awesome elk encounters gone sour

[ivorytip]

lets hear some stories of some awesome encounters with elk that we were unable to pull off to get the blood flowing.
last year I had a decent 5x sneak in behind me while I was trying to get a big bull to come up from across, made it with in 10 yrds of me before I heard his foot step, I turned and we locked eyes, I never had a chance to stick him.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Should be some good stories on this thread.

 

[tttoadman]

2012
Had 3 different opportunities at a herd bull and screwed it up. Poor technique, poor gear, lack of patience. It was great??!!?? After that is when I dedicated to improve myself.

 

[Musket Man]

My best elk encounters always seem to happen with a deer tag in my pocket.....LOL

 

[dustin ray]

Last year in Colorado my son and i took a friend with us come to find out he walks threw the forest like an elephant. my son calls in a nice elk to 20yds and our friend is 50yds behind him and and hangs his rangefinder on a tree that falls to the ground bye bye elk we still give him crap about it but he's good dude and we can laugh about it now.

 

[Againstthewind]

On a similar note, I was trying to move into a shooting position on a bull and watching my feet to not break any twigs I hit my head on branch and it broke like a gun shot. Bye bye Mr. bull

 

[izzy69]

Drew a tag in the gila found a bull long ways off couldn't tell how big he was so I move to get a better look. couldn't find him on my first attempt so I went back to where I spotted him he was still in the same place. When i was looking for a better route he got up to get a bite to eat and get in the shade. I could tell he was the one I wanted. when he bedded back down he was facing up the ridge he was on. Off I went to find him a second time. This time I found him but the only shot I had was a spine shot so I was going to wait for him to stand. The wind changed and before I could get my gun up he was already standing and facing me thinking he was going to bolt I rushed my shot and missed. Can't wait to get back there and try again

 

[mnhoundman]

On a similar note, I was trying to move into a shooting position on a bull and watching my feet to not break any twigs I hit my head on branch and it broke like a gun shot. Bye bye Mr. bull

Lol! Sounds like something that would happen to me.

 

[OregonJim]

My worst flub is the classic "arrow falling from the rest".

I did everything right for 40 minutes including two relocations.
Had the herd walk right in front of me at 30 yards and foolishly drew as soon as it was clear that I had out smarted the lead cow.
The herd bull had been close on the heels of the herd the whole time.

Now he decided to follow along at least 30 seconds behind. No sooner had I let down that he showed himself.
In my haste to redraw the arrow came of the rest and slipped down to the rest bracket.
Didn't even know it until I let go……. Biggest Rosie I have drawn on!!!!!!

 

[OregonJim]

Forgot to put the cell in silent one time while I was on call…….. Mr. Blacktail was about 60 yards away.
He didn't care for my ringtone!!!!!!

 

[OregonJim]

At the risk of post padding…… then there was the time I forgot my boots.
Ended up hunting in Romeo slippers in the rain.

I guess that wasn't too sour as I took a cow that day!!!!!

 

[robiland]

A few years ago I had an archery elk tag for the Manti unit in Utah. I had a bull in the bottom of a draw so I set up just off the trail behind a 5 foot pine tree. Well, he was a good 330 bull and he came right up the draw and then turned to his right and walked up a different trail and that trail came right behind me. He was at 3 yards and stopped because I was shaking so bad. I dont know whos eye were bigger, his or mine. Needless to say he ran off pretty fast!!!

 

[Hilltop]

Too many to mention....But I'll try to remember a few.

Left truck without my release one morning. Of course a bull came into easy range within minutes.
Sight pin guard slid down obscuring sight window right as I drew on one.
Peep sight tube broke as I drew once.
Realized I left cow call in the truck when I'm a good mile away in the middle of rutting bulls.
Rushed the shot....too many times to count as a teenager.

There are plenty more but I won't bore you guys with them. The reality is there are a ton of things that can go wrong so it makes it so much sweeter when it all comes together. It is so rewarding. The happy feeling you get when you watch the arrow hit its mark is indescribable to those that have never done it.

 

[ivorytip]

ive forgot my release before too, not realizing it until I went to knock an arrow on a bull

 

[libidilatimmy]

Here's a few...

We watched a BIG six point come over the top of a divide headed to feed. We set up on a meadow we were sure he'd come out on. Waited for 30-45 minutes and he never showed so we went up the ridge he was coming down to find him. Well, we met in the trail on top of the ridge at 30yds and we both looked at each other like "what in the hell are you doing here"......bull gone.

Last year stalked in on what ended up being a 350ish seven point following his growling bugles, man he was going crazy bugling about every minute it seemed like. Carefully stalked in until I saw the tips of his antlers over a little knoll where I ranged him at 53 yds. I was stuck with no cover left and posted up behind a little pine tree. I'd cow call and he'd just pick his head up for a second and go right back to feeding. As he came out into view, I drew back, but he just kept walking, even after a cow call, into the trees where he stopped to look back and then continue into the timber.

 

[Engideer]

As an overachiever, I have always liked to vary the ways that I screw up! A short list...

Had a 5x5 in on a wilderness area hunt, I have not been able to get cell service anywhere for the last 5 days, but at that moment with the bull at 30 yards, my cell phone rings, and it was my mom asking how my hunt was going.

I spent 4 hours stalking into the middle of a herd, maybe the best stalk I have ever put on a bull, and when I went to clip my relese on my string, I realized that the set screw on the head of the release had come out, and all I had on was a wrist strap.

I thought a bugle was another hunter coming in behind me on a set, worst sound I have ever heard in the woods, right up until the bull stepped around the bend of the trail, and I had not nocked an arrow.

You know, I think I'll stop there, lol, after thinking back, I am amazed I have ever shot any elk! I sure am ready to go again though!

 

[25contender]

I dont know if this qualifies as a Elk encounter gone sour. Last year while hunting I drew on a big six point four times over two weeks and was never able to get a shot off. I was either in the wrong spot, he was chasing a cow and wouldn't stop, Branches in the way, or just stayed out of range. In the mean time letting some really close shots on other bulls slip by. Finally ended up getting snowed out!! All in all I chalk it up being a great archery season even though I didn't take the one I was after.

 

[bbright]

After 5 days of chasing the elk within a 3 mile range of our spike camp 3 miles deep, my buddy and I were beat. Got back to camp 15 minutes before dark and started prepping for dinner by pumping fresh water 30 yards from camp. Look up and a cow elk is just coming up the the draw only 50 yards away and on a trail that will go 20 yards by me. She was pushed by a 280 bull right by camp. No bow and arrow within reach. Cool site and experience...but wish I'd had my bow.

 

[SansSouci]

I hunted Wyoming's Star Valley mule deer many years back. Bow season ran concurrently with rifle mule deer. I ran across a bow hunter who was from Northern California. He told me that one of his hunting buddies became physically sick after missing a huge bull.