colorado 08

[wetwader]

Had a great hunt this past archery season. Family and friends in the rocky's for 7 days, doesn't get much better than that.

[Tenpoint]

Awsome elk, nice work.

Tenpoint

[DocHolladay]

Great bull. Got a story about the hunt??

[NYBuckhunter]

Very nice!

[Kaiser Hirsch]

Awesome...can't wait till the day I get one...
KH

[wetwader]

Here is the story of the hunt. Hunting public land that we were lucky enough to get a draw for. Try to make it an every other year deal with my Dad and brother. This year we also had my cousin and one of my best friends for their first trip ever. Usually we hunt the first week and did this year but with the season pushed back was my first experience hearing bugling. Anyway the 5 th day of the hunt we had already had a couple of close encounters. That afternnon while hunting had a smaller 6 by 6 to within 9 yards but on the other side of a big tree with no shot. Met up my dad about 20 minutes later and we decided to keep hunting back towards camp. Got on a 2 bulls that were bugling back and forth but no shots taken. Did get to with in 30 yards of one and was able to watch him bugle but once again no clean shot. He walked away and with light fading and a ravine between me and him (and another bull that we had heard previously heard that always seemed to chuckle after a couple of bugles) I decided to call it a night. On the way down the mountain towards the groups meeting point I turned on my radio to find out that my cousin had killed a 5 by 5 that afternoon and we had some work ahead of us.By the way this was the first kill of any kind for my cousin so we were all pumped. We decided to pack out his elk the next morning so after we had gotten his elk out and to the processor a couple of us hit the mountain again. I decided to go to where I had heard chuckles the afternoon before. It was right above were our group meeting spot was and since we were a little late getting back there I figured why not. As I head up the mountain one of the many things that came to mind was "what if we have been walking past chuckles all week long. No sign of elk anywhere with in sight for the first 2 hours up the mountain and I start thinking was this a big mistake. Start working the the left side of the ridge towards the ravine were I had heard him previously when I hear something break about 100 yards up the mountain. Start hitting a little bit of sign but very old and figured a squirrel was playing tricks on me. Eased probably another 100 yards and found a GOOD trail paralleling the mountain. Took a left (towards the ravine) eased 40-50 yards and BAM, a tan school bus 20 yards up the mountain on the other side of some thick brush. He had not seen me and the wind was good, he was rubbing a tree and my heart was hitting the bush 3 feet in front of me so I crouched down and got an arrow ready. For probably 3 minutes he rubbed his horns and marked the area. I actually had enough time to calm down and watch him which is success in itself for me. So if he walks to the right no shot but maybe I can keep up with him until a shot presents itself or if he walks to theleft nothing but air. HE walks to the right of course about 20 yards and now he is about 10 yards straight up hill from me with no shot. The wind is still good and I am debating whether to move if he keeps going or what. The next I know he turns around walks to the left and into the opening about 15 yards away and THUMP. Arrow behind his shoulder and he takes off and I am not far behind. I run as long as I hear him running and then a CRASH!!!! No way, he is DOWN 40-50 yards from where I shot him. He struggles for a short time to get up and then he passes. It is only after I raise my head from thanking God for this opportunity that I realize where I am. I see old marking tape that looks familiar. My elk fell with in 10 yards from where my Dad's elk had fallen a couple of years prior. I do believe this is the most I have typed in my life by the way. Anyway, Still think about it daily and get chills. Sorry for the length but I got a little excited while reliving the moment. Good luck to all this season and in the future.

[DocHolladay]

Great story and thanks for sharing it.

[david stepich]

Congrats on the bull. And thanks for shareing the story with us.

[Bowhunters]

Congratulations on the great bull, also great to hear of a family that hunts together.