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The article would have been titled " Preparation and Focus"....here we go.....

As I knelt next to the sage brush, hoping that the bull elk would slowly work his way closer to me, I looked down at the ground. There, next to the back-up arrow that I had placed by my right knee, was a coiled rattlesnake. I had an arrow on the rest, but the snake was so close to me, that shooting it wasn't an option. Needless to say, at times like this it is important to keep your composure.

I have had the good fortune to have experienced many adrenaline-rushing bowhunting adventures. Whether I was riding in dogsleds across the arctic while bowhunting for Polar Bear, or chasing Desert Bighorn Sheep in the Sonora Desert, there has always been the potential for events to go awry. It is during such times, that it is important to stay focused and keep your composure. Long before the days of YouTube, I had a very extensive library of bowhunting videos. When I was preparing to bowhunt for a given species, I would watch the appropriate videos time after time. I would try to glean as much information as possible during my preparations. I would take note of the overall cover (to identify which camo would best blend in). I would try to understand when to call, when NOT to call, and what each call probably meant to the animal. Watching those adventures reduced the elements of the unknown. The elimination of distractions substantially simplified my pre-shot process.

I frequently construct or purchase lifesize archery targets of the next animal that I hope to pursue. Since they are life-sized. it provides a big advantage when you are actually within bowrange of that animal. Shooting at a 1/3 lifesize elk target is great practice....if you are hunting for deer or pygmy elk. If you are hunting for a real animal, I submit that it may result in an inaccurate estimate of range. Animals don't have dots or indented score rings on them.....practicing at a life-sized animal target shortly before a bowhunt affords the opportunity to focus on a crease, a spot of mud, or a specific patch of hair. It also gets you accustomed to seeing the animal without "falling apart".

With enough practice, seeing and adjusting to a given animals dimensions becomes second nature. Creating that sense of familiarity reduces or eliminates the "shock and awe" when it happens for real. Those few extra seconds gained may represent the difference between the shakes, and actually getting a shot at the animal that you are after.

I have also noticed that the more time that I spend researching, preparing, and training for a hunt, the better that my hunting results have usually been. As a result, one aspect of hunting preparation that has become very enjoyable for me, is the process of coming up with creative ideas and solutions for upcoming adventures. Sometimes, it occurs by networking with my fellow toxophilites. Other times, I dream up ideas on my own. After all, how many people do YOU know that took an enema shortly before leaving for their Polar Bear bowhunt, just so they wouldn't have to freeze their ass for the first few days of their hunt? Lateral thinking has its advantages....and even if the idea doesn't pan out, it helps pass the time, builds the anticipation, AND it sure can be entertaining when sharing the details with fellow bowhunters in camp at a later time.

By watching hundreds of hunting videos over the years, before this Fall's elk bowhunt, I had made many important observations. Included in the myriad of things learned was the fact that due to their cold-blooded nature, rattlesnakes are very lethargic on cold Fall mornings. Bull elk can turn a lot faster than some people realize, and while they "jump" the string, they don't seem to do it anywhere near as severely as a wound up whitetail. I also noted that a bull elk will frequently give you a few seconds before they bust you and that they will tolerate something out of the ordinary for a longer period of time than a cow elk will.....at least during the rut.

Another point that is worthy of mentioning, is controlled breathing. A bowhunter can get so worked up in some situations, that it is possible to hyperventilate. If I feel myself starting to shake, I always do the following.....I will slowly inhale for a count to seven, hold that breath for four or five seconds, slowly exhale for seven seconds, and then wait for four or five seconds before slowly inhaling again. Over the years, this process has helped me to keep control and prevent (even eliminate) any shaking. Usually, it only takes a few breaths for it to work, and it seems to last for quite a while....at least, for me.

I alert my friend to the presence of the snake, and he does what any friend would do.....he laughs!! After all, the snake isn't 8-10 inches away from HIS knee and HIS "boys". He peaks over the rise and tells me that the bull is about 60 yards away and closing. I had already processed that the snake isn't buzzing, and it was 39 degrees when we left the truck. I also reminded myself that my hand was already within 3-4 inches of the snake and he hadn't struck me. I was regulating my breathing as previously described, and was able to stay calm and focused.

I decided to hold still as the bull approached. After what seemed like an eternity (probably 1-2 minutes), the bull had come into plain view and was just about broadside. I lifted the bow and drew......and for the first time in years, the arrow fell off of the string, and landed on top of the other arrow, on top of the snake. I don't remember looking down for the arrow. I remember watching the bull, while slowly reaching down for an arrow. As soon as I felt one, I picked it up.....still focusing on the elk and making damn sure that this arrow was clipped on the string. Serpiente de cascabelles was apparently still feeling sluggish.

I redrew the bow as I heard a whisper of "40 yards". I settled the pin and released. The shot was right where it needed to be, and when the bull collapsed, we ranged him at 66 yards.....so he had only run 26 yards from impact. I slowly inched my way back a couple of feet, stood up, carefully retrieved the other arrow that was still on the ground, and dispatched the snake.

When I texted some photos back home, my "much" older sister (two years my senior), replied "Cool....snake on a stick!" As far as this adventure is concerned, I think her description was spot on.

Congrats

Good luck, Robb

Congratulations on another bull down Jake. Was that day 1 of your hunt?

I hear you on the Hearing, mine most likely isn't much better!! Great job!!

ElkNut

We did not kill the snake but we did run it down for a photo session.

Was that bull a bit stinky with all that piss-laden mud on it?

Matt

Congrats for holding it all together and making 2 good shots.

Well, I knew the story and it still did NOT disappoint!

I STILL can't figure out what would possess anyone to reach down blindly within inches of a live viper AFTER obviously getting away with it the first time!

All I can say is you have WAY more desire to kill an elk than I do! ;-) And a lot more ability to hold your composure and focus than I would!

The elk would have been immediately alerted when I yelled and probably jumped 20 feet at the first sight of that damn serpent! ;-)

I don't think I ever asked..............................................................what did you do with the snake? That would make one very unique mount! : )

I guess it is fitting that you are hunting buddies with Pat................................................our 2 Bowsite snake "charmers!" :-)

Those snakes sure wake a guy up!

with the hunts you have been on and your hunting accomplishments im actually surprised that nobody has been begging you for articles before. Great story but F that! Ive owned a wildlife and pest control business for many years and im very comfortable handling critters, but id have been in Utah by the time that elk closed the distance! Great story and congratulations on the elk

mike