JB'S '16 Elk Safari: Road to Elk Slayer Status.

[Jon Boy]

Hard to believe a little over 4 years ago I had never killed an elk before and now I'm pursuing them in multiple states with multiple weapons and having a fair bit of success at it too.

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/elk/28807-jon-boys-2014-elk-season.html
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/elk/37669-15-season-trials-aspiring-elk-slayer.html

Its long winded thread and pic heavy, I Don't expect many of you to read it all but at least enjoy the pics.

Its been a very long season with over 75 days in the field with 71 of that strictly chasing elk. In that time there were only 4 days that I never saw an elk. I had tags in WA, ID, and MT this year. This took me from the badlands of SE MT to the high country of Central WA's Cascades and literally every where in between. The elk woods taught me a few more lessons this year, as always. I was focused on chasing mature herd bulls this year for the first time, and let me tell you it is a completely different game. No mistakes are allowed at that level.

Archery season came and went with many, many close encounters with very large bulls. Just when I thought it would all come together the wind would switch or a cow would bust me drawing.





From there I headed to Central WA to my dad's annual muzzleloader elk camp. This hunt is always special to me as its where I started elk hunting and calling. Also the camp consists of 12 guys I have grown up around my whole life.



A good family friend drew a quality bull tag and I was the designated caller. Opening day I worked this bull over the course of 4 hours. At 4 pm the bull came in and offered Jeff a 50 yard shot. Really a neat experience to be apart of, not bad for a 16 y/o's first elk. I green grossed him at 335.








Two days later my Dad and I worked in on a spike (spike only general tag) and I was able to cow call the bull into 25 yards and take him. First elk I've been able to take my old man.



2 days after that another guy in camp was able to fill his cow tag. This pic has pretty much all of the men I grew up around and looked up to my whole life. A special moment for me.

 

[Jon Boy]

From there it was back to MT for the general rifle season. I hunted hard for several weeks. Everything from horseback to bivvy hunts. Lots of miles logged in a rugged range in SW MT. I passed several 280-300 class bulls, watched friends knock down some bulls, and packed a whole lot of elk meat for others. But I never could find that next level bull I was looking for. With the opening of my Idaho tag I started feeling the pressure to get an elk in the freezer in MT and head to Idaho for horns.



I spotted two bulls at first light several miles away and drove around to the nearest trailhead. On my hike to them I spotted 2 bulls below me bedded down. As this was happening a fierce blizzard moved in and I nearly froze as I waited for 2 hours for the bull to stand up. When he finally did the tikka spoke and the bull was on wobbly legs, two more rounds for insurance and he was down. He fell on the steepest slickest slope I've seen. From where I started butchering to where I ended was over 200 yards apart as we slid down the whole way. I packed out the straps and a shoulder that afternoon and had two good buddies help me the next day. I passed a lot bigger bulls earlier in the season, and am glad I did; but in no way did I feel let down with this bull, it ended up being one of my favorite hunts.





From there it was off to Idaho. I saw a handful of bulls and ton of cows over two weeks. Snow piled up and temperatures dropped well below zero. I got my truck stuck, passed on small bulls, screwed up on others and really learned a lot. The hunt ended up kicking my ass and the tag went un-punched. I could of shot a number of cows or spikes but I knew I'd rather eat the tag then shoot a young bull or cow on this particular hunt.



Now-a-days I already find myself planning next years hunts and starting a new project of traveling to different winter ranges through out the west looking for trophy class bull to observe and photograph. Can't wait see what the future brings.

 

[5MilesBack]

I was focused on chasing mature herd bulls this year for the first time, and let me tell you it is a completely different game.

For archery, it's a completely addicting game chasing mature herd bulls. But yes, a whole different game which I thoroughly enjoy. I'd rather have 20+ days in a season chasing them and eating my tag, than coming home with a raghorn anymore.

 

[realunlucky]

Great season Jon boy

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[Queets30#]

Great times!! Congratulations on a great season!!

 

[avluey]

Congrats on a great season, enjoyed the read.

 

[Northernpiker]

Congratulations on a memorable season.

 

[Jon Boy]

Thanks fellas. It was a great season

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[bz_711]

Living the dream man...thanks for sharing!

 

[ndbwhunter]

Good work, Jon! I envy those of you that live in elk country and can spend that much time in the field each year.

 

[kad11]

Thanks for the good distraction from studying; I really enjoy hearing about guys getting after mature bulls. It sounds like we're pretty similar in that we're both fairly new to elk hunting (this fall was my fifth season) and we're also both targeting mature bulls.

I don't want to hijack your thread... just thought I'd share a quick experience I had this past season that I'm sure you can relate to...

I spotted this 7x7 in the AM during the first week of MT rifle and made a big loop to get on him in the evening. The wind switched briefly and he ended up blowing out at less than 50 yards.



I completely agree with you - finding and chasing big, mature bulls is absolutely addicting and really challenging.

 

[Nomad]

Fantastic description of your hunting adventures. I'm jealous.

 

[Jon Boy]

I completely agree with you - finding and chasing big, mature bulls is absolutely addicting and really challenging.

Couldnt have said it better myself.

 

[maninthemaze]

Wow, great threads. Thank you for sharing. My first elk hunt will be Montana in 2017. I'm just hoping to see elk. As a newbie, I'm probably just gonna throw a dart at Region 3 and go hunting, or hiking while armed. Either way, the scenery out west sure beats the scenery here in KY.

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[elkguide]

Thanks for sharing and taking us along.

 

[Dinger]

Great story and pics.

 

[Elkhunter777]

75 days hunting Elk! Living the dream! Great season

 

[Jon Boy]

Wow, great threads. Thank you for sharing. My first elk hunt will be Montana in 2017. I'm just hoping to see elk. As a newbie, I'm probably just gonna throw a dart at Region 3 and go hunting, or hiking while armed. Either way, the scenery out west sure beats the scenery here in KY.

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You got the right idea brother. Just keep in mind the first year is about having fun and learning the country. Don't expect to kill elk. Your way more likely to kill an elk that way than the guys that come from the east and put a ton of pressure on themselves to fill the tag. I'm familiar with region 3 so feel free to pm me where your looking and ill tell you what I know

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[Ross]

Super year Jon Congrats great stuff for the memory bank and for the future

 

[jlrichesin]

Thanks for sharing... I still have not learned the secret on how to get my wife willing to allow me gone enough to hunt elk for that long. Shoot, 12 days is pushing it for me!


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