2016 ELK update thread!
- Thread starter iccyman001
- Start date
If my \"Valley Of Death\" had elk instead of deer and I had pictures of 2 bull elk that looked like that walking thru it, I would be setting in my box every day I was able to hunt, all day long from well before shooting time in the morning until shooting time in the afternoon... Sack lunches, glucose meter, flex pens and everything else needed to maintain the vigil... 
But alas my \"VOD\" is only in deer and duck country...
But alas my \"VOD\" is only in deer and duck country...
Eyeeyecaptain
New member
- Aug 4, 2017
- 167
Opening weekend was fun. Had some close encounters, but no draws or shots.
Opening morning I got up at 3 and hiked my tail into the woods. Got to my spot and looks like the rancher had done his cattle drive the couple weeks prior as is tradition of the last few years. Sat at my favorite draw and watched/listened. Saw a group of 3 working down the side. Wind perfect, so I moved to intercept them. Was very slow and quiet. Got down to where I thought they were going and never saw or heard anything. :dk: Did some calling, no response and never saw them. I assume they moved into the dark timber adjacent (it was about 900 at this point). I backed out and got to the top of the ridge. By this point it was about 1030 so it was time for nap/lunch/relax.
I know of some water that is good to sit at in the late afternoon/evening in this location so I made to move down there mid day. I stick to the edge of the timber and aspens so I am not out in the open (been caught like this before). I always like to move very slow and keep a sharp eye. Did a double take and where I had just looked, an elk stood up. At 40 yards a huge main beamed bull stands up and starts to walk off. :shock: Knocked an arrow as quick as I could, but not quick enough. Had a good broadside opening at 40 yards but just not enough time with the bow. Left him to move deep into the dark timber as I felt it would be a bad idea to chase up a loud and steep approach to where he was heading.
Wind started swirling pretty bad and there appeared to be a ton of cattle on my approach to the wallows. Had a group take off charging and making a ruckus. Changed my plans at this point to not blow out the whole area so I returned to my draw to watch and listen. Nothing came out and I went back to camp. Made it back at a little after 10. Long day and I was whooped!
Next morning went to new spot I had scouted. Ran into a group of a small spike, a fork and a cow. Was within 30 yards of the small spike for a good half hour. Wind was good, we stayed put and paralleled them as necessary. Cow never presented an opportunity and at about 900 our wind failed to cooperate. You all know the result of that... On the way out did some cold calling set ups and called in a little bear haha. Waved goodbye to him and headed to the truck and back to work.
Heading back Thursday for a 4 day adventure!
Opening morning I got up at 3 and hiked my tail into the woods. Got to my spot and looks like the rancher had done his cattle drive the couple weeks prior as is tradition of the last few years.
Sat at my favorite draw and watched/listened. Saw a group of 3 working down the side. Wind perfect, so I moved to intercept them. Was very slow and quiet. Got down to where I thought they were going and never saw or heard anything. :dk: Did some calling, no response and never saw them. I assume they moved into the dark timber adjacent (it was about 900 at this point). I backed out and got to the top of the ridge. By this point it was about 1030 so it was time for nap/lunch/relax. I know of some water that is good to sit at in the late afternoon/evening in this location so I made to move down there mid day. I stick to the edge of the timber and aspens so I am not out in the open (been caught like this before). I always like to move very slow and keep a sharp eye. Did a double take and where I had just looked, an elk stood up. At 40 yards a huge main beamed bull stands up and starts to walk off. :shock: Knocked an arrow as quick as I could, but not quick enough. Had a good broadside opening at 40 yards but just not enough time with the bow. Left him to move deep into the dark timber as I felt it would be a bad idea to chase up a loud and steep approach to where he was heading.
Wind started swirling pretty bad and there appeared to be a ton of cattle on my approach to the wallows. Had a group take off charging and making a ruckus. Changed my plans at this point to not blow out the whole area so I returned to my draw to watch and listen. Nothing came out and I went back to camp. Made it back at a little after 10. Long day and I was whooped!
Next morning went to new spot I had scouted. Ran into a group of a small spike, a fork and a cow. Was within 30 yards of the small spike for a good half hour. Wind was good, we stayed put and paralleled them as necessary. Cow never presented an opportunity and at about 900 our wind failed to cooperate. You all know the result of that... On the way out did some cold calling set ups and called in a little bear haha. Waved goodbye to him and headed to the truck and back to work.
Heading back Thursday for a 4 day adventure!
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,343
Sounds like a great start to the season Andrew! Keep it up and it sounds like you\'ll be punching that tag soon.
Lark Bunting
New member
- Sep 14, 2016
- 710
Two days of good news for the boy...no headaches. I hope the new meds are working. He wants to hunt this weekend but not leave until Saturday morning. He\'s a freshman now and his school plays the cross town rivalry in football Friday night and he and all his friends want to go to that. It\'s okay, I\'ll take what I can get.
I also have been invited on a pack in trip later this month with a couple buddies. I\'ll see if I can pull that off. I have two phone interviews this week. I\'d take a job over an elk right about now. It\'s been a long four months!
Good luck to those out in the field!
I also have been invited on a pack in trip later this month with a couple buddies. I\'ll see if I can pull that off. I have two phone interviews this week. I\'d take a job over an elk right about now. It\'s been a long four months!
Good luck to those out in the field!
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,343
Great news! Good luck to you as well Tom. Remember to enjoy the time with the kiddo! You guys should have a blast and the fresh air should be good for him.
huntography
New member
- Dec 29, 2012
- 201
[emoji882]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Can\'t tell if it\'s a little bull or cow since the picture is a bit fuzzy for my ol\' eyes... :shock: :shock:
But if it\'s a cow and Brad is behind the bow, I figure an arrow went downrange shortly....
Come to think about it, the reason for the fuzzy picture might be because a arrow is already heading downrange... :lol: :lol:
But if it\'s a cow and Brad is behind the bow, I figure an arrow went downrange shortly....
Come to think about it, the reason for the fuzzy picture might be because a arrow is already heading downrange... :lol: :lol:
Oh so close this morning.
Had a bull bugling a ways away from my tree stand but wouldn\'t commit.
So I made it happen.
Got down and went straight at him.
It was raining lightly and I had good wind.
I saw him up ahead 60-70yds as the trees opened up a little.
I setup and raked a tree and mewed and did light bugled.
Here he comes!
I catch movement to my right and see 2 spikes moving in my position
^{%}%_{%^|]^{]^]}^]|^!!!!!!!!!
The bull holds up.
I can see his 6x6 rack towering up.
I look at the spikes to see what they up to.
Look back at the bull and he has drifted off.
%{%{#]}]%]%%[%!!!!!!!
I started after him.
I caught some glimpses of him ahead and heard him bugle.
I mewed and kept moving
Silence.
I eased along with an arrow nocked.
He bugled.
Dang! He got some distance!
I bugled and mewed and went right him, breaking branches.
The trees got thick and there was a little rise.
I got up to and saw a cow standing there looking at me at 25yds!
I drew. No shot.
I leaned left, and right. Still no shot.
She got nervous and left.
I suddenly saw this big tan body to the right!
6x6!
18yds!
I drew and looked for an opening...
Leaned right and left.
I just couldn\'t find one...
He followed the cow...
Had a bull bugling a ways away from my tree stand but wouldn\'t commit.
So I made it happen.
Got down and went straight at him.
It was raining lightly and I had good wind.
I saw him up ahead 60-70yds as the trees opened up a little.
I setup and raked a tree and mewed and did light bugled.
Here he comes!
I catch movement to my right and see 2 spikes moving in my position
^{%}%_{%^|]^{]^]}^]|^!!!!!!!!!
The bull holds up.
I can see his 6x6 rack towering up.
I look at the spikes to see what they up to.
Look back at the bull and he has drifted off.
%{%{#]}]%]%%[%!!!!!!!
I started after him.
I caught some glimpses of him ahead and heard him bugle.
I mewed and kept moving
Silence.
I eased along with an arrow nocked.
He bugled.
Dang! He got some distance!
I bugled and mewed and went right him, breaking branches.
The trees got thick and there was a little rise.
I got up to and saw a cow standing there looking at me at 25yds!
I drew. No shot.
I leaned left, and right. Still no shot.
She got nervous and left.
I suddenly saw this big tan body to the right!
6x6!
18yds!
I drew and looked for an opening...
Leaned right and left.
I just couldn\'t find one...
He followed the cow...
huntography
New member
- Dec 29, 2012
- 201
That\'s awesome action Brad! Pumped for you.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Action is picking up.
Last night Cole and I were in tree stands only 220ft apart and a cow and calf came in to him.
I never even saw them.
Too thick for a shot at 30yds
This morning I passed on a calf at 10yds and Cole and Aaron called in a nice bugling bull to 35yds but once again no shot was offered.
Then they got busted by a couple cow elk
The wind has been unreal swirly. All mornings and evenings.
At least it cooled down some.
We have this evening hunt and tomorrow morning hunt and my 2016 archery elk season is over
Last night Cole and I were in tree stands only 220ft apart and a cow and calf came in to him.
I never even saw them.
Too thick for a shot at 30yds
This morning I passed on a calf at 10yds and Cole and Aaron called in a nice bugling bull to 35yds but once again no shot was offered.
Then they got busted by a couple cow elk
The wind has been unreal swirly. All mornings and evenings.
At least it cooled down some.
We have this evening hunt and tomorrow morning hunt and my 2016 archery elk season is over
Lark Bunting
New member
- Sep 14, 2016
- 710
Boy wike up to a migraine Saturday morning but wanted to hunt so we left around noon. We hit I70 traffic and it took 4 hours to make our 2 hour drive. We came to a different spot from where I was last week.
We quickly threw up our tent and hit the woods for 90 minutes. Ran into hunters 10 minutes into our first calling set up. Lame.
We met up with Anthony and enjoyed some campfire ladt night. Awoke to lots of rain today. We all hit a new spot I had seen online but it turned out to not be very promising.
The boy and I came back to camp a bit early tonight. He wasn\'t feeling well.
Not sure if we\'ll hunt in the morning. Might try to beat I70 traffic.
We quickly threw up our tent and hit the woods for 90 minutes. Ran into hunters 10 minutes into our first calling set up. Lame.
We met up with Anthony and enjoyed some campfire ladt night. Awoke to lots of rain today. We all hit a new spot I had seen online but it turned out to not be very promising.
The boy and I came back to camp a bit early tonight. He wasn\'t feeling well.
Not sure if we\'ll hunt in the morning. Might try to beat I70 traffic.
