2013 Elk hunts w/ pics

[todbartell]

Opening day of elk season. Is there a better day to be out in the woods? We were back in a familiar piece of country that has produced many bulls over the last five years. Using the wind direction to plan our attack on the ‘rut hole’ we snuck into the timber and slowly made our way along an elk trail at daybreak. We had no answers to our bugles or cow calls but we were confident there was elk around.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/527050_10151072060817992_430365458_n.jpg

We were about 50 yards downwind of a wallow we’ve had success near before, and decided to try a bugle and see if we could get an answer. I let out a high pitched squeal trying to simulate a raghorn bull. 30 seconds later a bull bugled back from the other side of the wallow. Over the next 15 minutes we bugled back and forth but he wouldn’t come any closer, nor did it sound like he was going away from us. It was 8am and we knew that soon the warm temps could shut him up and he might lose our chance at him, so we tried to sneak in on where he sounded like he was.

We were able to get within about a hundred yards of him, all of a sudden there was brush crackin and I figured he was coming hard towards us. But the sound never moved, he was raking a tree! We made the decision to move in on the bull rather than trying to lure him closer. We tried to make as little of noise as we could, which was hard in the dry underbrush, while sneaking closer. The trees were so thick that we couldn’t see the elk yet but could hear him almost constantly raking a tree, only stopping periodically to bugle or groan.
We got to a spot where we finally could make out some movement ahead, I remember seeing the top of a tree shaking and scanning down with my binos until I could make out parts of an antler and some tan colored hide. We could tell he was a mature bull, and agreed he was a shooter. We kept sneaking closer until my father in law had a clear lane to the bulls neck, at approx.. 60 yarrds as the bull took a breather from raking the tree.
He let fire a 168gr TTSX from his 300wm, I could hear the bullet slap and the bull instantly turned and was coming our way. He reloaded and the bull stopped broadside one more shot and he was down in his tracks. After some hooting and hollering, handshakes and hugs we ran up to the bull. In all the excitement I lost track of where he dropped and ran about 50 yards past the bull. :D

He was a beautiful 6x6, long beams and good mass. Certainly one of the better bulls we’ve taken. He had an eyeguard from another bull jammed into the back of his neck right behind the skull. Likely was fighting the night before, possibly why he wasn’t very interested in coming into our call. He probab;y was content to just rake his frustrations out on the tree.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/386277_10151072074122992_1806286263_n.jpg






















https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/262856_10151072070742992_1617580213_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/184178_10151073602917992_778940283_n.jpg

[todbartell]

Five days of hard hunting later, it proved to be my turn. We had found a newer cutblock that had some elk sign in it,we decided to return in the evening to sit and see what happens. My brother in law watched one side of the block and I headed about 300 yards down the road to watch the other side. We sat down and let things settle down and get quiet for a bit before doing some calling. When my BIL would bugle or cow call, I would answer him. At one point just before the sun set, I thought I heard a bull groan behind me in an older grown up cut block, followed by some cow chirps. At the time I thought maybe it was other hunters but I never did hear another call, although there was a few cracks in the bush that got my blood going. Could a bull be coming in?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/250260_10151072079732992_800229182_n.jpg

I kept scanning the edge of the block, by now the sun had set and darkness was quickly eating up the light. I’d let the odd cow chirp go, hoping to lure out something. There, there was an elk, I could see it plain as day without my binos on the edge of the timber. The tell tale yellowy tan hide. I raise my binos and see that, well it wasn’t an elk, but a small poplar tree turning golden yellow. I was fooled! A few minutes went by and I picked up my binos to scan the edge of the block one last time. No elk, no elk, no elk, no elk, ELK! Bull elk! I remember his dark antlers, as he stood there watching the cut block, likely trying to find where that sleazy cow was calling from. He was facing right at me, and he was stunning. He licked his nose and took a few steps out into the block. I took this opportunity while he was moving to get my rifle in position for the shot. Id move a bit, he would stop moving so I’d freeze. He’d watch my direction for a bit then carry on quartering to me and I would move a little bit. Finally I was ready. Cranked the Leupold to 10x, estimated bull to be at about 200-225 yards. He turned broadside and when my crosshairs settled on his shoulder I squeezed the trigger on my custom Winchester m70 338-06. Kapow, the bull shudders on the impact and the rodeo begun. He was spinning around and round while I quickly reloaded and when he slowed his spin I fired again at a quartering away angle. I seen the big shower of hair in the scope and it was like someone slapped him on the ass and he was off. I reloaded again, he luckily had stopped and in the failing light I could make out his silhouette. A slight rise in the clearing blocked a lot of his vitals so I aimed at the base of his antlers and moved my crosshairs back a foot and squezzed off my third round. I lost sight of him in the muzzle blast. I sat and listened, holding my breath . I remember hearing my blood just ppunding through my veins. Crash crash crash, something was running away through the old cutblock where the bull had emerged from. Really? REALLY? I just stroked a bull 3x with 225gr Nosler Accubonds and he is still alive? I couldn’t believe it……..

My partners were now coming my way to see what was going on. From where they were sitting, they couldn’t see a thing. Because my shots were spaced out apart every few seconds, they thought I had broke my leg and was signalling for them to come help me :D We went up to where the bull was when I shot and looked for blood. My BIL headed to where I last seen him, and after a minute yelled “FOUND HIM!” WOW – talk about a relief! Turns out the crashing I heard after my 3rd shot must have been a cow elk that was with the bull. We took a few quick pics and got him gutted and went for the quads to drag him out. A medium sized 6x6 but he fils the freezer nicely. First shot was right in the shoulder and angled through quartering away and found bullet on off side hide/ribs. 2nd shot went in behind ribs and smashed into the back bone above shoulders – how this didn’t drop him I don’t know. 3rd shot hit him right in the neck and dropped him in his tracks.


https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/223092_10151072080587992_272566051_n.jpg


https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/576971_10151070763252992_1616945517_n.jpg


https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/310375_10151074734007992_249474898_n.jpg
tb

[todbartell]

some more pics from the hunt

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/552034_10151072061457992_489986183_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/304356_10151072063637992_202612680_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/375917_10151072065967992_1815751399_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/404108_10151072080157992_661929081_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/185038_10151072081952992_123052368_n.jpg

[todbartell]

a month later I got to be pack mule for my BIL's 7A bull

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/302284_10151103563482992_235333160_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/430508_10151103565302992_1775721363_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/554473_10151103567082992_2073006955_n.jpg


tb

[paulgug]

Wow, great story. I am glad to see a few elk stories popping up this late in the season. Better late than never. That's insane to find that eye guard in that bulls neck. I haven't heard of that happening before. Nice bulls, and Congrats to you all on a successful elk season

[BiG Boar]

So you WeNT INTo ThE FUTURE! Here's a first for HBC.

[hunter1947]

Thanks much so for your story and pictures you got some very nice bull elk your hunting party got love the picture of the big antlered guy ,,congrats to you and your partners..

[5 spike]

Congrats to everbody and thanks for the pics and story.

[knightcc]

Great story. Thanks for sharing. You've got a full freezer and a nice rack to boot.

[BlacktailStalker]

Quality bulls and hunts Mark, sweet deal !

[kennyj]

2013?? Anyways great story and photos of your elk season. Really enjoyed them.
kenny

[Blainer]

Fantastic share
I very much enjoyed this thread
thank you

[moosinaround]

Nice bulls Mark! Moosin

[Bighorn hunter]

Very Cool:) Whats the length on the long side main beam on your father in laws bull? gotta be over 50":)

Cheers
BH

[Brambles]

great story and pics Mark, was that your 338-06? Some of those elk have one heck of a will to live.

[Bear Chaser]

Nice pics and story again.

Did you get any pictures with the broken tine still in the elk? That must have been pretty neat to find.

[doubled]

Awesome hunts TB!!! You are a lucky man to be able to hunt with family like that - I am very jealous!!! Congrats on filling the freezers.

[Wrayzer]

How'd you get the Bull in the Delorian though??

Great story and pics!!

[ElectricDyck]

Congrats on a a successful and exciting hunt! How far was the tine dug in?

[one-shot-wonder]

Poachers! You guys dont even have valid 2013 hunting licenses.........

Congrats on the nice critters!

[Rattler]

Congrats on a successful elk hunt. The elk your BIL shot is a real dandy. Great pictures btw, loved the one with the broken off elk horn.

Thanks for sharing.

[d6dan]

Great story and pics Mark. Memories for ever.:-D

[yota]

thats some awesome pics and fantastic story to go along with those bulls congrats

I like the eye guard stuck in the neck/skull of the first bull it just adds to the story that much more.

[Bc Deer Hunter]

Couple nice bulls, good job!

[Timbow]

Awesome elk season. Definitely some dandys.

[Ambush]

WOW!! Three for three!!

You gott'a be arriving at "Epic Elk Hunter" status. You're going to be spending a lot of time counselling hunters at the gun counter, even more than now.
Congratulations to all three of you.

[ianwuzhere]

kewl tops on that first 6 pointer,
well done, congrats!

[todbartell]

2013...yeesh :confused: In my defense I *was* looking at the 2013 Savage product listing before I posted the hunt story :mrgreen:

[kevan]

Awesome story and great pics ! Congratulations !
Now does that make the 338-06 a keeper ??

[tomahawk]

Great bulls Mark, Verns is a cranker for sure, tell him congrats for me thats a great bull, any score done?

[madrona sh]

I like the freezer pic.

It makes me hungry.

[todbartell]

Nice pics and story again.

Did you get any pictures with the broken tine still in the elk? That must have been pretty neat to find.

unfortunately no pics of the tine stuck in the elk, father in law pulled it out thinking it was a stick stuck in there from raking the tree!


Congrats on a a successful and exciting hunt! How far was the tine dug in?

about 3"


Awesome story and great pics ! Congratulations !
Now does that make the 338-06 a keeper ??

sure is a keeper, I hunted with it every day of the trip and never wished it to be any different than what it was. Perfect weight and balance although I may switch to 210gr TTSX for 2013 just for fun


Great bulls Mark, Verns is a cranker for sure, tell him congrats for me thats a great bull, any score done?

308" gross was the number I was told. He's going to get it mounted up


I like the freezer pic.

It makes me hungry.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250378_10151074810307992_1945812965_n.jpg

[Kody94]

My 338 RCM loves the 210 TTSXs.

Congrats on your elk season! Hard to beat that one!

Cheers,
C

[Freshtracks]

Congrats TB ... some great looking bulls. Love the pics and recant. The tine in the neck is priceless. :wink:

[Bear Chaser]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250378_10151074810307992_1945812965_n.jpg

That looks like a little bacon wrapped happiness right there.:mrgreen:
:mrgreen:
Both my kids have any elk draws this year. I can't wait for fresh cow elk filets and backstraps!!!