I thought I’d share my 2 hour archery elk season. I had 3 weeks set aside to hunt elk this year. Woke up early on sept 5, had a “feeling” to try a new hill. My plan as to get parked a hour before daylight, 30 mins before light I was going to quietly get out of my truck and bugle down a valley, If no response I’d head down the road and hike this great ridge I found in the spring.
well about 5 seconds after my gentle location bugle I had a bull pipe up. Well looks like he wants to play. I load my pack and slowly head into the dark timber. The bull keeps bugling so I gave him a reply. Not wanting to get busted in the dark I hung back. Soon as legal light hit I let one go and he replied. He kept his distance but wanted to play. I had a 3 pt bull come in at 30 yards (legal), I had to hang tight and let him bugger off before heading after my target.
about 1.5 - 2 hours later I finally was close range to him. Solo Archery , ranging and calling I had to play it safe and slow.
he brought me into this little rut pit with many thrashed trees and a dry wallow pit.
soon as I made it here I knew he was going to get pissed. I trashed some bush and let out one last challenge bugle. After that last bugle he came charging in full speed to kick my ass. At 20 Yards I was about to let one rip, he saw me and spooked. I stopped him at 30 yards with a cow call and let one rip into his lungs. He ran off and fell down 30 yards away, go up and stumbled a few more yards out of sight.
while waiting the forest lit up with non stop bugles, one only 30 yards away. For some reason I thought my bull was alive. Turned out it was just another big one coming to play.
30 minutes later I walked up and found this decent 6x5. My first archery harvest. Was nice to pull out my bag of tricks i learnt over the last 5 years being obsessed with elk and make it happen.
The solo packout in 30 degree heat was brutal, definitely learnt lots about harvesting a big animal on hot days. When I finally closed the tail gate around 5pm the bulls lit up again all over the hill side. Looks like It was just one of those days.
Now for the long wait till whitetail rut , unfortunately in my area it takes 9 years to draw a mule deer buck tag.
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Originally Posted by RackStar
