Elk down! Opening day!!!!

SO!

I arrived late Sunday night around 6pm, set up my camp site, and found random place to scout before the sun went down. I had not found a place since that whole \"being shot at\" incident in my other area, so this was completely green. I picked a place I planned on starting Monday morning and went \"to sleep\". I was sitting, beyond anxious, and then bulls start bugling like crazy from not to far away. The place I stopped to camp as this random pull off, just big enough to fit my trailer.
Well, fast forward to Monday morning. I didn\'t sleep at all but managed to take a nap....at 5am to 7am :crazy:
I somehow shut my alarm off, knowing I would not be sleeping, and then fell asleep.

So I wake up, rush to get ready and head off into the woods. 300 yards into the woods, all the stuff that I had been learning from you guys kick in.
The first think I noticed was this small mud/pond type area. There were tons of tracks around it and it had not rained for a while, so this was a good start because it had plenty of water.
Then I took a few more steps and found a GIANT fresh scrape and trees that I could tell were being destroyed daily by bulls. I decided I liked the area, so I let out a cow call and all heck ran loose. First thing I noticed were two smaller bulls running around me, then within a few seconds a nice 5x5 was making his was towards me while the others seemed to be searching for me. Then while I set up, I heard the 5x5 destroying a tree and playing in the water. The second he started playing in the water I saw movement out of the corner of my eye! This GIANT 6x6 decided he wanted to find this cow too.

I must say, I was beyond excited and overwhelmed. I could not get any shots off, but fell in love with the area.

Within the first 5 minutes of my elk hunting career, my mind was blown.

I went back to my trailer and pulled out my lone wolf climber stand. I knew it was going to be dry and hot for the next few days, so because of the mud, and lots of fresh sign, this was my spot.

I climbed back up into my tree around 2pm and waited. Around 6:15pm I heard the first bugle so I left out a cow call.
1 minute later I heard this guy walking in.




I caught him looking for me and going into the mud. My shuttle T found his heart at 20 yards and the rest was history.


I could not be more happy with my first elk hunt. It happened so quick, but I am addicted. My hunt was a 2 week hunt, and I know I could have pulled something much larger, but I was not taking any chances for my first time. Now I know where I am going next time.



Oh yeah, I could see my trailer the whole time from my tree stand :upthumb: 320 yard drag and load :train:
I did it all by myself though.


Thanks again to all of you guys who helped me out this year. I had so much more confidence going into this than I expected.




and John....that call killed it out there ;)
 
crangrats buddy!!!! whats with all these elk going down so close to camp :D I have a feeling that mine will not be so easy...
 
John, I think the first call was just a very unique situation
I think when I entered that spot, I came right Inbetween them.

So now I just imagine a group of wild teenage boys with a drunk girl showing up right in the middle of them with a bottle of tequila. They all just went nuts.

I just froze and laughed!


Thanks everyone.
 
Nice going Dan!
We too have witnessed the first call and all hell breaks loose!
 
Way to go Dan! Something to be said about joining that 10% club on your first ever elk hunt!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 35 (members: 0, guests: 35)

Latest posts

Share this page

Back
Top