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View Full Version : opening day ELK!!! oh wait ..2 days 2 bulls ;)



lightmag
09-14-2016, 12:41 AM
Well what a opening rifle weekend!! 8am opening morning I shot a big 6x6 elk… 2nd day my brother shot a big 7x7 elk in same spot

Headed out sept 9th afternoon with the lady friend , set up camp, grabbed crossbow and did a little hike into a spot to scout and call… nothing to get to excited about bit felt good to be out. Back to camp , dinner, few beers and bedtime… bring on opening rifle morning!!! Up early , and off to one of 3 spot sin the area I wanted to focus on based on google earth studying, a little local knowledge and a good understanding of where elk tend to be… in the thickest, ugliest stuff ever lol

Hit first spot , spent an hour hiking in, around, calls, checking for sign, nothing so we walked back to the truck. After confirming on GPS… off to spot 2 …. Out of truck and off we go… suddenly .. behind me… a bugle… but not a great bugle??? We stop, listen… glass… nothing ..hmmm sounded human but up over top of block on other side… so I let one rip… nothing ?? then 5 min later..little further away..another flute like tooodle tooodle tooodle … definitely a bad human bugle… on we go towards river. Then… a REAL bugle… in the direction im headed towards the river… and one of those bugles you know is real immediately. Now remember this is my hunting partners first ever elk hunt…. And earlier she had said she just wanted to hear one….. well it was happening.

Towards timber I go, cow chirping…. Hes quiet … I get to timber , walk in few feet to the edge ..as it drops steeply down thru blow down, thick willow, heavy timber towards river…. And I let a not to crazy bugle go… instant scream back at me!! But no closer…. So I look at her and say “we are going down there” …. As I spray her down in elk urine J all the time she is big eyed and smiling … at this time I quit calling.. I want to get into his bedroom without him pinning me down.. wind check… blowing slightly east.. he’s straight across from me (north) and slighty west ..enough that wind should be ok.

Down we go….. gross…. Trees criss crossed, roots , willows, ferns higher than me …. And everything is wet…. Down we go..over , under… and he’s screaming inside 150 yards …. But river is getting close… is he across river?? Ugh….. we get to rivers edge..yup he is obviously across it… but I do know there is a away around to that side , just not exactly where into relation to us….. as im pulling out GPS to look… movement… then ivory tines coming thru thick alders straight across from us on other side at 75 yards…. He stops at edge and stares directly at us…. Rifle up.. (its 6 point season) … scope on antlers… waiting .. turn please .. all the while im waiting to see 6 points im thinking “ how will I get to him.. I know about a road.. ill gps him… cant let him walk .. ugh” he turns … 5!!!!! (did not realize ill I got my hands on him later he was 6x6 as his top split was so tall I didn’t see his royal in the alders, only saw big “Y” on top thinking 5….) ok over to other side.. waiting ..turn please.. and on cue… he turns ..6!!!!!!!! cross hairs down onto chest/front left shoulder..slightly down hill….. squeeze… BOOM!!! 165 TTSX from my 300 WSM hits him hard .. he turns and starts running down edge of river bank with an obvious broken shoulder… BOOM BOOM !!! 2 more in seconds I throw at him.. both hitting him perfect lung shots as partner saw both red dots appear .. he goes 30 feet and goes down………. OMG……. 8am opening morning and I have a Bull elk down…. 75 yards from me ..but I cant go see him or touching him yet!!!!
We flag yellow tape across trees on bank to look for later from other side… mark GPS where elk is down and we start out back up to the top… get to truck..its all still surreal to me … get to cell service and put the calls for help out.. within minutes I have help on the way (best hunting friends a guy could ever have) … and within an hour they meet us… map check.. throw ideas around and off we go …. We take the the route that gets us to other side and approx. across from where it was on GPS… and we head in on foot….omg… what have I done… its so thick… then we run into a swamp… look at map.. around we go… flagging as we go … finally getting closer to river.. all the time im so bitchy… need to find him.. im worried, stressed, going crazy…. .. worst feeling ever… its not real to me til I touch him!!! We hit rivers edge… as per gps we should be close .. but which direction.. by looks of river bank..im thinking left… we split up they go right us left… it looks like the stuff he came out of .. bank across looks about right … 100 yards down.. I look across.. YELLOW TAPE!!!!!!! … i kkep going knowing he has to be close now… where is he?? As I start to panick….. then I look left.. and 10 feet away .. there he is!! Omg .. its huge… bone everywhere… huge body… then the excitement really hits!!! A few yells lol… and what relief!

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14265067_10153802557346717_6948321489596762294_n_z psoty1fmic.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14265067_10153802557346717_6948321489596762294_n_z psoty1fmic.jpg.html)


/ (http://<a href=&quot;http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14257552_10153802557531717_7036206433368896019_o_z ps6wabg3sg.jpg.html&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;>http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14257552_10153802557531717_7036206433368896019_o_z ps6wabg3sg.jpg</a>)http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14257552_10153802557531717_7036206433368896019_o_z ps6wabg3sg.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14257552_10153802557531717_7036206433368896019_o_z ps6wabg3sg.jpg.html)

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14352270_10153802557446717_2932872760689500487_o_z ps0hips8jv.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14352270_10153802557446717_2932872760689500487_o_z ps0hips8jv.jpg.html)


http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14249762_10153802558166717_1635430107484487883_o_z ps04yop79g.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14249762_10153802558166717_1635430107484487883_o_z ps04yop79g.jpg.html)


retrieval and second bull continued ...

lightmag
09-14-2016, 12:44 AM
We spend next hour cutting a quad trail in….. then field dress and load it up.. mean time rest of the crew shows up to help… lots of high 5’s and excitement and a “few” beers…. Back to came to hang up … and a few more beers and lots of hunters stopping as they went by to look . that was opening day…..

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14355544_10153802557801717_9094726901050489629_n_z psnrcvmywm.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14355544_10153802557801717_9094726901050489629_n_z psnrcvmywm.jpg.html)

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14317524_10153802557906717_152012385396755661_n_zp srjuc8owj.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14317524_10153802557906717_152012385396755661_n_zp srjuc8owj.jpg.html)

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14329977_10153798093251717_4019154727382138910_n_z psfk2mvcdp.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14329977_10153798093251717_4019154727382138910_n_z psfk2mvcdp.jpg.html)

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14305272_10153802557596717_7075502744933440111_o_z psdvijo4vi.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14305272_10153802557596717_7075502744933440111_o_z psdvijo4vi.jpg.html)

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14316741_10153802557976717_2374665828002229694_n_z pstksapwem.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14316741_10153802557976717_2374665828002229694_n_z pstksapwem.jpg.html)



NEXT BULL>>>>>

lightmag
09-14-2016, 12:48 AM
Day 2 …..

Well I wasn’t going anywhere lol…. Head was alittle foggy.. but my brother was up and gone early…. I got up around 9… ate… and then went for a quad hunt, grouse, scouting , etc… got back to camp and cell service about 1030am to text coming in from my brother ..ELK DOWN!! Wtf and he says same spot as yours but 300 yards past……… grab all the gear, load quad ..off we go.. crazy…. I cant believe second day of season and my brother and I have both tagged elk…. The retrieval crew was called again and on route…. I was first to quad into him and OMG….. a 7x7… thicker than mine.. wow!!! Crazy….

He just walked in the timber in the am and heard them bugling….. and when he got involved one went wild and other seemed to fade away… and the stalk was on … 45 min of circling, growling, screaming bugling and dragging my bro thru the thickest stuff..at one point bull was inside 30 yards but they couldn’t see him..and he litterly growled so deep and he felt it thru his body …. Finally they broke into an area that had visibility and found himself staring at him 100 yards away…. He turned… 7 on top… lung shot.. he went down and brother moved up and finished him….bull number 2 down!!! And retrieval team to the rescue J

Best overall hunting experience to date…. Nothing like big , rutting, angry bull elk screaming at you in the canopy of trees!!!

http:// (http://<a href=&quot;http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/broelk3_zpslqlzzkdl.jpg.html&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;>http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/broelk3_zpslqlzzkdl.jpg</a>)http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/broelk3_zpslqlzzkdl.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/broelk3_zpslqlzzkdl.jpg.html)


http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/broelk2_zps3cl6tcf8.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/broelk2_zps3cl6tcf8.jpg.html)



http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14233139_10153802558501717_5902129655784865866_n_z psgx6go23m.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14233139_10153802558501717_5902129655784865866_n_z psgx6go23m.jpg.html)


extra pics in next post

lightmag
09-14-2016, 12:52 AM
more pics



http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14322217_10153800552631717_4389972819036696960_n_z psvaev3sps.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14322217_10153800552631717_4389972819036696960_n_z psvaev3sps.jpg.html)


http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14238297_10153802559091717_7397107162627955399_n_z psujetguul.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14238297_10153802559091717_7397107162627955399_n_z psujetguul.jpg.html)

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14203097_10153802558121717_6377550905878305600_n_z pswfxhegrh.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14203097_10153802558121717_6377550905878305600_n_z pswfxhegrh.jpg.html)

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14222105_10153798092836717_7380558605004400353_n_z ps4rueahwr.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14222105_10153798092836717_7380558605004400353_n_z ps4rueahwr.jpg.html)

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/dentonjohnson/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14358781_10153802558976717_9097033702870794725_n_z psyv0koaau.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/dentonjohnson/media/Facebook/2016%20Elk%20Hunt/14358781_10153802558976717_9097033702870794725_n_z psyv0koaau.jpg.html)

gunnar guarding the meat!!

kevan
09-14-2016, 01:10 AM
Congratulations!
Awesome thread,terrific pictures, starts my day out right.
Your crew look very happy!

lightmag
09-14-2016, 01:12 AM
i put in wrong section how do i move it

604Stalker
09-14-2016, 05:53 AM
Wow thanks for posting now thats some good eats.

325
09-14-2016, 06:08 AM
Fantastic! Great Bulls!

ydouask
09-14-2016, 06:14 AM
:lol: very IMPRESSIVE pair of bulls, congratulations to the hunters and their enthusiastic crews.... good to see.

Ron.C
09-14-2016, 06:43 AM
Awesome. Love the fronts on that second bull. Congrats.

Husky7mm
09-14-2016, 07:25 AM
Congrates to the happy hunters. Nice bulls. Nice when they are fired up! Nice dark horns on bull #2. One day I hope to have a pair of black horns. Is that the peace country?

Knute
09-14-2016, 07:33 AM
Outstanding!!

Does it get any better than that? I THINK NOT :smile:

Definitely a happy crew of hunters, congrats to all.

jburgundy
09-14-2016, 07:39 AM
Wow, thats awesome! This thread could be posted as the definition of a honey hole!

takla1
09-14-2016, 07:42 AM
The best part is you know where to go again next yr!
...Great shooting and lots of great eats there!

takla

lightmag
09-14-2016, 07:46 AM
Thx guys ..7A bulls

Stone Sheep Steve
09-14-2016, 09:26 AM
Awesome stuff, LM!!! You'll remember this hunt forever! Huge congrats!

I'm pretty damn envious of all you elk hunters chasing those screaming Bulls......but PLEASE keep these stories coming.
One day......

SSS

ian745
09-14-2016, 11:46 AM
so what you`re really saying is there is soon to be a HuntingBC party at your house?. beer for elk?.lol, awesome opener for sure!, my first hunt of the season and i saw 1 rabbit...

congrats to you and your brother!

Glenny
09-14-2016, 12:07 PM
Wow! Amazing hunt.

Brambles
09-14-2016, 05:18 PM
Couple stud bulls man, and country flat enough to get a quad to....GEZUS.....gotta get me some of that country....

mulieaddiction
09-14-2016, 05:30 PM
Wow monster bulls good job!!

kennyj
09-14-2016, 06:22 PM
Wow!! What a hunt!! Congratulations on 2 awesome bulls. Great story and photos.
kenny

M.Dean
09-14-2016, 06:38 PM
I wouldn't even hazard a guess at how many "Hi-Fives" and " Group Hug's" and the "I'd like to make a toast" drinks all of you's had around the fire after those Elk were hang'in in the tree's! It's a real special squeek'in sound the rope makes as the quarters gently swing back and forth in the breeze! And it couldn't have happened to a better group of people! Thanks for taking the time to share your epic hunting adventure with all of us, Congrat's to all!