willyqbc
09-24-2009, 11:55 AM
Myself, Tank, his dad and my 9 year old son are back from our annual elk hunt. Given last years success we were optimistic as we headed out even though the long term forecast was not in our favor, with hot temperatures predicted for the week were to be gone. After arriving and getting camp set our first evening hunt quickly gave us an indication of what was to come in the week ahead. After 3 hours of uneventful hiking we finally got a response just before dark, we did our best to get the bull in sight for a tine count (6 point only where we were) but he was continously moving off, calling with a less than enthusiastic effort. The boys were up ahead of my calling and did manage to get a glimpse of him moving in the bush but not enough to get a tine count. 2 more uneventful days followed with lots of miles put on the boots and only a few distant bugles and some random small bull sightings to show for it. On the 3rd day Tank and his dad headed for a patch of timber bordering a new clearcut and immediately upon leaving the truck got a response, again the bull was less than enthusiastic and a long game of cat and mouse ensued over several miles until they finall had the bull worked up enough to stop and work out his frustrations on some willows. With Tanks Dad on the rifle the bull momentarily stepped out onto a cut line just long enough for him to get a tine count and confirm he was 6...then he was gone back into the bush. After a quick consultation on his direction, Tank plunged into the thick bush after him and caught up to him about 200 yards into the bush. The thick bush covered the bull well but luckily Tank had a very small window through to the vitals and took the shot....perfect double lunger and the bull went down within a few yards! Bull number one down certainly took some of the pressure off!!
Tanks nice bull!!
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/P9140187.JPG
The following day we headed out and after an uneventful morning hunt we decided to explore some new areas for the evening hunt. Tank and his Dad chose a slope that headed down to the river. After several hours of bushwhacking some of the nastiest snarliest stuff imaginable they emerged on the edge of a field close to the truck. As they were lamenting the lack of sign they had seen Tank decided to let out one last bugle before they reached the truck....from across the field a bull bugled back...game on!! Unlike the other bulls this guys was very enthusiastic and with a few more calls he came charging across the field. The boys were very excited as we have always talked about the "freebie" elk in a filed but have never had it happen...until now. With light fading fast Tank's Dad set-up and put two rounds in the bull before he made the tree line. A follow up shot 100 yards into the bush and bull number 2 was down.
bull #2
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/P9150201.JPG
We had several more days for me to try and get my elk down and saw numerous bulls but nothing legal. Most exciting thing for me was on our last evening we got in some really thick stuff with a bull and as Tank and I moved around to try and get a tine count His Dad passed the calls over to my little guy and he was able to call the bull in to 40 yards, turns out it was a 5 point but he was super excited to have called one in and have it bugle at him from such close range!! This will be real valuable experience for him when he heads to the elk woods next year with a tag in his pocket!
All in all our most difficult elk hunt to date and we all feel very fortunate to have taken the 2 nice bulls we did! Hopefully Tank can post up a couple of the nicer group pictures for us!
Chris
Tanks nice bull!!
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/P9140187.JPG
The following day we headed out and after an uneventful morning hunt we decided to explore some new areas for the evening hunt. Tank and his Dad chose a slope that headed down to the river. After several hours of bushwhacking some of the nastiest snarliest stuff imaginable they emerged on the edge of a field close to the truck. As they were lamenting the lack of sign they had seen Tank decided to let out one last bugle before they reached the truck....from across the field a bull bugled back...game on!! Unlike the other bulls this guys was very enthusiastic and with a few more calls he came charging across the field. The boys were very excited as we have always talked about the "freebie" elk in a filed but have never had it happen...until now. With light fading fast Tank's Dad set-up and put two rounds in the bull before he made the tree line. A follow up shot 100 yards into the bush and bull number 2 was down.
bull #2
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/P9150201.JPG
We had several more days for me to try and get my elk down and saw numerous bulls but nothing legal. Most exciting thing for me was on our last evening we got in some really thick stuff with a bull and as Tank and I moved around to try and get a tine count His Dad passed the calls over to my little guy and he was able to call the bull in to 40 yards, turns out it was a 5 point but he was super excited to have called one in and have it bugle at him from such close range!! This will be real valuable experience for him when he heads to the elk woods next year with a tag in his pocket!
All in all our most difficult elk hunt to date and we all feel very fortunate to have taken the 2 nice bulls we did! Hopefully Tank can post up a couple of the nicer group pictures for us!
Chris