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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,688 Likes: 46
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,688 Likes: 46 |
There is always a better idea when it comes to elk hunting, but I found it best just to shoot a bull on the opening day. Rarely do you hear consistent bugling on the opener, but this bull was talking like it was the third week. I called and sat just listening to see if anything would answer my first bugle. It was a few minutes, but he bugled back. Rather than step on him and call right back, I waited a couple minutes and bugled again. He responded the same way, but this time he had moved closer and to the East. This sounded hopeful, so I rigged up all my gear and went slowly into the forest toward where I last heard him. He bugled and was close this time. I proceeded slowly without calling and I saw him first at about 45 yards, behind some trees that wouldn't allow a shot. I didn't think my son would believe I actually saw and heard a bull this early in the season, so I took my phone out and took a picture of him. He gave a short chuckle and started raking the grass. I had a can of "Elk Bomb" in my pocket with about 1 small squirt in it, and pulled it out and sprayed it into the air, hoping he would smell it before he smelled me. I managed a short chortle with my bugle and he came around the trees between us and walked straight at me. I was in the open, and couldn't move. He stared right at me. Thankfully, he put his head down and raked the grass, and when he was raking, I pulled my bow up and drew it back. I aimed right at him, but the peep on the string was turned 90 degrees and I couldn't see my pins. How I was able to put the sight into my teeth and try to turn it so I could shoot without him catching my movement, I will never know, but he stood there looking at me almost broadside. I could barely make out the pins, but I put the 30 yard pin in the center of his chest and knew I would hit him well regardless of the distance, he wasn't that far. I pulled the trigger and could hear the sound of the arrow hitting something hard. There were no branches between us and I knew I wasn't over or under him. With cautious optimism, I walked over to where he was standing when I shot, but saw no sign of blood. I went back to camp with the optimism of the sound of the arrow was deep inside him and he wouldn't last long. I called my son and his friend and told them I had shot a bull and we should give him some time and then go look for blood. We had breakfast and got our packs, knives and cleaning gear together and headed back into the woods. I marked it on my ONX map, good thing too, as the light had changed so much since I shot, I could hardly recognize the area. We started looking where he was and not a drop of blood anywhere. A few yards later Jesse found the back half of the arrow with blood most of the way up the shaft. I was more hopeful that we would find him sooner than later. The 2 boys kept looking for sign of blood and I started walking in a direction I figured he would have run to. Within about 60 yards, I found him piled up and already starting to bloat. He had obviously run to that spot and fallen over dead, as he was laying with is head under him. Cutting the tag is always the scariest part of a hunt, so I had to check and double check I did it right. We quartered and skinned it and put it into game bags and I then headed to Belgrade to get it into a cooler and had it skinned and hanging in a cooler by 3:30 in the afternoon...
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 18,584 Likes: 16
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 18,584 Likes: 16 |
Every day on this side of the ground is a win.
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 60,875 Likes: 58
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 60,875 Likes: 58 |
I am MAGA.
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Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 212
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 212 |
Wow, congrats… nice work.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,334 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,334 Likes: 3 |
"Life is tough, even tougher if your stupid" John Wayne
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,828
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,828 |
Hey that's awesome...I'm letting the first days of the season pass, hoping to find them bugling in a couple weeks. Congrats!
"Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin.'"
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,372 Likes: 16
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,372 Likes: 16 |
congrats. way to get it done. Sure has been a hot opener There is always a better idea when it comes to elk hunting, but I found it best just to shoot a bull on the opening day. Rarely do you hear consistent bugling on the opener, but this bull was talking like it was the third week. I called and sat just listening to see if anything would answer my first bugle. It was a few minutes, but he bugled back. Rather than step on him and call right back, I waited a couple minutes and bugled again. He responded the same way, but this time he had moved closer and to the East. This sounded hopeful, so I rigged up all my gear and went slowly into the forest toward where I last heard him. He bugled and was close this time. I proceeded slowly without calling and I saw him first at about 45 yards, behind some trees that wouldn't allow a shot. I didn't think my son would believe I actually saw and heard a bull this early in the season, so I took my phone out and took a picture of him. He gave a short chuckle and started raking the grass. I had a can of "Elk Bomb" in my pocket with about 1 small squirt in it, and pulled it out and sprayed it into the air, hoping he would smell it before he smelled me. I managed a short chortle with my bugle and he came around the trees between us and walked straight at me. I was in the open, and couldn't move. He stared right at me. Thankfully, he put his head down and raked the grass, and when he was raking, I pulled my bow up and drew it back. I aimed right at him, but the peep on the string was turned 90 degrees and I couldn't see my pins. How I was able to put the sight into my teeth and try to turn it so I could shoot without him catching my movement, I will never know, but he stood there looking at me almost broadside. I could barely make out the pins, but I put the 30 yard pin in the center of his chest and knew I would hit him well regardless of the distance, he wasn't that far. I pulled the trigger and could hear the sound of the arrow hitting something hard. There were no branches between us and I knew I wasn't over or under him. With cautious optimism, I walked over to where he was standing when I shot, but saw no sign of blood. I went back to camp with the optimism of the sound of the arrow was deep inside him and he wouldn't last long. I called my son and his friend and told them I had shot a bull and we should give him some time and then go look for blood. We had breakfast and got our packs, knives and cleaning gear together and headed back into the woods. I marked it on my ONX map, good thing too, as the light had changed so much since I shot, I could hardly recognize the area. We started looking where he was and not a drop of blood anywhere. A few yards later Jesse found the back half of the arrow with blood most of the way up the shaft. I was more hopeful that we would find him sooner than later. The 2 boys kept looking for sign of blood and I started walking in a direction I figured he would have run to. Within about 60 yards, I found him piled up and already starting to bloat. He had obviously run to that spot and fallen over dead, as he was laying with is head under him. Cutting the tag is always the scariest part of a hunt, so I had to check and double check I did it right. We quartered and skinned it and put it into game bags and I then headed to Belgrade to get it into a cooler and had it skinned and hanging in a cooler by 3:30 in the afternoon...
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 60,875 Likes: 58
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 60,875 Likes: 58 |
Only trouble with that is now you gotta eat the stupid thing.
I am MAGA.
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 6
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 6 |
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 4,049 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 4,049 Likes: 1 |
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,862
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,862 |
Nice job....always nice when things work out just like they are supposed too.....
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Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 7,420 Likes: 24
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 7,420 Likes: 24 |
Always baffled by the number of game kill pics that show green grass, sunny weather, birds chirping, etc., while the hunter looks like he just stepped out of the dry-cleaners. By contrast, my pics look like I just survived The Bataan Death March, in weather that would kill an Eskimo. I am doing something really wrong.
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 60,875 Likes: 58
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 60,875 Likes: 58 |
Always baffled by the number of game kill pics that show green grass, sunny weather, birds chirping, etc., while the hunter looks like he just stepped out of the dry-cleaners. By contrast, my pics look like I just survived The Bataan Death March, in weather that would kill an Eskimo. I am doing something really wrong. Post some up.
I am MAGA.
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 22,018 Likes: 18
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 22,018 Likes: 18 |
Good stuff... Congratulations!
If you are not actively engaging EVERY enemy you encounter... you are allowing another to fight for you... and that is cowardice... plain and simple.
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 96,079 Likes: 19
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 96,079 Likes: 19 |
Good job. I always liked hunting them with a bow and arrow cause it always forced me to bring the right ammo.
Last edited by jaguartx; 09/06/22.
Ecc 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but that of a fool to the left.
A Nation which leaves God behind is soon left behind.
"The Lord never asked anyone to be a tax collector, lowyer, or Redskins fan".
I Dindo Nuffin
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 67,545 Likes: 68
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 67,545 Likes: 68 |
Nice one!!
Great job on the deflate 😎
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,286 Likes: 9
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,286 Likes: 9 |
Congrats! My preferred plan A on deer is to kill by 10 and be home by 2.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 9,743 Likes: 15
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 9,743 Likes: 15 |
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 4,614 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 4,614 Likes: 2 |
Congratulations ! Should have salted the arrow as hot as it is . Great thing about Montana’s general rifle is it’s usually cooler so you have a little time to get the elk broken down. Blazing hot archery season and the elk is starting to go bad as it’s falling to the ground !
‘TO LEARN WHO RULES OVER YOU, SIMPLY FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CRITICIZE’
Conspiracy theorists are the ones who see it all coming…
You are the carbon they want to eliminate !
I’m Uber Deplorable Ultra MAGA !
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 45,444 Likes: 28
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 45,444 Likes: 28 |
Sure glad you came back to post pics of stuff you actually do.
We need more of that around here.
As Conrad said to someone, we want to see pics of this stuff one tells stories about.
The desert is a true treasure for him who seeks refuge from men and the evil of men. In it is contentment In it is death and all you seek (Quoted from "The Bleeding of the Stone" Ibrahim Al-Koni)
member of the cabal of dysfunctional squirrels?
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