rudysteelhead
11-14-2009, 11:49 PM
Well, first of all I would like to apologize for the delayed posting. Anyways, here's the story of my 2009 EK elk hunt.
As always, I was not quite ready (physically and mentally) for the elk hunt. As most of you elk hunters know, it is hard to just jump into these hunts without preparing... well, my dad, good buddy, and i did just that.
Day 1: "Sniper-ren" and I head from camp on our ponies (2 wheeled model with handle bars), and up into an area where we had been successful in the past. A few deep bugles got our attention, but after some calling and stalking, all we saw were antler tips and light colored rear-ends.
Day 2/3/4: We were faced with a severe weather change and the animals shut-right-up and we were left with covering major km's with very little to show for our efforts. At this point in the trip the constant up and down the valley on the bikes/hiking was taking its toll on us.
Day 5: We decided to head high in search of a few billies we had seen, but we were stopped at snow line to the sweet sound of elk bugles. Before we knew it, a herd began to move side-hill up above us at 60 yds, but no bugling bull to be seen. The cows and small bulls spooked back along the side-hill and the chase was on.
Sniper-ren and I split up (one high and one low) to try and catch the fleeing herd. As I crested a rock knoll, I saw an elk walking slowly up the opposite ridge. The scope went up and to 9 power in a blink. Before I could even think straight... Boom. The buddy below me heard the bullet hit, but I was certain I missed, as the bull kept bugling. After every cow call, the bull responded and so to did the 5 pt that damn near ran over my buddy. With the spotting scope set on the herd, I finally picked out the bull as he bedded down.
Second shot was a clean miss for the neck and the third actually hit him in between the wind-pipe and the neck (causing no expansion of the bullet). He sprung to his feet and shortly after I heard him tumble. After some high fives and handshakes we made our way over to the elk and there he was standing at 15yds with a pissed of look on his face. A few four letter words exited my mouth and with no time for a shot he bolted downhill. One more in the boiler room and he is down.... and a big sigh of relief.
In summary, the bull was down at 11 am and we had him in camp by 7 pm with a 9 km bike ride and a 2900 ft drop in elevation over .88 mile. I am extremely pleased with this bull as he is a dandy for the area we hunt, and also I am so thankful to have such a good hunting team. thanks sniper-ren and my dad for all the hard work to get another bull out of the bush!
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/rudysteelhead/elkhunt2009067.jpg
Note: the rope on the antlers to stop him from rolling down the grade.
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/rudysteelhead/elkhunt2009069.jpg
Two proud hunters
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/rudysteelhead/elkhunt2009071.jpg
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/rudysteelhead/elkhunt2009072.jpg
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/rudysteelhead/elkhunt2009078.jpg
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/rudysteelhead/elkhunt2009080.jpg
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/rudysteelhead/elkhunt2009074.jpg
As always, I was not quite ready (physically and mentally) for the elk hunt. As most of you elk hunters know, it is hard to just jump into these hunts without preparing... well, my dad, good buddy, and i did just that.
Day 1: "Sniper-ren" and I head from camp on our ponies (2 wheeled model with handle bars), and up into an area where we had been successful in the past. A few deep bugles got our attention, but after some calling and stalking, all we saw were antler tips and light colored rear-ends.
Day 2/3/4: We were faced with a severe weather change and the animals shut-right-up and we were left with covering major km's with very little to show for our efforts. At this point in the trip the constant up and down the valley on the bikes/hiking was taking its toll on us.
Day 5: We decided to head high in search of a few billies we had seen, but we were stopped at snow line to the sweet sound of elk bugles. Before we knew it, a herd began to move side-hill up above us at 60 yds, but no bugling bull to be seen. The cows and small bulls spooked back along the side-hill and the chase was on.
Sniper-ren and I split up (one high and one low) to try and catch the fleeing herd. As I crested a rock knoll, I saw an elk walking slowly up the opposite ridge. The scope went up and to 9 power in a blink. Before I could even think straight... Boom. The buddy below me heard the bullet hit, but I was certain I missed, as the bull kept bugling. After every cow call, the bull responded and so to did the 5 pt that damn near ran over my buddy. With the spotting scope set on the herd, I finally picked out the bull as he bedded down.
Second shot was a clean miss for the neck and the third actually hit him in between the wind-pipe and the neck (causing no expansion of the bullet). He sprung to his feet and shortly after I heard him tumble. After some high fives and handshakes we made our way over to the elk and there he was standing at 15yds with a pissed of look on his face. A few four letter words exited my mouth and with no time for a shot he bolted downhill. One more in the boiler room and he is down.... and a big sigh of relief.
In summary, the bull was down at 11 am and we had him in camp by 7 pm with a 9 km bike ride and a 2900 ft drop in elevation over .88 mile. I am extremely pleased with this bull as he is a dandy for the area we hunt, and also I am so thankful to have such a good hunting team. thanks sniper-ren and my dad for all the hard work to get another bull out of the bush!
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/rudysteelhead/elkhunt2009067.jpg
Note: the rope on the antlers to stop him from rolling down the grade.
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/rudysteelhead/elkhunt2009069.jpg
Two proud hunters
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/rudysteelhead/elkhunt2009071.jpg
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/rudysteelhead/elkhunt2009072.jpg
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/rudysteelhead/elkhunt2009078.jpg
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/rudysteelhead/elkhunt2009080.jpg
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/rudysteelhead/elkhunt2009074.jpg