Contributors to this thread:
Well, I know of one elk down. Hope everyone has a great season.
Post 'em up!
Great job Cnelk! Did you shoot that elk down under?
This is the year I get to finally post on this meat pole with a grip and grin.
Hell yeah Brad!! Gotta love a day one elk in the dirt! Nice!
2017 Archery Colorado, public land opening day an hour after sunrise this bull bugled, tore up a tree and walked by feeding broadside at 6 yards. Being less than a mile from a road, downhill it was an easy decision. Got to test out multiple of my own hand forged knives and fill one of my 4 tags. Deer bear and mountain goat left, I'm off to a good start.
The shot was high being so close but this photo show it better.
Way to go, Brewstro! Three more critters to go!
How far did he go and how was the blood trail with that hit?
Luckily, he sprayed and went 100 yards. Nicked the shoulder but got lung. I gave it an hour, followed the blood trail slowly and had to put another in him when I found him.
First hour....congrats!!!!
Good luck with your other tags!
Mark
lets try this pic since the other one disappeared
Great way to get things rolling, Strung. Ditto, cnelk.
Bob, that's a good lesson. Your experience recovered that bull. Less seasoned, overeager hunters may have bumped him and pushed him away. Great job!
Dang cnelk, that cow looks comfy laying there. Congrats on the freezer queen.
Congrats to all! My 12 year old and I were surrounded at the Elk Spa but the Herd Cow caught a whiff of us and they were gone. Got to hear 30 to 35 cows and calf talk to each other for about 10 minutes tho! We were all smiles for the rest of the night.
Way to get it done, guys!
My buddy connected on this nice bull at 7:15 opening morning.
Nevada Wilderness opening day Bull, DIY.
Awesome bull NorCal - it's cool to see one in velvet still.
When the wheels fell off the bus so did the velvet...
To all, congratulations! NOR CAL, that bull is awesome!
Congrats to all those that have punched a tag. Hope to have some Wyoming elk start falling this Friday!
Nice job guys!
ElkNut/Paul
Misjudged yardage on a nice 6x6 sunday morning that came in like a dang TV show to my cow call. I was blind calling next to a spring pond when I heard the crash above. I had all my gear scattered as i had been taking a snack break and relaxing. I grabbed by bow but not my range finder and ran down to a pine tree above the pond. I shot through the top of the bulls back thinking it was a bit over 50 yards and held high...it was 45. Arrow had greasy fat residue, some hair, and a tiny bit of blood. ugh....It was so perfect up until I missed.....course my legs were like jelly watching him walk up through the timber, get his drink, then turn broadside to munch on a shrub. I hate me.
I will say the ultimate predator cow stuck to my bow seemed effective. Bull was looking at me most of the time and never saw me draw, etc.
Hope to have meat to post next time! Back for a few days break then on it again.
Sorry for the thread highjack.....great work to those who scored!
congrats guys!! Norcal, that is a sweet bull!!!!
stick with it Jordan!!
Good work guys. Like the velvet on that Nevada bull.
Opening day, out of a tree stand, 2:30 in the afternoon. Had a bull at 30 yards at full draw at noon but he never gave me a good shot. Had 3 cows come in behind me at 1pm but no shot opportunity. Then this guy walked in at 2:30.
This was Saturday opening day. Sunday, 2 other guys in our group put down a cow in the am and a bull in the afternoon, all from tree stands, 3 different water holes. Pack frames are getting used! Eastern Oregon.
Weird, it is posting it upside down on my phone...
I'm so green with envy!!!!!!! Awesome for you all. Get 'em Jordan.
Congrats to all the elk taken so far. WY opens Friday.
Congrats to all. You are killing me, but i will be on my way to Colorado next Wednesday from West Virginia.
I think it would be awesome to have a mount with the velvet halfway off the horns or hanging off!! But don't think it can be done.
"I hate me" is my newest favorite saying!
Keep at brotha!
The ecstacy and agony, Jordanathome...keep positive; all your scouting will pay off and you'll make it happen...looking forward to your 'there I was...then...thwack!...watched him pile up XX yards away'
Hunt forever my buck from last year is mounted partly rubbed.
Nice work, Gentlemen! Can't wait to get out there...
Best of Luck, Jeff
17 days and a wakeup before I leave. You guys are driving me nuts
10 days and we head back to Montana. Good start all, keep em coming.
CONGRATS EVERYONE! Funny group here. Fubar, is that a bobcat on your ceiling?!
Used my birth year bow, 1963 Bear Kodiak. Man it was hot and dry.
Well done Mark! I like your style using the bow of your birth year
Congrats guys! Getting me pumped, I leave Friday.
Yes lol ran out of wall space haha so hes on the ceiling
CONGRATS, to all u guys, outstanding.
GREAT WORK Gents!!! I can't wait till I try my hand elk hunting in the future!
Absolute hog 382 " off Walker Ranch this week! Jimmy Horton just sent me the pic... Cool story too! Some giants are gonna come out of there this year
Another view Walker Ranch Unit 2 Colorado
"Some giants are gonna come out of there this year" Looks like one already did. Awesome bull!
Was lucky enough to hunt the Waker ranch a few years ago. Sure wish I could go back one day.
Congratulations everyone! Can't wait for the 13th and Arizona here I come!
Junkie is that interlake bull he looks like a 5-4 I had on camera, nice job.
Hat's off to you guys and gals getting it done with recurves and longbows!!!
MT 9-2-17 . 25 yards 40 yards recovery . Hunt
Elkhorn it's a 6x5 and I can assure you it's most likely not on your camera.
Opening morning colorado. Filled the freezer. She was standing no more than 5 feet from where my 2016 elk was when I shot her, and she died 29 paces from the 2016 carcass.... Colorado Public Land DIY...
I hunt an area that has 2 types of tags one is spike or cow and the other is any elk. Of course I had 2 different 6 pts at 30 and 40 yards but couldn't shoot because I had the spike/cow tag! Fred
Wyoming, September 1st at 7:47 pm. 30 yard shot with 70 yard recovery. Brutally steep but short pack.
First elk! Took him at 5:20 pm on the 2nd. Packed meat until 6:30 the next morning.
First elk! Took him at 5:20 pm on the 2nd. Packed meat until 6:30 the next morning.
Some great elk taken so far. I passed on a 5x5 at 12yds this weekend. I"m headed up this Friday for two weeks hopefully the big boys are playing.
Another Walker Ranch beauty this week....346"
Tom, way to go bud! I knew you'd get it done sooner or later! Awesome bud absolutely awesome! Was your son with you on the hunt?
ElkNut/Paul
Awesome job guys! Those pics look awesome!
Yes Paul, he was with me. :)
First traditional elk, man what an experience.
Tom, that's even sweeter! Congrats to you both!
bugslinger, very nice sir with a longbow no less, congrats!
ElkNut/Paul
bugslinger thanks for taking the time to make a really nice photo - WELL DONE
Very well done guys! No tag for me this year!
Keep em coming!!!
Scar.
My first elk ever. 100% diy otc public land Colorado. 3rd year out with 3 buddies and I finally capitalize. Also are 3rd bull between us. First day out called a really nice bull to 20 with no shot. Second afternoon we called bedding areas and had this lil guy and a lot bigger bull come check us out. When this one gave me a 40 yrd broadside shot I let one fly. Piled in 60 yards. Good times with a great buddy. 3 more tags to fill so we back at it. Nothing like bowhunting elk! Good luck everyone!
Bullslinger...LB Bull!...lets here the story
Sunday morning I arrive at the trail head, gain the ridge and throw a locate bugle, of course nothing responds. As I creep up the ridge, that I believe the elk use as a crossing, I continue to throw some soft cow calls, again met with no response. That scenario plays out for 30 mins or so. As I continue up the ridge I hear timber breaking, but it sounds very localized and my initial thought was squirrels. After a minute or so I decide its a bull raking a dead tree. So I continue towards the noise that seems to be coming from a bench that is just above me, I'm thinking good thermals. I would also like to think I continued up the side of the ridge that was going to put the sun at my back intentionally, but that may just be my first bit of luck for the morning.
I keep heading towards the noise as quiet as possible, but every couple steps I take the noise stops. I'm a few feet below the bench and haven't herad him for who knows how long, probably only a few seconds, so I throw out a non-threating bugle and follow with cow calls, again met with no vocal response. I'm getting pretty close to having most of the bench in view, so take a couple steps, glass, repeat. Well I make it to the flat and don't see anything. I get the glass back in the harness and I'm just standing there trying to figure out what to do....and bam. I hear a noise and look and the bull walks out at around 23 yds and stops totally facing me at +/- 20 yds.
And so begins the face off, my bow is in my left hand no arrow nocked, and I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. We stand there for a couple minutes, the bull at 12:00 and me at 6:00, when something up the hill at 9:00 breaks some fallen limbs. The bull jumps straight up, turns and lands five yds from he was just standing and is no out of sight. I can't see him so I take a chance that he can't see me either so I nock the arrow and get my feet turned. After a few tense moments the bull walks out, now broadside facing 3:00 and still looking for the elk he thinks he should see until he looks to become bored and starts to walk away. I wait until he is completely turned and throw out a cow call and he turns around and gives me the WTH look for a second and then I he starts, I assume, trying to get my wind. He's moving towards my right and I have a tree to my right that is blocking from smoothly turning with him. Well, I know it all over when he smells me so I go for broke and lean way back and get me arrow around the tree and my body turned towards 3:00.
nice job!! I shoot the same arrows you do Centershot out of my recurve at 60 pounds Total weight 590 grains. 250 gr cutthroat. What broadheads are you using. I can not wait to get out there!
I'm looking ahead of him for a window and very quickly running out of real estate and then I see it. I'm afraid that if I cow call again he's just gonna blow up and vanish, again I'm not sure what to do. Think, think, think, oh yeah, I have the world's loudest clicker on my bow because I kept forgetting to dampen it, I'll try that. Well I've seen many times on videos where guys get ready to stop the bull and they do, but usually with his vitals covered and his head and butt just showing, so I come to about 3/4 draw and wait till he's clear and then I pop the clicker (I use it as a draw check). He stops and looks and the next thing I know the arrow is gone....and sailing over his back. At least that's what I thought. He busts out of there breaking stuff in his way, stops and break some more. I cow call when I think to and hear a noise back behind me at the original 9:00 and see nothing but antler going through the trees above me, it was another bull the initially spooked mine at first. At this point I'm and disappointed at the same time, it was a really neat experience but I lost complete control of my shot and was mad at myself. I wait a minute and start looking for my arrow, 40 minutes goes by and I can't find it. So I start walking wide paths back and forth where the arrow should be when I see blood. What, no way. Well what I thought was the arrow sailing over the bull was just the arrow disappearing in and through him. I don't feel great about the hit so I'm trying to stay positive but not get too excited.
goelk I'm using 250 grain Cutthroats with a 50 grain insert.
After a short 60 yard blood trail I walk out from behind a tree and there he is, motionless. I sunk to my knees and sat there speechless and very thankful. The sad part is I made a bad shot, or maybe I didn't and he spooked and the time it took my arrow to get to him caused a perfect hit to end up way, way back. I'll never know, I went blackout when I released. Ultimately I hit an artery and he was dead in less than 10 seconds. The broad head (250 grain Cutthroat) was shipped to me shaving sharp, it blew right threw and lodged in a dead log 30 yards behind the point of impact (the hill dropped of on the other side of the bull). The blood trail wasn't huge but it was certainly easy enough to follow.
My first elk, Colorado public land.
Spikebow, nice work sir! What recurve are you shooting there?
ElkNut/Paul
Spikebow, what a great bull by any means but a bonus with a trad bow!!! Congrats
Making me want to get back out after the elk. Congrats to all you guys.
Idaho OTC public land. Got him bugling at 5am. 2 hours later I climbed up into bow range with no shot. Did some light raking and rolled a rock down hill. That sealed the deal as he came within 15-20 yards to check it out.
My 16 year old boy's second elk in 2 years. Shot at 6 yards from his treestand. 55 lb Hoyt Spdyer, VAP arrows, Wasp Jak Knife Broadhead. 45 yard recovery=proud Dad and good eats!
The "pack" out...300 yard walk back to the road isn't bad.
Sorry for all the posts...having trouble with multiple pic loading...
Very cool, Dino! Way to go everyone. Keep the pictures coming!
Congratulations to everyone posting up and good luck to hose still looking to fill their tags!
Elknut1 it's a Wapiti takedown by Chastain
more congrats for all of the successful hunters this year!
Manitoba, September 2, called in for a 12 yard shot from a treestand.
Shot this guy out of my treestand a couple evenings ago. Stopped him with a mew as he was following a cow and calf. It's sure nice when you hear them crash and burn within 3 sec of the shot! Congrats to all the successful hunters, and good luck to the rest! Now I get to concentrate on helping my son get his!
two bulls down, back to back days
Say cheese......steak
Say cheese......steak
Congrats to all of you guys. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
Great job to all you guys! I'm still sitting here waiting for my wife to deliver our daughter, my window of opportunity for this season is shrinking...
My son with my DIY CO public land bull...1st morning
My son with my DIY CO public land bull...1st morning
There is nothing better than sharing the outdoors with your children. Plus that's awesome tell him congrats!!!!
Congrats Wyo! Love it from the stand! Hope your well!
A lot of big SMILES on those faces!! Congrats guys! Some really nice bulls in there, but any elk with a bow is a trophy
First bull with my bow. Southern Colorado.
First bull with a bow. Wyoming gen tag. 30 yd shot. My kids got to join in the hunt, and the pack out.
Some big bulls there!!!! Great job guys!
I am SO jealous of you guys with elk in the open. Mine died in a dang creek and was a PITA to field dress.
Great stuff & pics to the successful hunters!
I hope to add 2 more elk to this thread myself
Can't wait to read up on the next two hunts, cnelk!
Heck of a nice Bull Mr. Stafford!
Great bulls on the meat pole Sept 12! Jason - great photo also!
I'm seeing a pattern with these WY bulls......did ya'll kill the same bull? Pigs!
Ermine, Wow this is your year! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Congrats to everyone!! Good luck to all that are still hunting.
Here is my bull I shot Sunday night. I have tried to post everyday since. Signal is terrible. Lol
My first bull and my first elk with a bow.
Congratulations to all of you!
Good man yourself Fulldraw!! A bull on my birthday...
Congrats Fulldraw on your first! Your look says it all. Pigsticker, I feel like that's said about Ermine every year. He's a straight up killer! Congrats!
Every year is Ermine's year! He's a slayer Congrats Justin!
Here's my DIY Colorado public land bull. We made a heavy pack 5 mile trip into a wilderness area to setup camp after arriving in Colorado only a few hours prior. A short nap was had after camp was set up and we headed up the mountain around 3:00. An hour later our first bugle of the trip, down into a dark timbered draw, was returned by a squeaky bugle most likely made by a bedded bull. Over the next hour we picked our way down into that draw and made calls from several locations and could tell he had gotten up from his bed and was bugling really good at this point, but still not breaking away and coming to us. We had to hold up a few times due to poor wind but finally made it to small finger ridge that ran into the draw. At this point we got an excited bugle response to our call and could then tell we were within a distance that would require some investigation from the bull. He slipped into 25 yards without almost any noise but a small stick snap made me alert that something was close. After a few minutes of the silent treatment on his end, he decided to investigate the calls coming from behind me a little further and made a move giving away his location. With his head dipping behind cover I was able to draw and was waiting for him to step into the opening at 17 yards. As soon as his front leg was visible the arrow was on its way and a few post shot cow calls stopped him around 50 yards. It was at that spot where he laid down and expired. It was unbelievable. We hadn't even been in the mountains for 12 hours and we already had a bull on the ground! An awesome 6x6 that grosses 319 3/8".
Bone Collector, that sounds like my kind of hunt! Congrats
Congrats to all again, some giant bulls there! Ya I think Justin killed his first herd bull when he was in diapers.
Nice bull Justin - You make it happen almost every year... Glad you got some time to get out this year, with all the fires it wasnt looking very good im sure.
Congratulations!!! Sounds like a treacherous pack out! How were the temperatures? I am glad I had help packing out mine this year!
Idaho OTC 9-7-17 Skirted this bull and his cows for 2 hours before getting a 42 yd shot. It took 2 days and 12,500 ft of total elevation to get him out Solo. Won't forget this one anytime soon..
Seriously nice bulls hitting the ground!!!! Great job.
What Deerslayer said ^^^^^
Awesome bulls. Must have been a good year for growth. Seems like a lot of bigger bulls and mass hitting the dirt this year.
Worst pack out of my life. I'm not doing that again
WTG guys! Nice work Bake! Just remember, it only hurts for a while-- you'll have the pic and memory forever.
This how I found him
This how I found him
First ever elk! Colorado DYI public land, called him in for a 40 yard shot, double lung pass thru, he went about 150 yards and fell over! Not a bad first elk, decent 6x6...
Bake...you didn't call for help.........
I can't believe I've been dogging elk with close calls (and a miss) for 4 weeks and you come in from MO and score within 24 freakin hours!!!!??? You rock dude.
My first elk taken on 9/11 in Wyoming. Excited is an understatement!
Called this bull into 15 yds with the FOXPRO Big bully tube and diaphrams on the 10th in NM.
Awesome to see so many first time elk on here.
Great elk everybody, congrats!
Got this one in NM on Sept. 6th.
Also met up with a long time Bowsite buddy (and his hunting partner) who I've spoken to many times via phone, email and text over the last 5 years but never actually met until this hunt. They are a couple of great guys to share a camp/hunt with. Thanks Wyatt and Jake!
Congrats Hunt! Did he break off some points on that left side?
Wow! Some great bulls on here. Congrats to everyone. I posted my story on another thread, but here's a pic of my first elk. 9-4-17 otc Colorado.
70 yard shot, 100 yard recovery, long season, had to fight off burn out! Exodus BH fmj arrow did the trick
Good man yourself Weighttrain!! ANOTHER cracking bull taken on my birthday... Keep 'em coming...
9/15 Colorado
Congrats to all the successful elk hunters!
Great job to all, keep them coming!
Unit 3C
Unit 3C
Awesome job everybody! AZ bull 9/15
Congrats all, great looking elk there! Looks like a very good year!
ElkNut/Paul
Thatta Boy otcWill!!!! Nice job brother!
Jordan . . . No chance to call out. And I hated bad enough to have my hunting partner feeling obliged to pack out. No kidding, a life threatening pack out from a high peak. Midway through we got caught in a hail squall. With lightning. First time in my life I've looked down at a lightning strike. One strike right above us as we cowered in a little depression on an open mountainside. Then shale slides and big slide rock.
I'll hopefully kill more elk. I'll NEVER kill an elk on that particular mountain again. I'm just never going up that peak again :)
I know guys on here have had worse, but 14 hours to ferry two loads just whipped this flatlanders rear.
WTG Will!!!!! I go out tonight then Thurs, Fri, Sat.......Sunday morning.......
Bake...I hear ya. I've thrown my bow away from me in those situations to reduce my "attraction" for a strike. Makes you cry like a baby.
New Mexico, shot on September 14th
First Bull. Colorado 9/2/17.
First AZ bull. Over the years I have picked up lots of elk hunting knowledge from the guys on here and finally closed the deal. . Thanks for sharing
He won't make any score books but I'm happy all the same, southwest montana bull.
He won't make any score books but I'm happy all the same, southwest montana bull.
My 2 buddies I've been hunting with bulls. Are 3rd year hunting otc Colorado and we all managed to tag out. I was lucky enough to call in the one. Good times. Good times.
Duckhunter that's some flat elk ground and a nice bull. Congrats! Lucky you.
Crazyhawk- that's a pretty bull!
congrats to everyone.
Jordan are you ever going to kill a bull? JK. LOL!
My seventh archery bull and every one in a different state. Go figure!
Washington, 2017, Idaho, 1999(?), Utah, 1997, Arizona, 2008, Nevada, 2010, New Mexico, 1998, and Colorado, 2004.
Thank you. Yeah he's a stud. My buddies first bull as well! Heres another pic.
Damn Crazy Hawk. Congrats to your buddy that's an awesome CO OTC bull! First bull is even sweeter. Looks even better straight on.
Just goes to show the NR's that you just have to pick a spot and go. Learn it for a few years and reap the rewards of hard work. No reason to sit home waiting on a limited tag. Hunt OTC while you're collecting points for the limited tag. Nice work!
Here's the "little guy" my son shot on the 18th. What a year!!! ;-)
Oregon. Shot two minutes before end of legal shooting light. I had to check the time right before I drew my bow.
So many great bulls. Got to start packing and get back out there! Congrats to all!
On our final day I was able to bugle this bull in to 15 yards for my buddy, his first elk. What an experience! 9/15/17 - CO, OTC, public
One more. He died pinned up against a log so picture taking was limited.
9/17/17 CO OTC public DIY Had the privilege to hunt with a fellow bowsiter that is an elk killing machine. But shot this one solo, broke him down and back to camp myself. Tremendous experience
Wyoming, general tag. 9/17/17. 40yd shot
--jim
6X2 Arizona Bull
6X2 Arizona Bull
Praise God for His Wonderful Creation here on Earth!
Praise God for His Wonderful Creation here on Earth!
Congrats to all on their elk! Especially you Creed! Heck of a bull there. I know you must be thrilled!
Unit 7W Arizona. My second archery bull. Killed him at 10:00 AM on Wednesday September 20, 2017. 30 yard shot, double lung penetrating both sides. Watched him die within sight. He only made it maybe 75 yards tops. What a thrill and an incredible blessing! He is a perfect 6 point on one side and a freak on the other with a sword and a club dropper. He won't score very well but he is very unique and I didn't hesitate for a second to shoot him!
The other part of the story I don't want to leave out is who I was hunting with when I killed my bull. Tim and Jeff from Wicked Horn Outfitters were guiding a Wounded Vet who received a donated tag in my unit. Fellow Bowsiter LV2HNT (Tom Wagner) who organizes these Hunts for Heros through Arizona Elk Society told me to call them before the season just to talk elk since I had never hunted the unit. Nice chat but didn't think much of it. On Monday afternoon Tim invited me to come hunt with them since they tagged out but had more hunters coming in the second week and didn't want to go home or sit in camp. I am not too proud to accept free assistance from a pro, so I took full advantage! I bought them dinner that night and agreed to let them use my pics on their website but that's it. I am so grateful for their generosity to help me! These guys are hardcore elk hunters and they have their craft down! I highly recommend them to anybody looking for help in Arizona.
Montana bull. Public land.
Amazing the size of the bulls in Montana. If I was looking to go on a first time hunt, that's where I'd go!!!
Solo hunt. Packed her out in 2 trips out of a canyon. Took me 3 hours to cover one mile. Twice :)
Second elk. Solo hunt as well. Called em in stuck em twice and he made it 120 yards. I love September :)
Joe - in the last 3 seasons you have turned into an elk killing machine!!!! All of that turkey and blacktail experience has really stacked the deck to your advantage. Congrats on an amazing season!!! Pete
Nice bulls guys!
Hopefully, you’re not worn out by November, Joe! ;-)
Wyobullshooter- that's great! Nice OTC bull.
Bugle- congrats that's about a pretty as they get! Love those heavy dark horned bulls with great fronts.
Congrats to all!! First elk hunt, first bull. MT public land. 35 yard shot, 50 yard recovery. Sept 17
Nate, you are one happy looking guy! Congrats!
Wife and I married in July decided to Elk hunt for a honeymoon. Otc Colorado almost had two bulls but one was all we got.
Troy. I never get worn out. I live for this stuff :) Pete thanks. Jus been fortunate things worked out a few times. Elk hunting is never easy
September 22 DIY Solo New Mexico Shot him 4.5 miles from the truck. Hiked over 83 miles in 9 days. Took 3 loads to get him out by myself.
Great Bull Jesse !!! What state?
Wow congradulation on everyone hunt. I did get doe mule deer but no elk. Wind won everytime for them.
We had forest closures due to excessively dry conditions in southern Alberta for the first couple weeks of the season. Things opened up last week with some snow and cooler weather, so I finally had a chance to get into some of my favorite elk country. Saturday at noon this young 4x4 came in to my calling. Smaller bull, but a tough pack out, so smaller is sometimes better! With a little help and a lot of perseverance, we got the meat all packed out in two days. Very happy with this bull and the whole experience. Bowhunting elk can be frustrating and difficult, but always rewarding. They are beautiful animals.
9/21/17 Unit 2 Colorado, 13 days of hunting
Whoa! We have a winner. Great job! Post up one of your stories when u find time....
9-20-2017 Gila 16D New Mexico. Crazy exciting rut hunt!
Treeline..what a great Elk, especially with a longbow. What were you shooting and any story would be greatly appreciated. Congrats..he's special.
Montana 9/25. Had been following him for a couple of hours while he rounded up his cows. Then he decided to destroy some trees, that was a bad decision for him.
Hell ya Irishman. You got it done. Great bull!
Thanks SBH. I was lucky because even though I hit him high, and he left no blood trail, he didn't go 100yds and was kind enough to die in the open where he was easy to find.
Treeline....gotta hear your long bow hunt story...way cool
Great bull Treeline congrats. I assumed a picture would be coming.
Irish that was nice of that big bull to drop in a picturesque setting. Pretty photo.
Put my Nebraska once in a lifetime tag to good use. Solo hunt, 45yd quartering away, 70yd recovery.
Edited my pics in the earlier post and they disappeared.
I was finally able to take my first branch antler bull. Called him in solo too! Using techniques from Paul Medel "elknut" really helped. Listened to his recent podcast and the one single, greatest tips I took away from it was, don't give up. Sometimes it's easy to walk away from a bull that isn't being receptive or keeps moving away from you.
This bull I chased for 2 hours and he kept moving away, heading higher. I'd cut off his bugles if I was close to him, but if he moved away, I'd be quiet and just keep moving on him, throwing out a few cow calls here and there. If he responded to those, I'd challenge him.
I finally got close to him and was less than a 100 yards. He bugled and I cut him off, challenging him. He bugled again and I did the same thing. I didn't even have to time to set up and get to a good shooting point and he was coming. Just a slow walk. Didn't stop to look for me or anything. Just walked right by me at 20 yards. I didn't have a shooting lane in front of me but was able to hit him at less than 16-18 yards. Don't know how far it was, all I could see was hair in my peep, it was close! He travelled 100-150 yards and piled up.
Got mine on Friday. Thanks to my good friend Icemann.
345 if I scored it right!
345 if I scored it right!
Colorado Public land OTC and a lot of people & hunters all season.
Some great elk, well done men!
My NM bull taken on the 21st.
Not mine, I called this in for a friend last day of Colorado season, last 15 minutes of light. Over the counter Public Land. Not going to tell you anymore! 354 3/8 gross, green scored.
First 6 point bull!
First 6 point bull!
Kifaru hunting frame, nomad and grabit II in action.
Kifaru hunting frame, nomad and grabit II in action.
2017 Washington State Elk shot at 5 yards on September 15th
SE Idaho taken on 9-22 on day 9 of a very rain filled hunt!!
Some awesome bull guys! Congratulations!
My 2017 Idaho super tag bull. DIY on public land
Totally AWESOME MONSTER BULL IDBowhunter! Congratulations!
Wow! IDBowhntr that bull is something special! Congrats! What kind of broadhead is that sticking out?
Thanks guys! It's a Tooth of the Arrow 1" 125grn head
Holy @#$% IDBowhunter. That's a monster! Congrats. Not that it matters at all but what does that pig gross score? That's gotta be pushing 400" of antler eh?
Some great bulls on here in the last 2 weeks.
SW MT Bull taken 3 hours into first day on silent entry Friday 9/15.
SW MT Bull taken 3 hours into first day on silent entry Friday 9/15.
SW MT Bull came in silent to our Bull/Cow Calls 3 hours into our first day Friday 9/15. Snowed all week and bulls didn't bugle until day 6 and they moved lower to 7,800 feet level, we finally chased a big one last day 9/21 but couldn't close him out .
IDBowhntr - Wow, What an awesome bull !!! Congrats to you and all the other successful Bowsite hunters.
Congrats to all great Bulls!!
Another September in the books. What an awesome month it was.
Another September in the books. What an awesome month it was.
First Elk for me! Wyoming Sept. 21, 2017
First Elk for me! Wyoming Sept. 21, 2017
I can't believe the amount of HUGE bulls going down this year! Looks like the perfect bowhunter's storm. Congrats to EVERYONE who's posted their elk on here. In my book...ANY elk with a bow is a well earned trophy! Keep it up!
Our client was able to take his first bull elk with us. Alberta Canada
And his hunting partner was able to take his biggest bull elk to date. Alberta Canada
Montana Bull elk 2017
Montana Bull elk 2017
My 13 year son Dylan, myself and a friend had a fun week here in Montana. Shot this bull at 50 yards, 100 yard recovery. My son was cow calling behind me when I shot.
Wyoming, September 25th. 30 yards.
Wyoming, September 25th. 30 yards.
MT elk 9/25 and 9/27. My sons first archery bull (17 yards) and my largest (35 yards). Awesome week!
Had an epic hunt this year! Shot my bull on day 8 of a tough hunt. Passed on several small bulls only to move areas and got on this guy. Camped on him all day and got in position for the evening feed. When he came out, he got in a fight with a 310ish bull about 80 yards from me. I ran in on the fight at full draw and shot this 365" monster when they separated at 15-20 yards. Double-lunged him and he went 60 yards and tipped over! What a pack out. Got back to camp at 4 in the morning! Definite hunt of a lifetime.
Awesome bull catbacker, what state?
Montana BLM public land bull........stalk and intercept:)
One the more difficult years I've had hunting MT public land.....2' of snow early pushed elk on private with no access, and little rutting. I had to resort to spot and stalk in the sage brush sea. Belly crawled 300+ yards to get in range. Not biggest bull but will be delicious!
10-06-2017
Montana
Started hunting that morning at 6:45am and didn't stop until I killed this bull at 5:40pm. Dogged the herd all day and snuck into the edge of the herd with 20 different bulls bedded around me. I had no water with me, but decided to wait them out anyway and stood under a big pine in the freezing wind for 4 and a half hours waiting for one of the herd bulls to give me a shot. I finally decided to climb the tree to get warm and get a better view of what was above me on the hill. At about 4:30 they started moving off and I had to make a move. I decided to risk bumping some of the smaller bulls in order to get in a better position to intercept the herd. They grouped up and began moving along the edge of a rocky ridge line. I quickly made my way down the rocky outcroppings, feeling more like a sheep hunter than an elk hunter. I finally caught them transitioning over the ridge with this bull standing in the open and didn't hesitate. By the time I got him boned out and back to camp it was 1 am only to find the wind had pulled my stakes out of my tipi and blown it, and my stuff, all over the place . By the time I got it all put back together it was 3 AM. I had got up that morning to head out and hunt at 5 am so from the time I woke up till the time I hit the sack was 22 hrs, hunting, hiking, or working the whole time. I Don't think I've ever put in that long of a day in the woods before. One of these days I'll learn to kill my elk in the morning!
Deerslayer, that's a really nice bull!
Great Bull! Congratulations! Well done!
Nice work Justin! Great bull!
Thanks guys, it was a blessing for sure!
all nice bulls way to go fellas
As I said before, very impressive bulls guys!!!
Congratulations to all!!!!
Oct 21 2017 Alberta Canada OTC Private Land
All awesome bulls! Congrats! We had a bit of camera kerfuffle this year so I need to do some scanning from prints at some point.
What a Monster!
What a Monster!
Look at those whale tails !!! lol
As always DIY, Public Land.
ELKMAN- You always get it done. Like clockwork. Good job! Great bulls.
Thanks! We were blessed again.