2007 Wyoming Trip

He walked out of the meadow at only 30 yards.   I cow called in hopes to stop him for a perfect shot, but instead he turned and walked directly at me.  I have no shot.  I’m at full draw…he’s now at 25 yards….20…18…my heart is about to explode...

 I’ll finish that sorry in a minute…

 Bowhunting bugling elk is the ULTIMATE!  I’ve heard more than once from many veteran bowhunters that elk is their favorite big game animal.  After the last two years, I’m a believer.  I’m telling you…GO.  Seriously, starting making plans now!  There is still some great hunting on public land, you just have to find it...or be lucky enough to have a friend like Derek Kelly!

 I was again blessed in 2007 by drawing another coveted Wyoming Elk tag.  Last year’s hunt was by far the best hunt I’ve ever experienced.  I called in five bull elk and shot a great 5x5.  This year Derek invited 5 of us non-residents (Joe, Ron, Ernie, Clay, and I) and 3 other Wyoming residents, James, Floyd, and Annie.  Derek’s wife, Shannon, could not accompany us on this year’s hunt because of a serious burn accident.  We all pray for her swift recovery.  Floyd and Annie were new to our trip and just came to ride their horses and enjoy camping out.  Floyd is a true cowboy and had lots of experience elk hunting and told some great stories in camp.  Annie…how do you describe Annie…she is a real cowgirl and just loves adventures.  She wanted to come along just for fun.  She proved to be a riot!  She played great jokes on her good friend Ernie and was just a joy to be around.  She took over the cooking and provided us with great meals everyday.  James was also new to our camp and was invited because we needed another Wyoming resident in our camp because there must be one resident in camp per every two non-residents.  He helped a ton and kept camp in great shape.

The most amazing part of this hunt is how much time and effort Derek puts in to make our hunt possible.  He works for months getting his horses and gear ready and made a trip early to start setting up camp.  Our other friend, Clay from Colorado also brought horses a day early and went up with Derek and set up camp before we arrived.  If you looked up “Real Cowboy” in the dictionary, I really believe you would find a picture of Derek or Clay.  There is a book about outfitting by Joe Back that has detailed information about how to pack horses, set up camp, and many other helpful outfitting hints which many people say is the “bible” on packing.  I think Derek could add a few chapters!

The weather was great the entire trip and the bulls were really bugling.   We all discussed strategies the night before the first hunt where I requested to hunt alone for the first few days.  In all honesty, it is better to bow hunt elk with a partner, but I just prefer hunting on my own.  For me, hunting alone is hunting in its purest form.  I may not always kill game, but I always hunt the best when alone.  With no one to encourage or discourage me, I tend to walk further and hunt harder.  My concentration level is higher and my senses more acute.  There is no one to blame except myself, and when everything comes together, the sense of accomplishment is worth every step taken. 

 First Day

Everyone in camp knew where I was headed…straight to the spot I killed my elk in 2006.  It is perfect area with a North facing, heavily wooded mountainside with two funnels that lead to the other side containing lush meadows.  I worked my way through the dark timber and saw plenty of sign but never heard a bugle.  I worked by way to the waypoints I set last year, through the saddle and to the spot that I had the encounter with the big heard bull; however, no elk and very little sign.  Finally about 10:30 I heard a bugle from above me up in the dark timber.   After quickly closing the distance, I decided the bull was too close to going to bed, and left him alone.  I spent the rest of the mid-day scouting some meadows and looking for some fresh wallows.  After not finding much fresh sign, I took a nap and waited for the evening hunt.  Around 5:00 I started working my way back the way I came toward the bugle I heard earlier.  I didn’t see or hear anything until I crested the saddle.  Finally, I heard a bugle back toward a opening on the North slope.   It took me a while to catch up with them but was busted by a rag horn.  I did run in to the heard and briefly saw a bull, but I decided that it would be best to leave them alone since it was getting too late.

 When I got back to camp the stories were awesome.   Everyone heard bugles and there were some very close encounters.  It wouldn’t’ be long until we would be eating back strap. 

 Day two

I decided to head back to the area that I missed a bull in 2006.  I followed a large drainage all the way to the lake about 2 miles from camp when I finally heard a bugle.  He was a long way away and was in the general direction I was headed, so I continued to the lake.   I bugled and cow called several more times but never heard him bugle again.  Looking at my aerial maps I could see a meadow on the downwind side from his location and headed that way.  My path took me along side the beautiful lake overlooking the sand bar where I missed the big 6x6 last year.  Talk about de’javu.  One year ago I was at the same lake, watching the sun come up.  When I took the 2006 picture of the lake, little did I know I was about to call in an awesome bull. 

 Not wanting to change my luck, I again…just as last year climbed up to the top of the bluff and had a little talk with God.  Some people ask me if I ask God to send a bull elk my way.  Honestly, there are so many more important things in life than making such a selfish request.  Now, I might ask that he let my arrow fly true…if such an opportunity arises…nothing wrong with that.  There is just something special about sitting on top of a mountain, miles from civilization, talking to my creator.  It just seems like my thoughts are clearer and my prayer less distracted.  Try it…there is nothing more fulfilling.

I then continued on in the direction I heard the bull.  I finally made it to the small meadow NW of where I heard the bull.  I gave my best spike bugle and was immediately answered.  AWESOME!  It’s one thing to hear the bugle of a bull elk, but it’s the ultimate to hear one that just answered your call.  He was also close…maybe 100 or 150 yards away.  I thought about setting up my Montana decoy but quickly decided that he was too close to risk the movement.  I saw a good place to set up on the far side of the meadow and quickly got ready in the shadows of a large fur.  After a few minutes, I gave a cow call and was immediately answered.  Holy cow, he’s coming!  He’s closed the distance by at least half.  So, I just waited, trying to visualize how he would come in across the meadow.  After what felt like an eternity, I gave another soft cow call, and he bugled again.  He was close…maybe 40, 50, but no more than 60 yards.  I ranged the far side of the meadow at 25 yards.  He couldn’t be more than 10-20 yards on the other side of the trees.  However, the fur trees were so thick that I couldn’t see just a few yards into the timber.   I waited…my heart rate…holy moley…it was going berserk!.  He bugles again.  His bugle almost knocked me down.  He’s right there!  I’m straining my eyes to see him, but can’t.  I cow call again, and he cuts me off with another awesome bugle.  Oh my gosh, you just can’t imagine the sound at less than 40 or so yards.   Why can’t I see him!  He bugles again and again.  I’m dying!.  My arms are fully tight ready to draw because I know just any second he is going to burst out into the meadow.  But…he stays put…why do they always make it so hard!  He answers my cow call at least 10 more times before he moves to my left up on a bluff.  Finally I spot him, and holy smokes he’s HUGE (to me anyway!).  He’s standing there looking in my direction urinating all over the place. What an awesome sight…he is so worked up.  I quickly ranged him at 60 yards, and was debating on a shot because he was moving away, but decided to bugle instead to see his reaction.  It worked!  He immediately changed direction and headed back down the hill. 

After a few minutes, which seemed like an eternity, he started out toward the meadow.  Ok, it’s about to happen.  I quickly ranged the trees in front of him at 35 yards.  He would be in front of them, so I would use by 30-yard pin.  Center the peep, pick your pin, squeeze the trigger, I started thinking.  Honestly, I was really thinking this!  I remember Randy Ulmer saying he talks to himself right before the shot.  I was feeling pretty confident as he came out into the opening.  I drew my bow, and when he came fully into view…holy cow was he big…ok…focus…focus…don’t think about how big he is.  Now, cow call to stop him…E’hew, I let out…which instead of stopping him, caused him to turn and walk directly at me.  I about choked.  I now have a huge bull elk walking directly at me at less than 30 yards with nothing between him and me.  Now what am I going to do.  25 yards...20 yards...18 yards...  Randy Ulmer’s advice was out the door!  You just can’t imagine the feeling…a bull elk walking right at you, his eyes piercing yours now at 18 yards.  Just about the time I was going to throw up, he turned to my right and headed into the woods.  Slowly, at full draw, I moved my aim to a small opening and just as he passed through it, released my arrow.  Just as the arrow smacked him, he whirled and headed back across the meadow and ran up the hill.  After waiting several minutes hoping to hear a crash, I fell back on the ground trying to recover from almost having a heart attack!  Seriously, that was some kind of awesome adrenaline rush.  So, after a quick recovery (me, not the elk) I was pretty sure of my shot but waited about 1 ½ hours before following the blood trail.  After 125 yards, I found my prize.  He was an awesome 6x6 and was huge to boot.   It really happened…two years in a row….I bugled in a bull and shot him with a bow and arrow.  What an unbelievable experience.  The only problem with hunting by myself…cutting up a 700lb animal.  It took me 4 ½ hours to cape him and quarter him out.  However, it was all worth it when I finally stumbled into camp carrying the head and cape.  My prayer that night under an awesome Wyoming starlight sky…Thanks for sending an elk my way…I mean…thanks for making my arrow hit true.   J

The Rest of the Hunt:

The crazy thing about this trip is that my hunt was just one of many awesome hunts for the rest of the group.  The next day Derek and Ron set out on horseback to spike camp about 3 miles from our base camp.  They worked bulls everyday and Ron took a great 6x6 on the third day.  Something funny to the rest of us but not to them was what happened when they arrived at their spike camp.  Ron said he had a tent, so they each grabbed a minimal amount of food and a few necessities an headed out.  Upon arriving, Ron opened his tent to find a very, very small 2-man tent.  He had somehow brought the wrong tent from home.  Now, you have to understand the humor in this.  Picture one the smallest tents ever, and two guys...big guys, Ron 6'2", 220lbs, Derek 6' 5" 250lbs looking to share it.  Not good!  Ron ended up sleeping with his feet sticking out and Derek slept on some horse blankets with a tarp thrown over him.  The temperature went below freezing every night...talk about tough!

As far as the rest of the group.  Joe took a 4x5 the following day after an exciting encounter with a big 6x6.  Ernie and Clay both had several encounters with bulls but just wasn't able to close the deal...which is just bowhunting!  There were over 25 bulls called into bow range...which is just unbelievable!  I wish I could articulate the excitement of the other guys hunts, because they were just as awesome as mine.          

Derek, Clay, James, Joe, Ernie, Ron, Floyd, Annie, thanks for an awesome trip…you are all truly great friends.  Derek, you are THE MAN!  Thank you for your experience and expertise in putting us in the middle of elk country.  Your elk camp is second to none!   

Dean