Photo album for this trip.
My son Mitchell and I had quite an elk hunt last weekend. We walked in 2 ½ miles on Saturday morning and I heard on elk bugling below us. When it bugled again it sounded like it was within a couple of hundred yards so we decided to pursue it. It was below us so we quickly worked down a moderate decent while staying behind whatever little cover we could find. I have learned over the years that hustling into position for elk is usually more important than stealth. It can get you busted by cows on the lookout for danger, but if you don’t take a chance and hustle closer, it’s much more likely that elk will simply disappear because they feed through an area so quickly.
After we had moved down the slope about 150 yards, the bull bugled again and this time it was obvious he was close to us. Because of the terrain, we needed to make a move of about 25 yards across a side hill to get a vantage point. We moved over behind a lone leafless bush and I could immediately see a cow and calf about 60 yards below us. As we studied the situation, a nice bull walked out below and to the right of the cow. He was about 100 yards out.
We had no rest for my sons bolt action 30.06, so he rested on my shoulder, gave me warning so I could plug my ear, and he pulled the trigger. The shot rang in my ear and the bull just stood their in the low morning light. As he ejected the empty cartridge and chambered another round the bull stepped behind a tree. It seemed like an eternity, but was probably about 45 seconds of waiting as my son and I discussed his need to be ready when the bull stepped back out. Right on Q the bull stepped out from behind the tree. My son gave me warning that he was ready and just as he was about to pull the trigger, the bull piled to the ground.
His first shot had been true.
We spent the rest of the day quartering and packing this bull out to our truck 2 ½ miles away. On Sunday we saw several more bulls and maybe a dozen cows. I passed on the chances I had because we already had a nice one in the bag. Only Mr. Big could have coaxed me into pulling the trigger. As it turned out, we did see one bull bigger than the one Mitchell shot, but we couldn’t get into position quick enough to seriously consider a try for it.
I owe a big thank you to my friend Roy Davis of Davis Tent & Awning. Roy is a good friend and his company makes the best canvas tents and awnings in the country period. Roy hooked us up with a great tent, stove, sleeping pads, and the most comfortable sleeping cot I have ever used. Roy also has an elk hunting website at www.elkcamponline.com. Check it out.
Here is the link to our photo album for this trip.
It sounds like it did take you long to finish. Well, it’s a nice thing, though, that there were two of you who did that. It must be very tiring if you were alone. What rifle did you use for your 30.06 ammo?
Posted by: Jana Christensen | June 25, 2012 at 01:30 PM