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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: IdahoCurt on September 22, 2012, 08:46:00 PM

Title: Idaho Elk
Post by: IdahoCurt on September 22, 2012, 08:46:00 PM
Hi brothers of the bow!
Hope all your hunting is going great,just thought I'd share a story and a picture.
Elk camp this year is in a secluded area near my home that is about five miles in at the head of a great drainage that typically holds good numbers of Elk.
So far hunting has been filled with bugling Bulls,howling Wolves and good friends.
This bull,who was on the edge of  herd came in to a cow call at dark,I was the designated caller and my friend the shooter but somehow the bull got past him and offered me a 20yrd shot.The Zwickey tipped cedar arrow nicked a lung and hit the liver leaving me a great trail to follow in the dark.
Nothing is better than being up on "the mountain" with friends taking care of your Elk until 2 in the morning!
I'm back in camp tomorrow to try and help friends get another one,back with more stories later.
   (http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg200/idacurt/curtselk1_zps6957192c.jpg)
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Over&Under on September 22, 2012, 08:49:00 PM
Don't get any better than that!

Nice bull Curt!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Hoofhearted on September 22, 2012, 08:55:00 PM
NICE!!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Bernie B. on September 22, 2012, 08:57:00 PM
Very impressive!  That's a nice looking bull, and you look like a very happy hunter!     :thumbsup:

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: ksbowman on September 22, 2012, 09:08:00 PM
Congrats on a great animal!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: longbowben on September 22, 2012, 09:12:00 PM
Congrats on a great elk.That must be the area you talked about with leatherneck.How about some camp pictures and your friends  :clapper:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: straight_arrow on September 22, 2012, 09:14:00 PM
Congrats on a great harvest.  Good luck supporting your friends!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Terry Lightle on September 22, 2012, 09:15:00 PM
Congrats you done real GOOD!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: KSdan on September 22, 2012, 09:17:00 PM
That is awesome.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: amar911 on September 22, 2012, 09:44:00 PM
Nice bull, Curt. Sometimes it's hard to know when to take advantage of a brief opportunity to shoot an animal. Obviously, you got it right this time!!!

Allan
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: coaster500 on September 22, 2012, 09:48:00 PM
Curt!!!  

Fantastic Bull !!!

Well done buddy  :)


  :campfire:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: JEFF B on September 22, 2012, 09:51:00 PM
oh man that is way cool well done   :clapper:    :clapper:    :archer2:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: IdahoCurt on September 22, 2012, 10:07:00 PM
Thanks for the kind words guys.I will continue to update this with more pictures when I get back in a few days.
Tonight's dinner was back straps with sauteed onions, mushrooms and roasted potatoes,Heaven!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: blackpenny on September 22, 2012, 10:08:00 PM
That's awesome
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: slivrslingr on September 22, 2012, 10:13:00 PM
'Nother trad gang toad!  Congrats!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: BrushWolf on September 22, 2012, 10:17:00 PM
Congrats. Now that is a meal fit for a king.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: BrushWolf on September 22, 2012, 10:17:00 PM
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: bowhawk archer on September 22, 2012, 10:26:00 PM
Congrats Curt, nice looking bull.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: ron w on September 22, 2012, 10:27:00 PM
Very nice.....   :thumbsup:    :notworthy:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: kennym on September 22, 2012, 10:30:00 PM
Way to go Curt!!  Great pic too, a big Congrats!!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: far rider on September 22, 2012, 10:33:00 PM
Awesome picture! Congrats
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Bill Kissner on September 22, 2012, 10:37:00 PM
Congratulations! That's a dandy bull!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: gregg dudley on September 22, 2012, 10:39:00 PM
NICE!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: steadman on September 22, 2012, 10:48:00 PM
Congrats Curt  :thumbsup:  great bull!!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: FerretWYO on September 22, 2012, 11:07:00 PM
Awesome stuff Curt
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: JJB on September 22, 2012, 11:11:00 PM
Way to go Curt!  It doesn't get any better than that.
-Jay
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: GRINCH on September 22, 2012, 11:11:00 PM
Congrats Curt,you deserved that one.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: rastaman on September 22, 2012, 11:20:00 PM
Way to go sir! Awesome animal!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: huntnmuleys on September 22, 2012, 11:21:00 PM
way to work!!!  beautiful bull.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: stujay on September 22, 2012, 11:41:00 PM
Great bull, thanks for sharing story and pic.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Sixby on September 23, 2012, 12:34:00 AM
Nice going Curt. Congratulations and that was a great hunt.. God bless Steve
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: bruinman on September 23, 2012, 12:40:00 AM
Outstanding, congrats on a great hunt.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: arsurveyor on September 23, 2012, 01:05:00 AM
Great Bull.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: akaboomer on September 23, 2012, 01:27:00 AM
Congratulations. Very nice. Bull!

Chris
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: K-Mac on September 23, 2012, 02:12:00 AM
good bull.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Ray_G on September 23, 2012, 03:08:00 AM
That's getting it done, Curt.  Congratulations!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: stocker56 on September 23, 2012, 03:22:00 AM
Well done Curt.    :thumbsup:  Glad to see you got to the elk before the wolves.    :archer:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: cacciatore on September 23, 2012, 04:21:00 AM
Congrats Curt,very nice. Bull! I wait for the rest of the story.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Butts2 on September 23, 2012, 06:24:00 AM
Congrats X 10. You can even show us pictures of the backstrap meal "if'n" you want   :D
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Anointed Archer on September 23, 2012, 06:59:00 AM
Nice Bull   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Hoyt on September 23, 2012, 09:03:00 AM
Good Shoot'n! Wish my health was better, I'd be in the Bitterroots now.
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/Pictures/buzzards.gif)
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Randy Morin on September 23, 2012, 09:07:00 AM
Nice!! Congrats on a great Bull.    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: wooddamon1 on September 23, 2012, 09:21:00 AM
:thumbsup:     :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Chain2 on September 23, 2012, 09:30:00 AM
Great job. Congratulations.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Bivyhunter on September 23, 2012, 09:39:00 AM
Way to get it done! Seems like it was just yesterday that I was talking to you about walnut and you were telling me you were going elk hunting the next day
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Terry Green on September 23, 2012, 10:07:00 AM
:bigsmyl:     :bigsmyl:    :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: 187BOWHUNTER on September 23, 2012, 10:58:00 AM
good job, congrats
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: NJSwampstalker on September 23, 2012, 11:11:00 AM
:clapper:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Big Ed on September 23, 2012, 11:15:00 AM
I don't know how I missed this one, congratulations on a well deserved bull!!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: swp on September 23, 2012, 12:19:00 PM
Congrats!!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Elksong on September 23, 2012, 12:28:00 PM
Congrats!  :clapper:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: IdahoCurt on September 23, 2012, 12:56:00 PM
You guy's are Awesome,Thanks!

 The night before I got the Elk we had Wolves within 100yrds of camp howling part of the night which made sleeping hard but the day of the harvest was nothing short of magical with probably ten branched antlered bulls seen and bugling encounters like you dream of,truly fortunate to have been part of it.

Well I'm back in camp today with my buddy of 30yrs from NC to try and help him get one.
Full report with pictures when I get back
Thanks again.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Pat B. on September 23, 2012, 02:34:00 PM
All you elk hunters are really getting it done this year..

Many congrats!!!  What a way to spend September !
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Steve Jr on September 23, 2012, 02:47:00 PM
Congratulations! That's a nice bull. Our group just got home from Idaho none of us took a Elk but it was a great time.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: tzolk on September 23, 2012, 05:31:00 PM
Congratulations Curt! What a dream hunt that was!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: maineac on September 23, 2012, 05:45:00 PM
A great one and waiting to hear more!!!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: leatherneck on September 23, 2012, 08:00:00 PM
Awesome bull Curt!!!  You are an elk killing machine. After your scare this summer this pic is an awesome sight. Congrats!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: jsweka on September 23, 2012, 09:23:00 PM
Way to go Curt!!  Nice bull.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Roger Norris on September 23, 2012, 11:08:00 PM
Outstanding!! Great job!!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: Lonala on September 24, 2012, 06:33:00 AM
Congrats and Nice Bull
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: skilonbw on September 24, 2012, 02:43:00 PM
nice bull curt enjoy the meat.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: COOCH on September 25, 2012, 08:20:00 PM
Awesome bull Curt!Congrats
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: IdahoCurt on September 29, 2012, 04:59:00 PM
Just thought I'd give an update and add some pictures.
The second half of the hunt was great,we had Elk encounters almost every day and few close calls but no shots for my buddy.
The highlight was the six point, 330 class bull that somehow again slipped by my friend and came within 10 yards of me bugling the whole way in! I was laying flat on the ground and was wondering what the big guy was going to do as he continued to look for the Cow(me)he eventually winded me and walked off but continued to bugle as he went back to his cows.

Here is camp! bare bones when you hike in over 4 miles

 (http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg200/idacurt/camp1.jpg)

An area that holds good Elk numbers through out the season

 (http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg200/idacurt/mountaintop2.jpg)

Another spot

 (http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg200/idacurt/mountaintop1.jpg)

A burned valley that is a magnet for Elk due to the new growth but very hard to sneak in on anything due to the lack of cover

 (http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg200/idacurt/mountaintop3.jpg)
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: KentuckyTJ on September 29, 2012, 05:52:00 PM
Fantastic congrats!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: razorsharptokill on September 29, 2012, 08:47:00 PM
Nice! Thanks for taking us along.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: joe ashton on September 29, 2012, 09:16:00 PM
ummm nice bull!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: coaster500 on September 30, 2012, 09:41:00 AM
Great hunt Curt!!!

Awesome country, beautiful.....

How many trips to pack that bull out 4 miles!!!!

That's some major work  :)
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: IdahoCurt on September 30, 2012, 10:46:00 AM
Kip,hi,hope you're doing well buddy.

Great question.To me,getting the game out for table fare and respect of the animal is extremely important and something that doesn't get talked about enough.

This is what happens when a Elk gets harvested.
1.Right after the high fives and pictures I was on my satellite phone calling my friend to arrange a pick up the following day with his horses.

2.I had prearranged this and will not hunt remote areas if he cant help me or my other buddies with pack frames are not around or hunting.I have a "inner circle" of friends and we help each other out when a Elk goes down as it's a huge job.

3.After I confirmed help from my friend with horses you begin to cut up the Elk and don't stop until all meat is deboned and hanging in game bags off the ground.

4.the next morning we were up at first light to pack the meat off the mountain to the nearest trail which was no easy task and took a total of three trips x the two of us plus one trip for me to get the rack.

5.Early afternoon we took down/stored camp and met up with the horses and walked out,home with meat in refrigerator by early evening.

6. the following day was about eight hours of cutting,grinding and wrapping until the Elk was in the freezer.

Taking care of a Elk is a huge job!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: coaster500 on September 30, 2012, 11:12:00 AM
Horses wonderful creatures 4 miles in  :)

Still getting that meat off the ground, cooled, cut and wrapped is everything for some fine eats.

Congrats on a job well done all the way around. Everytime you pull a steak out of the freazer those memorys live.

Can you tell how the mind of a 235# fat man works ,,,,,   Ahhhhhhh Steaks  :)
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: LITTLEBIGMAN on September 30, 2012, 12:08:00 PM
Curt

your pictures are amazing! Thanks for taking them and for posting them.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: ca on September 30, 2012, 01:29:00 PM
Super nice pic´s.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: elkbreath on September 30, 2012, 03:28:00 PM
Congratulations!  great bull too
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: longbowben on October 02, 2012, 10:44:00 AM
Nice pictures looks awesome!!!!!!
Title: Re: Idaho Elk
Post by: NormanDale33 on October 02, 2012, 12:00:00 PM
I never tire of reading elk hunting reports. Awesome job, and great bull.