Monanta Elk Story.A day for the memory record book.

[Randy Morin]

The second day of Archery season sure is turning out to be lucky for me.  Last year I shot a big bull on the first Sunday.  This year the second day was very special in its own way.

On Saturday, the 3 of us were up at 3:30 am and hiking an hour later.  We all posted on different water sources ready to stay the whole day if it was hot with Elk activity.  I didnt have any Elk come to water that day but had a small black bear come in and soak. One partner had a 5 pont bull  come to his water but spooked out before a shot.  Another bear and 2 cows were seen by the third guy.  

On Sunday we repeated the Saturday hunt but I sat the water where the 5 point was seen.  Todd, the guy who sat there on Saturday had to get to a bow shop to fix the broken sight he suffered (training wheels) on Saturday night.

This is when things started to get good.
More to come.

[razorsharptokill]

C'MON! You're killing me! Can't wait to get after elk next year!

[Hard Times]

And?

[Randy Morin]

After about 2 hours, around 8 am, I heard some fast moving noise and thought an Elk or two were coming in.  Dropping my book and grabbing my bow I stood and turned around to look up the steep hill behind me. There at 25 yards, trotting on an Elk trail broadside to me was none other than a Gray-Wolf. It so happend that we in Montana were finally able to legally hunt these animals this season and I indeed had a my first ever wolf tag in my pocket.

This Husky colored dog was about 85 lbs by my guess (not huge) and on a trott. Nonetheless, I about soiled myself upon seeing this guy and my luck at such an opportunity.  Looking ahead of this guy I saw an opening about 15 yards further down the wolfs direction of travel.  When his nose hit the opening I gave a quick whistle.  On cue the dog stopped and looked at me.  More thoughts of amazement and maybe a quick look into the future of the pending trophy picture I would soon be snapping (I hate it when I do this, it never helps     ) flashed throough my mind as I drew the bow and tried to focus only on my shot.  The arrow was away and looked good in all respects but the wolf was not to be mine on this day.  The arrow, in my haste (this all happened in under 5 seconds) was aimed more for 25 yards than it was for the required 35 yards and fell well low, just behind his front leg.

[Randy Morin]

I'm proud to say I wasnt too hard on myself at blowing such a chance. It all happened way too fast.  I hope I'll be granted another some day in the future.  But, oh how awesome it would have been to see that arrow center that tall dog. The whole thing was purely bittersweet!

It turned out the wolf had also trotted 60 yards past my partner located up the same drainage about 1/4 mile before coming past me.

A few hours later after only a doe and fawn mulie had come by I hiked out for some rest at camp and then a afternoon hunt into a different area where I had almost killed some bulls on several occasions in years past.  My afternoon "honey hole" would not dissapoint on my "lucky Sunday".

[creekwood]

Keep it coming Randy!  

[Randy Morin]

Its about a 1 hour easy hike (not alot of elevation gain) into this honeyhole. I set up to wait for late evening Elk movement and settled in to read my book as the sun was still high.  After the sun went behind the big ridge to the west I got up to have a look around.  I was on a south facing terraced bowl with mixed islands of thick timber, aspen, and open grass/sage. After moving a hundred yards I saw a spike bull moving through this semi open area.  Behind him a 5 point bull.  They were moving so I used the terrain features to try and get in front of them.  No luck.  They were feeding up the bowl and I soon lost them.  I did however find another small water source on one of the terraces I hadnt known about before.

[Randy Morin]

So now there is about 45 mins of shooting light left and I start making my way out of this bowl in the direction of my car.  Heading down the south facing portion of this bowl I heard a bull bugle directly across from me on the North facing side.  This is thick bedding timber and I was not surprised to hear this bull as I had hunted here many times before.  To say he bugled is a bit misleading.  He actually sounded more like a angus cow bellowing than a classic Elk bugle.  It did come from a Elk though.  There are no ranch cows in this drainage.

This particular bull and the varied ways he formed his bugles over the next 40 minutes would be one of the most unique and memorable aspects of this hunt.  One bugle, he would sound like a angus cow bellowing, then he would sound like a loud cow moose moaning, then he would sound like a monster bull and a few times he sounded like a small bull with a flutie bugle.  I was pretty sure it was only one bull making all these different bugles as the hunt went down but at one point I thought that maybe, just maybe, there was a Bull Elk and Moose hanging together.  Thats how weird it got.

[jcar315]

[Mudd]

God bless,Mudd  

[Jack Guard]

Wooo Hooo, i have been waiting for a story from you.  

More Please !

[Randy Morin]

So now I am standing there looking across to the approximate location of the first bugler of the season.  I stood there for 2 bugles (enough to pinpoint his location pretty well) and then cow called a few times and then gave the whimpiest bugle I could muster.  After another bugle from him I looked down to the bottom of the drainage (a few hundred yards below the elks location) and from my vantage point I could see a large animal trail coming down the last bit of timber, through the willow bottom and up into the south facing portion of this bowl where all the feed was. From experience in this spot I new he would be heading down to this area to feed for the night.  He was just waiting till it was dark enough or the cows he had with him (if he did) were dictating the herd movement. Without a better plan I took off down to the willow ribbon at the bottom and started up the north facing timber on the very well used trail I had observed earlier.  When I had hiked up about 60 yards I came to a meadow (seen previoulsy) on a 1 acre bench.  This was where I was going to wait.  Now the bull is about 200 yards above me and calling every 5-10 minutes.  Every call seemingly different than the last.  Weird bull!

By last light I had heard this bull bugle a range of different bugles like I had never heard before and I had heard him rub a number of trees.  Each time my ears detected him rubbing a tree I would mistakenly think he was finally headed down the steep slope.  Moments before giving up and reaching for my headlamp I heard him moving down the ridge.  Large hoof noises and rack hitting tree branches I thought at first he had taken a different trail to his feeding ground that was going to take him well behind me.  I was wrong again.  After unzipping my pack I thought the hunt was over when I heard the bull enter the corner of the small meadow just 40 yards to my left.  Screened by the large Doug fir tree I was hiding behind I couldnt see the bull. He let out a loud cow-moose like moan bugle.  This was when I thought maybe a freaky-weird Elk-moose partnership (not that theres anything wrong with that) had developed but the sounds of a big animal swishing through meadow grass quickly snapped me back to more important work.  Now I could see the tan form of the bull through the boughs of the tree and he wasnt but 20 yards away.  In just a couple body lenghts I could see his rack and only had to confirm he had brow tines to give myself the green light.  In another body length he was broadside in the open at 15 yards and walking right by me toward the trail that would take him down through the last bit of timber and into his evening feeding ground.  I drew my bow and the motion stopped him in his tracks.  I had only to focus for a second and release.  He hunched up hard at impact and only ran 40 yards.  After some coughing and stumbling a bit further he was down not far from me.  15 minutes later its very dark in the timber as I went to find him.  And find him I did!  A nice 5 point bull.  And one of the best hunt scenarios I have ever been apart of.  Everything including the wind direction came together perfectly on this fine animal.  I was and still am tickled as heck.  

After taking a quick photo and gutting him out I skinned some of the hide off his quarters and hung my leafy ASAT coat on him to hopefully keep the bears at bay.  I made it back to my car at 11pm and my partner was relieved to see my headlight coming down the trail. He was about to start the hike in to try and find me.  He asked me if I was alright.  "Oh yeah" I said.  "Couldnt be better, have I got a story for you".

[Jesse Minish]

Great story so far!

[Randy Morin]

The next morning 3 of us went in and took out the first 3 quarters and then back in one more time for the last quarter and rack. A long day to be sure but fun and rewarding at the same time. The meat seemed fine and I am expecting some great meat even though I didnt get him quartered right away.  I had him to the butcher within 24 hours and it got to under 30 degrees overnight.  

My bow is a R/D longbow of 56 lbs @ 29" draw.  Carbon arrows with 275 grains up front consiting of a 160 gn Simmons Interceptor, steel adapter and aluminum insert. I got 18 inches penetration and two holes.  Ribs were encountered on both sides slightly.

pics to follow.

[scedvm]

Congrats Randy, sounds like a great hunt.

[Randy Morin]

[Randy Morin]

Thanks for listening guys/girls!!
Good luck to everyone!

[23feetupandhappy]

     

PICX  

[23feetupandhappy]

WOW that was quick  

[Old Chief]

Outstanding.  A great story and elk, congrats!