The story...

[Kevrod3]

Well after a disappointing 2013, where I shot my first elk, but unfortunately was unable to recover it due to some lets just say unnecessary pressure. So fast forward to September 16th. After studying the playbook, and listening to it on cd almost every day for 9 months (I drive truck so I have that luxury) I was hoping to put into practice what I'd learned.

We were fortunate to have a friend who lives in MT that just so happened to have a little out of the way public land honey hole waiting for us. We didn't find out till 36 hours before we got there that we would be changing locations for our pursuit this fall. To say the least he delivered! The weather was pretty warm to start with, but the very first glassing session resulted in 4 different bulls bugling after my location bugle! After about 5 min, I notice movement around 400 yards away in the middle of the meadow. Although the other guys thought I was looking at pine trees I knew those were elk... Yup 11 cows and up came from the bottom... MR Herd bull! I told the guys that I doesn't happen like this! He screamed his head off after ever bugle he heard from me or the other bulls that were sounding off. We tried to close the distance and get in front of the heard, but like Paul say, "you have to watch out for those led mature cows" She was 100 yards ahead of the group, and must of pick up on our movement. She ran back to the herd, rain 360 degrees around them and led them down off the meadow to the safety of the pines. She looked like a sheep dog!! The herd bull didn't know what was up, other than he was going wherever his cow were.
We ended up over the next couple days with several encounters but couldn't close the deal. One instance we ran into a satellite bull with 2 cows and a calf. They moved on, but with a few soft cow mews I was able to bring the bull back. Unfortunately for some reason I didn't take the Eckler Montana Decoy of my pack and set it up. With the bull not seeing an easy "cow prize" he slip about 65 yards away from us and down around us. Fun, but lesson learned for sure!

On Saturday we ran into a nice bull in the same meadow we saw the herd bull in on day one. However I thought it was weird because it was just a few clicks after 5 pm! With it being in the low 80's I thought for sure they would be staying in the shade in their beds till dark. Most of the bugling at night came from the same locations (in their beds because the were stationary) We tried to set up the decoy just below a rise and I tried starting out with some soft mews, then throwing in bulls calling cows to him bugle, then some more pitch cow sounds followed by a bugle with some chuckles. I was hoping this bull would come over the rise and see my decoy in the open meadow and maybe come over to steal her away while the bull (me the caller) was busy rounding up the other cows. Well to know avail again. Not sure where the bull went.

That next day Sunday the 21st we tried to slip into the uphill down wind side of some of the bedding areas. We could smell elk, but just couldn't seem to get the wind to stay consistent enough to try and move in on them. As afternoon approached my buddy Jeremiah was with me and we decided to go back to a saddle that led to where that bull came out the night before. Jeremiah was going to stay up a bit higher up the mountain and I was going to get a bit lower down where the saddle was and pines where on each side. It was literally an hour glass shaped funnel/saddle. Well as we discussed where he would set up, I bent down under a pine tree and was showing him how I would set up if I sat there and where his shots would be. I then stood up with my bow, and circled the tree as we were going to discuss where I was going to drop down to. Jeremiah had laid his bow down when we arrived at the tree, and now I'm sure he wishes he didn't! As we started talking about me moving down hill, he interrupted me by saying " here he comes!" I told him, "hey I've got my bow give me a range!! He looked at me with an oh crap this is going to happen fast look, and shot me out a yardage... First 102...then 32! I had grabbed an arrow knocked it and dropped my pack in one fail swoop! I came to full draw and I gapped my 25 and 35 yard pin while following the bull as he was heading exactly where I had just told Jeremiah where I thought they would come through. I never even stopped the bull I just continued my swing and smoothly released the arrow. I was honestly asking myself it this was really happening, and before I knew it there was an arrow stick out the other side of the bull.

I quickly grabbed my Carlton hand mouth call and started mewing, which stopped the bull within 45 yards of where I shot him. He just stood there.... Nothing.... I knew he was quartering to me when I shot so I wasn't surprised to see him not go down instantly. I had hit him just a touch back and a little high. After loosing my elk last year to unnecessary pressure I wasn't about to loose this one. My buddy quietly whispered to me its 5:25 we have over 2 hours lets give him time! I couldn't of agreed more! The bull ended up only going another 30 yards and bedding down in sight, under a 30' pine in the shade. After laying there for 2-3 minutes he laid his head down!!!! BOYS THIS IS WHERE YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO WHAT PAUL SAYS!!!!!...
Paul say "LEAVE THE CELEBRATION FOR THE CAMP,AND OR AT THE TRUCK!!!" Those word rang in my head as I looked back at Jeremiah who was filming now and I quietly rejoiced, but keeping my voice as low as possible. I'm glad I did! After another 3-4 minute the bull put his head back up!!! WOW I was shocked! I thought it was all over! Thank you Paul for adding little things like staying quiet after shot! SO many guys on TV scream after they shoot something! (Horrible woodsmenship IMO)

So for the next 50 minutes I watched the bull. I was able to sneak up to within 65 yards of the bull, and glass him and prepare for another shot if he tried to get up. I knew the longer he laid there, the stiffer he would get. He laid his head down at least 1/2 a dozen times in that 50 min. As the sun started to drop I was starting to feel I needed to get another arrow in him if I could. The bull hadn't looked back over his shoulder for about 15 min, and he was starting to breathe hard deep breaths so I made my move after slipping off my Mendel's Perfekt boots (shameless boot plug, but they were Awesome) I snuck up below a small rise 42 yards.. then 35yards my rangefinder said... just a bit closer and I would see his vitals... 23 yards to the bush next to him... I drew my bow... took two steps, settled my pin behind his shoulder, and released!..... NOTHING! Not even a twitch!!! I grabbed a old pine branch and threw it at him... NOTHING!! We had done it!!! REDEMETION was mine!! I was in total shock of what had just happened! I couldn't believe it and I still can't! We took tons of pictures, and luckily I was able to get cell service and burn the phone lines to my wife and kids back home! I kept my voice down but the roar from my family over the phone probably blew out all the elk within 5 miles of us! haha! After lots more pictures, and videos we started breaking down the bull. We started around 9pm and started off the mountain a touch after 12:30am. We got back to the truck around 2:30am laid down at 3:15am. I was very blessed to have 3 guys help me get that bull off the mountain in one trip! Being almost 4 miles from the truck would have been horrible to do it by myself!

Not sure If I have another hunt planned for 2015... well at least I'm telling my wife I don't have one planned!.... YET!!

[Huntrgathr]

Well played ! ISometimes it all comes together and surprises tge hell out of you. I can relate to that. I really enjoyed your story and that is a unique bull ! Congratulations . Better mount that one.

[Gypsumreaper]

Good job man an congrats, way to keep ur composure after the shot, I agree with the loud screaming celebrations, plus you never know when one might come investigate an give ur buddy a shot as well, I try to stay quiet and it worked for me and my brother this year with our Muleys, I ended up shooting the second buck after we got his, only a few hundred yards away nice bull

[ElkNut1]

Kevin, what an awesome hunt & story! You just never know when lady luck may shine on you! (grin) That was cool the bull showed when he did, right place right time, awesome! Congrats & well written!

ElkNut1

[zpd307]

that was cool that you got to see him bed down....

[LckyTylr]

That's awesome. Well done!

[Kevrod3]

Yes I'm getting him mounted!! That is why I might not be able to hunt next year!!! haha!