drinking. Does this several times. Each time I think I'm busted, but then he just starts to drink again. When he takes his last drink he lifts his head then looks right, then left. I knew he was finished drinking so I positioned myself for a shot from my knees. He took two slow steps to his left which gave me an opening to draw and a slightly quartering away shot. I let the arrow fly and saw it hit and bury to the fletchings. He ran to about 50 yards as I loaded another arrow, he turned and stopped at 60 yards wondering what just happened. I let another fly and hit him again then he bolted up the hill. I knew he wouldn't last long so but was taught not to push. I waited an hour to start tracking. I found half of my first arrow covered in blood. Tracked about 60 yards from last hit and I heard him stomp and move around a little. I backed out for another 1.5 hours then came back and found him expired right where I last heard him. Only about 100 yards from first shot.
I was solo so this is when I realized how huge these animals are. I really underestimated the amount of work I had to do at this point. I was torn with how to process this huge beast. I thought I'd just gut him like a deer but decided against that when I couldn't even move him a foot. It's still very hot out so I knew I had to get that skin off and get the meat cooled as soon as possible. I opted for the gutless method of quartering him out. I figured I had watched the video enough that I should be able to do it. I have to admit it was probably the right choice because the next morning the carcass was covered in flies and getting really warm. I ended up getting finished quartering and packed out by 8 am. I did take a break and small nap from 2am-5am. My friend showed up around 10 to help me load it into his truck and we were off to the meat locker and taxidermist.
This was my first Elk ever and my first archery harvest. Green scored by taxidermist 364-5/8 gross.
Hilltop
Veteran member
Thanks Danny for sharing your story! What an amazing first archery harvest... Most guys will never have the opportunity to take an elk like this.
RICMIC
Veteran member
I always say that it's better to be lucky than good. You clearly had both working for you on this hunt. Great story.
RUTTIN
Veteran member
mnhoundman
Veteran member
Congrats, that is awesome! Sounds like you are a pro and hooked for life, great story. Thanks for sharing!
Roamer
Member
Fastphin
New Member
Thanks for sharing your story. Planning to hunt solo and reading your story just hit home on the task before me.
Family, Friends and Elk Hunting
As we were peering through our spotting scopes overlooking a large sage flat, we finally found a bull worth a closer look. The only problem was that he was two miles away and our prime hunting time was dwindling. We knew we had to cover ground fast to get an opportunity. By the time we were within a half mile, it was 10am and the elk were bedded down in the trees. We still had not confirmed if the bull we spotted from two miles away was one that I wanted to notch my long awaited tag for. After a second stalk, we glimpsed the herd in the trees but still couldn’t see the large bull. It became a waiting game, hoping we could get a better view of the bull when he got up to feed. After watching the herd for an hour, they ran to the middle of an open meadow. Unfortunately, it seemed they had winded us and spooked. The herd stood there for what seemed like forever looking around, trying to pinpoint us. It was during that time that I made the decision that if the herd bull gave me a shot, I would take it. Finally, the herd began to mill around and the herd bull walked out of a smaller group of cows and provided me with a shot. It was now or never as I steadied the 7mm.
This hunt started many years ago when my best friend and hunting partner Jim Brown and I had drawn this same tag. On that hunt, we were both lucky enough to notch our tags with great bulls. After that, we were unable to draw another limited draw Utah elk tag. We hunted the general season year after year, but it seemed we could not draw another coveted, premium tag.
Last year, my son Garrett was lucky enough to finally draw the same unit I had drawn years ago. Due to his college schedule, finding enough time to plan and execute a successful hunt proved to be difficult. I had arrived four days before the hunt to do some scouting. I spotted two huge bulls in a remote meadow and sat on them for three days. I figured his opening day hunt was going to be short and sweet and he was going to fill his first elk tag with one of these large bulls. Little did I know, I was not the only one watching these bulls. As Garrett and I hiked into the meadow in the dark, we heard the sound of four-wheelers coming in our direction. As you could guess, we never did see the bulls again and after three hard days of hunting, Garrett had to return to school in Montana. We returned on Friday and quickly found a herd with some decent bulls. Later that afternoon he had his first bull on the ground.
Fast forward one year- as the draw results were getting close, I was keeping a keen eye on my credit card account. When I saw the exact dollar amount of a non-resident Utah elk tag hit my credit card, I knew it was time to start planning and preparing for my hunt. My best friend, Jim Brown, had the exact cost of a resident elk tag hit his card. We knew then that we both had drawn Utah elk tags this year! Jim is a traditional muzzleloader hunter and his hunt started in September. We had a great hunt and the bugle season was in full swing. Jim filled his muzzleloader tag with a great six point bull. Now I had a few months to wait for my late season hunt. After watching Jim fill his tag, November took forever to get here.
Again, I arrived on the Tuesday before the season opened to scout the area. I had talked to Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, local hunters, and hunters from the earlier seasons in my unit. They all gave me good information but it was up to me to decide where to hunt. I decided to start my scouting trip in the same area that my son Garrett had killed his bull the year before. I had hoped to find the same two big bulls I had seen the previous year, but they were nowhere to be found. I found a few decent elk, but none that were special enough to put my long-awaited tag on. I knew that after this hunt, I had a five year wait before I could even begin putting again in for another premium tag, and the time it would take to draw one of those tags on top of that. This could be my last Utah limited draw elk tag for some time.
My daughter Janell and her boyfriend Tate headed south from Montana and met us in camp to help out on the hunt. Opening morning found us hiking in the dark to get a look at some bulls we had spotted two or three miles away the day before. We had heard there was a huge 380 class bull spotted earlier in the season in that area. By the time we got to their location, we found we were not the only ones watching these bulls and some other hunters had beat us “ again” by using four-wheelers to get into the area. After an eight mile hike that day and no shooters, I made the decision to take another look at the area my son had taken his bull the year before.
We got to experience a beautiful Utah sunrise as we scanned for elk on all the surrounding mountains. Tate and Jim had their eyes glued to spotting scopes and both had found a bull they thought deserved a closer look. It was a two mile hike and we knew we had to move fast before the sun got too high and the elk disappeared into the timber.
As we return to the beginning of this story Jim, Tate, and I hiked in close enough for a shot .My daughter Nell stayed about a mile away and watched through the spotting scope. I had her custom Remington 700 rifle topped with a Vortex scope. She had bedded the action and hand loaded the ammo that I was about to use .She had spent many hours on the bench getting the rifle dialed in. She wanted me to take my elk with “her” rifle. As Jim and Tate watched through their binoculars, and my daughter watched through her spotting scope, I squeezed the two pound trigger on the 7mm. The muzzle brake kicked up dust and I lost sight of the bull. As I looked back through the scope, I could see one side of the bull’s antlers sticking up in the sage. My bull was down! Jim, Tate and Nellie had all watched him fall through their optics. The easy part was over, and now the “real fun” would start.
Tate hiked back to get Nellie and the pack frames as Jim and I hiked to my bull. The closer I got I knew that I had taken the bull I came for. Fortunately for me, there was no ground shrinkage! I had my best friend and hunting partner Jim, my daughter Nellie and her boyfriend Tate with me. The only thing missing was my son, Garrett. We took lots of pictures and boned out the entire elk. After a long day of cutting and packing, it was well after dark when we arrived back at camp.
Jim and I broke camp and headed back to Salt Lake City. What a great season, we had both taken great Utah elk and spent another season hunting together. Family and friends (a priority in my life) and oh yes, elk hunting too!
As we were peering through our spotting scopes overlooking a large sage flat, we finally found a bull worth a closer look. The only problem was that he was two miles away and our prime hunting time was dwindling. We knew we had to cover ground fast to get an opportunity. By the time we were within a half mile, it was 10am and the elk were bedded down in the trees. We still had not confirmed if the bull we spotted from two miles away was one that I wanted to notch my long awaited tag for. After a second stalk, we glimpsed the herd in the trees but still couldn’t see the large bull. It became a waiting game, hoping we could get a better view of the bull when he got up to feed. After watching the herd for an hour, they ran to the middle of an open meadow. Unfortunately, it seemed they had winded us and spooked. The herd stood there for what seemed like forever looking around, trying to pinpoint us. It was during that time that I made the decision that if the herd bull gave me a shot, I would take it. Finally, the herd began to mill around and the herd bull walked out of a smaller group of cows and provided me with a shot. It was now or never as I steadied the 7mm.
This hunt started many years ago when my best friend and hunting partner Jim Brown and I had drawn this same tag. On that hunt, we were both lucky enough to notch our tags with great bulls. After that, we were unable to draw another limited draw Utah elk tag. We hunted the general season year after year, but it seemed we could not draw another coveted, premium tag.
Last year, my son Garrett was lucky enough to finally draw the same unit I had drawn years ago. Due to his college schedule, finding enough time to plan and execute a successful hunt proved to be difficult. I had arrived four days before the hunt to do some scouting. I spotted two huge bulls in a remote meadow and sat on them for three days. I figured his opening day hunt was going to be short and sweet and he was going to fill his first elk tag with one of these large bulls. Little did I know, I was not the only one watching these bulls. As Garrett and I hiked into the meadow in the dark, we heard the sound of four-wheelers coming in our direction. As you could guess, we never did see the bulls again and after three hard days of hunting, Garrett had to return to school in Montana. We returned on Friday and quickly found a herd with some decent bulls. Later that afternoon he had his first bull on the ground.
Fast forward one year- as the draw results were getting close, I was keeping a keen eye on my credit card account. When I saw the exact dollar amount of a non-resident Utah elk tag hit my credit card, I knew it was time to start planning and preparing for my hunt. My best friend, Jim Brown, had the exact cost of a resident elk tag hit his card. We knew then that we both had drawn Utah elk tags this year! Jim is a traditional muzzleloader hunter and his hunt started in September. We had a great hunt and the bugle season was in full swing. Jim filled his muzzleloader tag with a great six point bull. Now I had a few months to wait for my late season hunt. After watching Jim fill his tag, November took forever to get here.
Again, I arrived on the Tuesday before the season opened to scout the area. I had talked to Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, local hunters, and hunters from the earlier seasons in my unit. They all gave me good information but it was up to me to decide where to hunt. I decided to start my scouting trip in the same area that my son Garrett had killed his bull the year before. I had hoped to find the same two big bulls I had seen the previous year, but they were nowhere to be found. I found a few decent elk, but none that were special enough to put my long-awaited tag on. I knew that after this hunt, I had a five year wait before I could even begin putting again in for another premium tag, and the time it would take to draw one of those tags on top of that. This could be my last Utah limited draw elk tag for some time.
My daughter Janell and her boyfriend Tate headed south from Montana and met us in camp to help out on the hunt. Opening morning found us hiking in the dark to get a look at some bulls we had spotted two or three miles away the day before. We had heard there was a huge 380 class bull spotted earlier in the season in that area. By the time we got to their location, we found we were not the only ones watching these bulls and some other hunters had beat us “ again” by using four-wheelers to get into the area. After an eight mile hike that day and no shooters, I made the decision to take another look at the area my son had taken his bull the year before.
We got to experience a beautiful Utah sunrise as we scanned for elk on all the surrounding mountains. Tate and Jim had their eyes glued to spotting scopes and both had found a bull they thought deserved a closer look. It was a two mile hike and we knew we had to move fast before the sun got too high and the elk disappeared into the timber.
As we return to the beginning of this story Jim, Tate, and I hiked in close enough for a shot .My daughter Nell stayed about a mile away and watched through the spotting scope. I had her custom Remington 700 rifle topped with a Vortex scope. She had bedded the action and hand loaded the ammo that I was about to use .She had spent many hours on the bench getting the rifle dialed in. She wanted me to take my elk with “her” rifle. As Jim and Tate watched through their binoculars, and my daughter watched through her spotting scope, I squeezed the two pound trigger on the 7mm. The muzzle brake kicked up dust and I lost sight of the bull. As I looked back through the scope, I could see one side of the bull’s antlers sticking up in the sage. My bull was down! Jim, Tate and Nellie had all watched him fall through their optics. The easy part was over, and now the “real fun” would start.
Tate hiked back to get Nellie and the pack frames as Jim and I hiked to my bull. The closer I got I knew that I had taken the bull I came for. Fortunately for me, there was no ground shrinkage! I had my best friend and hunting partner Jim, my daughter Nellie and her boyfriend Tate with me. The only thing missing was my son, Garrett. We took lots of pictures and boned out the entire elk. After a long day of cutting and packing, it was well after dark when we arrived back at camp.
Jim and I broke camp and headed back to Salt Lake City. What a great season, we had both taken great Utah elk and spent another season hunting together. Family and friends (a priority in my life) and oh yes, elk hunting too!
Roamer
Member
Lots of fun in 201
On May 28th my brother called and asked for my CID # so he could check the draw results. A few minutes later he called to tell me I drew. My brother has been known to try and feed me a line so I had to see for myself. So I checked and he was telling the truth. After 21 years it finally happened we drew our Colorado area 201 muzzle loader elk tags. I told Ralph and Kevin, ( I grew up next door to Ralph and graduated high school with Kevin) and finally the three of us were on our way.
I spent 3 days with Kevin, his dad and brother when they drew in 1992 and knew I had to hunt it myself. I’ve spent some time in the unit over the years so I felt like I had some idea of where I was going. My wife Dawn and I made 3 scouting trips over the summer, each time we saw more bulls and they kept getting bigger.
September finally arrived, Ralph and I headed up on the 7th to set up camp. We scouted for the next 4 days, on Wednesday we came across 3 Mexican cattle herders who didn’t speak good English but was able to find out “the big elk were on the mountain in the valley” and “in the Alamo” which later we determined means the Aspens.
Dawn arrived on the night of the 11th, Kevin and our buddy (Kirk) arrived on the 12th and it was game on.
Ralph and Kirk went into the state trust land a big Aspen patch with several parks and lots of elk. Kevin went to the North West side of Cold Springs Mountain. Opening day found Dawn and I easing across the south face of Diamond Mountain, once it was light enough to see we had a big 5 point (325 ish) and half a dozen cows at 150 yards below us. He wasn’t what I was looking for so we kept going. A few minutes later we saw a 3 antlered bull all by himself. He was an ok 6 x 6, but with a 3rd antler on the inside of the right main beam. I may have shot him if he had given me the opportunity, but he wanted nothing to do with us. I bugled and cow called and he kept walking away from us.
We walked over the next ridge and could hear 5 bulls bugling. We snuck down the ridge into the bottom putting us in the middle 3 bulls above and 2 below us. I decide to bugle and got a response from the best sounding bull below us immediately. After about 10 minutes of back and forth bugles with him coming closer and moving furter away two does snuck in next to us, once they saw us they started snorting and stomping. After the does moved off the bull was about to step out at 50 yards and I felt the wind change on the back of my neck and it was over. He went up the ridge. We followed him up, but couldn’t get close.
On the way back to camp we talked to a guy bow hunting deer from Oregon. He told us about a bull he saw the day before, he had been up there for over 2 weeks and he said it was the biggest bull he had seen. We decided to roll the dice and go have a look. We drove down into the desert where he had seen the elk at the mouth of Irish Canyon. We found sign and tracks everywhere, but nothing making them.
The second day we went to Middle Mountain and bulls were bugling all over. One I had been watching was bugling above us and I really wanted to get a closer look at him. We followed him for a couple of hours and then he shut up and disappeared. Dawn had to go back to work, so I hunted with Kevin off the east side Cold Springs Mountain. He went down one draw and I went down the next draw. I didn’t hear anything or see much sign and just didn’t like the feel of it. I went back to my 4 wheeler and I went off the west side of Cold Springs Mountain toward the dessert because Dawn and I had seen a couple of nice bulls in this area during a scouting trip. Shortly after dropping off the ridge I heard a faint bugle. I grabbed my binos and found a couple of cows coming out of the timber a mile and a half away with a small bull 200 yards above them. I found a good perch and continued to glass. Several cows filtered out of the timber and 20 minutes later a nice bull followed. I wanted to get a better look so I put a ridge between us and headed their way. About half way there I popped back over to take another look. There were about 20 cows feeding up a small draw with the same small bull above them and another small 6 point behind them. The big bull was between the cows and the 6 point and bugling at him. Unfortunately I still couldn’t get a good look at the big one. They were headed toward a small patch of trees and I thought I could get there before dark. I put the trees between us and started picking em up and settin em down. I was about 25 yards from the patch of trees, the bull was bugling like mad and I thought it was going to work out perfect. Just about that time a satellite bull that I didn’t know was there blew up and ran half way out to the cows, stopped, looked back and started barking at me. They all moved off about 300 yards and started feeding away from me with 3 or 4 always looking back at me. I waited for it to get dark and snuck back out, with the bulls bugling the whole time.
When I arrived at camp Kevin and Ralph had stories of being into elk as well but no shots fired. Kevin said he was ready for a change in scenery so Monday morning found us glassing where I had left the elk the night before; unfortunately there was not an elk in sight. We dropped down to the trees. Shortly after heard a faint bugle and started heading towards it. After about a mile no more bugles, Kevin said he was going to start working his way back up. I decided to keep going across at the same elevation. I had to cross a small draw and it was loaded with elk sign. Lots of beds and several scrapes so I decided to try a bugle and I got an immediate answer, but it wasn’t very close. I put it into high gear and headed in that direction. As I closed the distance I could hear a small bull bugling as well. A little ways further I thought I heard Kevin jump into the mix. As I got closer the trees started thinning out, slowing down and looking more it wasn’t long before I spotted a couple of cows, I moved up 20 yards to a good tree. Saw more cows so I put the range finder on them and it was 160 yards.
Then I saw him, he walked through the cows and bugled, then went over and put his antlers as high into a tree as he could reach and started to scrape. It’s a good thing I didn’t have to shoot right away because I think I stopped breathing for a few seconds. I got myself under control and decided against trying to get any closer. It was fairly open between us so I decided to wait for a few and see if something good would happen. As it turned out I didn’t have to wait long. The cows started heading right at me. I was under a tree with a sage bush in front of me and the wind in my face, everything was perfect. At about 25 yards the lead cow stopped, the bull was a few yards behind her unfortunately he was right in the middle of about 20 cows. They started milling around and soon enough the cows stepped out of the way. He was quartering toward me a little; I shot and saw the bull hunch up. They moved off about 40 yards and stopped, they were looking around unsure of what just happened. 20 seconds later they took off down the ridge.
I took a minute to soak it all in. Then got out my radio to call Kevin, told him he was a nice bull and I thought I hit him good. He was on the way and I could bugle him in. I grabbed a drink and a candy bar. Then pulled out my tracking tape marked the spot, walked over to where the bull was standing marked it and started looking for blood. I found a couple of small drops, then in a few steps I found 3 more drops then nothing. I got to where the elk had stopped after the shot and tracks were all over. About that time Kevin showed up so we went back and I retraced what happened.
We started following them down the ridge and found no more blood. After about 150 yards, I told Kevin we should have found something by now. The bull must have broken away from the heard and we missed it. Kevin went 50 yards South and I went 50 yards North of the trail and we headed back up. Needless to say I was getting a little nervous by now. After 50 yards or so I stopped and pulled my lucky penny out of my pocket (my mother’s name was Penny) and I said Mom I need a little help I can’t lose this bull. I put the penny back in my pocket and started working up the ridge. A couple of minutes later I spotted antlers sticking up and then I saw them move, I moved to where I could see his chest and shot him again. He tried to get up but couldn’t. I reloaded just in case and waited for him to pass. As it turned out he had only went 100 yards. I yelled for Kevin, he wasn’t far. After my tears passed we walked over and said thank you, I put my hands on him and was blown away. I am still blown to this day. He is a long beautiful 7 x 7 with a devils tine off the right brow tine with a green gross of 365.
Ralph shot his the next day and Kevin shot his on the last day of the season. But those are stories for another day,
On May 28th my brother called and asked for my CID # so he could check the draw results. A few minutes later he called to tell me I drew. My brother has been known to try and feed me a line so I had to see for myself. So I checked and he was telling the truth. After 21 years it finally happened we drew our Colorado area 201 muzzle loader elk tags. I told Ralph and Kevin, ( I grew up next door to Ralph and graduated high school with Kevin) and finally the three of us were on our way.
I spent 3 days with Kevin, his dad and brother when they drew in 1992 and knew I had to hunt it myself. I’ve spent some time in the unit over the years so I felt like I had some idea of where I was going. My wife Dawn and I made 3 scouting trips over the summer, each time we saw more bulls and they kept getting bigger.
September finally arrived, Ralph and I headed up on the 7th to set up camp. We scouted for the next 4 days, on Wednesday we came across 3 Mexican cattle herders who didn’t speak good English but was able to find out “the big elk were on the mountain in the valley” and “in the Alamo” which later we determined means the Aspens.
Dawn arrived on the night of the 11th, Kevin and our buddy (Kirk) arrived on the 12th and it was game on.
Ralph and Kirk went into the state trust land a big Aspen patch with several parks and lots of elk. Kevin went to the North West side of Cold Springs Mountain. Opening day found Dawn and I easing across the south face of Diamond Mountain, once it was light enough to see we had a big 5 point (325 ish) and half a dozen cows at 150 yards below us. He wasn’t what I was looking for so we kept going. A few minutes later we saw a 3 antlered bull all by himself. He was an ok 6 x 6, but with a 3rd antler on the inside of the right main beam. I may have shot him if he had given me the opportunity, but he wanted nothing to do with us. I bugled and cow called and he kept walking away from us.
We walked over the next ridge and could hear 5 bulls bugling. We snuck down the ridge into the bottom putting us in the middle 3 bulls above and 2 below us. I decide to bugle and got a response from the best sounding bull below us immediately. After about 10 minutes of back and forth bugles with him coming closer and moving furter away two does snuck in next to us, once they saw us they started snorting and stomping. After the does moved off the bull was about to step out at 50 yards and I felt the wind change on the back of my neck and it was over. He went up the ridge. We followed him up, but couldn’t get close.
On the way back to camp we talked to a guy bow hunting deer from Oregon. He told us about a bull he saw the day before, he had been up there for over 2 weeks and he said it was the biggest bull he had seen. We decided to roll the dice and go have a look. We drove down into the desert where he had seen the elk at the mouth of Irish Canyon. We found sign and tracks everywhere, but nothing making them.
The second day we went to Middle Mountain and bulls were bugling all over. One I had been watching was bugling above us and I really wanted to get a closer look at him. We followed him for a couple of hours and then he shut up and disappeared. Dawn had to go back to work, so I hunted with Kevin off the east side Cold Springs Mountain. He went down one draw and I went down the next draw. I didn’t hear anything or see much sign and just didn’t like the feel of it. I went back to my 4 wheeler and I went off the west side of Cold Springs Mountain toward the dessert because Dawn and I had seen a couple of nice bulls in this area during a scouting trip. Shortly after dropping off the ridge I heard a faint bugle. I grabbed my binos and found a couple of cows coming out of the timber a mile and a half away with a small bull 200 yards above them. I found a good perch and continued to glass. Several cows filtered out of the timber and 20 minutes later a nice bull followed. I wanted to get a better look so I put a ridge between us and headed their way. About half way there I popped back over to take another look. There were about 20 cows feeding up a small draw with the same small bull above them and another small 6 point behind them. The big bull was between the cows and the 6 point and bugling at him. Unfortunately I still couldn’t get a good look at the big one. They were headed toward a small patch of trees and I thought I could get there before dark. I put the trees between us and started picking em up and settin em down. I was about 25 yards from the patch of trees, the bull was bugling like mad and I thought it was going to work out perfect. Just about that time a satellite bull that I didn’t know was there blew up and ran half way out to the cows, stopped, looked back and started barking at me. They all moved off about 300 yards and started feeding away from me with 3 or 4 always looking back at me. I waited for it to get dark and snuck back out, with the bulls bugling the whole time.
When I arrived at camp Kevin and Ralph had stories of being into elk as well but no shots fired. Kevin said he was ready for a change in scenery so Monday morning found us glassing where I had left the elk the night before; unfortunately there was not an elk in sight. We dropped down to the trees. Shortly after heard a faint bugle and started heading towards it. After about a mile no more bugles, Kevin said he was going to start working his way back up. I decided to keep going across at the same elevation. I had to cross a small draw and it was loaded with elk sign. Lots of beds and several scrapes so I decided to try a bugle and I got an immediate answer, but it wasn’t very close. I put it into high gear and headed in that direction. As I closed the distance I could hear a small bull bugling as well. A little ways further I thought I heard Kevin jump into the mix. As I got closer the trees started thinning out, slowing down and looking more it wasn’t long before I spotted a couple of cows, I moved up 20 yards to a good tree. Saw more cows so I put the range finder on them and it was 160 yards.
Then I saw him, he walked through the cows and bugled, then went over and put his antlers as high into a tree as he could reach and started to scrape. It’s a good thing I didn’t have to shoot right away because I think I stopped breathing for a few seconds. I got myself under control and decided against trying to get any closer. It was fairly open between us so I decided to wait for a few and see if something good would happen. As it turned out I didn’t have to wait long. The cows started heading right at me. I was under a tree with a sage bush in front of me and the wind in my face, everything was perfect. At about 25 yards the lead cow stopped, the bull was a few yards behind her unfortunately he was right in the middle of about 20 cows. They started milling around and soon enough the cows stepped out of the way. He was quartering toward me a little; I shot and saw the bull hunch up. They moved off about 40 yards and stopped, they were looking around unsure of what just happened. 20 seconds later they took off down the ridge.
I took a minute to soak it all in. Then got out my radio to call Kevin, told him he was a nice bull and I thought I hit him good. He was on the way and I could bugle him in. I grabbed a drink and a candy bar. Then pulled out my tracking tape marked the spot, walked over to where the bull was standing marked it and started looking for blood. I found a couple of small drops, then in a few steps I found 3 more drops then nothing. I got to where the elk had stopped after the shot and tracks were all over. About that time Kevin showed up so we went back and I retraced what happened.
We started following them down the ridge and found no more blood. After about 150 yards, I told Kevin we should have found something by now. The bull must have broken away from the heard and we missed it. Kevin went 50 yards South and I went 50 yards North of the trail and we headed back up. Needless to say I was getting a little nervous by now. After 50 yards or so I stopped and pulled my lucky penny out of my pocket (my mother’s name was Penny) and I said Mom I need a little help I can’t lose this bull. I put the penny back in my pocket and started working up the ridge. A couple of minutes later I spotted antlers sticking up and then I saw them move, I moved to where I could see his chest and shot him again. He tried to get up but couldn’t. I reloaded just in case and waited for him to pass. As it turned out he had only went 100 yards. I yelled for Kevin, he wasn’t far. After my tears passed we walked over and said thank you, I put my hands on him and was blown away. I am still blown to this day. He is a long beautiful 7 x 7 with a devils tine off the right brow tine with a green gross of 365.
Ralph shot his the next day and Kevin shot his on the last day of the season. But those are stories for another day,
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