My pics kinda suck, i was solo and it was a few hours before my buddies showed up so i had him halfway taken care of. I had lots of history with this bull in the month leading up to the season and actually passed on him a few times during the season because he had broke his g6 and an inline point after his g4… I didn’t realize quite the caliber of bull he was! Had a few buddies talk some sense into me and the hunt was on. 18 yard shot on the biggest bull I’ve ever seen let alone shoot. DIY, public land, draw tag
First elk hunt and was able to shoot this bull with my dad right next to me on day 8 of our 9 day trip. He bugled in our face and I shot him at 16 yards. I am hooked!
After a few rut-frenzy mornings, we woke up to silence on September 19. After creeping to the bedding area, we found it abandoned and quiet. It was a beautiful morning, but unnerving.
We began making our way down the mountain, trying to figure out where the herd had gone. Had they been bumped by another hunter?
One last bugle down the drainage led to the first response we’d heard. We closed the gap, called again, and it was clear: this was happening.
My partner dropped back, calling and raking as I tried to steady my nerves.
This bull who we affectionately had referred to as “Chuckles” crossed the drainage and worked his way to 20 yards. He was quartering pretty hard, so I centered my pin and hit liver.
200 yards later, we finished him in his bed.
It was an incredible end to my first week of chasing elk.
God is good!!
Not the best pics as I was solo and it took me 3 hours to find this guy after shootin him in some super thick stuff. Got him bugling yesterday am and called him into 30 yards before I sent one into him. Taken with my muzzle loader with a 320 grain fury universal. Couldn't be more happy with any of it!
I filled my freezer on day 12 of 14 of my early hunt. It was a fantastic time and I saw some monster bulls and was into elk nearly every hunt. Ultimately this bull gave me a shot opportunity at 50 yds towards the end of the hunt. I was humbled many times during my hunt but ultimately persevered in punching my tag. This is my 2nd archery bull (and 2nd archery animal ever) and the first one did not go as swimmingly on the shot and recovery leading to some lost meat, so to have a perfect shot, find a bloodied arrow, and a dead elk within 100 yds of where he was was a great feeling. I passed a shot on a big bull that I did not feel comfortable with, so it was a bit of redemption on that front as well. Archery is freakin' tough no way you slice it.
Finally happened on day 12 in Montana. Just saw a heard walking by a couple hundred yards down the mountain. Slowly worked him into a killing mood with raking, grunting, and light bugles. He then proceeded to come up the mountain to kill me.
Well dots have finally connected after a month and a half of driving 2 1/2 hours at 3am.
OTC is pretty hard but man was I blessed today. First elk, first year hunting them.