 |
||
 |
 |
|
|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
|
2006 Wyoming Elk Hunt
After experiencing this hunt, it is my wish that all bowhunters have the opportunity to experience the thrill of calling in a Bull Elk. If you ever get a chance to go Elk hunting during the rut, don't pass it up. Calling in a bull elk, has to be the ultimate in bowhunting. You simply cannot imagine the awesome feeling of an elk bugling back to your call at less than 30 yards! It is truly an experience to behold. I have bowhunted for elk on public land in Colorado three times and have never had the opportunity to "catch" the rut just right. This hunt was made possible by my good friend and hunting buddy, Joe Brower. He talked me into putting in for a Wyoming tag in a limited draw wilderness area. In Wyoming, in order to hunt in a wilderness area you must have a guide or hunt with a resident. Fortunately, Joe has some friends in Wyoming who are hunters willing to pack us into the wilderness. Two non-residents can hunt with one resident, so Joe, Ernie, Ron, and I drew tags and hunted with Derek and his wife and Shannon. They were kind enough to pack us in about 10 miles into a camp they had already set up. They had 2 cabin tents, a cook tent, and even a shower and toilet set up (we've never had such an awesome camp). Another good friend and cowboy Clay W. of Colorado, who owned one of the cabin tents and some of the horses came along just to help pack the elk out (he was being optimistic!). He also provided a couple of the meals after a day of trout fishing (I believe I ate 8 trout one night!). Get this...Shannon would get up at 4:45 and cook breakfast before we left each morning! She would even pack a lunch if necessary and have dinner ready at night. How do you beat friends like that? Derek on the other hand would saddle up a horse and take you out a couple of miles, drop you off to elk hunt and pick you up at dark. Where do you find people like that? Derek's knowledge of the area is truly amazing. He was able to point us in the right direction and without him we would have had limited success. The first evening Joe and Ernie were able to call in a great 6X6 and Ernie shot him at a mere 20 yards. We were off to a great start. Clay and Derek packed the bull into camp the next day. Later Clay and Ernie packed the bull out to have it processed.
The hunting was good but it wasn't without some effort. I carried a Garmin GPS and most days I walked over 10 miles. Every morning we would get up and our legs hurt so bad that we had to talk each other into getting up. However, when you hear an elk bugle from camp, getting up becomes much easier. The Best Hunting experience of my life! On the 3rd day I planned a hunt down by a small lake. Derek told me about a great area just west of the lake that should hold some elk. About 9:30am I dropped over a hill onto a 300 foot bluff overlooking the lake.. I was on the southern part of the lake and the sun was just peeking up over the hill. The view was something to behold. I grabbed my camera and sat down take in some of God's creation. Surely he meant for someone to see this sunrise!
Anyway after a prayer of thanks for letting me be a part of such a beautiful place, I continued on. After crossing below the lake and climbing the east bank, I decided to take a look over into the northern half of the lake. This proved to be a good move. I spotted a huge 6x6 walking around the edge of the lake headed south. I quickly decided that if I could hurry back the way I came that I could set up across from the sandbar and might be able to call the bull across. After almost having a heart attack running up hill and then almost breaking my neck running downhill, I was able to set up directly in front of the sand bar (see picture above). As soon as I caught my breath, I gave my best bugle. It echoed across the lake and sounded almost eerie. I was answered immediately by the 6x6. Wow...the first time I had a bull answer my call, and to top it off I knew he was big. I glassed the far bank for several minutes and just about the time I thought he wasn't coming, he popped up over the bank on the other side of the channel. HE SWAM THE LAKE! He was now silhouetted against the far lake and let out an awesome bugle. I was watching the whole thing through my binocs and just about fell over with excitement. I bellowed back my best spike bugle (not wanting run him off) and that caused him to immediately charge in my direction. You can't even imagine the feeling of watching a huge bull elk running directly at you...unbelievable! After running about 100 yards, he again bugled and I answered with a sexy cow call (at least I thought it was sexy!). He then realized I was on the east side and waded back across to the sandbar. He was now about 75 yards out. I gave him a soft cow mew and he bugled the most awesome bugle I can't even describe. The sound he made at the end of his bugle was so guttural, so defying, so indescribable that I feel I've reached to highest level of hunting achievement possible. At that moment, I felt that I've accomplished the goal that I set years ago just wanting to be given a chance to bugle in a bull elk. It was really happening! In front of me was my first bull coming in my direction because I had done everything right. The wind was right, my bugle and cow calling must have been OK and luck seemed to be on my side. However....(why does there always seem to be a "HOWEVER"!), he starts headed around the edge of lake, skirting me. He seemed to be trying to wind me. He was not getting any closer, so I quickly ranged him at 50 yards. I had been practicing for months shooting out to 60 yards and was very confident at 50, so I quickly got ready. After ranging him again, I drew my Hoyt Trykon, and tried to give him a cow call to stop him, but my mouth had gone dry from being dehydrated after running so far to get in front of him. So I just let out a strange sound and he stopped...broad side...50 yards....no wind...everything perfect...my first shot at a huge 6x6...one that would probably make Pope & Young...3 years of walking mile upon mile with no shot, now getting my first shot opportunity....and...................I missed. Yep...just plain missed. I'm not sure if I hit a limb, or maybe used my 60 yard pin instead of my 50, but it really didn't matter because the results are the same. I skipped the arrow off his back and he headed back up the sand bar. I quickly gave him some bull chuckles and he stopped at about 75 yards. He was bleeding slightly from my deflected arrow, but was really unhurt. After about 15 mins of trying to coax him back into range, he headed back north across the sandbar and disappeared. I dropped my bow and fell back and just laid there for a long time. Many years ago, I just asked that I could one time in my life experience calling in a bull elk. I had just been given that opportunity. No...I didn't kill him, but somehow it was really OK. I just had the most awesome hunting experience of my life! I bugled in a 6x6 bull elk on my own, on public land, watched him come in for over 150 yards, bugling the whole way. Truly unbelievable. I quietly said a small prayer thanking God for giving me this experience. OK.......I confess.....I then cried for an hour!!!!!! :) Ok, now I'm ready! A couple of days later, Ron and I heard a bugle and Ron said "Wow, that is a stud". He really did sound huge! We quickly set up and he would bugle every time we made a sound. Since I already had my chance (and blew it), I told Ron to go ahead of me about 30 yards in hopes he could get a shot. I grabbed a large branch and started raking it on a tree. My first thought is that Ron would turn around and say "What the heck are you doing...this is not Primos The Truth and you are not Will! But it worked...kinda. He bugled several times while I was racking havoc on the tree; however, he still didn't budge. I cow called softly and he bugled louder. His bugle was deafening. We worked him for several minutes but he just didn't want to come our way. He eventually left bugling the whole time. We later decided that he might have been the same bull Ron, Ernie and Joe had worked the day before which eventually winded them. Wow, another awesome experience. Ok these experiences are fun, but I'm wanting some elk meat to take home! The next day Derek, Ron and I took a ride east to an area that Derek had heard some elk. We walked all the way around the lake and was just about to head back to the horses when we heard a bugle. We quickly set up and were able to get the bull to answer us several times. A cow even answered but they seemed content to stay put. It was too late to start a stalk to we backed out. The next day Derek, Shannon, Avery and I rode up to the same area were we heard the bull. They were going on to the lake while I had planned a evening hunt along the North slope of a good looking area on my topo map. At the top of the ridge, I peeked over and saw a cow in a meadow about 500 yards below. I gave a small bugle and was immediately answered by a bugle that sent shivers down my spine. I quickly covered about 400 yards down the slope and then slowly worked my way down to the herd. I was in a burn area and was having a hard time keeping concealed. I saw the bull about 75 yards to my left. There were several cows in front of him an even more in front of me. I gave a cow call and the bull hammered me back with an awesome bugle. He was a great 5X6. It looked like he had broke his G5 on his left side, but he had huge royal points and probably 17 inch G2's . He was truly awesome! After gaining a little more ground I decided to bugle. He immediately answered and started heading in my direction. When he was about 50 yards, he turned broadside and again bugled. I reached for my range finder to find that I had left it. Without a range finder it is really hard to determine the distance over 40 yards, especially on a severe downhill slope. I simply couldn't believe I had forgotten it. However, he was still headed my direction so I didn't risk a shot. The only problem was that I didn't realize there was a 8 foot bluff between me and the bull running for over 100 yards. He started in my direction and then all but disappeared below the rock ledge. All I could see was his antlers. I started trying to creep forward but two cows had spotted me on the ledge and had me pinned down. I ended up trying to move and the cows decided they had enough, barked and caused the bull to move away with no shot. After they moved out of sight, I tried to back out and get in front of them but never made it. Oh, well, I successfully stocked to within 40 yards of a great heard bull. I was definitely disappointed but still very grateful for yet another awesome experience. BEAR! Ron, Joe, and Ernie were hunting in the Elk triangle (as we started calling the area were Ernie shot his bull, which was very close to the spot where he shot a cow the year before and Joe shot a great 5x5). This area was quickly becoming "Joe & Ernie's hot spot". Anyway, Ron was cow calling when Joe who was standing behind him yelled "BEAR". Ron, not realizing the anxiety in Joe's voice, causally looked for the bear out in the meadow. However, as Joe is running backward trying to nock an arrow again yells, RON...BEAR! This time Ron turns around to see a Black Bear sow and cub running right towards him. When he moved, it was like the bear shifted gears and started coming at an incredible speed at about 20 yards. Ron without thinking, jumped up, threw his arms in the air and yelled AWWWWWW as loud as he could. The bear thinking she was closing in on an elk slammed on the brakes, raised up on her hind legs and realized Ron was not an elk. She and her cub quickly bailed off into the woods. Wow! That was close! Later, Ron and Joe related this story back at camp and realized just how close of a call this was. Evidently the sow had heard Ron calling and when she saw Ron move decided her "elk" was getting away, which is why she started coming so fast. Ron had no idea why he jump and and yelled but it worked and was probably the best thing he could of done. Joe, on the other hand was glad he didn't have to shoot because he's not sure if he could have shot a bow back over his shoulder while running. Both needed a change of underwear! :) PAYDAY: The next morning I decided to head back to the same area. After breakfast of Bagels with cream cheese I head out (Shannon apologized for sleeping in that morning....see needed not apologize!!!!). I worked my way along the lower side of the mountain hoping to catch some elk coming back up after feeding for the morning in the lower meadows. I heard a faint bugle and after getting a little closer, I set up and started cow calling. It wasn't long before I was answered with another bugle and it was close....very close. However, the bugle was so soft and ended with no chuckle, that I wondered if it was actually a person. These thoughts quickly changed with I saw two bulls headed right at me...a 4x4 and a spike. They walked in to less than 20 yards. They saw me, but couldn't figure out what I was. They eventually lost interest and walked out of sight and I quickly moved up the mountain. Wow...two bull elk at less than 20 yards. I was having the hunt of a lifetime. Little did I know what was about to happen! I approached the same ridge as the day before but further to the east. When I reached the top, I could see the meadow that I had the encounter with the big 6x5 herd bull the day before. I let out a bugle and son of a gun I was answered again. I simply couldn't believe it. He was close but I was on a huge bluff and therefore hurriedly moved to the bottom to set up. Before getting ready I gave another bugle and he immediately answered. I mistakenly thought he was further away and took way to long to get ready. I backed up into a pine on one knee and nocked an arrow just as the 5x5 came around a tree at 30 yards and spotted me. My heart sank. I just knew he saw me move and was ready to bolt. However, for what seem like an eternity, he decided I was nothing and headed on to my right. I drew, mentally judged the distance at 30 yards and gave a cow call. He stopped behind some pretty thick stuff, but that was my last opening, so I let'r fly. At the sound of a large "CRACK" he bolted down the slope. I quickly let out some chuckles and slipped over to the edge. I honestly thought I had hit a limb and was just hoping for another shot opportunity. I spotted his antlers facing away from me about 50 yards away. He looked like he was hit, but I was not taking any chances. I quickly ranged him at 50 yards standing at a severe angle and put and arrow in the front part of his ham, driving the arrow all the way though his body into his neck...talk about penetration with a Fuse mechanical broadhead! He ran about 10 yards and collapsed. After finishing my victory dance (it would have been embarrassing if someone would have had a video camera), I immediately found a huge blood trail. My first shot was a complete pass through and caught both lungs. Oh well, there was no need for the second shot but I was pretty proud of my 50 yards shot since I had missed at that distance two days earlier. SO....it really happened! My first bull with a bow. Not a huge bull, but still very awesome.
When I arrived back at camp it had started snowing. Derek and Shannon saddled three pack horses and three riding horses and we headed up the mountain to cut up and pack out my elk. On the ride out we keep an eye out for mule deer because Shannon had a rifle tag and season had just opened. As luck would have it, we jumped 3 does. Shannon bailed off the horse, grabbed her rifle, laid down in the snow and smoked a fat doe. Talk about a tough gal. Her paints and cowboy boots (yes...cowboy boots...not warm hunting boots) were soaked, her hands frozen, she was laying in the snow and she was still able to make a perfect shot! What an awesome ride back to camp through the snow, packing out my 5x5 with Shannon's doe packed on top. It was elk backstrap for dinner! After the snow, the elk all but shut up until we left two days later. All I asked for was an opportunity...what I got was a hunt to be remembered for life. Thank you Joe, Ernie, and Ron for asking me to come along. Thank you Clay for the use of your tent & pack horses and for the awesome trout. Most of all thank you Derek and Shannon for making this possible. You are truly great friends! Dean |
|
Pat's Archery Contact Information:
|
