End of a 5 Year Quest

[325]

I moved to the West Kootenay about five years ago, and before moving here had very little elk hunting experience. Moving to West Kootenays meant opportunities for elk hunting. I have hunted hard every year, but amazingly, had never seen a legal bull during the season...until yesterday.

The day started out with promise. As I rode my ATV up the logging road, about an hour before sunrise, 3 whitetail and an elk ran across the road in front of me. Cool...an elk...that's a start.

I parked my ATV and waited for things to lighten-up and then walked into a salt lick I discovered 2 years ago. I scanned the area and to my surpise, saw a bull elk standing there about 40 yards away. He was on high-alert and staring right at me. I gave a cow call with my reed, and he immediately relaxed and lowered his head to continue eating the clay. He was a smallish 5x4...not legal, but it was neat watching him for about 3-4 minutes at such a short distance.

After he left, I kept hiking out of the timber and into a cutblock. I re-entered the timber, almost at alpine and did a bit of cow calling. A cow elk responed from a short distance, but no bull.

It was about 8:15 AM , and I decided the morning hunt was pretty well over. I started walking back towards my ATV. I decided to try one last bugle, and to my surprise, I heard a deep, raspy bugle from below the road. Immediate adrenaline. I quilkly bailed off the road into the heavy brush and bugled again. He responed. I could hear him walking below me, but the alders and other hellish shrubs, prevented me from seeing him. We bugled back-and-forth for about 2 minutes, when he started heading up the steep hill towards me. Within a minute he was only 30 yards away, but almost completely hidden by alders, and all I could see were his legs. The wind swirled and he caught my scent and ran back down the hill. I thought sh!t, that was my chance.

Not being too hopeful, I tried another bugle. To my surprise he responded. I realized he was spooked, but still thought I was an elk. I plowed through the heavy brush towards him and bugled again. He responded, but this time from further way...quite a bit further. I realized he was leaving Dodge, so I thought what the hell, I have nothing to lose, so I literally ran towards his last bugle. After I covered about 150 yards, I stopped to listen. I head branches breaking not too far below me, and tried to get a view ahead through the heavy brush. Through a small opening I saw him staring at me. He was huge! He was about 60 yards away and all I could see were his head and neck. I saw he was legal and shot him in the neck. He dropped instantly. I ran-up and shot him again through the lungs. I was in shock....I had finally killed an elk...and a big one at that.

I quarted him (gutless method) and on my first trip back to road, met another hunter. He offered to help, and was invaluable in getting it all out. A true gentleman and sportsman, and I am in his debt.

Anyway, I have photos if someone will be kind enough to post them for me.

[WKCotts]

nice work! let's get some pics up!

[kodiak10]

Good for you.I have used that trick a couple of times and had it work.Bull would not come in,so I ran to him breaking branches.When I stopped I let out a bugle and both times they came charging in.Cant wait to see the pictures.

[demlake]

Congrats on your first elk.

And thanks for the story. Looking forward to the pics.


He offered to help, and was invaluable in getting it all out. A true gentleman and sportsman, and I am in his debt.

And kudos to whoever it was who helped you out.

dl

[Kalum]

Congrats, post the pics!!! I'm headed peace country for elk in 2 more days and I'm so stoked I can't even sleep! Have packed, unpacked, packed, at least 4 times now:)

[d6dan]

Congrats on a 5yr quest 325!.. Great read and looking forward to seeing the pics of this big bull..

[Amphibious]

congrats! did you use the .325? if so, eager to hear some terminal results.

eagerly awaiting the pics....

[325]

congrats! did you use the .325? if so, eager to hear some terminal results.

eagerly awaiting the pics....


No, I used my 308 shooting 150 grain Barnes. I don't know how to post pics, so if someone who can post PMs their email, I'll send pics to them.

[d6dan]

PM sent.......

[Sitkaspruce]

Send the picts to

Sitka102003@gmail.com

and I will post them up

Congrats on the great hunt!!!

Cheers

SS

[d6dan]

Here's your Bull 325..and what a beauty he is!...

http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/uu65/d6dan/016.jpg

http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/uu65/d6dan/013.jpg

[Sitkaspruce]

WOW!!!

Congrats on that great bull!!!!!

Love the whale tail and royals on that one!!!!

Cheers

SS

[Big_Island_Hunter]

Very nice bull congrats.

[Kalum]

what a beaut, congrats!

[kootenayelkslayer]

Awesome bull! Definitely jealous...congratulations.

[Brew]

Thats a beauty 325. Way to go!

[Amphibious]

fantastic bull, you should be very proud :)

[hunterofthedeer]

Very nice bull. Cant wait to go for a elk in the future.

[Jelvis]

That's a bull and a half wow, beauty rack, long thick tines.
Jel .. You did fun tastic .. amazing bone ..

[yiorgo3]

Nice Bull great work. Kudos to your helper! Thanks for the story.

[Rattler]

Wow, what a bull...Congrats!!!

[MuleyMadness]

Amazing bull, congratulations!

[Brambles]

Hell of a Bull you got yourself, congrats. Way to be aggressive, certainly paid off for you. sometimes you just gotta run those bulls down.

[BimmerBob]

Congrats on a huge bull, way to go (and thanks for sharing the story with us!)

[325]

Congrats on a huge bull, way to go (and thanks for sharing the story with us!)

Ironically, I'm getting PM hell for posting a "West Kootenay" bull. Apparently big WK bulls should be kept a secret :neutral:

[Brambles]

Ironically, I'm getting PM hell for posting a "West Kootenay" bull. Apparently big WK bulls should be kept a secret :neutral:

Yeah it was probably SteepNDeep eh? I hear he's PMing everyone giving them crap about posting about WK elk, especially a big one like yours.

Its the lead from Trail rotting his brain I guess:mrgreen:

[325]

Yeah it was probably SteepNDeep eh? I hear he's PMing everyone giving them crap about posting about WK elk, especially a big one like yours.

Its the lead from Trail rotting his brain I guess:mrgreen:


You've been reading my PMs!?!?

[Brambles]

You've been reading my PMs!?!?


Not much gets past me...:mrgreen:

[kennyj]

Thats an awesome bull. Thanks for the story and photos.
kenny

[luckynuts]

That's one heck of a bull and your first to boot! Way to go Man... you better be mounting that pig... Let us know what it tapes out please..

W.

[sawmill]

BOOYAH!GREAT BULL,GOOD ON YA!:mrgreen:

[rocksteady]

Nice bull... whole different world hunting them in that WK crap of a forest...

[GoatGuy]

congrats on a fine bull.

[spear]

Nice bull, glad to endured to get success!

[brock77]

wow nice bull and good job.....have a few buddys holding out for the wk its going to be busy.......ill give you a native name .......from .325.... to "charging bull" ha ahaha...... boooo yaaaaaa... good job

[Fisher-Dude]

Sweet lookin' bull 325! Congrats! http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif

[ydouask]

Well done 325, aka " Charging Bull ". I like it !

[todbartell]

wicked bull, good job!

[mcrae]

Beauty W.Koots bull...Congrats on the hard work and patience.

Oh know I said W.Koots bull the internet elk police are gonna get me LOL...

[Duk Dog]

Very nice bull, congrats!

[BlacktailStalker]

Thats a fine bull.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Great bull 325!!

Now what's the next quest???:)

SSS

[Phil]

Great story and a beauty bull!

[kootenayelkslayer]

Ironically, I'm getting PM hell for posting a "West Kootenay" bull. Apparently big WK bulls should be kept a secret :neutral:

Tell him to go to hell. Plenty of elk in the province for everyone!

[porcupine]

A really nice bull. You should be proud of yourself.

[325]

Great bull 325!!

Now what's the next quest???:)

SSS


Stone Sheep!

[325]

That's one heck of a bull and your first to boot! Way to go Man... you better be mounting that pig... Let us know what it tapes out please..

W.


I am mounting him...either pedistal or shoulder. My taxi "rough" scored him and says he will gross in the low 340s.

[d6dan]

I am mounting him...either pedistal or shoulder. My taxi "rough" scored him and says he will gross in the low 340s.

I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the finished mount.:-D. He's a super looking 6 pt Bull...

[dabat]

This story has me pumped, I am leaving for my first ever elk trip in a couple of days.
Congrats on your bull and love your story too!

[Elkhound]

Happy you finally connected. I hope I can say the same a hunting season soon

[riflebuilder]

great bull congrats, he should go at least 330-340. you need to get that one mounted.

[shawnwells]

awesome story! youre like the last of the mohicans when you hunt elk ha ha

[16ga]

I am mounting him...either pedistal or shoulder. My taxi "rough" scored him and says he will gross in the low 340s.

Good story and nice Bull, do mind telling me what taxidermist you are using?

[tomahawk]

Great conquest!!!

[vortex hunter]

325 nice bull I want one know lol

[Prowler]

Wow, what a monster!! Way to go. I hear bulls like that are as abundant in the WK as 200 class mullies in Clearwater... I am headed to WK right now to try n get me one of them thar crittars and Im bringin all my friends!! YEEEE HAAAAA!!!!:-D

[bruin]

Beautiful bull, congrats

[nano]

Nice bull , congrats!

[coach]

Very nice bull, 325! Congrats.

[308Lover]

Holy Cow Wow! And I'd just be happy with a little meat bull! Let us know about future mounts etc./plans for this guy! X2 on your hunter/helper!

[44inchStone]

Excellent first bull. You have worked hard at it and looks to have paid off in the end. The GUTLESS method....now where did you learn that. I have been using that method for many years. UNLESS you are right near a vehicle and plan on taking the ribs out. Killed a BIG bull buffalo a few years ago and used the gutless method. Instead of a complete bloodbath you stay surprisingly clean.
Keep up the hard work and to a continued successful season.

[sneg]

wow very nice bull. your persistence paid off.thanks for sharing pics and story

[835]

Way to go .325,
great bull and story. Up until now i dint think there were elk anywhere in the West Koots? Thanks for the thread :wink:
i'll keep it secret!

[Glassman]

Gutless method? What's that?

[rocksteady]

Gutless method? What's that?

How you butcher an animal wihtout knocking the guts out first...Google it or I believe it has been discussed here on a post, use the search button...


http://elk101.com/webisodes/gutless-video/

[835]

Gutless method? What's that?


Search tab " gutless method"
http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=41191&highlight=gutless+method

[shantz]

Congrats on the great bull 325. Great pics and story.

[kwasky]

thats sure a nice bull congrats! i love the way the antlers sweep back instead of just going straight back. nice bull.

[Glassman]

Thirty years of hunting and I learned something new. Don't tell my youth boys that method. They will want me to do that now. Right now I sit back and have a beer as I watch them do the gutting and getting all gooey. They grumble a bit but the whip fixes the complaining. I did get them some doctor gloves and that cut the complaining down a bit.