Turnercody
New member
- Jun 13, 2016
- 94
Number 1... camp life. This will mark the year that we decided to upgrade to kifaru tipis! Minimalist camp on our 2017 first ever archery hunt! And a good one it was. We were all hooked....
CONTEST!
- Thread starter DTP
- Start date
- Status
Bowhunter1
Member
- Aug 16, 2017
- 369
Great story WYOELK .....Thanks for sharing....and congrats on a magnificent animal.
Turnercody
New member
- Jun 13, 2016
- 94
Number 2... from the field... first time bow hunters.. lots of new perspectives. Addicted for life...
Turnercody
New member
- Jun 13, 2016
- 94
Number 3.... success weighs heavy.... as mentioned in previous posts. First time archery experience.. my stepson (hunting partner) and brother in law (hunting partner) made an epic stalk on my stepson's second day in the field. Connected. Beat the odds and statistics..
Turnercody
New member
- Jun 13, 2016
- 94
My groups short story is one of "Firsts" .. First time in the backcountry in that particular unit.. First time up there at that time of year and hunting and not just scouting.. First time archery hunting. But what makes our story kinda special, at least to us, is that my hunting partner and I didn't even have tags. We decided to take my stepson and cousin up on the mtn and try and see if we could help them be successful. Opening morning had me and my hunting partner doubling up to help my cousin whom even tho didn't fill her tag was abundantly successful. First set up, called a spike right to us to 19 yards. Poor girl had to hold at full draw for close to 2 minutes cuz of the long meadow the elk decided to just take his time crossing. An hour later lead to a spot and stalk, draw and release but clean miss. That evening I called a decent 340 bull to within 47 yards and he let us video him for 15 min. Opening day was one ill never forget and neither will my cousin who vowed to return in better shape and more prepared.. second day my stepson arrives... and as much as I was worried about him, he showed up prepared.. First ride up the trail on the bike he busted all his nocks off his arrows.. But he'd brought extras. He brought a foam target to double check accuracy and everything. I'll never forget being so proud and relieved at the same time. Second day was slower, fewer bugles but when 4 cows were spotted I immediately knew that my hunting partner and stepson were in the best position to move in and try and capitalize. They did and with the execution of seasoned bow hunters. A bond was tightened that day... 2017 bow hunt in a nutshell. Already planning next year...
nclonghunter
New member
- Dec 28, 2012
- 681
Great stories from everyone!!
Opening weekend was as epic as it gets. 3 generations hunting together as it was my 6 year old son's first trip into one of our honey holes. I got my dad and son set up and 20 minutes later this whopper blacktail came out.
My son got to see hunting camp set up, his grandpa harvest a dandy buck with a clean shot, we caped him out, boned him out and he paced grandpa out of the area while his uncle and dad packed the buck out.
Epic moment that my dad, brother, myself and my boy got to experience this year and won't soon forget.
My son got to see hunting camp set up, his grandpa harvest a dandy buck with a clean shot, we caped him out, boned him out and he paced grandpa out of the area while his uncle and dad packed the buck out.
Epic moment that my dad, brother, myself and my boy got to experience this year and won't soon forget.
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,332
Outstanding story and pic jw!
nclonghunter
New member
- Dec 28, 2012
- 681
That was a special hunt with the family involved. Thanks for sharing!
EricLindquist
New member
- Dec 14, 2016
- 5
Entry 1 Camp Life!
My first trip west. Solo Elk Archery DIY.
The end of a huge hike day that included no elk, first bear encounter, and some dead grouse. Grain Belt time...
I absolutely fell in love with elk'n on this trip and the West.
already planning next year!
My first trip west. Solo Elk Archery DIY.
The end of a huge hike day that included no elk, first bear encounter, and some dead grouse. Grain Belt time...
I absolutely fell in love with elk'n on this trip and the West.
already planning next year!
After spending numerous days looking for elk my son had our AH HA moment when we finally realized most of the elk where REAL high (11,500 to 12,500) so we packed in and up and where into them every time out once we did that. This is my son as we headed up and out. He was my cameraman, and pushed me to keep going and kept things positive when I was questioning myself.
Once packed into where we wanted to hunt water was one of the things we needed to make sure we had access to. Heading down into the lake we where greeted by tons of elk sign that was old and fresh. Working our way through the trees the wind was coming off our right side and we busted something off to our left and downwind. The animal ran just a short distance as we heard it stop. Slowly working our way around to get the wind back in our favor I had arrow ready as I was sure this was a elk. Creeping through the trees we peeked around and found ourselves 25 yards from a cow moose. Standing right behind her was a calf and mamma was looking in the direction that we spooked her. We slowly backed out and left as a cow moose with a calf was something we did not want to deal with. This was a very exciting thing for both of us and something I honesty did not expect to have happen at 12000ft. Here is the lake once we got around to get our water
A story from my 2017 CO adventures.
While driving back roads of Colorado helping a friend spot mule deer, we saw something way of in the distance.
Maybe you've had this sort of problem too when you can't tell what it is our how far away something is...if not you'll be old someday too
After a few seconds, as we closed the distance, we could tell it was a rabbit coming toward us down the dirt road. In a blur, something sprung from the grassy brush along the road-the rabbit was ambushed. But by what we wondered as the rabbit and attacker both quickly disappeared.
As we rolled up on the scene, I spotted the attacker and rabbit just off the road--A marten, I think, but definitely in the weasel family.
I think being eye witness to rare sighting like this are some of the fringe benefits to spending time afield.
I quickly captured this video to commemorate the event. Enjoy.
https://youtu.be/Dd4j5g76T-U
While driving back roads of Colorado helping a friend spot mule deer, we saw something way of in the distance.
Maybe you've had this sort of problem too when you can't tell what it is our how far away something is...if not you'll be old someday too
After a few seconds, as we closed the distance, we could tell it was a rabbit coming toward us down the dirt road. In a blur, something sprung from the grassy brush along the road-the rabbit was ambushed. But by what we wondered as the rabbit and attacker both quickly disappeared.
As we rolled up on the scene, I spotted the attacker and rabbit just off the road--A marten, I think, but definitely in the weasel family.
I think being eye witness to rare sighting like this are some of the fringe benefits to spending time afield.
I quickly captured this video to commemorate the event. Enjoy.
https://youtu.be/Dd4j5g76T-U
Another story from my 2017 CO adventures.
I spent the first 6 days helping a buddy (Shawn) cruising the dirt roads scouting for and chasing mule deer, but two others in our camp were hunting a limited draw elk hunt in a nearby unit. Matt's and his dad John hunted elk hard for 6 days also without luck. John, in his late 60s, was worn out. We hatched the plan that we'd switch it up on our last day of hunting; I'd help Matt chase elk, John would ride with Shawn looking for that perfect buck.
Before dawn we set out. Around 7 we spotted a small herd working along a ridge above us around the bowl we were in.
We quickly decided we'd try to cut them off by darting up the ridge...a quick 6-800' ascent for us flatlanders. Good thing we both had worked hard in the off season to prepare.
https://youtu.be/Cu_ytomtAnM
We settled into some pines and waited. Unfortunately we setup just a bit too deep. We watched the cows and calves file by. Exciting...opportunity 1. Enjoy.
https://youtu.be/J687dgLg2dM
I spent the first 6 days helping a buddy (Shawn) cruising the dirt roads scouting for and chasing mule deer, but two others in our camp were hunting a limited draw elk hunt in a nearby unit. Matt's and his dad John hunted elk hard for 6 days also without luck. John, in his late 60s, was worn out. We hatched the plan that we'd switch it up on our last day of hunting; I'd help Matt chase elk, John would ride with Shawn looking for that perfect buck.
Before dawn we set out. Around 7 we spotted a small herd working along a ridge above us around the bowl we were in.
We quickly decided we'd try to cut them off by darting up the ridge...a quick 6-800' ascent for us flatlanders. Good thing we both had worked hard in the off season to prepare.
https://youtu.be/Cu_ytomtAnM
We settled into some pines and waited. Unfortunately we setup just a bit too deep. We watched the cows and calves file by. Exciting...opportunity 1. Enjoy.
https://youtu.be/J687dgLg2dM
Final story and builds on the above.
...By 10am we found ourselves positioned between two bugling bulls. A few calls got them both bulls riled up and they both made multiple approaches, affording my buddy Matt a shot...followed by some heartbreak as the arrow few over the bull. Awesome, exciting but bittersweet. We huddled and decided we would pursue the bigger bull after a short break.
We stalked down the hillside in the direction the bull had traveled. We found a nice dark stand of pine that would've been a suitable bedding area but with the sun climbing we reckoned he moved on...
After a short hike we found very fresh rubs and the smell of pine still lingering in the air.
A few bugles later and we knew we were on his track. Soon we had that bull fired up...cutting off Matt before he could chuckle.
https://youtu.be/C78foGiIg2I
My buddy spotted the bull raking a tree below us and we moved down the down the mountainside. With the wind, we had to make a big loop to avoid being winded. Unfortunately, we thought from his bellowing calls, we dropped too low and the elk had move up to mountain. I told Matt to bugle and I started smashing the biggest branches I could break. It worked and the bull appeared above us giving Matt an awesome shot, though about a 45 degree angle uphill.
Emotions high, were shortlived once we started blood trailing the few drips we could find. We would find a drop...10 yds...another drop....for about a quarter mile.
But persistence paid off...success!
...By 10am we found ourselves positioned between two bugling bulls. A few calls got them both bulls riled up and they both made multiple approaches, affording my buddy Matt a shot...followed by some heartbreak as the arrow few over the bull. Awesome, exciting but bittersweet. We huddled and decided we would pursue the bigger bull after a short break.
We stalked down the hillside in the direction the bull had traveled. We found a nice dark stand of pine that would've been a suitable bedding area but with the sun climbing we reckoned he moved on...
After a short hike we found very fresh rubs and the smell of pine still lingering in the air.
A few bugles later and we knew we were on his track. Soon we had that bull fired up...cutting off Matt before he could chuckle.
https://youtu.be/C78foGiIg2I
My buddy spotted the bull raking a tree below us and we moved down the down the mountainside. With the wind, we had to make a big loop to avoid being winded. Unfortunately, we thought from his bellowing calls, we dropped too low and the elk had move up to mountain. I told Matt to bugle and I started smashing the biggest branches I could break. It worked and the bull appeared above us giving Matt an awesome shot, though about a 45 degree angle uphill.
Emotions high, were shortlived once we started blood trailing the few drips we could find. We would find a drop...10 yds...another drop....for about a quarter mile.
But persistence paid off...success!
EricLindquist
New member
- Dec 14, 2016
- 5
Entry 2 From the Field
First hunting trip West. DIY Solo Archery.
Lovin' every minute of it !
First hunting trip West. DIY Solo Archery.
Lovin' every minute of it !
EricLindquist
New member
- Dec 14, 2016
- 5
Entry 3 Great Success!
Not certain it's Great Success, but it was a darn good day.
First hunting trip West. DIY, Solo, Archery. No elk on the ground, but great times.
Not certain it's Great Success, but it was a darn good day.
First hunting trip West. DIY, Solo, Archery. No elk on the ground, but great times.
- Status
