bz_711
WKR
- Joined
- May 7, 2012
- Messages
- 790
CO Elk - 2014 (word and pic heavy)
CO Elk 2014 – It doesn’t get much better than this
I know I’ve made it clear to many that I’m absolutely addicted to hunting elk with my bow. In 2013, I was lucky enough to fulfill a longtime dream of mine by bagging a decent 6x6 with my bow…all that did was fuel my desire to do it more. Going into the 2014 season I knew odds were against me to go “back to back” on archery elk, especially with only 5 days to hunt, but I’ll take that chance any time I can…for me, it truly cleanses the soul to pursue elk in the CO mountains with bow in hand.
2014 meant that my friend Will would be hosting his large bi-annual camp, and we’d be bringing a group of 5 from my hometown to be their neighbors. My dad would be making his 3rd straight trip with me which I always enjoy, as well as 2 returning hunting mates, Greg & LB, and one friend on his first trip with us, Shaun. Each of my 4 returning years I have brought someone new and it is such a joy to share this beautiful country…especially when they all agree that they want to come back again.
We hit the road a little after 5:30pm on Friday Sept 19th for the approx 15 hour drive to camp. As usual I drive as far as I can into the night, then hand the wheel off for a quick nap…well, we got our first laughs of this trip early in the morning hours of Sat as I awoke to the “Low fuel level” chime going off in the car. We had pushed our first 2 tanks of gas already and I knew that chime meant about 20 miles left…the next sign said Limon, CO 24 miles…both figures were spot on! After a few phone calls to law enforcement and road side assistance – we were basically told we were SOL at 3:30am. So, I got in one last hunting workout and jogged 4 miles to Limon. I was fooled about 1 mile into my jog by this sign:
Thinking I only had a mile to go, this ends up being a highway junction east of town. Not surprised that nobody wanted to stop and help a guy in camo along side of interstate at 4:00am…I rolled into gas station little before 5:00am. With nobody heading back east, the attendant phoned the sheriff dispatch to get me a ride as they don’t want people walking along interstate. Sheriff’s office called back…and…State trooper, county sheriffs, and Limon police had Nobody on duty! The attendant graciously offered to run me back when he got off a little before 6:00, I figured that beat 4 miles with gas can in my hand…I gave him a nice tip – Thanks Ian!
Back on the road with about 3 hour delay – all we could do was laugh – heck, that’s all we did almost the whole trip, great company.
We were setting up camp about 11:00. Always enjoy that first day acclimating to the altitude, taking a ride to show everyone around, then grilling out in the Rockies!
I tried a free time lapse app on my phone of setting up camp – didn’t get centered very good.
And the fall colors could not have been better.
We had a plan for day 1 and sleep would come easy…but as we prepared for bed, I see neighbor Rob moose calling…at first I think he’s messing with the newb hunters in camp…but ends up we had a front row show to a dandy Shiras moose just 100 yds behind our tent, great way to kick off our week!
We always plan to put some miles in the first 2 days to find the elk. Saw some great looking country on day 1, but no elk sightings for me and two others. The remaining two both spotted one elk which boosted hopes. That night the others all wanted to try a new spot we had not done before, and since I also had a spot I’d been eyeing during the offseason that was along the way I had them drop me off en route. That ended up being the best move I could have made…and put us on elk for the remainder of the hunt.
My original plan was to come in low and work my way straight up to find a different way into some country we always like to hunt. I climbed until after 5:00 and was beginning to “cliff out” with no way to go higher, I took a seat to cool off and enjoy the view from the climb. At 5:20 I hear my first bugle down below me. After hearing it again I figure I need to descend as it’s my best chance to see something. I make my way down about 800 ft. to a rock opening in which I can see below. I now hear 2-3 different bugles, most of which sound on opposite hillside. I cow call and the bugle response I got was so terrible, shrill, and broken that I just knew it had to be a hunter. Seconds later a dandy bull steps out below me for me to see…I cannot believe he sounded so terrible. But he was fired up and heading away, I got the wind right and kept after him. He would answer my cow calls but was moving at a good clip and even crossed in front of me and gained elevation on me in no time. I got close and cow called again, he came back over ridge, gave me a bugle as if to tell me I needed to come to him, and went back over ridge. I chased closer again as it was near 7:00 and by now we were on rock formations. I could hear him around 30yds away breaking sticks, but he would not come to cow call. I was not real confident in my bugle, so I just gave some chuckles on the bugle tube…that was it, he did not like that. His head poked around a rock formation at 25yds, and I was up against a large boulder, but wide open to him. As I was ready draw when he walked out, he swung his head my way and came straight at me with head down…I’ll never forget those big brow times coming right at me…I have no shot being head on, and I’m thinking when do I scream like a little girl and run for cover?
He then begins to go around the large boulder I’m behind and I slowly swing with him and draw slowly…he sensed the draw, and I could just see antler tops above the rock looking straight my way (6-8 yds from me). We both froze, he then bolted back the way he came with me jumping out at full draw – and giving my loudest deer bleats that I’m so used to doing on whitetails…that didn’t work. He stopped just up the hill and was walking around, I continued to call, and hear a twig snap behind me, I turn to see an elk rump…and then it begins to walk and was a small legal bull going under rock ledge I’m on. I quietly go over to edge and look and he disappeared…those big elk amaze me. By now it’s almost 7:20 and I’m sure the guys are on the radios waiting for me to check in. I get back to the Suburban and tell the guys “I know where we are going in the morning.”
At the time, that encounter ranked as the greatest I have had in the elk woods – really even better than taking my elk the year before as that was only about a 1 min encounter.
Day 2 we headed back to same spot I was night before and split up on both sides of the valley as I actually heard more bugles from the opposite side. That morning I saw blue sky then rain showers 3 times in a matter of a few hours – taking my rain jacket on/off 3 times. I did hear a couple different bugles but was unable to close on either before they stopped. 2 of the others did call a nice bull into 65 yards and was getting close to shooting lane but wind switched and bull took off.
Love the different weather that rolls in and out of camp.
We took quick trip for showers and some Pizza/wings…good food always boost the happiness meter.
Back to same area for evening hunt and took my Dad with me to set up on some decent sign I found…had a great view while waiting for action to heat up but I think the change in wind direction could have hurt us that night…ended up with nothing but a pretty night on the mountain…and I enjoy those too.
Being that was first hunt none of us 5 saw or heard any elk, we opted for different plan for morning 3…man, we put down some miles and I saw two different mountain sides and crossed road multiple times…but only one buddy jumped some elk and tried catching up to them with no luck.
CO Elk 2014 – It doesn’t get much better than this
I know I’ve made it clear to many that I’m absolutely addicted to hunting elk with my bow. In 2013, I was lucky enough to fulfill a longtime dream of mine by bagging a decent 6x6 with my bow…all that did was fuel my desire to do it more. Going into the 2014 season I knew odds were against me to go “back to back” on archery elk, especially with only 5 days to hunt, but I’ll take that chance any time I can…for me, it truly cleanses the soul to pursue elk in the CO mountains with bow in hand.
2014 meant that my friend Will would be hosting his large bi-annual camp, and we’d be bringing a group of 5 from my hometown to be their neighbors. My dad would be making his 3rd straight trip with me which I always enjoy, as well as 2 returning hunting mates, Greg & LB, and one friend on his first trip with us, Shaun. Each of my 4 returning years I have brought someone new and it is such a joy to share this beautiful country…especially when they all agree that they want to come back again.
We hit the road a little after 5:30pm on Friday Sept 19th for the approx 15 hour drive to camp. As usual I drive as far as I can into the night, then hand the wheel off for a quick nap…well, we got our first laughs of this trip early in the morning hours of Sat as I awoke to the “Low fuel level” chime going off in the car. We had pushed our first 2 tanks of gas already and I knew that chime meant about 20 miles left…the next sign said Limon, CO 24 miles…both figures were spot on! After a few phone calls to law enforcement and road side assistance – we were basically told we were SOL at 3:30am. So, I got in one last hunting workout and jogged 4 miles to Limon. I was fooled about 1 mile into my jog by this sign:
Thinking I only had a mile to go, this ends up being a highway junction east of town. Not surprised that nobody wanted to stop and help a guy in camo along side of interstate at 4:00am…I rolled into gas station little before 5:00am. With nobody heading back east, the attendant phoned the sheriff dispatch to get me a ride as they don’t want people walking along interstate. Sheriff’s office called back…and…State trooper, county sheriffs, and Limon police had Nobody on duty! The attendant graciously offered to run me back when he got off a little before 6:00, I figured that beat 4 miles with gas can in my hand…I gave him a nice tip – Thanks Ian!
Back on the road with about 3 hour delay – all we could do was laugh – heck, that’s all we did almost the whole trip, great company.
We were setting up camp about 11:00. Always enjoy that first day acclimating to the altitude, taking a ride to show everyone around, then grilling out in the Rockies!
I tried a free time lapse app on my phone of setting up camp – didn’t get centered very good.
And the fall colors could not have been better.
We had a plan for day 1 and sleep would come easy…but as we prepared for bed, I see neighbor Rob moose calling…at first I think he’s messing with the newb hunters in camp…but ends up we had a front row show to a dandy Shiras moose just 100 yds behind our tent, great way to kick off our week!
We always plan to put some miles in the first 2 days to find the elk. Saw some great looking country on day 1, but no elk sightings for me and two others. The remaining two both spotted one elk which boosted hopes. That night the others all wanted to try a new spot we had not done before, and since I also had a spot I’d been eyeing during the offseason that was along the way I had them drop me off en route. That ended up being the best move I could have made…and put us on elk for the remainder of the hunt.
My original plan was to come in low and work my way straight up to find a different way into some country we always like to hunt. I climbed until after 5:00 and was beginning to “cliff out” with no way to go higher, I took a seat to cool off and enjoy the view from the climb. At 5:20 I hear my first bugle down below me. After hearing it again I figure I need to descend as it’s my best chance to see something. I make my way down about 800 ft. to a rock opening in which I can see below. I now hear 2-3 different bugles, most of which sound on opposite hillside. I cow call and the bugle response I got was so terrible, shrill, and broken that I just knew it had to be a hunter. Seconds later a dandy bull steps out below me for me to see…I cannot believe he sounded so terrible. But he was fired up and heading away, I got the wind right and kept after him. He would answer my cow calls but was moving at a good clip and even crossed in front of me and gained elevation on me in no time. I got close and cow called again, he came back over ridge, gave me a bugle as if to tell me I needed to come to him, and went back over ridge. I chased closer again as it was near 7:00 and by now we were on rock formations. I could hear him around 30yds away breaking sticks, but he would not come to cow call. I was not real confident in my bugle, so I just gave some chuckles on the bugle tube…that was it, he did not like that. His head poked around a rock formation at 25yds, and I was up against a large boulder, but wide open to him. As I was ready draw when he walked out, he swung his head my way and came straight at me with head down…I’ll never forget those big brow times coming right at me…I have no shot being head on, and I’m thinking when do I scream like a little girl and run for cover?
He then begins to go around the large boulder I’m behind and I slowly swing with him and draw slowly…he sensed the draw, and I could just see antler tops above the rock looking straight my way (6-8 yds from me). We both froze, he then bolted back the way he came with me jumping out at full draw – and giving my loudest deer bleats that I’m so used to doing on whitetails…that didn’t work. He stopped just up the hill and was walking around, I continued to call, and hear a twig snap behind me, I turn to see an elk rump…and then it begins to walk and was a small legal bull going under rock ledge I’m on. I quietly go over to edge and look and he disappeared…those big elk amaze me. By now it’s almost 7:20 and I’m sure the guys are on the radios waiting for me to check in. I get back to the Suburban and tell the guys “I know where we are going in the morning.”
At the time, that encounter ranked as the greatest I have had in the elk woods – really even better than taking my elk the year before as that was only about a 1 min encounter.
Day 2 we headed back to same spot I was night before and split up on both sides of the valley as I actually heard more bugles from the opposite side. That morning I saw blue sky then rain showers 3 times in a matter of a few hours – taking my rain jacket on/off 3 times. I did hear a couple different bugles but was unable to close on either before they stopped. 2 of the others did call a nice bull into 65 yards and was getting close to shooting lane but wind switched and bull took off.
Love the different weather that rolls in and out of camp.
We took quick trip for showers and some Pizza/wings…good food always boost the happiness meter.
Back to same area for evening hunt and took my Dad with me to set up on some decent sign I found…had a great view while waiting for action to heat up but I think the change in wind direction could have hurt us that night…ended up with nothing but a pretty night on the mountain…and I enjoy those too.
Being that was first hunt none of us 5 saw or heard any elk, we opted for different plan for morning 3…man, we put down some miles and I saw two different mountain sides and crossed road multiple times…but only one buddy jumped some elk and tried catching up to them with no luck.
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