Jason Balazs
Member
- Aug 4, 2017
- 226
Well this year was a great time in elk camp. I met a buddy of mine that was in Somalia with me way back in the day. It is funny, cause we picked right up where we left off. Anyway, the first night into camp we decided to check out this meadow that was to the southwest of us. Sitting in the meadow, I thought I heard a faint bugle. Well, we went that way and came into a heard of about 20 with a monster bull in the mix. My buddy went down a gully and started cow calling while I got ready to shoot. The bull was at 82 yards with brush and trees in the way. Every time I would come to full draw, a cow would step in front of him. Then, when it looked like I was going to get a shot, the bull would step behind a tree. Bugling his butt off of course. The light faded and I backed out as they went down over the ridge, only 90 yards from me.
I told my buddy we would be back at it early and try to catch them. I didn\'t want to push them out of the country.
Next morning, went to same spot and heard the big bull screaming. Only this time he was about 500 yards away on the downward side of the ridge making his way north. A satellite bull was answering him from across the valley. The elk were headed to bed pretty good, so we left them there. Pulled out my spotting scope and glassed across the valley above timberline. There were about 8 elk up there and we decided to give this bull a rest. We had to drive out 20 miles to go two miles as a crow flies. Once we got below where we spotted the elk, we started up the trail. 3/4 of a mile up and over 1500 feet in elevation. took us 1.5hrs to get up there. As soon as we got into the first small meadow, I cow called and a bull screamed at us. My buddy was set up 40 yards to the left of me and I saw the bull first. The sun was glistening off his antlers as he was running in. As soon as I saw that I motioned for my buddy to come to full draw, which he didn\'t. The bull (A 4X3) came running in and stopped at 40 yards broadside to me. He was looking for the cow. He started to walk towards my buddy and then turned his head away. I was whispering to my friend to draw, and as soon as he started, his limb hit a branch and the bull ran out. I cow called and he stopped, but did not offer a shot. The bull circled us trying to get our wind and we played the cow call back and forth with him for over 30 minutes. Finally the jig was up and he trotted off. Meanwhile a heard bull was on the hill bugling at us. But it sounded like he was moving away. I got the encounter on video with the tactacam and it can be seen here: <!-- m --><a class=\"postlink\" href=\"https://www.facebook.com/outdoorproductreviews/videos/917449381676911/?fallback=1\" onclick=\"window.open(this.href);return false;\">https://www.facebook.com/outdoorproduct ... fallback=1</a><!-- m -->
After that night the bulls went quiet. We heard one every once and a while, but never got into them again.
I had so many chances at shooting that bull but really wanted my buddy to get him, for he has never shot an elk with a bow.
Anyway, the rest of the trip was still a blast catching up with an old friend and drinking some adult beverages. Can\'t wait for next year!!
I told my buddy we would be back at it early and try to catch them. I didn\'t want to push them out of the country.
Next morning, went to same spot and heard the big bull screaming. Only this time he was about 500 yards away on the downward side of the ridge making his way north. A satellite bull was answering him from across the valley. The elk were headed to bed pretty good, so we left them there. Pulled out my spotting scope and glassed across the valley above timberline. There were about 8 elk up there and we decided to give this bull a rest. We had to drive out 20 miles to go two miles as a crow flies. Once we got below where we spotted the elk, we started up the trail. 3/4 of a mile up and over 1500 feet in elevation. took us 1.5hrs to get up there. As soon as we got into the first small meadow, I cow called and a bull screamed at us. My buddy was set up 40 yards to the left of me and I saw the bull first. The sun was glistening off his antlers as he was running in. As soon as I saw that I motioned for my buddy to come to full draw, which he didn\'t. The bull (A 4X3) came running in and stopped at 40 yards broadside to me. He was looking for the cow. He started to walk towards my buddy and then turned his head away. I was whispering to my friend to draw, and as soon as he started, his limb hit a branch and the bull ran out. I cow called and he stopped, but did not offer a shot. The bull circled us trying to get our wind and we played the cow call back and forth with him for over 30 minutes. Finally the jig was up and he trotted off. Meanwhile a heard bull was on the hill bugling at us. But it sounded like he was moving away. I got the encounter on video with the tactacam and it can be seen here: <!-- m --><a class=\"postlink\" href=\"https://www.facebook.com/outdoorproductreviews/videos/917449381676911/?fallback=1\" onclick=\"window.open(this.href);return false;\">https://www.facebook.com/outdoorproduct ... fallback=1</a><!-- m -->
After that night the bulls went quiet. We heard one every once and a while, but never got into them again.
I had so many chances at shooting that bull but really wanted my buddy to get him, for he has never shot an elk with a bow.
Anyway, the rest of the trip was still a blast catching up with an old friend and drinking some adult beverages. Can\'t wait for next year!!
