Well here goes nothing. I guess this is where the disclosure comes in: This is my take on the versions of what I remember, and may not have actually happened in the sequence as the story is written. This is for entertainment purposes only!
Elk Hunt 2024: 2nd year elk hunting.
Preparation was turning into a bit of a scramble. I just purchased a new to us sxs in July, and was scrambling to add some accessories to it so I could enjoy the cooler weather, and still carry everything I needed, and rifles. Happened to burn the motor of our previous one last fall out moose hunting, so needed to find something to replace it. Add the fact that I wanted to get a few hours of experience with the new machine, so I could be better prepared for any terrain I was going to run into. We had hunted this area the previous 2 years, so not like I didn’t know it, but wanted to be prepared.
Add to the fact that my usual hunting buddy, my younger brother, was not going to make it out this fall, as they were expecting a new addition to the family the 2nd week of September, my normal plans had a huge wrench thrown at them. He usually brought along his 18 yr old son as well. I wasn’t a stranger to solo hunting, and feel comfortable doing this, so planned accordingly.
Then I realized all the mouth reed calls that I had the previous year were misplaced, so I was scrambling to purchase new ones, and get them all “stretched” and ready for the fall. I was also trying to learn the how to, and why of the different types of bugles the bulls make, and why they make them. Year one, the previous year, I had a few calls I was okay with, but had no idea when and why to use them.
Finally, the final preparations were made, and I planned to head out Sunday am. My plan was to get in there before Monday, as the previous year they were logging in the valley, and I didn’t want to deal with the logging traffic going in. I know the opener was Tuesday morning, but this would give me Sunday to set up camp, and Monday to do a bit of scouting to see how things changed. I was not able to get in there any earlier this year to pre scout conditions.
Camp went up uneventfully, and I was able to drop a tree close to camp and cut and prep some firewood for the 6 days I planned on being there. I was in no rush to scout on Sunday, and just enjoyed a relaxing afternoon, evening.
Monday morning, scout day. Again, no hurry to be anywhere at first light, I got up early, had breakfast and planned out the day on where I would explore first. Covered a few good spots that we found the previous years and did not find any good promising signs of recent elk activity. Ran into some hunters that we had met the previous years and stopped for a bit to chat with them as well. Got to find out that they had 4 leh moose tags in their camp this year, so that was hopefully a relief knowing that they might be concentrating on moose more than elk. Also noted that interestingly enough I was not running into any grouse. I guess it was a wet spring and bad on the hatch/ young uns. Was kinda banking on a good grouse season and looking forward to bagging a bunch of grouse while out there. Previous years were bountiful.
Had an interesting experience with a jack rabbit while stopped at a bit of a look out. This was now mid-morning, and happened to catch movement down the road, only to see a lowly rabbit come bouncing up the road towards me, sitting in the sxs. I was able to get the phone out and take a video. The little guy ran right up to, and passed me and carried on down the road, then circled back part way towards me and then scurried off into the grass. I did have a thought of breaking out the 10/22, and had plenty of time to do so, but just sat there and enjoyed the sight.
Covered some new ground, as the previous year there was a forest fire that blew through the area, and they had now logged out most of the burned trees that were still salvageable. This opened quite a bit of new clearings, and country that you could not access previously. The large, deactivated roads just off the main road kept all the pickup traffic off these new areas, and access was only walking, or off road sxs, quads. Was able to bump a fork horn mulie hanging out with a pair of does. The fork horn and one doe did their usual bounding off, and one stayed still, not a twitch, as if trying to tell me, “You do not see me”, “I am one with my surroundings.” I backed out and let her win that one!
The rest of the day scouting was uneventful, and I headed back to camp to prep for opening morning.
The plan was to get up at 4:30 am, breakfast, and then head out to “the” favorite spot. This area has a huge number of clearings that are all connected, and some of them run about 3kms long, so quite large. The plan was to drive in the dark 1/3 of such a clearing, park and await daybreak, and then walk into the far part quietly. I miscalculated daybreak and was on the back 1/3 by the time daybreak hit. I guess I was just gung-ho that morning to get out there and get hunting, and was just walking too quickly, or was it daybreak was just too slow that morning. I was getting warm, so I stopped to shed some layers of clothing, dropped the small pack, grunt tube, walking/shooting stick, rifle, bino buddy, and my outer jacket. My mistake was doing this right on the road heading in, and then stepping off into the ditch to let out a few bugles, and glass the area ahead. I figured I would be less of a skyline figure if I was in the ditch next to some bushes, then standing on the road with nowhere to hide.
Well, to my surprise I saw movement about 150m down the road. I could tell with the naked eye that it was the color or an elk, even though it was just getting to seeable light. Reaching for my bino’s, yep that is elk. All my gear on the road, and I’m in the ditch. I thought to myself, great move, rookie! I scrambled to retrieve my gear, and more importantly the rifle, just in case there was a few of them. Turns out it was a lone cow. She continued weaving in an out of the brush along the road until she was about 50m from me. Then she winded me. The wind was not in my favor that morning, and not much I could do about it. As she scurried off into the clearing over a ridge, I heard what sounded like a pack of yotes at the far end of the clearing. The end I was planning on heading to. I have heard lots of yotes before, but these were different. Almost like they were fighting. Sounded like a group of them, and this went on for what sounded like minutes. I thought to myself, great, no elk is going to be vocal after all that yelping! I sat around for ½ hour or so, letting out the odd bugle, to just quietness. The forest yelling back at me, quietly. Yes, the typical bird sounds, but the forest was quiet of the bugle sounds I was after, and the only bugles I was hearing, were those I was making. That evening hunt was even more uneventful, with again a quiet forest.
Wednesday am, after breakfast I headed to another area of the valley. This area also had promise, as the previous year we had lots of bugles back at us, but were not able to connect with any elk. This area is thicker, with less ability to see into the clearings, but also held elk. I was ready, a good 45 min before dark, and was onto bugles already. As I prepped to walk in from where I stopped, I played a bit of back and forth with an elk, as we bugled back and forth to each other. As if to say, you come here, and challenge me, I’m not going in there. Well, he ended up winning on this round, as I just didn’t want him bad enough to go in after him into this thick stuff. But it sure sounded like he wanted to come closer to me, or was that just my inexperience talking to me, in my mind! We tagged teamed back and forth for about 45 minutes, before I finally figured out that my efforts were going to be futile. I finally headed in the direction I planned that morning down the road, and again the forest was quiet. A few hours later as I was headed back to the sxs, where I had parked that am, I thought the heck with this, and I am going to walk into the area that the elk was screaming at me from. Yep, just as I figured, it was thick. An older clearing, not very large, but rough, and overgrown, so having any distance to see anything was going to be hard. My inexperience elk hunting was showing again, as I should have challenged him, and headed in towards him that morning when I had enough light to see far enough. Live and learn.
Mid-morning I ran across some acquaintances that had just dropped a bull moose. They happened to have an LEH tag, so they did not hesitate in taking it. A young 4x5 bull that will turn out to be some great eats. I happened across them early enough that they were just finishing cutting their tag. That’s where my big mouth jumped in and asked if they had ever done a gutless moose before. They both looked at me and said nope but had heard about it and had always wanted to try. Well, let’s get to it then. In under 2 short hours we had it bagged and were already loaded up into the tub trailer one of them went to retrieve as we started the process. In the end they decided to cut out the ribs for a fireside bbq and asked me to come by their camp the next day, midday, for a great moose rib roast. How can you say no to that. I had hunted and camped with this group of guys on two previous occasions, on a bison hunt, and a different moose hunt. I didn’t even realize they were in this valley until I ran across them, as I had heard they planned on heading further north for the 3 pt elk season. Guess it turned out great, they bagged a moose, and got to share some stories, some ribs, and good times.
For the evening hunt I planned to head to a swampy area that I have sat above calling in moose, and had a young 3x3 elk walk in on us. I parked well back of the area and headed in on foot. A good ½ hr walk, had me staring at the back of a quad. Really, someone already in there as well. Dang, just not my day. Back to the sxs, for plan B. Headed back about 2 kms and stopped at another potential spot. Waited the ½ hour, and started to call. On the 2nd string of calls, I get a call back. Yep, that’s what I thought I heard. Quickly grabbed my gear and went for a walk. Cutting bush, to get to a bit of a spot that I could look down towards the area I thought I heard the calls from. 45 min later, yep, I could tell it was another set of hunters from another access road. I could not see them, but sure could tell it was not the 4 legged creature I was after.
Thursday am, I planned on heading back into “the” favorite spot again, for a 2nd try at it in those clearings. As I headed in that direction, well before daylight was in the air, I could see something was not right. That couldn’t be, taillights. Uggh, someone had beat me into this area this morning. Quick, plan B. I turned around and headed for a different area, with still enough time to salvage a morning hunt. Yep, I made it, with enough quiet time before I set out on the walk in. I like to have at least ½ hour or more of time between the time I sxs into a spot, to the time I walk from there. Just so I have a good amount of quiet time in between. I would rather walk in quietly, than ride all the way, as I can then hear better, see better, and the obvious go in quieter. Yea, I can just ride the sxs all the way in, but I like this style. I can ride into a lot of deactivated areas relatively easily on the sxs, to get off the beaten path, then quietly walk into the “nice” hunting areas. Yea I get it, they are all hunting areas, but you get the jist of it. I can get into a lot of areas that would just be too far to walk into, especially when there are guys riding into these areas already.
In the end this was all futile, as the forest was again quiet this morning. I tend to hunt the better part of the morning, and if required stay out well past noon, depending on the area, and the happenings of the morning. I have had times when I was calling elk out into the open, and it was 11 am. I then tend to head back into camp, have a good lunch, and either rest, or head out for an explore, drive around. I like the ability to bag some grouse mid-day, and enjoy eating them. Then head into an area for an evening hunt.
Thursday pm had me in another spot. I was running a bit late that evening after having to pound back some fresh fire cooked moose and elk ribs, so planned on not having to go far. Didn’t really have time to park, and wait the ½ hour, then walk in, plus I was just feeling lazy, so I sat in the sxs, sipping my coffee, waiting, listening. I tend to have the rifle ready when I sit like this, as you just never know when strange things happen, and they usually happen quickly. Sure enough, I hear a snap of a few branches.
As a hunter, thoughts leap in the mind, was that a bear, how close, what direction. We do after all hunt in bear country, and more frequently in Grizzly country. That said it has been quite a few years since I actually saw a grizzly, and I was not seeing any sign this year in the area I was in. Next thought, elk??
I started with a fairly soft cow chirp. Yep elk. After my chirps I could hear it walking in towards my general direction. I’m parked on a small road, and as we often see, the brush growth right near the road is the thickest. I had nowhere to hide, and nowhere to hide the sxs. No way I was going to start it up with elk in the 100m circle. I could hear the twigs snapping, so figure it was less than 75m. I raked some bushes with a stick, I let out some different combinations of grunts, chirps, challenges, and waited. It walked down past me, and then circled back towards me. Yep, trying to wind me, but the wind was in my favor that evening. More raking, more challenges, more grunts. Here he comes!!! He has finally committed! I had my rifle ready, as this was going to be 30 ft or less distance, yep, he was that close.
Just before he hits the last thick brush before the road, he stops, unable to commit himself to actually set hoof on the road. Nooooooooooo. He turned at the last minute and stayed in the trees. I could hear the antlers brushing up against the evergreen trees as he walked past them. This is now likely 30 ft or less, but thick, and getting late, so there was just no hope in seeing into this stuff. Did he see the sxs, no way it was me, as the breeze was coming from him towards me. Daylight was my detriment. I was too quickly running out of it, and no way I could turn back the time. The elk had won again, and I was left with only a thrill, a bunch of adrenaline, and another great hunting story to tell. I sat there quietly for a good 45 min in the dark to let him wander off and not spook him starting up the sxs. Wondering to myself what I could have done differently. I’ll be back.
Friday am. Because I was not able to make it out to “the” fav spot on the previous morning, I figured I’d hit it this am. Sure enough, already someone going in there. Plan B. Different clearings. Friday morning was again turning out futile, as the forest was quiet. But I had the previous evening hunt still running fresh in my mind, so kept pounding the miles, hoping, watching, listening, bugling. Back to camp without even a measly grouse sighting. While cooking lunch over an open fire, I heard what sounded like a bulge somewhere above camp. Really!!
Quickly, grab the essentials and run. Rifle, binos, bugle tube. It was warm, so I was just in a light shirt. Didn’t even grab a water bottle. Quick go, go, go. I could not get him to sound off again, but I did try. Back to camp with heavy dragging feet, to finish my lunch. The evening, I figured I would hit up another area that in the previous year tended to hold some elk when the pressure started up at the beginning of season. Sure enough, elk signs. Recently rubbed brush. They seem to frequent different areas as the hunting pressure spikes up and tend to move around. They are still there, just harder to hear, spot, hunt. I sat, called, listened, and finally just before dark started to hear the tell-tale signs of elk. The bugle. Again, the dark was fast closing in on me, and no way to make any kind of move on this sound. Back to camp, well after dark.
Saturday morning. I headed to the spot where I played with the elk the evening on Thursday. Again, at the spot early. Sxs off, sitting and waiting for the day light to creep in, so I could see far enough to start the walk in. Enjoying a few more sips of the morning coffee. My small pack, with wipes, knife, some light cord, snacks, and 2l water bladder, my walking/shooting stick, bugle tube, rifle and bino buddy. Off I go, hi ho, hi ho.
I started off with a locator bugle, and away I went for the morning hunt. I would walk in quietly, watching for recent signs, tracks, rubs, listening for the bugle, twig snaps, anything that would give away the presence of the elk I was after as my quarry. More of a spot and stalk style, walk, stop, listen, watch, listen, walk. Every so often another locator bugles as I walk in on the area. Again, the forest was quiet, and the only sounds besides birds I heard that morning were another hunter and his bugles. Frustration was starting to set in.
Back to camp I go. After a quick lunch I figured I would head up above camp and see if I could rustle up any more sounds for the area. Sure enough, I was able to, but they were a way back, and not likely to head into my direction. None the less, we tag teamed back and forth for a bit, just to get that sound into my ears. It had been a frustrating week, and at times too quiet, so any sounds I could get were just a nice high note to self and my confidence, all be it that is all they ended up being, just noise. That’s when I decided to just go for a rip on the sxs up the valley. Probably another 50 ish plus kms from where I was camped, and I just felt frustrated enough to just say, the heck with it, I’m off for a ride.
This was no hunting ride. Sure, I had my rifle, and gear, but I was out for a ride! 50, 60, 80 kms/hr down some of the stretches of road. I mean ride like you stole it. Down to the end of the valley, and back 20 kms and down the other arm of the valley. It was dry out and dusty, so yes, I was safe enough, and most of the time could tell early enough if there was anyone heading down the road towards me. The dust cloud would give them away, no matter how slowly you were going. Plus, when on one side of the end valley you could clearly see across to the other, and see there was no vehicle traffic in there. Yep, I mean a ride! Normally when I hunt, I’m putting along, no need for wearing the seat belt, but this was a ride, and seat belt fastened securely. It was around noon, so most reasonable hunters are in camp relaxing, resting, eating in the noon day heat. I didn’t end up seeing anyone down there, so it was a nice ride, and still only 2 pm. I headed to a moosey area to sit and call. I figured if I can’t get any elk out my way, maybe I can rustle up an immature bull. I could see the rain clouds heading in my direction, and knew it was going to be an on and off again rainy evening. As I set there calling in moosey, snacking on some pistachios, sipping my coffee, contemplating the weeks hunt so far. Nothing, again a quiet forest, except for my nut shucking and sipping. Argh, I’m out of coffee. Couldn’t be! Yep mug and thermos both empty. I usually carry a thermos that holds close to two mugs of coffee when I head out in the morning, plus my thermal cup, as you just never know when to stop and enjoy a great coffee. When I head in for lunch I usually make sure the coffee devices are full, and hot, but with the added early lunch, and bit of an extended ride today, I was out. Back to camp. Yep, how can you sit there with no coffee!! Its not like I was walking in for a backpack hunt or something.
Filled up, heated up and ready to go for the evening. Then the rain set in. I always carry good rain gear now and have a habit of having it with me on the sxs in a dry bag. Too many times in the past I have been caught out in the rain, and those that ride know how miserable that can be. While at camp the rain gear went on. Headed out for the evening for real this time, but still early. Its only 3:30, but might as well get out early and sit, watch, listen, and enjoy a fresh cup of coffee.
We all know what comes with the sun at your back, and a good rain at your front. Yep rainbows. Started seeing some nice bright double rainbows and started to snap a few pictures. This is while sitting in the sxs, trying to stay dry, warm. Then I have a brain fart, hey wouldn’t it be great to get a shot of the sxs under the double arching rainbow. Yep, they turned out great. Add some wind, some rain, and these old bones were getting chilled. No way I want to start the sxs and make all that extra noise. I wonder if I could steal some heat from the newly installed seat heaters with just key on hot, and no engine. The hot coffee was just not cutting it for some reason. First thought, yea, but if you steal too much and drain your battery, it’s going to be hours and hours long walk in the dark tonight back to camp. C’mon, just some, just enough to warm the butt and back a bit. The chances we take.
All warmed up, the rain seemed to subside, and the wind calmed down a bit. Perfect, just in time for a good evening hunt. This was my last evening out, and the plan was, Sunday morning to hit a quick morning last ditch effort hunt, then pack up camp and head home. Monday was a back to work week. We, after all, have to pay for all the pleasures we enjoy having.
Around 5 ish pm, I started to let out the odd bugle, hoping for a response from the forest surrounding me. Do a call sequence, then sit, wait, quietly listening for any action. After a few sequences of calling, waiting, watching, was that a response? Listen, yep that was. Finally, a response from the forest. Was this going to be a magical evening, after all I was seeing the double arching rainbow, right! I glance over my shoulder towards the setting sun, oh come on, really. Maybe an hour if I’m lucky, ½ hour or less and the sun is gone over that mountain, and then darkness settles in. We hunters know that all too well, the last sun, then the last minutes tick away, and they always seem to tick faster in the evening than they do in the morning. When you wait for the morning light, the time ticks the slowest, and opposite in the evening.
Then the mental game. Do I go for it? Is there enough time before darkness settles in? My last evening after all. Really, what kind of silliness is this, of course go for it. Give it your best shot and nothing less. Rifle, check, headlamp, check, walking/shooting stick, check, bugle tube, check, knife, yep in the pack, bino’s, check. Quick, go, go, go you old fool, your running out of time! Get that ass moving.
I head over to the first probability of where I heard the calls come from. About 150m down the road, there is a bit of a gully that runs across the clearings, and some great cover for them to walk out from. My first vantage point. This is where I saw that first cow on opening morning. Quick some bugles, pin his location down, you’re running out of daylight. A response, and not exactly what I was hoping for. Yep, coming from the end of the clearing. Augh!! I have at least a km to cover, if not more, and about 5 deactivations to cross. This is not flat land, and these deactivations are about 20 ft swaths cut down into the road, and the material they take out of them is placed up on the road. All this means extra effort for this fat ass to have to go through if this is going to happen tonight. Then the last 3-400 m is all uphill, to again a semi flat area. That is where I’m hearing the bugles from. Let’s go, hustle, hustle, but quietly, don’t sound like a freight train. That is when the saving grace kicks in.
I know this area from the last 2 previous years of hunting here. Two years prior we were not elk hunting, but had a leh moose tag to fill, so we were hunting late Sept. Interestingly enough, we were seeing more elk than moose in this valley, so that is when I decided I needed to learn how to call and start hunting elk. The previous year was my first actual elk hunting I have ever had. Sure, when I was a teenager, I went with dad on the teen calf elk tags out to the Kootenays. These were supposed to be elk in the truck easy hunts. Just go there, and pick the calf you want, and head home. They were not even remotely close to that for us, as dad had never hunted elk before, never called at anything besides us, and had no idea how to hunt elk. Those two years we went there proved futile in our miniscule efforts. This is now 35 years later, and I’m just getting into elk hunting. The first year I was not able to actually shoot one, but had a 5x5 walk into my calling, and actually right past me at about 25m. Some great video of this experience, shortly after I figured out, he was not a legal shooter. We are in a 6-point zone.
At the end of this set of clearing, there is a very steep forested area that drops down to a set of train tracks. Across the tracks is more swampy looking flats that have perfect cover for wildlife. There is no real access to this area down there, hence why the elk hang out there, and either head down too early in the morning, or out late evening, mostly after dark. That train track has 2 train trips daily, in both directions. Once in the am, and once in the pm. Well, it was a perfectly timed pm, and like on que, I hear the train just as I close in on the last few hundred meters, the all uphill portion of my trek. Not only the train noise, but there must have been an engine on both ends of that train, and the conductors decided that they were going to be blowing their whistles on both ends. PERFECT! Just what I needed to cover my mostly too loud, as quickly as I could scuttle up that last bit trek to the back.
At the end of this set of clearing, there is a very steep forested area that drops down to a set of train tracks. Across the tracks is more swampy looking flats that have perfect cover for wildlife. There is no real access to this area down there, hence why the elk hang out there, and either head down too early in the morning, or out late evening, mostly after dark. That train track has 2 train trips daily, in both directions. Once in the am, and once in the pm. Well, it was a perfectly timed pm, and like on que, I hear the train just as I close in on the last few hundred meters, the all uphill portion of my trek. Not only the train noise, but there must have been an engine on both ends of that train, and the conductors decided that they were going to be blowing their whistles on both ends. PERFECT! Just what I needed to cover my mostly too loud, as quickly as I could scuttle up that last bit trek to the back.
Now on the flats. Okay, but I still have to pin down the area that I was hearing his calls from. This is still an area well over 600m wide, and shortly up the road, a fork, that heads towards the opposite corners. Once I hit that fork, I reach for my grunt tube, and the first thought that enters my mind, don’t bugle in front of yourself. Just like you watched numerous times all summer, bugle back behind you. Don’t sound like you’re here on top of him, not yet anyways. The sun finally now over that last little crest, and I’m now on borrowed time. Tick, tick, tick the clock speeds away. His response to my bugle snaps me back to the reality that is unfolding in front of me. Come on, I can do this. Perfect, the left fork, as I hear his response coming from more the center, left fork area of the clearing. I headed down the left fork, quickly quietly. Then out of nowhere, another bugle. What the??? This one is coming directly from my left, and not the initial one I was hearing just moments ago. Could this really be happening? Two bulls coming in on me?
I managed to scuttle down the left fork about 60m and stopped. Crouched down and again let out a bugle, again behind me. This one was different though than the others. It was more of a whomp, whomp, roar. My full emphasis, my all, I let it roar! What are you doing in my area trying to steal my cows! Or at least that is how it played out in my head! Not mere seconds later, his response, and then another response directly left of me. What, both coming in hot! No way, what a rush! The next thing I hear is twigs snapping. I am still crouched on the road, more to the left bank. The road is about 15 ish feet wide, with a ditch on both sides. My right has a bank about 5 ft tall, and that is where I hear the snaps of branches/ twigs coming from. Directly in front of, right side, 2 o’clock. Instinctively I open my scope covers and was able to drop my walking/shooting stick and drop my bugle. He’s coming in hot. I am watching and start to see tines appear over the brush. I started counting. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Again, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Again, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. It truly is amazing at how fast things can transpire out in the hunting world, but I did get 3 counts to 6, as he was closing in fast, from the time I first saw tines, to when he finally stopped in front of me. I was there in amazement, taking in the view at how majestic of an animal the elk is when he is standing around 30 ft from you. Sure, we have all been through Jasper, or Banf, and had large elk standing mere feet away as we peered at them through car windows, but this was different. This was on his turf, not ours. I was in his home, his domain. We locked eyes, his wide in amazement as he was not expecting me but looking for a matched rival that he was calling to. Mine, wide, as I take in the reality of seeing how large of an animal he truly is. This is when time seemed to slow down completely, or did it even just stop. I was in the moment. The elk on the other hand had other ideas, and he did an about face and was already heading back in the direction he just came from. I still had the reed call in my mouth and let out a sharp bark. He stopped, as if to figure out what he had missed. At about 30m my crosshairs settled in on his figure, just behind his left-hand shoulder as he quartered away from me, and this time my bark was different. The 450 BM sent its 290-gr payload in his direction. Instinctively I lowered the trigger guard on the Ruger #1 I was carrying and was already inserting a 2nd round into the barrel, as he turned to his right and headed into the clearing, looking for cover in the brush. I let out a few cow chirps, hoping this would calm him down some, even though I had just placed a shot into him.
I have heard numerous stories told of how tough elk can be, so in my mind I was prepared to pepper him with holes, if that is what it took. I was not going to lose an opportunity to take my first elk home with me. I know the 1 shot was on the money and was ready with my 2nd. Then another bark! This one was not me, nor my rifle, but the other elk closing in on us from the left. He was now about 30m to my left, and started to bark, as if trying to figure out what was going on. Now standing, I lined up the crosshairs again on the elk as he was heading away from me, now about 70m, quartering away, but now his right shoulder. The 450BM sounded off again, another solid hit.
Again, the trigger guard drops, and a 3rd round is inserted. I let out another set of cow chirps, and then heard another loud bark as the elk on the left side of me was trying to figure out what was going on in his world and why all this commotion was happening, and he wasn’t invited to the party! “My” elk, now slowed down, and hesitated. This gave me enough time to hop up onto the bank that was in the direction he was now going towards. He started to move forward, but now labored, and much slower. I lined up the crosshairs a third time, now trying for his back, as he continued to press forward away from me. The 450BM sent another full copper pill in his direction. He stepped forward another step, and then lay down. I could see him, still trying to lift his head, then lower it. His antlers gave away his labored movement, even though I could not see any more tan hide, as it was obscured in the brush. Another trigger guard drop, but this time I caught the empty case, and then slid another full one into its place.
Again, another bark. This one was different, and came from the direction deeper in the clearing, towards the trees. I lift my bino’s and scan in that direction and spot a cow, now seeing me, and barking at me. She was standing about 100m away, barked at me a few times, and then slipped away, into the forest. I found a downed tree and jumped up onto it. This gave me another 2 ft of height, so I could keep an eye on my elk, as he lay there. I was now about 20m off the road, and about 50m from where he lay. I was ready to shoot again, if he tried to stand and continue his retreat. No way I was letting him get any further. The other elk, now almost standing at the road that I was at, continued to send barks my way. I instinctively raised my bino’s and started to count. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Only a 5x5. He paced back and forth, as I turned my attention again on my resting elk. He attempted to lift his head a few more times, and then laid his head to rest. I could hear his last attempts at life, but they were futile. I quickly snapped a screen shot on the phone, so I could capture the time, 7:47 PM. While I had my phone out, I instinctively dropped a pin on my location and started a track. This proves very valuable in tracking an animal, so I knew I had to start one. I then stepped down from the tree and made my way to the spot.
I could hear the 5x5 still barking at me as I closed the last of the 50m that I had left to go. The fire weed, towering about 5-6 ft tall, and all the brush. I knew I had to go quickly, as it was going to be dark shortly. I had learned from previous experiences to start a track on the maps I was using, as it is amazing how quickly one can get turned around in all the commotion, plus it was about to be dark, and that only adds to the confusion. I walk up to where he now lays, motionless, and do the regulatory count. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Yep, 6x6. Like I was still unsure, or like I was going to change things now? I chuckled to myself for this, and quickly dropped the rifle across his rack, and snapped a picture. I knew I had time working against me and had to make some quick decisions. Which direction to come in on the retrieval? I stopped, and quietly talking to myself, I did it! I actually did it! I just bagged my first elk!
I knew the way I came in had a large bank that was going to pose a problem to get up, even for the sxs, and knew the right-side fork of the road was not going to be far, directly south of me. I remember walking it a few times last year and remember that there were no real banks on this section and decided to head that way. Then I heard another bulge, as if to say goodbye to the forest king. This one was further off and came from the far-right corner of the end of the clearing, so it was clearly a 3rd bull. I tried to quickly map out a re-entry as I made my way to this road, and darkness fell upon me. My headlamp on, I made my way back the km to where I had started this evening from. As I headed out down the road, I made a quick zoleo text to the family at home, to share in my jubilation. I made it back to the sxs without any more distractions. The walk back this time seemed different. Usually on the walk out after an evening hunt, your feet are heavy, your mind is tired, but this was different. I was walking lighter, I was in the clouds, already replaying the events that had just transpired in the last hour. I dropped my gear, fired up the machine, mounted the rifle in its holder, and thought of the best way to tackle the evening that was not going to be over yet. The work was just about to begin, now that the fun was over.
All my lights on, I headed in the direction I had just walked out from. My first stop was the road where the first shots were fired from, as I still had two empty cases to pick up, and my walking stick, grunt tube. Any reloader can attest to that last statement. Empty cases, always pick up your empty cases. I then made my way to the other fork in the road, to the spot I marked on the road. The direction I was going back into the clearing from. That is when the work ahead started to become reality. Walk 5 ft forward, go back and drive 5 ft, walk 5ft forward, go back and drive 5ft. It is amazing how hard it is to map a decent route through an old clearing in the pitch black of darkness. Sure, a great bright headlamp, and all sorts of led’s on the sxs, but when the fire weed stands 5 ish ft tall, then all the underbrush, and all the other brush, then all the garbage that is left on them after the initial logging takes place, this was going to be a chore. Then I remembered I should hang some flags up, so I could follow the trail out easier, plus I had help coming, and they needed to find their way in. Help? Yep, remember the guys I helped out on Wed mid-morning. Great group of guys, that knew I was out solo, so they mentioned to give them a buzz on the zoleo if I downed and animal and needed help. I walked back the 50 ft I was now in on the trail, and started to hang some orange flags, back to the road I came from, all the while trampling as much of the fire weed as I could, to make a nice clear path.
Finally, headlights on the elk. He was just as I had left him, now close to an hour earlier. I maneuvered the sxs so I could use the headlights to brighten up my new work area. Pulled out my tag and proceeded to clip the appropriate notches with my trusty micro leatherman type scissor tool I cary in the sxs. Laid out a pc of clear plastic so I could drop the detached ¼’s onto, and pulled out some cord, hoping to rope him up to the sxs so I could prop him up a bit and start the gutless method of breaking him down. That didn’t work out as well as I had hoped, and just decided I was going to start on the back of the neck and work my way around instead. I usually start on the stomach side, and skin just past the center of the back, remove the ¼’s, the rest of the loose meat, then string out the hide and roll him over onto it. My last shot was into the rear quarter, not the high back as I was hoping for, so the rear leg was demolished, and I had no leverage with it on the lift. Man, they have a thick hide on the neck. I have never had the pleasure of skinning an elk before as this was my first, and was never with anyone that had taken one, so it was an interesting experience for sure. I ended up starting lower on the back and working up to the neck area, and this proved easier. By the time I saw the first headlight heading in my direction, I was already starting on removing the first set of quarters. Man was I glad to see the guys start pulling up. Once more help arrived on sight things went much quicker, and it seemed like in no time we had all the meat on the sxs, and I was tying the head down on top of it all. I remembered have one of the guys take my phone and snap a few pictures of me holding the antlers, so I had some memories to hold onto. I quickly checked the site again for anything we might have dropped, so nothing was to be left behind, and watched the guys file out in single file. I decided to head out last, at the end of the group. They followed me back to my camp, and made sure to help me drop all the meat onto my open trailer, which I covered quickly with a tarp, just so the frost, morning dew does not settle on it. I thanked them profusely all again for the help, and proceeded to tidy up a bit, before I hit the pillow for the night. I leaned the head and antlers up onto the trailer, and had a thought of whether I should tie up a quick “bear bell” of empty pop cans from the week as a red neck alarm system. I was tired, more exhausted, as the now adrenaline rush from earlier in the evening was all wore off. I hit my pillow and was out before I knew what was what, but happened to quickly glance at the time, 12:15 am.
5:30 am broke too quickly, and my bladder was full. My last day off before I head back to work tomorrow. I made sure I stopped periodically and gulped water, and Gatorade the previous night as I worked out in the dark. I sweat profusely, so need to keep my intake of liquids up, or I dehydrate. The amount of coffee doesn’t help either. I thought, yea, quickly, and I can be back in the warm sleeping bag for another hour or two before the packing begins. I jumped out of the excursion, into my camp crocs, and went around the vehicle, where the set of antlers were leaned up onto the trailer. As I slithered back into the warm bag, I thought, who am I kidding. I just tagged out my first ever elk last night, and just walked past his antlers, no way I was going to catch another wink of rest that morning. The packing up of camp after a good breakfast and a coffee begins. I ended up taking my time, and loading up all my belongings, my meat, and then sat there around the campfire pit, and skinned and fleshed the head. I intended to have a euro mount, and knew I would have no time at home to do this, plus its easier to dispose of the lower jaw, and removed hide while out in camp. All loaded, tied, secured and ready for the drive home. I do a final lap around the truck and trailer, checking everything, then hit the road.
Funny enough, I finally got another text from my brother. He texted the previous night, wondering how the hunt was going, as he had not heard from me for a few days. I know he is really missing being out hunting, but life has its twists and turns. I only just got his text the next day as I hit cell service on my drive out to the highway. His text: “not seeing any elk pics yet.” I chuckled and send a few pictures his way. We exchanged a few texts, and I hit the highway on my way home.
I also recovered 2 of my 3 shots into the elk. The first was a complete pass through. The 2nd shot was recovered on the left side, just under the hide. 245.7 grains in weight. He had two holes in his right side. Shot one exit, shot two entry. Missed both front paddles but hit ribs on both sides. Shot 3 was through his rear hind quarter and demolished his femur bone. Bullet recovered just under the hide in the groin area. 198.7 grains weight. The new 290 gr bullet weighed at 289.5 grains on my scale at home. I use the Barnes 290 gr TEZ, muzzle loader bullet tips, moving at 2265 fps out of the muzzle of the 20” barrel on the ruger #1. It has a factory mounted break on it, and while at the range can produce a nice blast. I find it interesting that even after 3 shots the 2nd elk was hanging around and not in any hurry to exit the vicinity.
On an end note, the elk meat is fabulous eating. Is it better than moose? I’ll leave that up to the individual to decide. We did have elk tenderloin cutlets later that week and enjoyed the meal with the family.
I know, kinda long, and really crappy that you have to try and break it all up, as you cannot fit a longer than 10,000 words post, or more than 5 pics.
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Re: My Elk, 2024
