elk adventure from the land of enchantment

[doug77]

   

[COOCH]

Sorry Guys My puter started doing some weird stuff yesterday freezing up and flat out not working I think I got it figured out  

After a fine meal I assembled my bow.I was using my 65# bighorn I was shooting it well all summer.

The first morning was mostly uneventful. The forest was just spooky quiet,the birds were not even talking.So about 10 we called lunch and decided to check a few water holes for the evening hunt.

It didn't take to long to find fresh elk sign.This country is a tinder box and is in bad need of water.So the water holes were being hit hard by the local wildlife.It wasn't very long before I had to many choice for the evening hunt.

 

Not a ton of water but there were several fresh bull track on this bench.

[COOCH]

Well I desided to stay on this upper bench as there was just to much sign to ignore.My second choice was a drinker about a quarter of a mile to the north.The bulls were drinking there and there were several wallows around it.So Perry and I set up a pop up blind and let one of his client sit it.(he was never bow hunted elk before so I offered it to him)

 

Well I saw nothing and the newbe had 2 different bulls in the wallow @ 22 yds and a third bull behind the blind about 40 yds."Staring at the blind" according to him.When we picked him up I saw that he had all the windows open. I think he pooped himself having 3 bulls that close.He never loosed an arrow.But I knew were I'd be tomorrow.

[COOCH]

One from inside looking out at the drinker there are 9 wallows within 30 yds of this blind.I've got a bunch of video but the way this puter is acting I think I'll stick with the stills.

[danderson]

waiting with baited breath for more pics brotha!

[Gen273]

[COOCH]

I think you know how it ends Mr Anderson.

[COOCH]

Over the next few days the elk were getting a bit more vocal but would quit early.Most mornings they were bedded by 8.I personally  
don't like to bother them in there beds.I tend to use the late morning and scout to figure out an evening ambush.

[COOCH]

These elk were still in bachelor groups and all seemed to be hanging in the same couple of drainages.We were getting close.we just needed a bit of luck.

 

Headed up for an evening hunt..About 300 yds after I snapped this photo I bumped a small heard of bedded elk.They jumped I hit the deck and they let me take 14 minutes of video but did manage a few stills.Hope they show.

 

[TxAg]

Nice!

[stocker56]

Now that's what I'm taking about.    

[COOCH]

On about the 4th day I found myself back at camp and was doing a little shooting when one of the guides ask to take a few shots and mentioned that he always wanted a Black Widow,but his archery shop only carried hi-tech stuff.I said no problem sir I just happen to have one in my bow case so it got strung up and the shoot out was on. Sorry guys no stills of the shoot out we were having way to much fun.I really thought that widow was going to end up in Springerville AZ. Kenny took to that bow like a fish does to water.

He told me that the only way he would give it back to me was if I finished the hunt with it.So I did.

[COOCH]

Only problem was I forgot to pack the quiver bolts Soooo a bit of cowboy engineering and vwa la. One semi modified GFA QUIVER.Just cut the lanyard string on a cow call, a few knots,the strap off my video camera and there you have it.

   

To be honest I never liked this type of quiver in the catalog,However after a few days of use It's my new favorite.Thank you G Fred I never should have doubted.I'll be ordering the real deal very shortly    

[COOCH]

Well my buddy Kenny must have known something that I didn't because when I started carrying that widow elk activity picked up tenfold.We had several very close encounters but for one reason or another we could not seal the deal.It still didn't matter I was elk hunting with an awesome friend and loving every single second of it.

[COOCH]

About the 6th day We put a semi vocal bull to bed above a small tank and drinker that the elk were hammering big time.there is a ground blind there that I had rebuilt just prior to the season opening.And we had 2 clients sit it and both said they had seen elk but nothing came in to drink.

 

Haein in about 100 pm when I got to the blind I couldn't believe my eyes.These 2 guys had removed all the back drop and side  cover around the blind.Mann I was muttering some things that I can't print here                It's like babysitting some days.

[COOCH]

Well I was there so it was time for a quick redo And I was soon to regret my hasty rebuilding techniques.      

After everything was set I got all settled and decided to draw my bow when I realized my lower limb was awfully close to contacting the inside wall of the blind.Just keep the bow more vertical and you'll be fine said the voice in my head it's elk thirty hurry up and get settled.But the other voice was saying redo your window or it could cost you.

Dam it was perfect on the first build.Man was I cussing clients in my head.They told me later they couldn't see enough country.My response was something like "next time book a bleeping photo safari not a bow hunt"

[COOCH]

A view from inside the blind Yes video camera and all,man this part is hard to type brings back some bad visions.

Guess I'll just cut to the chase and say that I had a solid 360 class bull come to the drinker and gave me the shot at 19 yds.My lower limb hit the blind and the arrow flew high and wide and cut the bull behind the ear.I was sick to my stomach.My fault nobody to blame but me.                    :bang head:
 
All on video to rubb salt into the festering wound.

We spent the next morning dry tracking him and knew he would be  
alright except for a sore spot on his neck.

Perry actually sent me some video of him yesterday, a missing patch of hair behind his left ear.Still doesn't make it any easier to swallow

[COOCH]

Sorry guys goto get some shut eye, very early am tomorrow stay tuned.

[Thumper Dunker]

Cool stuff so far.

[stocker56]

Jeff, those type of misses are hard to swallow but the good news is nothing bad happened that can't be fixed. Great story and thanks for taking us with you.