RE: Elk Hunting Stories
2003 was my first year to experience the wonderfuladventure of elk hunting. Being the youngest and the only first timer with a group of old timers, I asked any and everything I could think of during the 18 hour drive from Arkansas to Colorado. When we finally arrived at camp,I was in awe of the beutiful landscape theat God had provided for us to enjoy.
We arrived the afternoon of opening day of archery season and quickly unloaded for an evening of scouting and hunting... AllI knew to do was tag along, watch, and listen. We saw a total of 0 elk on the first evening so I decided to strike out on my own and give it a whirl. Sunday morning, I watched as every one of my hunting buddies went to one side of the mountain to hunt, so I decided to go the opposite direction and see what I could find. After a 2 mile ride and another 1.5 mile walk, I found a beautiful ridge overlooking 2 small ponds and an oak brush meadow. I decided to sit and glass for the morning. After about 20 minutes, I saw movement in the brush, and as I focused in the area, I saw nothing but antlers at first and then the body of a beautiful 5x5 bull. WOW!!!!! I had found a bull on my first solo hunt... I decided to just sit and watch because he was too far away and I didnt want to spook him...
I returned to camp with high hope for the evening hunt... I brought a buddy with me (since they saw 0 elk once again) and we set up on opposite ends of the meadow hoping to catch him coming or going... About an hour before dark, my buddy decides to bugle hoping to get something started.. I had a PRIMOS Hoochie Mama, so I let out 2 cow calls after his bugle, and got ready. Not 2 minutes after the cow calls I thought a herd of buffalo were coming for us, but I looked up to see elk trotting across the meadow right at me!!!!! The first elk came by me @ 5 yds and the rest were close behind... I came to full draw, but I couldn't move, I was in awe of everything that was happening around me!! I finally focused on the last cow in the herd, and followed her through my peep.. She was at a slow trot when she crossed my shooting lane at 8 steps!!
I put my top pin on her front shoulder (thinking I needed to lead her) and let 'er fly. WHACK!!! My arrow hit her solid, but I could not tell where as she was by me by the time I found her again...
Long story short: I wound up hitting her just in front of the shoulder (there was obviously no need to lead the little lady at 8 steps), and passed clean through her... We gave her until after dinner that night and tracked for about 4 hours with no luck... I was sick for a long time after that.. Although I was not lucky enought to harvest an elk in '03, I will be returning this year to the sdame area with hopes of evening the score!!!!