A Quarter Century, an elk hunters tale with pics more on pg 3

[Homebru]

Yes, I would.  I've been doing it for 25 years.        

I'd rather "bring home the bacon" but, I can buy it in the store.  Not so, the memories.  

Get in touch with your dad this weekend.  It will be worth it.  Life is short.

homebru

[huntnmuleys]

yep, its worth it.  everyday spent in elk country is a gift.

been waiting for this thread. what a hunt!  im actually sure youre going to get your bull, and I bet sooner than later. all streaks come to an end.

thanks for taking us along, taking great pics, and giving me a little glimpse of heaven with September 1 so far away.

[kennyb]

Ryan-great read and pics.Thanks for taking us along!
Don't worry you will be blessed one day for your goodness and it will be that much sweeter!

Kenny            

[cacciatore]

Ryan,elk hunting itself is the success,being able to climb those mountains hear the bugles of the bull,breathing the clean air.
After I killed my first few elks I find myself to don't shoot elk,if not monsters,for not interrupting my stay in the mountains and I still think I am successful. It is all about the hunt.

[twitchstick]

Thanks for taking us along and congrats to your dad!  I think we all have our nemisis. I know mine is the mature mule deer. It's not an inches game but I love chasing mature deer. No matter how hard I try and how often I get close it just never works out. I know I have had more opportunitys than most at them but you know how that goes. I know it took me a long time to get my first elk and when I finally did it was pure luck to be honest. I wasn't even looking for elk and happen to check a pond at 130 in the afternoon. I was wearing flip flops, purple shorts and a tee shirt. Three cows almost ran me over as I made like a tree. It was that easy.  After that it came easy almost like they started finding me.  It was like when the weight was lifted I relaxed more and sure seemed to capitalize on opportunitys more.  This year I scouted more than normal and thought I had several monster bucks figured out but that's a sore subject right now. I even had one big buck I had watched all summer at 30 yards twice and no shot. I just had to move my set up another 20 yards over but once again my hunt was cut short.  It sure seems when I try the hardest I fail, maybe it because we set the bar to high. I'm not really sure but when I'm almost not trying they fall in my lap. Last years first elk I was blood trailing my nephews deer when I came accessed her.  I think next year all scout hard for elk and go for the luck factor on deer. Maybe then I'll get my nemisis!

[Guru]

Awesome read brother, congrats all around!!!

Don't worry bud, I truly believe..."good things happen to good people"....when it happens, it'll be that much sweeter    

[Steve O]

Originally posted by steadman:


A question to ask yourself:

Would you continue to hunt if you NEVER brought anything back but memories?
 

Heck yes.  When you ARE an old timer, you sure will appreciate the memories from all the hunts after all the elk steak are long, long gone.  Some of my most treasured memories come from hunts where all I had were close calls.

Why not hunt spike/cow every year in the LE unit you will hunt big bulls again in?  Or pick a new unit with quantity over quality in mind?

I'd be pretty content to be a pack mule for your dad for as long as he needed--I'd love that opportunity as my dad does not hunt.  Congratulations to both of you!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Ryan,  Awesome story here. I am very happy you were able to get your dad on a bull and experience the hunt with him.

To answer  your second question. Yes.  I need to be in the woods/mountains hunting to help my brain heal from a  severely stressful work environment.

Killing an elk would be icing but not the cake.

[thump]

Ryan,great story. I'm sure there will  be more to come.

[Tater]

Ryan,
  Great story, congrats to your dad on a fine Bull.

   Elk country in the fall is reward in itself, but you know that. It's just a matter of time and when it happens it will be sweet success.

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Been looking forward to your dad's story buddy great read      

Tracy

[centaur]

I killed my last elk in, I think, 1995. I will hunt them until I can no longer hike the mountains. They are magnificent animals that live in magnificent country, and I can't get enough of it. I came so very close this season to putting one down, but while it didn't happen, it gave me hope that it may happen in a season to come.
Hurray for your dad; gives us old farts hope for the future. And the answer to your question is a no brainer; keep on keeping on and enjoy the experience. Elk are addictive!

[Ragin Bull]

Ryan, thanks for the great story and congrats to your dad!
Elk hunting is tough by nature  and doing it with a stickbow does make it even more challenging. I know,  elk are my nemesis too! Your stories reminds me way too much of my own hunts with the same oh so close encounters. It will happen for you, I know it. Just as I know it will happen for me. Just being in the mountains is special, the memories are yours forever.  
I was seriously frustrated this year and still am wondering where I will be next fall and what I will be doing differently but I will be there, somewhere...........enjoying the hardest, most frustrating, grueling time with a big smile on my face!
Enjoy my friend, it will happen!

[just_a_hunter]

First off, Congrats to Mr. Steadman on the awesome hunt and thanks to you for sharing it with us. What a fine read this is my friend.

I sure hope you don't give up. I keep closer tabs on you than you know during the fall just praying it will happen for you buddy. I've been on an increadibly dry spell as well.

This year with Gatekeeper we were in elk every single hunt. Mostly bulls which sucks when you have cow and spike tags. I called in and feel comfy to the fact we both could have hung tags on bulls (or at least lost arrows trying). Tom came really close to getting an opportunity at the biggest spike elk I've ever seen but it just wasn't meant to be. I did mangage to put a 5x5 right in his lap just for gigles one day and I could tell that was worth the drive out here for him.

What I'm getting at is it will happen for you buddy and when it does the juice will be worth the squeeze...

Keep after em'...

Todd

[ksbowman]

Super read Ryan! I can't tell you how many times I've elk hunted and haven't got one yet. I know my first out of state Colorado tag was $25. Boy were those the days! My friend never give up as long as your able to negotiate the mountains. I love to go and one day, who knows I may get one too.

[steadman]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. Believe me I won't be giving up. I am truly blessed, that I'm sure of. I think you're right Jimmy,  I'm going to do the opposite    
I agree the hunt is what it's about, and I understand that, otherwise I'd hunt with a different weapon.  Steve unless you know the open bull units, which are tough,  the spike/cow units are our only choice and that's pretty much all I hunt. I'm not looking for horns, otherwise I'd move  
Thanks for following along!!

[shreffler]

Ha, you're right about it being longer than some of us have been alive! 23 years here and I hope to have some elk encounters like the ones you've experienced some day - some of us are stuck with whitetails only and can only dream of doing an elk hunt one day    :rolleyes:

One of my favorite quotes...

"It's paradoxical that the death of your quarry is besides the point and at the same time the whole point. A chase without a kill as its object is like a journey without a destination; a kill without a chase employing all of the hunters craft is killing, not hunting." - Phillip Caputo

We don't do what we do just to take a stroll in the woods - but without the work we don't have those opportunities.

Keep working hard and the stars will align.

Alex

[steadman]

The one thing Dad insisted on carrying out

 

Shanes bull he got later in the hunt. He too is shooting a Stalker Wolverine with static limbs.

 

[ron w]

Only been on an Elk hunt once........never saw or herd one.......and I would go back in a heartbeat. Just wandering the high country at 10,000+ feet is worth every penny!!

[DanielB89]

WOW! WHAT A 1/4 CENTURY!!! Thank you for sharing it.  I hope to share the elk adventures some day.  You must just be a better guide than killer!  Seems you always get others into the elk!!