A month in the elk mountains!

[Tree Killer]

This years hunt began August 24th for me as I headed over east to set up elk camp.  Having had left knee replacement in May, I felt fortunate to even be able to hunt this year. But I figured I'd do a little hiking and quite a bit of treestand hunting...by treestand hunting I mean sitting over a certain wallow that I killed a 6pt bull at in 2014.



The wallow got hit for the first time this year on August 29th at 5:48pm by a really nice 6pt bull...unfortunately, I wasn't in the stand that evening.  :doh: But that gave me hope that more bulls would eventually come in to this community wallow.

Four days in a row of sitting this particular stand I had a big bear come in, a spike bull, cow and calf, two cows and a calf. But no more bulls until the 6th. Some mornings the hunting seemed to play second fiddle to the sunrise.



...not to be outdone, the sunsets were equally impressive!



As time went on I began finding sign of the rut heating up, but very little bugling was heard in all the usual haunts.  





I decided to take a break from the stand on the 6th and 7th, and both days a nice 5pt bull came in and worked the wallow!  But on Sept 8th I settled into the stand at 3:15pm.  At 5:00 the air current was drifting down off the hill and wallow, which is perfect for this location.  I heard a stick break over my right shoulder, and as I watched to see what had caused the noise I spotted legs of an elk approaching. As the elk strolled up to the tiny creek to drink his fill I could see it was a bull!  He drank for several minutes less then 15 yards of my stand while I stood and composed myself for a possible shot.  Once I noticed the air moving from left to right and I held my breath, the bull kept drinking and the wind corrected itself.  Finally the bull crossed the creek and stopped to survey the wallow, then he walked up toward the wallow into the open at 8-9 yards.  The bull stopped and lowered his head to sniff the mud. I drew and released, the arrow instantly appeared in the lung area as the broadhead penetrated a rib on the far side.  The bull exploded in a circle around my stand and charged downhill about 30 yards, but suddenly stopped...I was watching as he stood for several seconds and simply fell over. I soon heard the air come out of him and knew it was over!  I waited a couple moments to compose myself and climbed down...then slowly walked down to the bull and paid my respects to the creature.  

A couple quick pics with the phone, then I went back to camp to get my pack frame and see if my friend Dave had arrived at camp..





Dave had arrived at 4pm, so he went back with me and helped with the photos, butchering, and packing out the meat.

[Tree Killer]

The next two weeks I'd go out in the morning with Dave hoping to get on a bull, then I'd take the afternoon off while Dave would sit in one of my stands.







Here's some trailcam video of a few bulls...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGe0To0y91k

[ron w]

Excellent........      

[Tree Killer]

BTW ... my hunting partner Dave ended up killing a nice 5pt bull from the same stand that I killed my bull. But he hunts with a compound, so I can't show his photo.

[Pete McMiller]

Dynamite Ron, Thanks for your story and pics.  It sure helps those of us who weren't successful.  I could almost smell the elk in your pics.

[kevsuperg]

I'm still looking. Congrats, nice story too.
Curious, why the skull in the creek ( Crick as they say here) .
I haven't taken an elk yet so just wondering.

[Warden609]

Great story. Congratulations on a beautiful elk!!

[Homey88]

That is awesome! Congrats to you! Thanks for the pictures and story!

[Dry Creek]

Nice bull
Congrats

[goingoldskool]

Outstanding! !!!!

[CRM_95]

Congrats!!

[twitchstick]

Very nice!

[BAK]

Especially sweet considering your knee.

[96ssportsp]

Great job Ron! I would love to hear about stand placement. Set up a ladder stand this year, camera had me pumped. As soon as rut kicked in, quit the site.
Ended up getting a spike on the ground....now cashing in 23 points for next year. Already feeling the stress.
Awesome job...especially after the knee...can really relate
Scott.

[Chad Orde]

Man that's is a great story and really like your pictures allot!! Thank you for sharing sir.
Chad

[Chad Orde]

I live in the shores of lake MI and we have incredible sunsets those are are on par with ours but the blues and orange in your are jaw dropping!

[Roy from Pa]

Very nice, congrats to you and Dave.

[Tree Killer]

Thanks fella's!

Originally posted by kevsuperg:
I'm still looking. Congrats, nice story too.
Curious, why the skull in the creek ( Crick as they say here) .
I haven't taken an elk yet so just wondering.

Tossed the skull in the ice cold creek to keep it from stinking since I wasn't sure how long it would be till I went home. Going to get it beetled.

[Jayrod]

Congratulations ron it couldn't happen do a nicer guy and outdoorsman thxs for sharing your pics and stories that's a great bull!

[Hopewell Tom]

That "holding your breath" gets them everytime!

What a beauty, good shooting.
Thanks for sharing, great inspiration.