Glen-L.com

Well, my first year hunting was last year. My first time out my buddy put me on a 5 by 5 bull elk. Unfortunately I was hiding behind a tree so the Elk couldn't see me. Well, that meant I couldn't see him either ! Even though he was right on the other side of the tree at about three feet away! ...I never got a shot off!

This year my buddy put me on a 6 x 6 bull. The biggest bull he has ever seen in Lander. I moved to a position about forty yards from my buddy and slightly to the side. He spotted the bull when it was about 80 yards out. We were in thick woods. I finally picked the bull up at about forty yards, then it turned and came right toward me. As it passed behind a tree I drew the bow, the elk stopped. The elk was looking for my buddy who was crashing some tree limbs. He never saw me but he was not in a good position to take a shot. Then he moved about two yards and quartered to me except that the part I was aiming for (just behind his shoulder and low) was hidden behind a tree. Then for some reason the elk kind of crouched. That exposed the section I was aiming for, however, I had to take a shot through an openning in two trees. I let the arrow fly, and I heard a crack. Thinking that I hit a limb and missed the elk we waiting a few minutes after the elk bolted and began to look. Couldn't find the arrow. But eventually we found a blood trail. The blood was pretty substantial, but after about 800 yards the blood ended.

The lessons I have learned: maybe I should have been more patient and possibly the elk would have moved forward a bit and given me a really clean shot.

The shot I took was a perfect 30 yard shot. I put it right on the right pin, but the crouch might have confused me.

In the end the only thing I can think is that I hit him in the shoulder bone. We didn't pick up a blood trail for quite a few yards. I never recovered an arrow. The blood all came from one side. I think i shoulder shot him, and I can onlyl hope that he is still alive. We spent over four hours hunting for him. Sure would have like to hung that on a wall. May never see one like that in my lifetime!

I have a couple months left I guess to get the two elk tags I have.

Love Wyoming !

STeve

I've hunted ELK twice in the Bitterroot Wilderness of Idaho and I never seen one elk! BUT!!! it was a great time!!!!! Love those woods!!!! I can't wait till jr is old nuff to get out there with me!

Oh and Leak, that's another reason why I don't like bow hunt'n. I do it, but I don't care for it.... Only reason I do bow hunt is they way I work. Working a 28 and 28 roster, I don't get but a month or gun season in Texas.... If I bow hunt that gives me one more month......

I love the challenge of a bow hunt. And the thrill is much greater for me than rifle. HOwever, it is so much more important that you practice practice practice and then wait for the nearly perfect shot (not that there is one) because ethics play such a high role in bow hunting. I could see Elk every single day out here but wounding them is not the object. I am really sick that I could not find this guy. I truly hope he is still alive. What a beautiful Elk. Shot placement is EVERYTHING.

On the other hand, if I had a rifle and shoulder shot him he would have dropped like a ton of bricks!
(But that's next month!)

Steve

Well that's why when I rifle hunt I make it a challenge. My longest deer kill with a rifle is 500 yards. My longest kill to date is 650 yards on a coyote. He was sitting on his butt, looking at me, barking. It was that far he would throw his head up, them down, then you would hear his bark. That was a sweet kill.

I'm working my way up and I want to make a thousand yard kill next, and yes, it's all about practice.

Try one of these i made them awhile back.