First Blood - The Story of My First Elk

[T-Rex]

Congrats and great hunt recap! Well done!

 

[AslanE]

In the heat of the moment it's hard to know what's real. Congrats!

 

[Bobrobheimer]

Great story!

 

[hoosierhunter11]

Awesome story, thank you for sharing and congratulations!

 

[Unlatched Ammo]

What an incredible story and hunt—congrats on your first elk!
The way you tied your dad’s influence into every step is powerful; sounds like he was right there with you in spirit. Memories like that are exactly why we hunt. Thanks for sharing such an inspiring write-up.

 

[Acorn]

Thanks guys for all the congrats! After a few weeks of letting reality set in and reflecting on the hunt, I wanted to share a few takeaways to help others and promote discussion.

1. Newer hunters, stick with the same unit. Learn the area thoroughly. There’s enough inherent variation in animal behavior from year to year with weather, moon phase, rut timing. Hunting the same area (provided there are animals there) reduces the variables you have to account for and makes navigation one less thing to worry about.

2. Invest in others. It may be your own kids, it may be someone else’s kids, it may be a friend your own age, or even someone older than you. Sure, with all the resources available these days, most folks can eventually figure it out on their own. However, a mentor can dramatically speed up the learning curve, AND add priceless relational benefits that come along the way.

3. Prepare for the pack out, not just the hunt. Of course, fitness requirements and preparations need to be tailored to YOUR hunt. But in general, the heaviest load and hardest work comes after the kill. Cardio work like trail running, hiking, biking, etc. is excellent for preparing your pulmonary, cardiac, and metabolic systems. If you just do cardio, you might feel great during the hunt but then break down during the pack out. Adding in cardio to a balanced program of strength-focused weight training and rucking really helped me feel strong as I covered dozens of miles and many thousands of feet of elevation over the week. The first load of meat was certainly a shock to my system, but I actually felt my best by the end of the second day packing out. If there was more work to be done, my body was ready.

4. After the shot, DON’T assume an outcome based on animal behavior. Bow hunters, search intently for your arrow to gather more data. If you can’t find your arrow, slowly and carefully work your way in the direction the animal went to see if you can find blood. Color, texture, and amount of blood can provide a lot of information.