deeraddict
PMA Member
Well I had a great time on my elk hunting trip, and had some awesome encounters, just was unable to connect. I had 2 run ins with what then outfitter said was a 320-340 class bull, coming to full draw on him once at 45 yards, but just did not have a clear shot at the vitals. We sat on the edge of a small draw in the mountain on Wednesday afternoon for two hours with 6 shooter bulls, 5 non legal bulls, 20 plus cows and a bunch of calves. The six shooters chased cows, chased each other, bugled non stop, raked trees, and lip smacked. (Which I had never heard of). It was during this chaos that I drew on the big one, but had no shot. This two hours alone made the hunt. We were in the elk for 4 of the 5 days we hunted. We also saw numerous mule deer bucks that made me wish I had a mulie tag. On the last morning we made our absent up the mountain after the herd and were immediately created with a bugeling bull. We set up to work him. Two cows and a nice 5x5 came in. They started my way on a trail that I was sure I would get a shot on him, only to have the one cow go away from me with him in tow. Soon after I put a 55 yard shot on a cow that felt perfect. This all happened within the first 5 minutes of legal time so it was not the brightest in the timber yet so I did not see the impact. We found the back 7 inches or so of of my arrow laying where she was standing, covered in good looking blood. We waited for 2 hours before tracking and the blood trail started out good and after 300 yards she had not bedded and the blood got thin. After 500 yards the blood was almost non existent, as we would find a pin drop every 50-60 feet, and dry track the rest. Then we came upon a wallow and lost all sign. I was disappointed with the end result of that shot but happy with the week of hunting over all. Everything I hoped would happen on the hunt did, except for a dead elk.
