Bull Down

Tank · 2024-09-04T10:09:31-0600

My Idaho 2024 archery elk is complete. Opening weekend, the bulls were talking, but not coming to calls. I found this bull alone at 9400', while still hunting through dead fall and timber. I spotted him at 35 yards facing me. He turned a bit and gave me a pretty good broadside shot. He was down hill, so I held low and released. He didn't know what hit him, and looked away from me. The shot looked good, and I nocked another arrow. After 15 seconds he didn't go down, so I hit him again. He took a few steps forward and looked downhill away from me. He began to wobble and his back legs gave out. He stood back up and walked 10yards down hill wobbling. When he didn't go down, I hit him again. The last shot wasn't needed, but I don't like watching suffering.
Shot with my 80lb Lift, 501gr RIP TKO w titanium outsert/collar, and 150gr Valkyrie BloodEagle. I like this arrow setup. All shots have been a full pass through on my last 2 bulls. The broadheads were still sharp enough to put in the quiver for another bull.

Tank · 2024-09-04T10:10:24-0600

Hope this gets everyone jacked to hit the mtn....

PerezA · 2024-09-04T10:23:47-0600

Heck ya congrats!!

Founder · 2024-09-04T10:34:47-0600

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing the story and photos. Sounds super exciting.

HntHrdr · 2024-09-04T10:37:08-0600

Awesome bull! Congratulations!

2lumpy · 2024-09-04T10:41:02-0600

Great shooting…….. in the heat of passion. Congratulations.

rmanwill · 2024-09-04T10:47:49-0600

Congrats on a great bull. Awesome memories there and some great shooting

goforbroke · 2024-09-04T10:48:03-0600

Awesome!!

Grouse Legs · 2024-09-04T11:11:35-0600

Yee haw!

Ranger1 · 2024-09-04T11:53:23-0600

Great bull and follow-up shots are smart! You never know what can happen.

american_jackal · 2024-09-04T11:54:55-0600

Well done

huntindad4 · 2024-09-04T11:59:22-0600

Tank said:
My Idaho 2024 archery elk is complete. Opening weekend, the bulls were talking, but not coming to calls. I found this bull alone at 9400', while still hunting through dead fall and timber. I spotted him at 35 yards facing me. He turned a bit and gave me a pretty good broadside shot. He was down hill, so I held low and released. He didn't know what hit him, and looked away from me. The shot looked good, and I nocked another arrow. After 15 seconds he didn't go down, so I hit him again. He took a few steps forward and looked downhill away from me. He began to wobble and his back legs gave out. He stood back up and walked 10yards down hill wobbling. When he didn't go down, I hit him again. The last shot wasn't needed, but I don't like watching suffering.
Shot with my 80lb Lift, 501gr RIP TKO w titanium outsert/collar, and 150gr Valkyrie BloodEagle. I like this arrow setup. All shots have been a full pass through on my last 2 bulls. The broadheads were still sharp enough to put in the quiver for another bull.

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How the F did you get the first Pic of him standing?

If I took it, the pic would have been too blurry to make out from all of the shaking...

I can usually breathe and calm myself for the bow shot but a pic right before or right after would be USELESS.

Awesome bull and story and PICS. Thanks for sharing.

Outdoordan · 2024-09-04T12:14:07-0600

That gets me fired up! Great job, good shooting! Awesome bull!

twdjr · 2024-09-04T12:21:31-0600

That's great, Congrats!

mickeyelk · 2024-09-04T12:23:06-0600

Wow. Nice!!

elkhunter81 · 2024-09-04T12:49:58-0600

Great bull well done

Wapitiwilly · 2024-09-04T12:53:29-0600

Super cool, congrats

Gunnihunter · 2024-09-04T13:04:04-0600

A BIG

. Congratulations

Badabing09 · 2024-09-04T13:10:36-0600

Awesome!!!

LIK2HNT · 2024-09-04T13:20:36-0600

Solo or did you have some help packing? Hopefully not that far of a pack out. Great looking bull.

Tank · 2024-09-04T13:32:43-0600

LIK2HNT said:
Solo or did you have some help packing? Hopefully not that far of a pack out. Great looking bull.

I was the solo pack mule. Shot him at 9400', and the dirt bike was at 7200'. It was a heavy pack out, but doable. Had friends offer to help, but they had 14hr drive with no sleep. Just have to suck it up and take care of your business. I live to do this, so I better not complain when you have a few tough days.

Tank · 2024-09-04T13:38:08-0600

huntindad4 said:
How the F did you get the first Pic of him standing?

If I took it, the pic would have been too blurry to make out from all of the shaking...

I can usually breathe and calm myself for the bow shot but a pic right before or right after would be USELESS.

Awesome bull and story and PICS. Thanks for sharing.

I had two arrows in him, and he was wobbling, so I took the picture to share with my 4yr old grandson. He loves to hear my Elkie stories at bedtime. It was probably poor taste looking back. I thought he would go down any second, and he did, but I should have finished my work instead of taking vanity photos. Any elk that catches one of my arrows deserves that. Lesson learned. But he did go down soon after I took the pic.

Tristate · 2024-09-04T14:22:52-0600

Tank said:
My Idaho 2024 archery elk is complete. Opening weekend, the bulls were talking, but not coming to calls. I found this bull alone at 9400', while still hunting through dead fall and timber. I spotted him at 35 yards facing me. He turned a bit and gave me a pretty good broadside shot. He was down hill, so I held low and released. He didn't know what hit him, and looked away from me. The shot looked good, and I nocked another arrow. After 15 seconds he didn't go down, so I hit him again. He took a few steps forward and looked downhill away from me. He began to wobble and his back legs gave out. He stood back up and walked 10yards down hill wobbling. When he didn't go down, I hit him again. The last shot wasn't needed, but I don't like watching suffering.
Shot with my 80lb Lift, 501gr RIP TKO w titanium outsert/collar, and 150gr Valkyrie BloodEagle. I like this arrow setup. All shots have been a full pass through on my last 2 bulls. The broadheads were still sharp enough to put in the quiver for another bull.

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Great hunting content! Thanks for sharing.

Focoelkman · 2024-09-04T14:46:50-0600

Way to go Grandpa! Stud bull!!

JBunn · 2024-09-04T16:32:03-0600

Heck of bull to kick off the year!

rmanwill · 2024-09-04T17:08:13-0600

Tank said:
I was the solo pack mule. Shot him at 9400', and the dirt bike was at 7200'. It was a heavy pack out, but doable. Had friends offer to help, but they had 14hr drive with no sleep. Just have to suck it up and take care of your business. I live to do this, so I better not complain when you have a few tough days.

Good on you. Great attitude. Been there done that.

BradA · 2024-09-04T17:11:43-0600

Congratulations great way to start the season . How do you like that backpack for hauling weight ?

BrianID · 2024-09-04T17:19:27-0600

Great pictures and story.
I’ll have ten days to chase elk starting next week.

Hatchet Jack · 2024-09-04T17:55:12-0600

Wow! Good job!
I felt like I was there reading your post. It reminded me of some of my hunts.
Nice bull!

ColoradoBob · 2024-09-04T18:16:20-0600

He's a good one

Buckfever34 · 2024-09-04T19:14:22-0600

Helluva job! Proud of you !

Pirogue · 2024-09-04T19:19:22-0600

Congratulations, and thanks for sharing.

hawkbill · 2024-09-04T19:28:11-0600

Congratulations nice Idaho Bull

twobears · 2024-09-04T20:09:19-0600

Nice job, congratulations

Tank · 2024-09-04T20:32:24-0600

BradA said:
Congratulations great way to start the season . How do you like that backpack for hauling weight ?

I have used a lot of packs, and this one carries heavy weight the best of all of them. Most packs feel great till you get 80+ lbs on them. My IA made a pretty difficult pack out, much easier.