first elk with bow
I left my camera at home (not required when your backpacking and saving weight), but I thought I would share my hunt with you anyway.
I took up the bow 4 years ago after hunting with a rifle for some 35 years. For the first 2 years I wasn't comfortable enough with my abilities to hunt with a bow. The third year I didn't hunt cause of knee surgery, but this year it happened. My first animal with my bow is a bull elk and it was an awesome experience.
I located him with the bugle then pulled him in with a cow call. He's coming straight at me in thick willows that are right up to his chin with his head tipped back and screamin. He's got massive fronts, 20" firsts and 22" seconds with huge bases, but something didn't look right. At 25 yards he turned broadside and I saw what wasn't right. He had both main beams broke right off, he was a massive 3 by 2
, he must have been in one hell of a fight.
To make a very long story short, he's in the cooler and he dressed 585 lbs. Not the massive 400 point bull that some dream of taking, but he will be great eating and the memories of the leg shaking adrenaline rush when he's screamin 25 yards in front of you will last a long, long time.
Here's a pic of the freak.