willyqbc
09-20-2008, 03:32 PM
Well we just got back from our annual elk trip, this is our third year hunting these beasts and I think we finally firgured enough of it out to be successful!! It was Tank, his dad and myself.
Day 1: drive 7 hours, set up camp, 14 km hike.....silence
Day 2: morning hunt yielded an opportunity at a 6 point for Tank but the bull was always behind cover, both Al (Tank's dad) and myself had some action but we both got busted by the wind. The evening hunt I got in tight with a nice six point with cows but the cover was just to thick for a shot.
Day 3: More action and more close calls, most notably I got on a 5X6 that I think is the same one Tank took later in the week....again I was foiled by a lack of shooting lanes.
Day 4: I get dropped off at one of my favourite spots and decide to try a different route into it. just as shooting light came up I heard my first bugle of the morning. It was coming from right below me so I just shut up and continued down into the valley. As I approached a rise i could hear the bull bugle again and knew he was just over the hill so I snuck up to the crest and got a look at him. It was pretty easy to identify him as a legal bull so I settled the crosshairs on his chest and let him have one through the lungs. He wandered off, obviously hit hard but staying on his feet so I hit him again. After the second shot i could have sworni saw him go down, but when I approached the spot i thought he should be I was greeted by crashing from the bush ahead so instead of pushing him I backed out and hiked out to find the boys. After a quick tracking job Tank found my bull about 75 yards from where I abandoned the follow up. It is amazing how tough these animals are, my first shot was a solid double lunger and my second shot was a quartering away shot that again hit both lungs and then went through the off shoulder....in total this bull went about 300 yds from the point of impact of the first shot....amazing!!
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/2_chris_elk_08.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/1_chris_elk_08.jpg
I believe this is the same bull I got onto the evening of day 2 as he was shot about 500 yds from that encounter and it seemed to me that his proportions were the same as that bull. Putting the tape to him I found that he is a 330 class bull that ends up grossing 316 due to a busted off G2. His most striking feature is the 22" G3 on his left side. Admittedly I am no expert on elk racks, and honestly am not sure if he is small/medium/large but for my first elk I was thrilled to get him after all the work and miles I put in.
MORE TO COME ABOUT THIS HUNT INCLUDING AN ARCHERY MULE DEER AND TANKS 5x6 BULL!!
..............TO BE CONTINUED
Chris
Day 1: drive 7 hours, set up camp, 14 km hike.....silence
Day 2: morning hunt yielded an opportunity at a 6 point for Tank but the bull was always behind cover, both Al (Tank's dad) and myself had some action but we both got busted by the wind. The evening hunt I got in tight with a nice six point with cows but the cover was just to thick for a shot.
Day 3: More action and more close calls, most notably I got on a 5X6 that I think is the same one Tank took later in the week....again I was foiled by a lack of shooting lanes.
Day 4: I get dropped off at one of my favourite spots and decide to try a different route into it. just as shooting light came up I heard my first bugle of the morning. It was coming from right below me so I just shut up and continued down into the valley. As I approached a rise i could hear the bull bugle again and knew he was just over the hill so I snuck up to the crest and got a look at him. It was pretty easy to identify him as a legal bull so I settled the crosshairs on his chest and let him have one through the lungs. He wandered off, obviously hit hard but staying on his feet so I hit him again. After the second shot i could have sworni saw him go down, but when I approached the spot i thought he should be I was greeted by crashing from the bush ahead so instead of pushing him I backed out and hiked out to find the boys. After a quick tracking job Tank found my bull about 75 yards from where I abandoned the follow up. It is amazing how tough these animals are, my first shot was a solid double lunger and my second shot was a quartering away shot that again hit both lungs and then went through the off shoulder....in total this bull went about 300 yds from the point of impact of the first shot....amazing!!
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/2_chris_elk_08.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/1_chris_elk_08.jpg
I believe this is the same bull I got onto the evening of day 2 as he was shot about 500 yds from that encounter and it seemed to me that his proportions were the same as that bull. Putting the tape to him I found that he is a 330 class bull that ends up grossing 316 due to a busted off G2. His most striking feature is the 22" G3 on his left side. Admittedly I am no expert on elk racks, and honestly am not sure if he is small/medium/large but for my first elk I was thrilled to get him after all the work and miles I put in.
MORE TO COME ABOUT THIS HUNT INCLUDING AN ARCHERY MULE DEER AND TANKS 5x6 BULL!!
..............TO BE CONTINUED
Chris