CNELK week 1 is in the books...

[cnelk]

Howdy...

We chased bugling bulls until we couldn't cross rivers to continue the chase
We run and gunned
We sat in tree stands
We still hunted
We hunted in singles, pairs and threes
We cold called
We all had shots, most more than 1
We were schooled by weather
We were schooled by elk

The tally was 64 elk encountered with 1 on the ground yesterday morning

We are pulling stakes when we get back to camp in about an hour.

I will post stories, pics and lessons learned over the next few days

Everything we own is wet. Time to dry out.

Stay tuned

CNELK

[JGH]

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

Looking forward to the stories. Headed out to get my own stories in a week.

[treestanding]

looking forward to reading the stories.

I just got back yesterday from central Co. I know what you mean about everything being wet, after 7 days maybe my boots will have a chance to dry out.

[bnsafe]

congrats brad. cant wait to hear an see

[cnelk]

Before I begin, I would like to mention that the style of our hunting is just regular guys doing what we love to do.
We hunt for bulls and/or cows. Nothing special.

We make mistakes, but learn from them.
We have a lot of fun.

The stories I will tell are real hunting. I wont sugar coat.

I dont intend to offend anyone, and I hope what happened to us, many can learn from.

I will be heading back to the high country in a couple weeks to hopefully take more pics...

Enjoy

[Buglemaster]

Don't know about the rest of you guys, but I want more! Don't get me wrong, the 3 of you seem to be nice guys & look to be decent ,honest folks, but WHERE EXACTLY DID ALL THE BLOOD ORIGINATE FROM? That's what I really want to see!

[cnelk]

Opening morning found us split into 2 pairs. My son and I and my 2 buddies.
I got us into elk first thing. We followed a bugling bull and cows thru the timber and finally got close enough to split them up.
Once that happened, the bugling increased and so did the cow mewing.

We quickly stopped to shed a layer of clothes. About that time I saw a cow coming thru the timber about 50yds away.
I told my son to get his bow ready, and I cow called.
She turned on a dime and headed straight at us.

Im whispering to my son... wait....wait....
I can see his broadhead doing 'figure 8s'
The elk turned to the right slightly
I told him to draw

The cow stopped behind some trees at 30yds...............

..................

................................

Now his broadhead was really starting to waver

I told him to let down

The cow drifted away so I called to her again and she stopped just over 40 yds.
I told my son there she is!

He drew, settled the pin and the arrow went just under her...

The cow ran a bit and I stopped her again.
I picked up my bow and slipped in on her.
She was standing a perfect quartering away

I tried to range her but I was directly facing the sun and got nothing but glare
So... I estimated her at 60yds

When I drew and settled my sights on her, the pins were also brilliantly lit because of the sun.
I found the 60 pin and settled in...

I touched it off and saw the arrow glide so very nicely right over her back...

She was closer than 60yds...

Off she went to catch up to the herd

[Bullnuts]

She was closer than 60yds...

I know that feeling! Can't wait to hear the rest of the story!

[JGH]

cnelk wrote:

I will be heading back to the high country in a couple weeks to hopefully take more pics...

So ... you mean you're not going to spend your extra time calling for me next week?

You can take all the pictures you want!

[ElkNut1]

Brad, good stuff there, yes DIY OTC elk hunts aren't a slam dunk by any stretch of ones imagination, that require lots of things for the stars to line up. (grin) Thanks for the updates & look forward to your next adventure out there!

ElkNut1

[cnelk]

John
Sent you a PM

Paul
Its for sure that any elk hunt isnt a slam dunk!
I will be posting a short video later that depicts a lot!

Bullnuts
Yes. There is lots of AIR around an elk!!!!

OK, back the stories

After we both wift on our shots, we slipped thru the timber in the direction I believed the herd went.
In about 10 minutes, I saw elk tan in the timber!

There was about 15. We were right in the middle of the cows. the were feeding right to left.
The bull off to the right, as he bugled every once in awhile.

A cow was working her way into an opening, I ranged her 30yds
I drew, settled the pin and let it fly.
Only to hit a branch at 15yds!
The arrow took a nose dive and the elk jumped a bit.
[TIP:
There is an advantage of kneeling when shooting thru timber as there are fewer lower branches than if you stand]

We eased up to the herd again and waited. No calling as we were plenty close
Another cow came into a shooting lane and I drew again. No chance to range her.

The arrow flew true!
Right across her back, taking some hair and into a tree!

After that, they had enough.
We didnt push them anymore so we could hunt them the next morning [which includes more arrows flying]

[BRazz]

Oh man I love reading this. Glad to hear you are getting into 'em!!! Keep it coming and help calm my addiction until next weekend...

[cnelk]

In the meantime, my two buddies Calvin and Matt were doing their own version of opening day archery elk.
On one off their setups, they called in a spike and a raghorn.

Matt brought the raghorn right into Calvins lap at 25yds.
[Now Im not going to make any excuses for Calvin as he is an excellent hunter and a great shooter, but he just came off a 32 hour stint of working and driving to get to elk camp]

Calvin sliced an arrow right over the back of the bull, taking some hair.
Matt quickly called and the bull came right over to him.
He sent an arrow right into the shoulder of the bull.
The arrow was retrieved and it was broken off at the insert and with a couple hours of tracking efforts, the elk was not to be found.


Back to camp for lunch!

[cnelk]

After A quick bite, I set off to my wallow stand that I was anxiously wanting to sit in.
I had a trail camera on it all summer.
Upon arrival, I noticed the batteries were dead, no pics
so I changed them [but forgot to change the date info]
This will come into play later...

I sat all afternoon....

........
..............
...................

This was the view....

[cnelk]

After 4-5 hours I realized how small and hard that little seat is....
The thunder boomers were forming and being close to the continental divide I didnt want to chance the equation of:

BIG TREE + METAL STAND + LIGHTNING = TOAST

As it was beginning to sprinkle, I headed off to other adventures for the evening.

I moved downhill, using what wind I could.
For those that wonder, when a front comes in, the typical thermal winds and times are blown away - literally.
The wind will do whatever it wants.

After a bit, I selected promising looking little area and decided to do a cold call.

If you notice the pic above overlooking the wallow, I have a wrist watch strapped to the riser of my bow.
This eliminates me having to move my arm to look at my watch there.
Very useful for setting up when calling and how long between calls.

Only 3 minutes after I started calling, I look over an see a cow elk standing there ~50-60yds.
I prepare for the shot, give her a mew, and her she came.

I range a tree that was in her direction of travel - 30yds.
She held that course.

As she was about to enter the shooting lane, I drew.
And of course, she stopped.

I held at full draw....

......

..........

..............

I let down. She is looking around.
I lean to my left and I see that if I can slide 2 steps to my left, I will have her in the clear.

I draw again.
I make a small step to the left.

Half way there!

I make another step to my left and that was enough for her...
She was gone.

My day was over.

[cnelk]

Here is a pic of my son and I packing tree stands.

MY GOD the weather was so hot!

[cnelk]

Morning of Day 2 my son and I called in a hunter on the first call set of bugling,raking and cow calling
The guy looked a bit sheepish.
But he mentioned that there is another hunter just over the ridge doing same thing...
REALLY?!!!

Off we went.

It wasnt long before we heard the hunter bugling his fool head off.
My son asked 'Why is he bugling so much?'

My reply ' Follow me'

Within a few minutes we were surrounded by elk.
This 4x5 was bugling up a song.
Cows were everywhere.

We slipped along with them. The bull was not aggressive, and the challenge wasnt his cup of tea.
So we dogged them looking for the opportunity.

They zigged. We zigged.
They zagged. We zagged.

Finally a cow was to the left at 40 yds.

She moved into a small lane and I stopped her.
There was a tree covering her front leg and head.
All I had to do was slip that arrow right by the tree - 2 inches to the right

Yeah right....

As we were digging my broadhead out of the tree, the elk kept moving to where elk go.

The attempt to dig out the broadhead failed.
So upon leaving the broadhead in the tree and unscrewing the arrow, my son asked ' Where do you think the elk are?'

I answered, 'Watch this'...

I let out a bugle and the 4x5 did not disappoint me.

"They are right over there buddy!"

Off we went...

[cnelk]

We caught up to the herd.
But they were split.
Between my bugling and cow calling, another bull came in to join the fray.
He was a 'growler'. He came in and took some of the cows. The wind was wrong to go after him, so we stuck with the 4x5 and a couple of cows.

The 4x5 was a bit confused what was going on.
He didnt have the company he had a few minutes ago and was standing his ground more.

We eased up carefully as the cows always seemed to be nearer than the bull.
Finally a shot at the bull presented itself.

OK...
Im not sure if this has happened to anyone else, but for some reason, my release didnt latch on the D loop like it should have.
As I drew, it sprung about halfway thru and it sent the arrow into a tree 15ft in front of me.

Once again, I attempted to dig my broadhead out of a tree, this time successfully.
And during this time, the 'growler' and 4x5 were both chuckling... Im sure at me...

That was the end of our morning, the other buddies were blanked.

[bnsafe]

great stories but I hate suppense, type quicker please,

[cnelk]

great stories but I hate suppense, type quicker please,

Gotcha!

I dont need to mention that it rained, because it rained everyday.
We just were ready to get out when it cleared

Sunday night Calvin and I dropped off one truck at a hike out spot and drove another around to drop in a nice draw.
We went thru some nice country but didnt get into elk until we were at the lower truck.
As we eased up over a small ridge into an aspen pocket to set up, the herd of elk were already there.
We watched them from 90yards as there was nothing we could do....

Meanwhile, my son and Matt went out and did a circuit of call sets.

On the last one, a cow and calf came into my son's calling and as their eyes met at 30yds, he said she 'looked into his soul'
How cool is that?!

No shots were presented, but we were into elk and thats where it starts!

[cnelk]

Monday - Labor Day 2013 - Walleye fry day!

Calvin and I went for a big 6-7 mile swipe thru some country I had some success in the past.
All that coming into our calling was a spike

Matt and Cole got into 6 elk at daybreak, but nothing else came into their calling efforts.

We met at camp and prepared for 'The Feast'!

The Baptizm of Walleye / Potatoes and Onions and Bacon

[bnsafe]

im doin something wrong, im killin myself an eatin beef jerky and protein bars and no elk. I wanna come to your camp just for the walleye

[Buglemaster]

Crap, your killin us Brad!

[cnelk]

Since its MNF, I can watch the game and type...

After we gorged ourselves with walleye and fresh apple dumplings for dessert, Matt and Cole had to head back.
Matt had to work, Cole had school.

Me and Calvin had to hunt.

With our bellies full, it was best decided that sitting tree stands would be best for the evening hunt.

I went one way, Calvin another.

The rain had made everything quiet in the woods.

About 7pm I gave a few soft cow calls.

At 7:20pm I hear a stick crack right behind the stand.

I turn and see a cow elk 15yds away and poking thru the timber.
I reach for my bow and already know the range at 22 yards.

I stopped her

I draw and shoot.

A small branch deflected the arrow and it did not fly true...

It hit the cow square in the shoulder...

For those that have archery hunted a lot, you know this stuff happens.
You just hope it doesnt happen to you.

Well, the more you archery hunt, the chances go way up that it will.

I found the arrow broke off just above the insert.

No blood, no elk.

[bnsafe]

cmon man, I havnt been teased this much since high school

[cnelk]

Sorry fellas... I fell asleep.
Still catching up from 18-20 hr days in the elk woods

Tuesday morning found us again slipping thru the timber setting up cold calls. That seemed to be working the best.
But not this morning.

After the morning hunt, We decided to move a ladder stand a couple hundred yards as we found a good spot and a good tree.

Here is my buddy preparing the stand.
It turned out to be a great spot

[cnelk]

In the afternoon we headed up to my wallow stand.
We were only about 100 yds from the stand when I spotted a bull elk.

Dang! we were too late

Here is a pic of the bull that visited the wallow just before we got there.
[Remember when I forgot to set the date? - The time is correct]

We hunted around the area, only to hear some bugles as the sun was going down

[cnelk]

Wednesday morning we laced up our boots real tight to prepare for a real hike/hunt.
We went into a new area I had scouted in June.
Its a 1000ft drop in 3/4 mile.
A real honey hole.

It wasnt long before we heard a bugle so we drifted in that direction.

As we slabbed a ridge and about to crest to the top, we spotted 2 elk 50yds away!

2 bulls!

We were somewhat out in the open and they were too close to move anymore

So we prepared to see what would transpire...

I gave a mew.

One bull turned and looked in our direction. And here he came!

40yds....

30yds....

25yds....

I told Calvin to 'Take him'...

Calvin drew....

[elkmtngear]

Brad,
Reading this thread, I find myself saying "dang it"! over and over.

Please don't make me say it again!

[cnelk]

As he drew, unknowing to him, the arrow had rested between the forks of his Rip Cord and his riser.
The arrow was sprung off the rest and dangled.

As Jeff said... "Dang it!!!"

The bull stood there watching.

I drew and settle the pin

There was no trees in the way this time, nothing but me and the elk.

I missed the vitals

The arrow hit high

For 2 hours we looked and looked

No blood. No elk...

"Dang It!!!!"

[cnelk]

The day was a hot one!

We went to sit in the tree stands for the evening hunt.

No elk

[cnelk]

Thursday morning we drove to another access point to enter the 'Honey Hole'

Its a great feeling not seeing any boot prints, the terrain is just what you expect for elk hunting.

Once we get into our Wonderland, We hear a bull bugle so off we went.
He was pretty worked up.
We moved fast to press him.

But not fast enough, he got across a river and we couldnt.

He was less than 200 yards away and untouchable.

How many times has 'Dang it' come to mind?

We drifted further into the area, using the wind to our advantage.

We spotted an elk 60yds down in a draw!

Bull

He was in range but being a raghorn, it was tough to determine is he was legal.

He drifted toward us a few yards.

He was legal!

Suddenly, unknown to us, 5 cows that were to the left busted us...

They left

What was that word again???

[elkmtngear]

Dang it!!!

[cnelk]

A pic of a big old tree in the Honey Hole area...

[cnelk]

We made the hump out the sweet spot and back to camp we went.

Another hot day and rain coming.

We went and sat in the tree stands again for the evening hunt....

NADA

[cnelk]

Friday morning.
Only one more day for Calvin's hunt.
My son was coming back up today for the weekend.

Calvin and I split up.

He went low, I went high

6:23am
I set up.
I call.

A bugle sounds off ~ 100yds away.

I move toward it, but I only get about 20yards when I see an elk standing in the timber at 50yds

I stop, look for shooting lanes, and give a soft mew.

Here it comes...

NICE BULL!!!

He is coming right toward me.

The thermals are right to left

He stops

He starts walking again,heading downwind

I range the shooting lane

30yds

He passes behind a couple trees

I draw

He steps into the shooting lane

I stop him with a grunt

Perfect broadside opportunity....

I drop the string

Right over his back went the arrow....

I damn near threw my bow

What tha????


6:29am
Absolutely no idea what went wrong this time

[cnelk]

After that opportunity had slipped away, spirits were pretty low.

I made a couple more call sets.

The last one I finally saw legs moving toward me thru the timber.

I turned slightly

The elk stopped as the gravel below my feet made too much sound.

I saw a cow 25yds away looking at me

Stare down time....

.....
.........
............

She bolted

DANG IT!!!

That was the Friday morning excitement

[cnelk]

My son made it back to camp about lunch time.

We made the evening hunt plans and it was decided that Cole would go to the ladder pine tree stand while Calvin and I made a circuit thru another area.

After dark, we all met at the truck.

Calvin and I saw squat

But...
Cole had called in a big 6x6 that hung up at 80yds.
Then a short time later, while he had just set his bow down, a cow came right under his stand at 15yds....
He stopped her but she did not present a shot and slowly drifted away

[cnelk]

Saturday morning.

Calvin had just the morning hunt before he had to head back to Minnesota.

He, Cole and I made the circuit I did the day before...

The bull I missed and the cow that bolted... still fresh in my mind

The thermals switch about 9am and we try to end about that time.

After several set ups, we were in the vicinity of the 'bolted cow'

Time - 8:50am

We would only call for 15 minutes and head back to camp

Cole was up to my left, Calvin was up to my right...

8:58am

Here is Calvin, to tell you the rest....

[bnsafe]

very cool, great job guys

[BRazz]

For an OTC area in CO that sure is some incredible hunting action. Nice job!

[elkmtngear]

Awesome!

Congrats to Calvin, right on time!

[Vanish]

Great read!

[BrentLaBere]

Sounds like a fun time and thanks for sharing the stories cnelk.