Elknut's new DVD's worked on our first day!

[wewarev]

Took a 5x5 on my first elk hunt on our first day using the calling sequence's from Paul's new DVD's.

I'm traveling home right now so I'll have to post the whole story and the pics in a few days.

[Trophyhill]

Awesome! Congrats! Can't wait to read about it!

[ElkNut1]

Sweet! Can't wait to hear the story! Congrats!

ElkNut1

[mandrroofing]

Congrats!

[idahoghost]

Yep. I watched the DVD and gave it a shot as well. Oddly, I had seven cows and cavles come running to me. I mean running !

I'd would have been happy with that, but the wind shifted snd the mead cow blew out at fifty yards taking the rest with her. The sequence worked like a charm.

Kudos to Paul and Paul.

[mjblowers]

What has the temp and area been like for you guys? Were you hearing them at all before set up and calling?

[wewarev]

The temps were 60's day & 40's night. The elk were silent all week. My bull came in silent. That was last Tuesday. I talked to another hunter Saturday and he's only heard 3 bugles. That was a week ago.

[wewarev]

My story begins about 4 years ago when I became serious about hunting elk with a bow. For various reasons...e.g. I wasn't interested in a guided hunt, a DIY bowhunt was more appealing and satisfying, the cost is less for a DIY backpack bowhunt, there is a ton of information on various websites... I focused on a backpack DIY bowhunt for elk.

I knew I wasn't going to be able to do the hunt the first year or two so I focused on the research side of things. That's where the internet became so invaluable. Starting over at AT where I was introduced to Paul and this forum, this site soon became my primary 'elk information station'. With the tone Paul sets, the people who contribute, along with the information that is so readily shared and the willingness to help each other out, this forum (and to a lesser extent others) helped me gain years of experience before I ever set foot in the woods. I also need to pause and thank David (Trophyhill) who was very helpful with the unit I chose along with where to start looking when I got there.

To be quite honest, it feels like I almost didn't get to hunt this year because it all happened so quickly. Of our party of three, I was the only one with a tag. My son was coming along just to be with me and help call. Another friend of ours decided to join us just two weeks before the trip just because he wanted to go camp and hike in the Rockies. So, on Labor Day, my son Ryan and I rolled into Denver to pick up our friend Tim, who flew in from Florida. By Monday night we were setting up camp near the truck. My plan was for us to camp low (9200 ft) the first two nights and then camp deeper and higher in elevation after that. Let me just say as a flat-lander (Florida panhandle). The topo maps do not tell how steep the mountains are! Even GE doesn't do it justice.

My original plan was to hike up a ridge about 1400 feet above camp to check out some areas I'd already marked on my maps...wrong. About an hour into our initial hike on Tuesday I asked the guys how high they thought we'd come. Tim said at least 800 ft while Ryan thought 700. After checking the GPS we were disheartened to discover we'd only ascended less that 300...lol. We were in for a long day!

About 9:00 I told Tim that I wasn't in the hunting mode, I was more of a sightseer enjoying the views. We were snapping pictures every chance we had...which was quite often. I love the mountains and was just enjoying being there. I figured since I had two weeks to hunt I would get serious later...

Around 10:00 we stopped at 10,000 ft. to rest and Tim spilled the rest of his water...knowing the importance of him having enough water I suggested we side hill around the mountain to where I thought a creek would be (according to the maps). As we reached the north side, Ryan and I decided to just throw out a few calls. Not a real setup mind you, just moving slowing and cow calling. Within ten seconds we heard something up the slope and a few seconds later a cow elk busted out. My first bit of confidence...wow, calling does work, and on our first feeble attempt too. After that we became more conscious of our setups and started using the breeding sequence. Our second setup, Ryan would cow call and I would bugle. Making our way around the north side we came to the creek...dry...we would just share what water we had between us the rest of the day.

From that point on the dry creek we did our next set. The other side of the dry creek was covered in aspens and the wind seemed to favor me going to that side. Ryan began a breeding sequence...nothing. We moved up the drainage and I thought I heard some elk up ahead. Ryan began another sequence but I stopped him when I realized that what I heard up ahead wasn't elk... As we moved closer to discuss the situation Ryan tells me he just saw an elk run off on his side. I decide we'll just switch sides and tell Ryan to just try the advertising sequence. The wind by this time (close to 12:00) is moving up hill, from my left to right.

As I cross over the dry creek and move up the hill about 30 yards I see movement and black legs, then the tan body of an elk and I thought a spike, then he moves from left to right and steps into an opening...a 5x5! Ryan and Tim are starting to break branches so the bull moves toward me and stops at about 40-50 yards. Then Ryan lets out a bugle and the bull immediately moves across in front from left to right. I figure he's trying to get upwind. He stops at about 30 yards quartering to me and I let an arrow go. He's hit, wheels and goes 10 yards and stops facing away from me behind some trees. I can tell he's hurting as he lowers his head and rolls it from side to side. Ryan and Tim have no idea what has happened as they're to far back to see and they continue to break branches and occasionally bugle . The bull looks over his shoulder in their direction making it hard for me to move up. This goes on for about 10 minutes, then he moves off toward my right going up hill. By this time, I'm able to move closer and stop him with a cow call (just wasn't confident enough to use the nervous bark). He's quartering away this time and I'm able to up another arrow in him. He wheels and goes about 20-25 yards and tips over. Game over...

I had to whistle a few times to get Ryan and Tim's attention before they came...Ryan told me he thought I was just making some real bad cow calls at first...Tim's first words when he saw the bull were, "Man, that's huge!"

As you all know the work began then...it took us 12 hours from the shot until we made it back to camp for the final time.

We spent the rest of the week hiking, camping, going into town for a shower (Tim said, 'the best $6 I've ever spent), and having a great week until Tim's plane left on Sunday. Oh, before he left town we took Tim by Cabelas and helped him get outfitted with a new bow...so, next year if we're able to go back I'll have two new hunting partners....sound's like fun!!!

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[lamrith]

Awesome story, Congrats!

[BRazz]

Fantastic story - great work and a huge congratulations to you!!! Thanks for sharing!

[Elkduds]

That's the way to get into elk hunting! Thanks for the great writeup. Your 1st elk is the hardest, so it will be a piece of cake in your future hunts