He’s coming in fast....an elk story.

[Rattler]

Inspired by Ourea’s recent elk story I’m going to post a elk hunt of my own. I really enjoy reading and seeing other hunters pictures and with all the negative issues facing us these days I figured it would be a nice break.

Elk hunting is fast becoming one of my obsessions and like every year I couldn’t wait for the start of the season. I had a cam up on one of my spots and after a two week soak I checked it and found I had a bunch of bulls, cows and calves. One bull was a 7x5, nothing huge but I’m not picky when it comes to elk, as I have a growing family and they love elk meat.

The season started out with a bang literally lol. Managed to call in a satellite bull for a buddy and he was able to sneak a shot in through the brush at 25 yards. We had a couple bulls screaming and I just soaked it in...love hearing them bugle! His bull so I won’t post pictures of it.

[Seeker]

here we go again....... keep rollin!

[Rattler]

I was tired after a long day of buterching my buddies bull, starting to think it is tougher than packing...lol. I made plans to hunt my spot with the 7x5 bull the next day.

My buddies couldn’t make the hunt, but I knew cell coverage wasn’t too far so decided to go solo. After an hour of hiking I was approaching my spot when I looked down and saw a fresh bull track coming down a steep bank. I didn’t take five more steps before I heard the unmistakeable sound of splashing. I quickly start glassing the thick brush/timber ahead of me when I catch movement 70 yards away.

[Rattler]

After what seemed like an eternity and me cursing the thick West Kootenay rhubarb, I finally could make out a cow. She moved up a ridge and I couldn’t help wonder where the bull was... Then again I hear splashing...right on I think that has to be the bull. Now I think to myself I should let out a soft cow call, so I did thinking I would hear a roaring bugle, but nothing. Five minutes go by and I hear a cow chirp and then I spotted a cow looking at me. Now I have to make like a statue for the next 20minutes and everyone knows it’s not easy. The cow looking at me moves up a ridge towards me and is staring me down only 40 yards away. While watching her I could see she was leaking, but she wasn’t peeing. I’m pretty certain she was in heat. I thought any minute I’m going to see or hear a bull.

Dinner is ready...story to continue shortly.

[Rattler]

30 minutes later the two cows eventually move off and I made my way to my cam. I grabbed the cam and sat down in a spot with good sight lines of the wallow. To my amazement not one legal bull was captured on cam in two weeks. Several smaller bulls and two 5pts. Feeling a little discouraged I let out some cow calls and was met by crickets.

The sun was poking through the trees and I was contemplating my next move, when the silence was broken by a bugle. I think to myself...”could that be another hunter”? I let out a bugle and it was instantly met by a deep raspy bugle. Game on...

[Ourea]

Go Rattler go!
Love it.

[REMINGTON JIM]

Please MORE ! MORE ! Now ! RJ

[Rattler]

I grabbed my rifle and decided to stand up to improve my visibility. As I stood he bugled again and I couldn’t believe how close he sounded now. Listening and trying to think where he was going to come in I hear branches snapping and popping followed by another roaring bugle. He’s right on top of me! I quickly shift ever so slightly to where he is coming in and I see antler tips moving between the trees not 75 yards away. I quickly count his top end and was pleasantly surprised to see 4,5,6 because I was thinking it was going to be one of the 5pts I had on the trail cam.

He is moving in fast and I get a count on the bottom end 1,2,3 as he dipped below some blowdown. Good to go! He is 60 yards away almost trotting and is quartering towards me. I flipped the safety off and as soon as he cleared a Cedar tree I pulled the trigger. At the shot he buckled and lunged forward. I quickly reloaded and found his front shoulder again and squeezed a second shot off. The bull stumbled forward, did a 360 and hit the ground. I could see he was still moving and shifted over to get a clear shot, but could only see his neck through a gap between the trees. I fired at his neck but he never flinched. I reloaded again, but by the time I did he dropped his head. I kept my crosshairs on him for next 20min and the whole time I was amazed at how tough elk are. Shooting 300wm with 180gr Barnes TTSX.

[Rattler]

I walked up and this is how he lay:

[Rattler]

I snapped a few pictures and hiked out to truck, drove to cell range placed a call to Brambles and another buddy. They were pumped to hear the news and were game to help packing. Lucky to have such good friends!

More pictures: