I have debated on posting this for several months now, but here it goes.
I had dreamt of hunting a limited entry hunt as long as I can remember. Elk have always been majestic, tough, and beautiful animals. My dad took us elk hunting at a young age and the magic has never left.
After 25 years of unsuccessful applications this year I finally received the email I had hoped for. I was one of those hunters we all talk about that applies for a unit that I had never hunted, but knew it had better potential than most at harvesting a mature bull in an older age class. I didn't know exactly what I was after but knew when I saw the one it would be obvious. I spent the summer on the mountain scouting, checking cameras, pulling cameras, hiking, glassing, studying maps, and spent a small fortune purchasing fuel to go on these trips. In total I spent 9 weekends on the mountain before the archery hunt started. I had some decent bulls on cameras, but nothing that made my jaw drop. I hadn't found "the one" but had seen more mature bulls than I had expected to see. I went back down on the mountain the second weekend of the archery hunt to scout and then returned the Wednesday before my hunt started with the plan to stay until my hunt was over or I had harvested my bull. I had plenty of family and friends come down to help and we divided up and went to different areas. We had found a couple of bulls, but again nothing that made my heart skip a beat. The night before the hunt started I got into an area that I hadn't been into before and sat in the middle of 3 bulls bugling and it was so thick I couldn't see a thing. I could hear one of them raking his rack on a tree, working a wallow, and when he bugled it made the hair on my neck stand up, but I never laid eyes on him or his friends. I hiked out 2 miles in the dark that evening not knowing what to do the next morning.
When we got back to camp that evening I found out 2 other people with me had also seen bulls, but nothing that was obvious we should go after. We made a plan for opening day. We were going to split up and cover as much area as possible in groups. Me and my friend were going up to the area he found one bull and I was in the bulls that night and what ever side was talking first was where we would go.
Opening morning we got to our spot before light and listened. Once the bugling started we were on our way. It was in the same area I was in the night before, a little over a mile from the trail we left the side by side on. We worked our way into the elk and found a smaller 6 point bull bedded 50 yards in front of us. He had no clue we were there and then another bull bugled to our left and ran across a meadow. Immediately I looked at Dave and said "I want him". His fronts and fourth points made quite the impression with his head tipped back. He quickly worked his way out of the meadow. We followed and gave a cow call; instantly he answered. I got set behind a large rock and gave one more cow call and he came to the skyline in front of me screaming. He just kept coming. I figured I'd let him get as close as possible before I shot...…..51 yards. 28 minutes, after waiting 26 years, I finally have my bull!
To be hones the moment took my breath away. To have my 73 year old dad on the mountain with me to experience this was priceless. I had everyone on the mountain with me that I had been hunting with since I was 14 along with my 2 sons, and 2 friends that were instrumental in this hunt. Thanks to everyone on this forum that gave me pointers and ideas of where to start. I guess dreams do come true.
For those of you who want to play "what does it score" give me your guess, I have the number but would like to hear what you think, I'll update later.
I had dreamt of hunting a limited entry hunt as long as I can remember. Elk have always been majestic, tough, and beautiful animals. My dad took us elk hunting at a young age and the magic has never left.
After 25 years of unsuccessful applications this year I finally received the email I had hoped for. I was one of those hunters we all talk about that applies for a unit that I had never hunted, but knew it had better potential than most at harvesting a mature bull in an older age class. I didn't know exactly what I was after but knew when I saw the one it would be obvious. I spent the summer on the mountain scouting, checking cameras, pulling cameras, hiking, glassing, studying maps, and spent a small fortune purchasing fuel to go on these trips. In total I spent 9 weekends on the mountain before the archery hunt started. I had some decent bulls on cameras, but nothing that made my jaw drop. I hadn't found "the one" but had seen more mature bulls than I had expected to see. I went back down on the mountain the second weekend of the archery hunt to scout and then returned the Wednesday before my hunt started with the plan to stay until my hunt was over or I had harvested my bull. I had plenty of family and friends come down to help and we divided up and went to different areas. We had found a couple of bulls, but again nothing that made my heart skip a beat. The night before the hunt started I got into an area that I hadn't been into before and sat in the middle of 3 bulls bugling and it was so thick I couldn't see a thing. I could hear one of them raking his rack on a tree, working a wallow, and when he bugled it made the hair on my neck stand up, but I never laid eyes on him or his friends. I hiked out 2 miles in the dark that evening not knowing what to do the next morning.
When we got back to camp that evening I found out 2 other people with me had also seen bulls, but nothing that was obvious we should go after. We made a plan for opening day. We were going to split up and cover as much area as possible in groups. Me and my friend were going up to the area he found one bull and I was in the bulls that night and what ever side was talking first was where we would go.
Opening morning we got to our spot before light and listened. Once the bugling started we were on our way. It was in the same area I was in the night before, a little over a mile from the trail we left the side by side on. We worked our way into the elk and found a smaller 6 point bull bedded 50 yards in front of us. He had no clue we were there and then another bull bugled to our left and ran across a meadow. Immediately I looked at Dave and said "I want him". His fronts and fourth points made quite the impression with his head tipped back. He quickly worked his way out of the meadow. We followed and gave a cow call; instantly he answered. I got set behind a large rock and gave one more cow call and he came to the skyline in front of me screaming. He just kept coming. I figured I'd let him get as close as possible before I shot...…..51 yards. 28 minutes, after waiting 26 years, I finally have my bull!
To be hones the moment took my breath away. To have my 73 year old dad on the mountain with me to experience this was priceless. I had everyone on the mountain with me that I had been hunting with since I was 14 along with my 2 sons, and 2 friends that were instrumental in this hunt. Thanks to everyone on this forum that gave me pointers and ideas of where to start. I guess dreams do come true.
For those of you who want to play "what does it score" give me your guess, I have the number but would like to hear what you think, I'll update later.