Sponsor Promotional Giveaway - Contest -Winner!

[WapitiTalk1]

Which WT Sponsor? Tree Stand Hunting Rocky Mountain Elk (autographed by John Erickson).
Contest open period? 21 December 2016 thru 4 January 2017.
What do I need to do to enter? Make a post on this thread telling about that special moment/place in time when you realized you became hooked on this thing called elk hunting . Please keep your text short, perhaps no more than paragraph or two max. No, you don't get extra points for word count
Who is eligible to enter? All WT members except those stinky MOD's and ADM . MODs may offer their moment in time but are not eligible for the prize.

TS Hunting RM Elk.jpg (11.99 KiB) Viewed 12846 times

Let's go!

[Deanmac]

Last year 2015, was my first elk hunt at 60 years old, 2nd rifle, in SW Colorado, it was a good trip, but weather was not that great and we stayed in a motel. I did not hear any bugles or see an elk from the stand.

This year, I went back to SW Colorado with a ML tag. We camped (which in IMHO really added to the experience, also met a fellow forum member "Elkduds" ) I heard a bunch of bugles and had bulls respond to my calls. Also saw some elk and bears from the stand, while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the area. So I guess I got hooked on this years hunt. Have a trip planned for 2017 during first rifle season, this will be a drop camp in a wilderness area.

Thanks for the offer on the book.

[Mathewsz7-elkridge]

Well I would have told you I was hooked when I was doing the Internet scouting. Then there was the physical training and practicing where I thought I was hooked. Leading up to the trip I would read this forum daily and study elknuts playbook. Truly though I wasn't hooked until I let out my first ever location bugle and got response on September 15, 2016 in the first 3 hrs of our hunt. A little less then a hour later branches started braking. That elk ended up getting nervous and letting out a nervous grunt. That was when I was hooked for sure!

Thank you for the opportunity on the book.

[JKaboom]

When I attended my first RMEF banquet in 2010 I knew I wanted to hunt the mighty wapiti! This year was my first year hunting them here in Colorado and though I did not take an elk along with anyone in my camp of 13 people; I am hooked.

[Lefty]

I had killed a couple bulls and a cow rifle hunting. I hunted elk but I wasnt an elk hunter.
My moment sort of began on my daughters antelope hunt I spotted 2 bull elk in the shade of an old growth sage brush.
We ran to town and found out the archery season was over.
A buddy kept bugging me to shoot together, I was worried about my shoulder. Ended up buying his bow. .I think this is correct.
The first night I sat at a water tank I heard some bugles. the next Friday a bull visited me in my box blind,.. The hook was set deep

[Trumkin the Dwarf]

Walking into the garage when I was 3 years old to meet Dad and Grandpa, just back from their week long elk camp trip. I got to smell the musk of the two cows they shot. Bury my tiny hands in the fur. Pet the noses as they hung the elk to drain and skin. The next week was a sensory overload as they ground all the leftover meat from the previous year into sausage. Right then and there I knew it. I was born to hunt elk.

p.s. I have the book, so if I win pass it along.

[six]

October 1984.jpg (120.17 KiB) Viewed 12785 times

October 1984. I tagged along with my mom and step dad to Coloroado for my stepdads annual elk hunt. I’m not sure exactly what it was that got me hooked. I shot a jackrabbit, half dozen squirrels, caught a couple dozen trout, saw lion tracks and packed elk meat. I vowed to return and I’ve only missed 1 year since 2002.

[T.B.]

I think I was hooked after listening to my uncle tell stories of camp and see pictures of the Rockies . That was in the mid seventies, many years later (2009) I went on my first elk hunting trip. I realized quickly that picture do not do the beauty of the west justice and I've been blessed to be able to go every year since. I might add that if you dream of going , find a way!!

[Rangerz]

Only been elk hunting for a few years after living back East for about 20 years.

First time elk hunting, I was actually helping a friend. I had bought calls and videos from Elknut and read thru all of the Archived and Elknut's tips, in anticipation of the hunt.

After getting a Bull to actually respond to one of my calls, I was hooked!

[elkhuntfever]

Growing up in Central Michigan in the 50's and 60's and living a block of the main highway leading to Up North, I was fascinated with the cars heading south with deer strapped to the bumpers or trunks (or an occasional bear) during the season. I also loved tent camping at the lake or church camp meeting and conference. So it was only natural that when given the chance to go elk hunting in Colorado, I jumped at the chance. Four of us Hoosiers shared camp with 5 guys from Colorado. We hunted hard, covered much ground on foot and ate well. Some of us broke ice along the stream to bathe while one brave campmate stood nude on the footbridge (about 30 yards off the road) to get his bath in. Within 2 years I had my own outfitters tent and taking friends elk hunting almost every years since.

[82ndreddevil]

Hmm, I'd say I knew I was hooked the first time I saw an elk up close. That's when I saw how being up close to an elk is far more intense than being up close to a mule deer. Then there was also the first time having to pack out an elk and I asked myself what I had gotten myself into. I think I got more hooked the first time I got a bull to come into me calling. Getting hooked on elk hunting has been an ongoing thing for me.

[JordanMOFLCO]

I got hooked my first hunt. At the bottom end of a meadow with the wind in my face. Had rain, sleet, then snow blow in dropping the afternoon temp by 30 degrees. Two small bull elk walked up from behind me despite the wind. I belly crawled over to a stunted pine to get into distance, then they finally blew out scenting me when they were directly in front with the wind blowing right to left......still don't understand how that worked but it was the hook.

[ishy]

It was when I was 14 and we were scouting for my first rifle spike elk hunt in Utah's Manti unit which is limited entry. Right at first light we stepped out of our rig and the whole canyon seemed to light up. Bulls were bugling and fighting all over that canyon. That's all it took.

[Hoyt59]

As a 30 year, hard core Kansas Whitetail hunter, I didn't have much interest in pursuing Elk. Two years ago a buddy of mine kept bugging me to go with him to Montana to give it a try. He kept saying it was like chasing turkeys on steroids! Well I did go and he lied!!!! It is Sooooooo much more and as all of you have posted.... I was hooked! To experience the sights, sounds and scenery of Elk hunting is unlike anything I've ever done hunting wise. How many more days till September?!

[saddlesore]

My first elk hunt was in1966 or so. Opening day, three of us killed three bulls within15 minutes of the legal shooting time in the Latir lakes region of NE NM. We left camp at 2:30 AM to hike to the top of the mountain where we had seen 100+ elk the day before. We arrived about a half hour before first light, froze our butts off and at day break there were only three bulls down below us. No other elk. Bang, Bang, Bang, three elk down. It took us most of the day to process them. We got back to camp about 10:30 that night with the heads. The next day ,I hiked back down the trail to get two horses form a local sheep farmer. Two days later we had them all packed out to the trucks. It took me two years to convince myself to go again after all that work.Since then I have only missed two elk seasons in 50 years. Now at 73, I am planning my 2017 elk hunt.

[Fridaythe13th]

2004, Pagosa Springs Colorado 2nd rifle season. I had everything planed out. How much gas was going to cost, food, license, a cabin in the mountains. I found 5 other guys that wanted to go but didn't want to plan anything and just jump in the truck and be hunting. The only thing I didn't plan on was how fast I got hook on elk. The mountain air, the not knowing what over the next log, ridge, mountain. The excitement of the drive out there, were to hunt, how far we are willing to pack out a elk. We have incorporated the famous choke award that has involved from a 9 pack of the worst beer you can think of that has rolled around in the back of a truck for 5 months to now a gold medal like in the Olympics. It not just one moment it's every trip I take to elk country.

[Deanmac]

My first elk hunt was in1966 or so. Opening day, three of us killed three bulls within15 minutes of the legal shooting time in the Latir lakes region of NE NM. We left camp at 2:30 AM to hike to the top of the mountain where we had seen 100+ elk the day before. We arrived about a half hour before first light, froze our butts off and at day break there were only three bulls down below us. No other elk. Bang, Bang, Bang, three elk down. It took us most of the day to process them. We got back to camp about 10:30 that night with the heads. The next day ,I hiked back down the trail to get two horses form a local sheep farmer. Two days later we had them all packed out to the trucks. It took me two years to convince myself to go again after all that work.Since then I have only missed two elk seasons in 50 years. Now at 73, I am planning my 2017 elk hunt.

Love it, I always enjoy reading your post

[under H2O hunter]

Personally I got hooked on hunting elk at like age 7 or 8 when my dad started taking me but thats not what really matters. What really matters and gets me going on elk hunting is every year when I take someone who has never gone elk hunting or never seen an elk in the wild and I put an elk in front of them and they become successful. That is what I am hooked on. Its not about me anymore its about how many people can I get involved in the sport and the pure joy I get from watching them shake and tremble with adrenaline as they walk up on their very first elk... Thats a real addiction....

[mandrroofing]

My first bugle,and it was the kind were the hair stands up on the back of your neck.i never saw the bull but he was so close that i felt like i was in his throat! I loved it so much i knew then it would be a life long Pursuit

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

[WapitiTalk1]

Excellent stuff folks!

Last day to enter; anybody else wanna chime in? RJ

[WapitiTalk1]

Rangerz is the lucky recipient of an autographed Tree Stand Hunting Rocky Mountain Elk book (winner was chosen via a random drawing/number generator thingamajig)! Send me a PM with your mailing info and I'll get the book heading your way mister. Thanks to all who participated and shared a bit about what got them hooked on hunting elk, and, thanks to Swede who donated one of his great books!

[Swede]

Congrats to rangerz.
Please let me give you your first tree stand elk hunting tip here: It is probably a good idea to read the book before you set up your tree stand, rather than reading it in your tree stand.