2015 elk double header

[todbartell]

Daybreak of opening day in the peace country, we got a response to our third location bugle. We slipped into the timber downwind of where he was and when within around 100-150 yards of where we figured he was earlier, we gave a few soft cow calls. The bull instantly answered us with a bugle, and he wasn’t far off. A half dozen excited cow mews and we could hear the crashing coming, and there he was, facing us at 60 yards. I was looking through my binos and told my partner he looked like a five pointer, the reply was ‘good enough!’ and the pre64 Model 70 barked, sending a 150gr Accubond on its way. The bull stumbled and turned to go, only making it a short 12 yards before piling up. This turned out to be the only elk we seen in the five days of hunting, so in hindsight was a good choice pulling the trigger!

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Fresh grouse & elk heart for brunch in elk camp - doesn't get any better

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[todbartell]

A week into rifle season in 7A, I finally had a chance to get out. I left the truck 90 mins before sunrise, planning on a long day with potentially many miles to cover. A few hundred yards into my trek, I thought I heard something, so instantly freeze. Errrrrruuuuuughhhh – I catch the tail end of a bugle! I continue ahead with increased optimism for the morning. A few hundred yards closer, I stop to listen for the bull to sound off again on his own. By now it was raining pretty good, making it difficult to listen. 5 minutes later, that wonderful sound comes. He’s about half a KM, so I continue on. It’s now getting light enough to see, and I spot a cow up ahead. She’s alert and staring right towards my direction, so I crouch down and wait her out. In the meantime I can hear the bull in behind her, he bugled a couple times over the ten minutes I had to sight tight while the cow was keeping me pinned down. Finally she drifts off and I continue on slowly, heading for where the bull was last calling from.

I hadn’t heard him bugle in ten minutes or so, when all of a sudden a spine tingling lip bawl scream comes from just ahead of me. I chamber a round and get ready and give some excited cow calls. Another lip bawl – but I can’t see anything. All of a sudden there’s some crashing coming right to my left. I spot an elk, a calf, 25 yards out. Then the cow shows up. I freeze, I can’t let them bust me now this close to the bull. Luck was with me, as they continue on and out of sight. I can hear the bull in behind where the cow and calf just were standing, popping branches and huffing groans. I give him some cow calls, he bugles. I head towards him, calling as I go. Silence. I call again, nothing. I decided to pose a threat to the herd, and turn away from his direction and scream a short bugle and a half a dozen chuckles. The bull goes berserk, screams and I can hear him coming. I creep up a little ways and can hear him crashing towards me. I spot movement ahead, lift the binos to see the bull. I remember thick beams, short eyeguards, I can only see his head. I can’t count six – too much brush in the way. After 15 or 20 seconds he turns and goes back the way he came. I alternate cow calls and chuckles. The bull would bugle, standing his ground, calling me (the cow) to him. I got within probably 40 yards of him when I could hear elk crashing away – he either seen me or smelled me, or an unseen cow that was with him. The next bugle from him and he’s 100+ yards out, I sit down and decide to let them settle down a bit before trying again to close in.

I lay my rifle on a log in front of me, drop my pack and dig out my GPS. As soon as I finish entering the waypoint I hear something ahead to my right. I look up and see the tan body of an elk, 50 yards away. I lift my binos and see it’s a bull – not the bull I just had the encounter with, but I was certainly counting points. Finally he turned his head and I could count six – I drop the binos and grab my Model 70 338-06. His vitals are hidden behind a small poplar from my angle, so I lean over and have a tight shooting lane. I fire, and instantly am up on my feet, reload and am sprinting towards the bull. I get halfway to where he was and see the hooves kicking – he’s down! Not the biggest bull out there but I'll take him any day

After a few whoops and some thanks to the hunting gods, I inReach my hunting partners and request some assistance if possible. While I deal with the bull on the ground I can hear the bigger bull in the distance, bugling every so often. Next year!!! 90 minutes later the packers show up (including my wife!), and we load him up and head to town. The Barnes 210gr TTSX entered behind the shoulder, smashed a rib on entrance, clipped the bottom of the spine, exited between two ribs. Found the bullet while skinning, it was stuck between the ribs and hide. Massive hole in both lungs. Recovered bullet weighs 209.8 grains! Ate the heart for dinner that night - Cutting him up tomorrow

tb

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[todbartell]

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[Kilwinning]

Beauty Bull and a great story
Congrats.

[landphil]

Congrats, and good to see those 210gr TTSX's do what they're supposed to. 8)

[Salmon Belly]

Just awesome! Thanks for posting

SB

[Salty]

Awesome action thanks for bringing us along tb. ;)

[tomahawk]

Cool antlers, nice to see your still finding them close to home

[Backwoods]

Congrats on your success, great storey & pictures to follow, thanks for sharing!!

[Jelvis]

awesome dude, your a real hunter for sure --
Jel -- you were out there . Nice animal whoa those spicy meatah balls

[604Stalker]

Ahhh the ol 210gr magic bullet trick those are. A few nice elk you bagged there.

[Brez]

Good story and photos. Congrats and thanks for posting. These stories are making this site better and better. Thanks again.

[325]

Nice bulls! Those TTSX bullets are great!

[kennyj]

Cool rack on that guy. Thanks for sharing your hunt. Exciting read.
kenny

[300H&H]

Great bulls...congratulations and thanks for posting the story.

[Stainless]

I am still searching for my 7a Elk. Great to see that there are plenty of them around. Finally heard a bugle for the first time in 3 years, but moose draw rules this year. Maybe next year.

[doubled]

Well done TB. Another great elk tale.

[srupp]

Well done...impressed.
Good luck on the butcher episode..
Cheers
Steven

[Ride]

Nice bulls. Good on you.

[ydouask]

Congratulations, I really liked your approach... so exciting and successful !

[huntingfamily]

Great story TB and I love the rifle calibre!
What is the name of the pack you are using to load the meat with there?


VDD Group Canada

[Weatherby Fan]

So I drive all the way to Vanderhoof from Maple Ridge to visit the new store and this is the reason it was closed and you weren't there, pretty flimsy TB ;-)
"nice" pack by the way, gotta love those TTSX bullets !

[HarryToolips]

Wow good story, great bull, congrats!!

[todbartell]

Great story TB and I love the rifle calibre!
What is the name of the pack you are using to load the meat with there?

Mystery Ranch 'NICE' frame w/ load sling. Works great especially for awkward shaped loads. Cinches up anything real tight

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Not sure how I missed this but more elk Awesomeness from Bartell!!!

Congrats!!!

[nano]

Nice bull, congrats !

[REMINGTON JIM]

Congrats on Nice Elk ! :smile: Whos the young fellow in the pictures ? :p lol RJ

[.330 Dakota]

Awesome bull Mark,,,,glad that you get out of the store once in a while...lol,,,great pic's as well

[Murder]

Awesome job man! Nice animals! I like the bullet picture, looks to have performed flawlessly

Mike

[B]

Great story! Thanks for sharing!

[fuzzybiscuit]

Congrats on getting a couple great animals. You guys make it look easy.

[Husky7mm]

Sounds like a great time, how is the elk heart, how do you cook it?

[CoreShackJack]

That Elk heart looks fantastic! Before I saw the photo I thought you may have been eating it raw, like the South Africans haha. Congrats on your success!

[Mikey Rafiki]

Sounds like a great time, how is the elk heart, how do you cook it?

I'm sure it was with beacon and unions...

[fuzzybiscuit]

I'm sure it was with beacon and unions...


Naw..but I bet that is how FisherDude eats them...oh, that's right...he hates unions...lol!

[BimmerBob]

Wow! Thanks for sharing Mark, really enjoyed the story and pics. Just spent 3-1/2 weeks trying to find some elk and nothing but moose, so am very jealous of your expertise and success, congratulations!

[hunter1947]

A double header in and elk camp is a hard one to get you accomplished this on you hunt ,,very nice elk your hunting party got,,congrats to all..

[TheProvider]

Great way to start the season, awesome story and pictures. Gnarly rack!

[Shortmag300]

Great story! And congrats on the nice bull.

[Sitkaspruce]

Nice job TB!!!

Lots of good eats!!

Thanks for posting!!

Cheers

SS

[Ltbullken]

Awesome! Great story. Congrats on the elk! Lots of good eats!