Interesting Weekend

[Hawkk33]

finally got into elk this weekend. I called in a cow to 25-30 yards but let her go. 10 minutes later I called in a herd of 2 cows, 2 calves and a 4 point bull.

Was at full draw and could have taken the first cow out but waited for the bull to show himself and when the 4 point stepped out I was debating whether or not I was gonna let one fly. But the damn thing stopped behind a tree as the other elk winded me. He then spun around and went straight downhill leaving no shot.

But I have no remorse for not taking a shot. It was my first time calling anything in (2nd year bowhunting) and it was a kick ass experience.

 

[c3]

Nice work hawkk33. It's pretty intense when they come in. You need everything just right to get that perfect kill shot.

Were you bugling or just cow calling?

Cheers,
Pete

 

[Hawkk33]

I called the first cow in with a few cow calls mixed with some calls with the fighting cow call from carleton. The second sey up was the same . .cow calling, more cow calling till i heard a bugle then I bugled back (smallish bugle) following up with more cow calls then I heard the woods come alive with the sound of breaking limbs, twigs etc and I knew it was on.

Was the longest 5-8 minutes of my life waiting for those elk to step out. Your right it was intense and I can't wait to get out there tonight. The weather here is getting colder, its 33 degrees this am with rain and it gonna stay relatively cool all week. Going to try another spot and let that first one settle down. But man the forest floor was torn up as we a sh*tload of saplings an trees. Must be some sparring going on in there.

This stuff is addicting !!!!!!!!

 

[rsearcy]

Hawkk33

Aren't you hunting in OR? I am leaving tomorrow night to head over to Heppner. The weather looks good.

Rick

 

[c3]

Sounds like a great hunt. Keep working that spot, but just be very carefull with the wind. If they smell you and you keep calling, they'll shut right up and it could be a long time before they'll start talking again. In some cases they simply move out.

I had two nice bulls bugling at my cow calls on Sat, but I got winded by the bigger one. They were nowhere to be found today. That's not surprising as I've only seen or heard one cow in the area since the opener Aug 26th.

Take some pics too, if you get a chance. No one else cares, but I always like looking at my wallow and rub pics. They bring back lots of memories of all my missed opportunities, LOL!

Good luck on bagging one.

Cheers,
Pete

 

[cohntr6]

hawk
It sure is addictive! I am in my 6th season chasing elk with a bow. Last year i finally connected. I am hoping to make it 2 years in a row. What state are you in? I am in northern colorado. I would keep hunting the same area as long as there is elk. sounds like you had the calling sequence down that brought them in. Way to go! I am seriously struggling with that particular thing. I have been getting into elk (hearing, seeing them or finding smoking hot fresh sign) but cant get them (bulls or cows) To come in. Good luck to you!
Jeff

 

[Hawkk33]

Well fellas some bad news and some good news too. Good news I can call in elk, bad news I decided to shoot one tonight and well read below.

I called a 5 point to me at around 6:30 tonight and put the 30 yard pin on his chest and let the arrow fly. I don't know how he did it but he dropped and spun and the arrow hit him in the hind qtr.

I hiked back up to my bronco to get my pack (yeah I know I should have known better and taken it, and my big flashlight. I hiked back into where I left my bow and sat for a few minutes. Put up the flagging and started looking for blood. I found the trail and eased my way down the slope putting up flagging as I went along. Found the arrow about 1/8 mile downslope covered in blood. Blood trail was still thick and nightfall was approaching, boy that 9 volt flashlight came in handy. As I working my way down the boys starting up their singing. I had 3-4 bulls talkin to each other but still I had to focus. I wanted to find this bull and get it taken care of but nightfall came fast.

I found a bloody bedding site about 9:00pm and canvased the area but didnt find anything. The blood was clotting where it had bedded and it made me wonder how fatal a shot to the hindquarter would be.

I know I did a rookie mistake by going after it so soon on a non fatal shot. I wanted to keep looking but had to get home. but I will go back tomorrow a.m. and look all day.

I enlisted my son and nephew to help me ..damn I hope I can find it still in tact and salvagable. The nighttime temps here are down to mid 30's at night so I am hopeful.

Beat myself up on the drive in with the ..only if.. what if and everything else. will let you all know what the outcome is.

Yeah I am in Oregon. eastern Oregon to be exact

 

[c3]

Hawkk33:

I've never seen a rump hit that didn't result in a found animal. I've only heard of one that didn't.

Usually they will bleed enough to slow them down such that you can get another shot if they don't bleed out.

Keep the faith. You'll find him.

Cheers,
Pete

 

[Hawkk33]

We went out this am to look for him and I was sure we were going to recovering (hoping more like)and we got to the last blood site and spent hours finding and flagging the blood trail down the mountain. After awhile the trail got fainter and fainter and eventually dried up. Man why did this have to happen this way?

He came out the timber into a scrub flat and we tracked him for about a 1/2 mile or longer then lost the fresh track. We spread out and tried to find the tracks again but couldn't.

Then 4 of us gridded all the way back to the truck but I think he got out that area.

I keep seeing that shot in my head and wonder how I hit him that far back (did he move, did I move? did I torque my hand? what ?) and wishing to beat all that I hit him in the boiler room. I know that I can do I put groups together at 20 and 30 what happened with this shot ?

Later