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 ! :tongue: 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:

http://i.imgur.com/a1yjk1U.jpg

[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:

http://i.imgur.com/hRzGCdz.jpg

[Rattler]

http://i.imgur.com/oV4Hlfh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/iDNZFVL.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/cLeeKt1.jpg

[Weatherby Fan]

Wow what a cranker, congrats Rattler, and thanks for sharing, captivating story to say the least, thanks again !
WF

[Rattler]

Buddies arrived and we got to work quartering using the gutless technique. Had the bull packed back at the truck just as it was getting dark. He’s not a massive bull, but I was pleased to get him. He did have a good sized body on him...

Dreaming of elk hunting already lol. Time to refocus and kill some predators!!

[~T-BONE~]

Very nice! Thanks for the read!

[albravo2]

That is a HOG. Good for you!

Great story, thanks for sharing.

[Salty]

Just a bit of a chest thumper that one :) Beauty bull and great write up Rattler thanks for posting.

[ydouask]

:smile: As usual, well done Ken. And a great story too !

[REMINGTON JIM]

Congrats on a Excellent BULL ! Good storey thanks for Sharing ;-) My Heart was pumping hard as i was squeezing off a shot ! lol RJ

[180grainer]

Nice bull!!!

[Ourea]

Did Brams pack the deboned meat in one load by himself?
U have one hell of a pack mule in that kid!

Great share Rattler
Cheers

[Rattler]

Did Brams pack the deboned meat in one load by himself?
U have one hell of a pack mule in that kid!

Great share Rattler
Cheers

Lol I know....built like a linebacker.

[scoutlt1]

Great story and pics! Hell of a bull!

Thanks for posting this up!

[Brambles]

Did Brams pack the deboned meat in one load by himself?
U have one hell of a pack mule in that kid!

Great share Rattler
Cheers

I brought little Brams with me to get a feel for packing
..
Great times...love packing elk.

https://vgy.me/Y6yozO.jpg

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Great story Rattler and beautiful bull!

Love to hear these postive stories during these recent tough times.

SSS

[Seeker]

Congrats gentlemen. Great animal and good times spent with friends and family. Good luck with the predators....

[dougan]

Great story and bull!! Thanks for sharing

[Whonnock Boy]

Very nice. Congrats. Gotta like it when they come running in, not that I've had it happen too often with elk. :)

[nature girl]

Rattler nice elk for sure and be still for 20 mins I couldn't do it.

[325]

Awesome bull! Thanks for sharing your adventure

[guest]

Another good Elk story. Great to see friends, up and coming hunters helping too. Makes for a great sharing experience.

thanks for posting, very nice Bull, love the large whale tails.

CT

[Knute]

"He did have a good sized body on him..."


Humbly understated ;) Beauty bull!

[ThinAir]

Congrats on a great bull! Thanks for sharing!

[deer nut]

Nice bull - congratulations! Good to see you still have your mojo after your gbear encounters!

[elknut]

Don't know what you call big but that bull was great..Good hunt and good story ..Thumbs up !...Dennis

[Rattler]

Don't know what you call big but that bull was great..Good hunt and good story ..Thumbs up !...Dennis

He is a good bull no doubt. I was referring to his mass measurements which are a little weak. He is a pretty bull and a shooter all day for most. One day when kids have moved out I may get more selective...big may because I love elk meat.

[IronNoggin]

Very Nice Bull! Congrats!!

Have to love it when they freight train in like that! ;)
Certainly gets the ol' ticker Hammering!!

Many thanks for a great story & pictures!!

Cheers!
Nog

[kennyj]

Great story and photos! Excellent bull!! Thanks for the great read.
kenny

[steepNdeep]

Right on Rattler - beauty bull! It's getting harder & harder to consistently shoot a mature bull & I know many dedicated hunters in the Koots that didnt this year...

Great to see some real hunting threads (like the good old days... ;

[Sitkaspruce]

Thanks Rambler for posting another great hunting story!!!

Great bull, awesome story and nice to see pictures of your bull!!

Thanks for sharing and bringing us along!!

Cheers

SS

[BCHunterFSJ]

One of the better bulls that I've seen this season! Great thread. Thanks.
I had to "settle" for a 5 pointer meat bull...It was only the first day but guess I'm not picky these days so down it went.
Delicious!

[LuckyIfYouGetOne]

Wow nice bull thx for sharing story

[bang flop]

Great story, thanks for the share