2015 ELK Photo Contest

[Justin Crossley]

Posting this for my brother "Dirtytough". As I mentioned in my other post, we hunted 20 days to kill these two bulls. Mine was shot on day 18, and his was shot on day 20. Absolute epic ending to an epic hunt.

 

[gonhunting247]

UT Muzzy Elk. Traveled to UT from OR on a solo hunt and heard this guy splashing in a pond/wallow. I snuck down and decided he was too good to pass up. It was a real challenge to get the meat cooled out, but made it home with a load of awesome meat for the freezer!

 

[thebugler]

2015 Idaho bull. DIY, OTC, public land

 

[Beastmode]

Everything went perfect on this setup. 9 miles back Montana public land general tag. Hired a horse packer to get him out.

 

[Josh Wright]

A family celebrates

When I got home with the elk head, my 3 year old son ran as fast as he could to me and said, "You got me a big deer, dada!" He had to be apart of the photo op and was all smiles the whole time.

 

[Elkfitness]

Perfect!

 

[norsepeak]

View attachment 29382

Sept. 17, 2015. Eastern Washington. First archery elk hunt, first bull harvested. 35 yard frontal shot, bull ran 45 yards and piled up.

 

[trkyslr]

CO OTC DIY,,, bull came in quiet on cold call setup after 5 minutes of cow talk. 35 yard shot. 40 yard recovery.

 

[trkyslr]

View attachment 29425JOEHUNTER'S CO OTC DIY BULL... 16 yard frontal shot, 12 yard recovery... great backcountry hunt for us.

 

[cody6510]

First ever backcountry hunt, and first ever elk hunt. This bull was taken in Utah during the general season with a rifle. I had been planning this trip for some time, but by 10:00 am on the first day he walked out at about 35 yards and I decided to take him.

 

[Jon Boy]

9/9 Cow


9/11 Bull


Buddys 9/11 Bull. We had our work cut out for ourselves over those 48 hours. This pic explains hunting the back country for elk.

 

[mtnrunner260]

Utah OTC hunt.
Harvested at 11k ft. Dad brought the dog in with the horses for the pack out.

 

[Donny Land]

Idaho DIY OTC Archery Tag! 2nd year Elk hunting, 1st Elk.

I am by no means an expert on elk hunting, but this set seemed to me to be a perfect set up. My buddy and i were moving in on a bull that had let out a single bugle at mid day, as we were heading up through a big blow down area, a cow slipped right up on us headed down to a known bedding area, she stopped one time, looked around and moved on, never offering a shot (Good Thing) as we moved through the blow down, and started making our way up to the next ridge, my buddy decided we should stop where we were and see if we could pull this bull down the hill. So i set up on a known trail, he moved down the hill about 100 yards, he cow called 2 times, i heard this bull get up and and start coming down the hill, he was on the trail headed to the bedding area, i had already ranged the distance to what i thought was the trail (35 Yards), he passed behind 3 big pines and i drew my bow, once he cleared the pines, i put my pin right behind his shoulder, stopped him with your typical Texas Whitetail "murrp" and let'er rip, arrow entered right behind his left shoulder, and exited exact same on the opposite shoulder. 150 yard recovery, and then the work began!!! I'd do it allover again tomorrow given the chance!

View attachment 29750

 

[bbrown]

Was fortunate to take this bull on opening morning of first rifle here in Colorado on a public land solo hunt. He was having a good time pushing cows and chasing off smaller bulls until I rudely interrupted. 115 yard shot with a .308 shooting 150gr Nosler Accubonds - complete pass through.



http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/yy174/bbrown7823/915e4a46-29d9-4bdc-833b-fa1efb78ed08_zpsf1mfjvyx.jpg

One of my favorite glassing spots also made for a good place to stash the meat while quartering and deboning.

http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/yy174/bbrown7823/DSC00361_zpsjohjdbxf.jpg

Home away from home...

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Took 3 trips over 2-1/2 days to pack him and camp out but it was worth it. Got to the truck and had 2 of the best tasting bud lights while soaking my feet in a creek. Feet were thrashed and smelled worse than they looked - might have even killed a few fish....

http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/yy174/bbrown7823/DSC00396_zpsrmdxzy4j.jpg

 

[scottpage88]

DIY, OTC- Idaho. This was my first elk ever. Great experience being able to take this guy with my brother.

 

[shedcrazy]

I waited 15 years for a limited entry tag in Utah and finally drew in 2015 with a muzzleloader. Scouted for months, hunted 14 days, saw 84 bulls total. Spent most of my hunt trying to kill one giant bull. He out smarted me and I took this bull the second to last day. I really liked his mass and most of all his freezer filling ability. Even though it's not the bull of my dreams I know I left it all on the table and worked my guts out. I can take pride in that.

 

[jaredgreen]

Solo backpack trip. Few things feel as rewarding as hiking into the wildness wearing everything you need to survive on your back, then walking back out a few days later with your last load of all natural, hormone free lean protein goodness.

 

[Baby Huey]

Helped my buddy on his early rifle Colorado hunt.

 

[Manosteel]

My Alberta bull 2015

 

[Manosteel]