Beating the odds, how sweet it is!

[Indian Summer]

I just got a call from a very excited client a few minutes ago. I have to say I am probably as excited as he is.

Pat emailed me earlier this year: "I am a complete rookie to elk hunting. My goal is to kill an elk, any elk cow included, with my recurve bow" Followed by "Also... I will be hunting solo" oooooookay.

So I had my work cut out for me. I had to make sure that a hunter who never even saw elk country was going to be able to find elk. But that's my job and nothing new. Obviously I can't kill them for you but as long as you are into elk on a regular basis I feel I've done my part. The trick here though would be to make sure that if my hunter killed an elk he would be able to get the bugger out in a reasonable amount of time regardless of the weather. Remember I don't know what kind of packing gear he has or if he is in shape or not. Those are the things I find out before selecting an area that fits my hunters goals and abilities.

Every good plan has a back up plan. Usually two. My hope was that plan A would pan out because the others are usually further from camp, or require relocating camp a bit. I told Pat that I knew for sure he would be into bugling bulls in the A spot. I advised him to handle the spot with care because that if he did it could be his money spot and life would be a whole lot easier if he could connect there.

So I was pretty happy when I got a text after a few days that said "Into bugling elk for 2 days now but backed out because of bad wind. Going back tomorrow" I knew right there that he was listening to me and hunting smart. That's not always easy when you wait all year and there they are.... bugling away.

But then a week of silence. No texts or calls. Until now. "Joe, this is Pat, I killed an elk. A bull" Nice! He asked if he had time to go back in tomorrow for the other 3 quarters or if he needed to do an all nighter and get it all out asap. I asked the questions you'd expect. When did you kill it? How long to find it and get it cut up? What is the weather like?

His first answer tickled me pink! Well I shot him at 8 am and he just stood there. So I went to nock another arrow but before I could shoot him again he tipped over dead right there in his tracks. Sweeeet! "It took me 4 hours to get all the field dressing done and I got the backstraps and one quarter out" Perfect! Before I could tell him to go get ice he says "I'm in town now getting ice for this quarter" Smart guy. So bright and early tomorrow he will get started bring the rest out and icing it down as he goes for the remainder of his bull.

I haven't gotten any other details yet. I was on the phone with another hunter who wants a plan for 2015 so couldn't take forever and Pat was obviously busy. I don't even know how big the bull was. I wished I had thought to ask that. Doh! Anyway I always get truly excited and downright proud for my clients when they connect. It's like having kids that are successful in a way. But this one was a little special to me. Rookie solo recurve hunter happy to shoot a cow gets a bull. That really is beating the odds.

I just had to share it even though I don't have much else for you at this point. I'll try to get him to post more about his hunt... after he gets back and RECUPERATES because tomorrow is going to be a loooong day. It must be at least a mile or mile and a half to his bull from the truck.

[Kiowa1SG]

Damn that is awesome. I am headed out for the final part of Elk season Archery tomorrow. Hope to find that magic for myself and partner over the next week.
Good Job guiding him, over the phone of all things.

[Csrbowhunter]

That is sweet to kill any elk with a recurve! I tried 2 years ago and after 2 misses I went home with tag soup. You must have put him in a good area. what state was he hunting?

[Indian Summer]

Good Job guiding him, over the phone of all things.

A bit more than that Kiowa. I gave him topos marked with details and a set of written instructions on how to approach the area. But you have to give credit where credit is due. The hunter himself is where the rubber meets the road!

Wyoming Craig.

[Csrbowhunter]

I was hoping you would say that because next year I'm going to start putting in for wy. I don't know how long I'll have to put in before I get a tag but I'm thinking I might put in for elk and mulies.

[Indian Summer]

You have until the end of this month, 9 days, to buy a Wyoming preference point online.

Anyone who might be interested in one of my Wyoming hunt plans should buy an elk point right now for $50. You can draw their General Elk license with 1 point for just under $600. You can draw it with no points for roughly double that at just under $1200. So the point is well worth it and even if you don't use it next year it is still good after that.

Here is the address: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/elsapplication/ELSWelcome.aspx

[tdirks]

Congratulations to both Pat and yourself Joe!

[Ghost]

Good job Joe!!! thats what Im talking about!! We are at 31 days and counting till we put the pedal to the metal!!

[Lefty]

You have until the end of this month, 9 days, to buy a Wyoming preference point online.

Anyone who might be interested in one of my Wyoming hunt plans should buy an elk point right now for $50. You can draw their General Elk license with 1 point for just under $600. You can draw it with no points for roughly double that at just under $1200. So the point is well worth it and even if you don't use it next year it is still good after that.
Here is the address: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/elsapplication/ELSWelcome.aspx

Cograts to you and your client
I just wish more states used Wyoming's points and pay system.

[LckyTylr]

That's pretty darn cool and certainly something to be proud of.

[Ol' red]

Awesome story. That must have been the guy you were telling me about.

Red

[Indian Summer]

Yes it was. This just in...

And I stand corrected: After looking at the arrow in the pic I asked about his bow. He went to the compound. Complete pass through with a heavy arrow and a 3 blade Muzzy.

[itsnlkthing]

Nice! Congrats to you and your hunter. Sent you a PM...

[patdel]

I'm the hunter Joe was talking about. I'm really proud of that bull and the effort I put into that hunt. If I ever find my camera I'll post a better picture, but I'm a little worried it may still be on the mountain. I was pretty excited that morning. It may turn up. I haven't got everything unpacked and put away yet. Trying to catch up at work and at home. I couldn't be happier with the way my hunt went, I got my first elk and I learned TONS. I got a BIG push in the right direction from Joe. It's kind of hard to learn how to hunt elk if you aren't into elk... and, they were right where he said they would be. With one exception I was into bugling bulls every day of my hunt, and saw elk most days. If you don't have an established, proven area to hunt or are looking to try a new spot, I would definitely recommend you give Joe a call. I'm confident he will do his best to help you out.

Not pushing those elk too hard with bad wind let me work on the same elk for the duration of my hunt without shoving them out of that drainage. When I got good wind and good position on a bull, I got aggressive and got results. A dose of luck helped out too. Also worth noting, the night before I got that bull I spent about an hour reading ElkNuts Playbook. I tried a move straight out of the Aggressive Section in that book and it worked like a charm.

Good Luck to all.

[Indian Summer]

Zero me in on where that camera might be and I'll have a look next week. I'll be going after that hog up top too. I know there is easier hunting down below but I can't resist. I'll be needing that good luck so thanks Pat. And congratulations again. No matter how much detail I pass on to my clients the hunter himself is where the rubber meets the road. You really played your cards right. Nice bull man!