CanuckShooter 7-21 Elkfest 2010

[CanuckShooter]

We just got home the other night from 7-21...loaded with meat and antlers, here is what happened:

My hunting partner Ron suffered a stroke a couple of months back and was scheduled for a MRI on August 31st...so our hunt was postponed, from Aug. 26th, to make sure he didn't miss the MRI appointment. We pulled out from Prince George early on September 1st headed north for our annual elk hunt. Of course after stopping in for our traditional chinese food lunch at Chetwynd we pulled in fairly late and got a start on setting up camp.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/0852.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=20510&size=big&cat=500)

TBC

[CanuckShooter]

Day two we went down into one of our elk hunnyholes and tried walking a few game trails with Ron to see how he could handle it with his left side being all numb & without feeling from the stroke he suffered. We quickly figured out that walking on uneven ground was a no-go for him...so off to plan B and we put up a ladder stand for him, with 17 ft to the shooting rail and strategic placement the ladder stand was the ticket....with the stand in place...and a hunt strategy for my "IN Valid" {what he calls himself} partner...it was time to get in a good supply of firewood and spend the rest of the day with our camp dog Buck.

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[winchester284]

Good on you guys for accommodating your friend so he could hunt! Looking forward to the rest of the story...

[Leaseman]

Geez... another thread that you have to come back to next week to read it all at once......:mrgreen:

[CanuckShooter]

Well with camp set up, the firewood in, the treestand up,Buck fed and watered, and plan B being put into action all we needed was to rise early and get at 'er. So at 5:30 am on day three we were off on the Polaris chariot headed for Rons ladderstand...after dropping him at the base of the stand and watching to make sure he was all settled in...off I went in search of the wary wapiti!!

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/0501.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=20512&size=big&cat=500)

And then disaster struck....a couple of hours later I raised Ron on the hand held and suddenly the radio wouldn't work....so I jumped on the machine and headed for the ladder stand and called, and called, and called on the radio with no response....I knew that we were well within calling distance and unless Ron was watching an elk I would have gotten an answer so, being concerned, I 'broke the rule' and drove in on him.

TBC

[CanuckShooter]

To my great relief, it was just a radio malfunction....and nothing worse, but fate must have been working because my partner was not doing so well with the cold of the morning and it was a timely interruption to his first morning on the ladderstand...and a trip to camp and some time around a warming campfire was in order.

After a few rounds of hot drinks, scratching Bucks ears, and some time warming our old bones around the fire it was time to talk strategy based on my scouting time from the morning. Ron informed me that the ladderstand would have to be 'out' also as it took too much out of him climbing up and down into the stand......so here we were with a 'dilly-lemma'...what to do???

Ron decided it would be best if he hung around camp, took care of the CB duties, and spent some time with my dog Buck.....at least until I could scout him out a good spot with some bugling elk...so that is what we did. I got up before 5am every morning, dressed up nice and warm and headed out on a mission to scout for Ron and fill my tag if I could.

TBC

[CanuckShooter]

Well, I found the elk, they were bugling, they were thrashing the brush, they were basically running all over the place...but they were in an impossible place to get my partner into...I spent the next few mornings and evenings trying to develop a plan of attack that would bring us success. I knew they moved out of the area they were in each morning, and if I could figure out which direction they moved perhaps we could plunk Ron in a hotspot...and plan a bushwack?

I had one more morning to go......just about positive that I'd covered all the possible escape routes they were using....so that we could set Ron on the bushwack...and I'd go in after them which would push them past him. I was up early as usual and just driving the polaris into the selected area at first light...when I saw a huge bull elk...right in the middle of the road.....holy moly, brakes on....machine off.....the elk taking off to the left side just behind a little ridge...off the machine and all loaded up, I was watching the timberline on the leftside of the road..and seeing nothing.

Movement caught my eye back on the road, and there he was almost all the way across the road....I was deeked....no shot was presented and he was gone.:cry:


TBC

[CanuckShooter]

That evening Ron was ready, we loaded my camp directors chair onto the back of the machine and we set him up in the cut where I had seen the bull elk on the road in the morning....right beside the road. We broke some willows back to make some shooting lanes and off I went..confident we were in the right area.

I stopped on the way back, just after dark, and Ron was all pumped!! The elk had been lighting up all around him....the spot was good the hunt was on!!

The morning of the 10th we were up extra early in anticipation of the hunting day to come...and we were off well before dark to get into out spots before first light.

{it's coming soon}TBC pics too....:-D

[CanuckShooter]

Early in the morning, with the light quickly coming on, I dropped Ron off at his spot, made sure he was all settled {well almost}, and roared off to a spot 1/2 mile away.

It started out good for me, the elk were tearing up the bush in front of me, thrashing brush and bugling...several of them...and one in particular giving more of a roar than a bugle...perhaps it was 'old grunt' that we had been chasing in the area for several years?? I had to get closer, and I moved and hid the polaris in some heavy willows and set off through the overgrown cut trying to reach the bushline where the bulls were performing hard for me this morning. After making my way almost the whole 200yds or so that I need to cross, and bumping a small cow moose out of her bed on the way....I hear a shot....close, but not 'that' close.....with the radios down...I have a choice, go see if Ron has one down, or finish out my game plan...my bull bugles within 100yds in front of me, and my decision is made...Ron can wait. :-D


TBC-sorry for this guys but sometimes I lose everything if I am too slow.

[landphil]

Manslaughter charges may be coming your way - the suspense is KILLING me!:mrgreen:

[CanuckShooter]

I am in the thick of it now, the bull is singing in front of me, the Squeeze Me is illiciting a response and the bull is coming...and then a wind shift and everthing goes silent again....I'm busted. It's time to go see if that shot I heard was from my partner...over an hour has passed.

Making my way back out to the machine and wiping the perspiration of brush-busting off my brow, I fire up and head for my partners spot.

Driving up I can see him comforably settled in his chair at the edge of the road....he is looking at me...gawd damm almighty...he has a great big shyt eating grin going from ear to ear to ear....NO, it cannot be? I pull up, shut off the machine...and ask as cavalier as I can "did you hear a shot"????

Well Ron, being coy...says 'Yup'....'six point bull'....even bigger grin....it was me...over there 20yds, right beside that stump, six point bull. I look, it cannot be...right there? in the open?? BS I call...he grins and says 'go look'.....as I walk over I hear...'hey buddy...don't forget you said all I had to do was pull the trigger'..and he laughed.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/00912.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=20496&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=505)

And this is what I found laying not 20 yards from his chair, in willows no higher than your mid-thigh....Ron has his six point bull down!!

[stanway]

NICE!!!:mrgreen:

[landphil]

I'm gonna have to start armchair hunting if that's how it works - nicely done!

[bigneily]

Canuckshooter your a helluva guide, And good shooting on Ron's part..

[CanuckShooter]

The rest of that day were spent bring him home and celebrating, and the next day the meat was taken into town to the butchers. And Ron did help, he pulled the windpipe, and he helped trim and pick hairs..proving he is a real hunting partner and not one that would make me do it all by myself just because I said he could slack off!!! The IN-Valid pulls his weight.

Ron says he is staying in camp for a few days now, and gives me orders to head out and get my elk now....So up early and off I go the next day. Over the next couple of days the area I am in is starting to fill with other hunting parties, the elk are still there but it's getting crowded, some fellows from Terrace pick up a nice bull. I snapped a pic with permission.


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And while there another group pulled in from Dawson Creek...my hunny hole was starting to look a little less appealing...:cry:

[killman]

Awesome job. Glad Ron got a nice bull.

[CanuckShooter]

Mike came to hunt with us the 11th and 12th, while he never got an elk I did take him out and he got to hear his very first real life elk bugle. {more on Mike later}

I made another epic decision....that ladder stand had been in place since the 2nd, tomorrow was the 14th...I was pretty sure no one had been hunting in that little hunny hole corner..a thought was formed..with the added pressure along the blocks we had been hunting, the elk will get pushed over toward our other special spot...I headed for camp, time for lunch, a visit with Ron and Buck, and a talk with my successful elk killing IN-Valid partner. He agreed, I should get my climbing vest on and spend that evening in the ladder stand...time to check it out again. I spent the evening of the 13th in Rons ladder stand...and the bulls were there, I had several well within the range of possibly coming in.....I was pumped.

That evening, my partner is giving me a hard time....'if you don't get your bull soon...you'll have to shoot a cow you know?'....'boy, your down to the wire jimbo....you might have to eat cow elk'...LOL...the old bugger sure knows how to dish it out!! My retort: "Ron, I am going to go down there tomorrow...and shoot a 7 point Bull Elk...right from your ladder stand....and he is going to have a wanker this long."....holding my hands several feet apart.


AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I DID
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[CanuckShooter]

We now had some serious bone to hang in our tree...and the dog to guard it:

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[Spuddge]

Excellent story Jim, keep it coming. Props for helping Ron to get his bull. It's too bad we missed you guys this year. Say hi and congrats to the " In Valid" from the "Camp Jumpers":mrgreen:

[shantz]

Great story, the anticipation almost killed me. Congrats!

[CanuckShooter]

The next couple of days were spent on meat, driving to the meat cutters and scouting for some moose sign, our departure date was set...we were heading home on the 20th....so we had some time left yet...and Mike had said he might come back for another weekend hunt.

Saturday morning Mikes truck was in camp, he was up an hour before dark and mixing his morning tea....I was going to take him down towards the river, set him up, and call for him....he was promised to hear those elk bugles way way closer than he did last weekend {being a youngish late 30 something} the twinkle in his eyes told me he was looking forward to it...and so was I. :mrgreen:

We spent the next few hours with very little response, so I pulled up stakes and took Mike to my 'super secret die if you ever tell' hunny hole...and we started to stalk in.....one bugle...two bugles...Mikes eyes were glowing, the grim was getting bigger and bigger...the bulls were answering me but not coming...."come on Mike" I said, "I'll show you what to do when they act this way"....and off we went....cow calling all the way as we closed the distance.....


TBC

[CanuckShooter]

As Mike and I closed the distance it became apparent, we had at least one BIG bull and a couple of squealers to each side.......we hit a small ravine and a bull started coming...and coming hard.

"Mike hide behind that tree" I order {miserable old cuss hey?}.."and watch that little opening right there"......"that's where he will come"....and be dammed if he didn't, you gotta love when a plan comes together.

Mike hears his first up close elk bugle and gets his first bull elk.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/0861.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=20497&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=505)

Three for Three, batting 1000....we couldn't ask for much more!!


And that is the end of the story guys, we have to get the TT ready for our next hunting saga....:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

[killman]

I guess my congrats went out a little early in the story. Congrats to everyone.

[d6dan]

Yeah, Congrats to everybody..You boys shot some nice elk..where's your Jack Russell Terror Jim?.

[835]

Nice work CS.

[Angel]

sounds like a great hunt for all, which is the best.

[3kills]

awesome job congrats on the success.

[rocksteady]

Congrats to all Shooter...... Elk hunting sure is fun, especially when you get to share it with good friends....:-D

[steepNdeep]

Awesome!! Sounds like you guys have paid your dues and the hunting gods agree... congrats. :cool:

[stanway]

That was one of (if not) the best stories I have read on here. Great job on getting Ron onto a bull - he is lucky to have you as a friend.

All three of you guys had a good time - congratulations to you all!


James

[Big_Island_Hunter]

Great story and wow what a hunting partner, good on ya and congrats to all three hunters on elk success.

[bridger]

very good story and great bulls congrats

[nano]

Great story, congrats to all!

[CanuckShooter]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/00613.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=20517&size=big&cat=500)

The lucky Eagle hat and the smiling partners.....ain't life grand?

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/0186.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=20518&size=big&cat=500)

[bosch]

Awesome story, Congrat's to you and your party, way to stick with your partner, that's what hunting is all about.

[Rattler]

Great story and like many have said even better that you took the time to get Ron a bull. Congrats to all of you and thanks for sharing....

[trigger]

awesome awesome awesome. what a trip. good for you guys and thanks for sharing some beauty bulls and good eats.

[BimmerBob]

Another epic story CS, great of you to "bring us along" with the words and pics, simply awesome, thanks! Congrats to you all, great team you have.

[Hydrojet]

thanks for that! I really enjoyed reading it and good on ya for getting your buddy out there no matter what!

[yiorgo3]

Great story Thanks for sharing!! Enjoy that elk meat this winter.