OK fellas.......here it is!!!!!!!!!!
I had 4 close encounters with Bull elk all under 40yds.
The first encounter was at a waterhole in a normally dry wash. After recent rains days before that left water puddles here and there. I decided to set-up a "quicky" blind with brush and wait it out since it was a hot day. I had previously that morning bedded a bull not too far from a secluded waterhole. Well I simply lost track of time that day and wanted to be at the spot before 3pm. Well I left camp at 3pm. Anyway you pretty much know how "Murphy's" law works. While myself and companion were walking to the waterhole I hear a distant bugle. It sounded like from the waterhole. So we snuck our way closer....I figured we should be nearby when I peered to my right and there....not 50yds broadside is a 6X6 bull. Not huge but well within
my "score book". We immediately go to one knee to see what he would do. A few minutes pass, wind is good, we wait until bull decides to thrash an oak brush near a huge pine tree. I slip my pack off, signal to buddy to remain while I put the sneek to him. 40yds he still is occupied with raking brush. I detour around a down limb and get a juniper between elk and myself. Every time he moves I move. Elk are noisy critters so I felt comfortable with my movements. Now I'm 28-30yds. I look thru the juniper and he's still raking. I decided 5 more steps and I'm letting her fly!!!
At 25 yards bull is stilling raking and is standing broadside facing left. I say a quick prayer to calm myself. I try to compose but my heart is racing. I look once more, I pick a tuff of hair 2/3's up the side I draw and let the bow sing. Arrow smacks a rock behind bull. He whirls around after shot and walks slowly out the ravine. Haha. Arrow harmlessly flew inches over his back. I fall back, and feel sick. I miss at 25yds broadside!!!!!!OMG I retrieve arrow and the point is gone after striking rock.
We leave back for truck. Right at dark we another bugle, sounded like him. LOL
Well after two more encounters, a bull at 42 yds quartering away I pass too far a shot. Third encounter at 12 feet no shot. Too much brush. Dang it can catch a break.
Back at camp compounded shooters killing bulls got me kinda down. I drown my sorrows with beer and whisky. Next day spent chilling around camp, shooting and nursing our "hangovers".
Ok back to the hunt.
4 days til season ends. I go solo since my buds back is sore that evening (old bull riding days). I notice darkness in the horizon so that means cool weather which means active bulls. So off I go. No sooner I arrive I hear a distant bugle. Its now 5pm and its a slight drizzle. I move quicker with all the movement from the wind and excellent sound cover. I listen to two bulls roaring back and forth. I move, its getting darker. Finally I hear a bugle not 100yds from me. I slowly walk towards, looking and listening. Wind is good, I actually smell the rank bull. I now hear two bulls locked in mortal combat. I now walk at a fast pace towards the commotion. I see one bull, the other is in the brush. I'm now 20yds and trying to find a shot. They unlock and smaller bull walks after cow. Second bull walks straight at me and steps though an opening at 7yds. By then the POC is on its way. Solid thump, 18-20 inches of penetration with RIBTEK BH. He whirls as if a bull just attacked him. All this 10mins. before dark!!!! He now stands 40yds gurgling blood and wheezing. I figure dead elk so I leave to find buddy's to help with tracking.
Long story short we get waterlogged. 2" of rainfall that night we arrive back to locate downed elk. No blood no tracks. We search but in vain. We also had to cross four creek crossings so that was also heavy on my mind with all the rain and flooding. Roads turned into water canals. We hurry out and decided that was best move. We get back to camp at 3AM soaked muddy and tired. Next day crossings are swollen and we stay at camp. Finally weather breaks and 8 of us head back to search. With all the sign washed out we criss-cross the area.
Well after three solid days of searching and with the help of the ravens I find the bull.
6X7 Archery bull taken with my trusty 62# Osage.
