Our tags weren't valid until the 16th, and we used the days prior for scouting and laying plans. It seemed that everywhere we went we found elk, and they were bugling early and late in the day. Things were looking good for the opener, and anticipation was high!
When we actually started hunting we continued to see elk, but we were also running into lots of hunting pressure. It seemed there were hunters everywhere we went, and we wondered how long it would take for the elk to be pressured out of the area. But we continued to see elk nearly every time out, and remained optimistic.
The best form of practice for me is stumpshooting, but around home my "stumps" consist of fallen leaves and tufts of grass. One thing I love about hunting in the mountains are the abundant targets nature provides.
On the evening of the third day I decided to hunt a small ridge to the north of our camp. I parked the truck and made my way up the ridge, easing along an old abandoned roadway. Glancing to my left I could hardly believe my eyes - not 30 yards away were two cow elk, and they were so busy with devouring the bushes they never noticed me. I sunk to my knees and waited.
Eventually the largest cow grazed her way to within 20 yards perfectly broadside, but some low bushes covered the bottom half of her body and I passed on the shot. She fed past a spruce tree between us and when she cleared the other side was quartering away at a hard angle 25 yards away. It was starting to look like this might all fall apart. But a slight turn presented a better angle, and my arrow was on the way. It struck directly behind the front leg, but low, and with minimal penetration, and fell out immediately. As she crashed off I wondered whether I had just hit the leg itself.
The noise from her flight stopped, followed by two loud crashes. Had she fallen, or simply resumed running after a brief pause?
I could see the arrow sticking up out fo the brush, and eased ahead to check it for blood. The front 6" were covered, and looking in the direction of her flight I could immediately see an ample blood trail. It was quickly apparent that the hit had been good in spite of the minimal penetration, and I followed the best blood trail I had ever seen in my life. I didn't think the standard 30 minute wait would be necessary....
Warning! The following photos are graphic!!
Topic: Update...Has anyone heard from Whip? ... Short Story and Pic's Added (Read 1465 times)
