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Just pulled in from a great hunt in the desert southwest..... oops..... I mean Wyoming Unit 7 (it was cloudless blue skies, hot, and very dry the entire time). Not a lot of bugling activity but I was able to see elk almost every day, including a number of smaller bulls and a 6 X 6 (at least) whopper of a herd bull with a large harem - all on public land. The elk were really spooky and totally call shy as well as nearly impossible to stalk due to the extremely crunchy terrain. On top of that, signs indicated a recent mass exodus of elk to the private lands surrounding and within the National Forest. My hopes for bagging a big bull quickly evolved into the "any elk will do" mode. On the last afternoon of the last day I set up in some pines and within a half hour I had a cow sneak up behind on me within 10 yards. As I turned and drew, she turned and left.. she didn't see me but I think she was nervous about something, maybe a whiff of scent. A couple hours later, I heard a mew right in front of me through some thick trees. It was so close that I drew my bow immediately and waited. Within a few seconds, another cow was moving broadside about 15 yards in front of me. I threaded an arrow though a tiny gap in between branches of a downed tree (afterwords I was not even sure how i made the shot, but it looked great at the time). Top pin, double lung, no blood trail (down in 10 yards). The arrow was stuck in a tree on the other side. That's how it goes sometimes, I guess, on the last hour on the last day of the hunt. I had her quartered out just before dark on Thursday (and - FINALLY - several bulls started bugling all the while on the PRIVATE land further west).

I am now home in NJ. Only 48 hours from field to freezer... weary but happy with a great (albeit tough) hunt.

Congrats!

Good stuff. Persistance pays off!

I got a cow tag for 7 I'll be using in a month or so. Congrats on the kill.

Congrats. Now that is a trophy. Maybe not by B&C or P&Y standard but by your standard, the only one that matters.

"My hopes for bagging a big bull quickly evolved into the "any elk will do" mode."

We've all likely been there.

She'll eat good, congrats!

Congrats on hanging in there.

More photos....

Great Hunt!!,,,,Good job!! Sounds like the bugling is running a little behind this year....was that your take on things? Great pics!.....Cactus

Cactus, yes, everyone out there agreed that things were running about 1-2 weeks behind due to the hot/dry weather.

Congrats!

Thank you, and again congrats....very exciting for you I am sure! Cactus

Nice cow, should provide you some tasty bites the rest of the year. Nothing like DIY bow hunt, an all out honest hunt if there ever was one.

smcdonn,

You did well in my back yard ....congratulations! Where in general were you hunting? Labonte Canyon?

keith