Tried and True: A Utah Elk Hunt

It was someday in Might, and I used to be in Texas for a piece assembly after I bought the draw outcomes for the 2021 Utah massive recreation hunts. With 4 factors, I one way or the other bought fortunate and drew the most effective elk tags within the state!

The Work Begins!

I knew that I needed to work arduous to achieve success. So, with my spouse’s permission, I started shopping for just a few “mandatory” objects – path cameras, tree stands, floor blinds, arrows, broadheads, targets, and many others… I watched hours of movies on the most effective arrow setup for excellent penetration and elk looking ways for the early season.I spent numerous hours devouring the terrain on Google Earth and OnX maps to get an thought of the place to start out. I knew that I wanted to be very correct with my bow, so I shot virtually day by day, generally twice a day, and made positive I used to be prepared. I shot three totally different archery occasions this 12 months and knew that if the chance introduced itself, I might be prepared.

Wildlife Images

The primary week or two of June, I began setting out path cameras in hopes to sample just a few good bulls. After just a few weeks, I checked my cameras, and, seeing the kind of bulls I used to be seeing, I started to get extra excited and anxious with each passing day. I noticed plenty of nice bulls on plenty of totally different cameras. I noticed some superior large five-points, some nice six-point bulls, and even a very massive 6×7 bull, all of which I might be greater than grateful to shoot. I knew this hunt could be arduous, and I anticipated to work arduous and perhaps not achieve success.

On August twenty first, opening day, I made a decision to sit down in a tree stand the place I had essentially the most bulls coming in. I hiked in with the wind in my favor, and it took me a little bit longer than I anticipated, however I bought to my stand and sat opening morning and didn’t see something are available. I swapped my card within the digicam I had on the meadow and a bunch of bulls had been there the evening earlier than. I used to be assured that I might see elk that evening, so I went again to camp.

Switching It Up

On Tuesday, August twenty fourth, my third day of looking, I made a decision to hunt simply above camp. I had by no means been up this explicit drainage earlier than then, and I needed to see if there was plenty of elk exercise. Two weeks prior, I had marked a degree on my maps. To the south of some massive meadows, there was a giant north-facing bench that I believed could be place to strive some early-season elk ways.

My good pal and looking buddy McCarther Mitchell was planning on coming to camp to hunt for just a few days. He had bought a spike tag in order that if he noticed a spike or cow, he may hunt as nicely. Figuring out that he could be in camp earlier than lunch, I had a thought to chop my morning hunt quick to fulfill up with him in camp. As I appeared on the very massive and steep hill that I believed to climb to strive some calling, I debated whether or not I actually needed to ascend. “You’re right here, you would possibly as nicely do it,” I believed.

I discovered a recreation path that started up the steep, thick hill. I slowly labored my approach up and tried to not make a ton of noise, however on this nation, it was inconceivable to not sound like a marching band arising the hill. I made it up the primary steep hill and onto a small bench, and what lay earlier than me was an excellent steeper hill that was 100 yards lengthy or extra. So, after catching my breath and taking a fast snack break, I began up that hill.

I quickly discovered that it could be simpler to crawl up it than it could be to hike. To my shock, I made it to the highest. After I did make it to the bench that I had supposed to discover, it appeared like an elk’s bed room; tons of elk beds and rubs. I labored up the bench one other hundred yards and located a spot the place I believed I might attempt to name in an elk with a few of the early season ways I used to be studying.

The Setup

I had an elk butt decoy with me, so I arrange in between two little Quakie Aspen saplings. I set the decoy up so the highest of it was virtually as tall as I used to be and a little bit extra seen. I moved up about 15-20 yards in entrance of the decoy to attract the elk in nearer to me so I might have a more in-depth shot if the elk got here into this setup. I discovered a great place the place I might have a number of capturing lanes whereas nonetheless being considerably hid by the thick cowl I had in entrance of me.

I started to make use of a sequence that I had seen Paul Medel, “the elk nut” train in one among his early-season elk ways movies. I acted like an elk would throughout this time of the 12 months. I began by raking a small pine tree in entrance of me for a couple of minutes, after which I set free one lengthy, whiney bugle. I then went again to raking the tree. That bugle was the one bugle I made your complete time. I continued to rake that little pine tree, and I included some pants and grunts sometimes. This went on for about half-hour, then up the hill a methods, I heard a department snap. That bought my consideration and had my coronary heart pumping!

Getting a little bit discouraged with the dearth of elk that had are available, I used to be taking a look at my maps for the place to maneuver to do this setup once more, pondering I might transfer up the bench a methods in the direction of a meadow or a water supply. I did one final scan by way of the timber to make it possible for there weren’t any elk coming in silently. To my shock, I noticed the highest three tines of an elk coming by way of the timber at about 45-50 yards!

He got here in with out a sound. As I froze in disbelief, I may see him shifting by way of the thick timber above me on the bench. As he bought a little bit nearer, I may see he was an enormous bull. I acknowledged him from path digicam photos that I had of him from July. He had tremendous lengthy fourths, and I knew he was a shooter bull.

As I had arrange to do that calling sequence, I made positive I had just a few good capturing lanes. I had one capturing lane in entrance of me that confronted the uphill aspect of the bench I used to be on. It was about 6-8 ft vast to the place I may shoot out to about 30 yards. As this bull moved nearer, he got here from above me to my proper and slowly made his approach to my left, in the direction of this capturing lane. He moved nearer and nearer from 45 yards to 40, then 35, 30, and to 25. He then turned broadside to stroll by way of the opening the place I might have a shot. I believed, no approach! No approach may this simply occur completely like that.

As he started to start out into the opening, I believed to myself, as soon as his head goes behind a small pine tree, I’ll draw my bow, so he doesn’t see me. As quickly as his head went behind the tree, I drew my bow. I wanted him to take just a few extra steps, and I might have an ideal broadside shot at 20 yards. He stopped proper earlier than the opening. Oh, crap, I believed. No! I’m at full draw with a large bull at 20 yards, and I don’t have a shot!

Working The Drawback

To my shock, he started to rake a pine tree proper earlier than the opening I needed to shoot by way of. He was exhibiting this “bull,” me, simply what he thought of me coming into his bed room and raking like that. Nonetheless at full draw, I believed he may be there for a short time. I let down my bow as slowly and as quietly as I may. After I let my bow down, it made a little bit noise and I simply closed my eyes, hoping that he wouldn’t bust. After I opened my eyes, he was nonetheless raking the pine tree. What a spectacle it was to look at this bull at 20 yards, simply raking a tree. He was so enormous; his physique, his rack, every little thing.

I knew I needed to transfer to get a shot. How do I transfer with out him seeing me at simply 20 yards? I believed if I may transfer each time that he raked the tree, I would be capable of transfer over far sufficient to get a shot. Every time he would rake the tree together with his large rack, I might take a really small (6 inches at most) step to my left. I had a clearing to my left that I had been shifting round in whereas I might rake the tree and snap branches for the previous 45 minutes or so.

I took just a few steps to my left to the place I virtually had a shot, and I may see a window of about eight to 10 inches that I may get an arrow by way of. All I may hit proper now was his butt and guts. I wanted to take another step. Proper then, the bull stopped raking the tree, turned, and appeared proper at me. I froze, and as he turned, I simply stared proper into his eye. It appeared as massive as a softball. I may really feel him staring into my soul. It felt so intense simply being so shut. Don’t transfer. Don’t even breathe!

I believed for positive he would see me and take off operating. Then, the craziest factor occurred; he turned his head again and stored raking the tree. He didn’t even see me! I shortly took the final step to my left in order that I may see his entrance shoulder. I pulled my bow again, and I gained my composure lengthy sufficient to undergo my shot course of that I practiced hundreds of occasions in preparation for this one second. I pulled the string again with ease as a result of all of the adrenaline, and I put my knuckle on my ear, my nostril on the string. I held the highest pin between the hole of the 2 timber I needed to shoot by way of, proper behind his shoulder, pressed the set off on my launch, and let the arrow fly. The arrow disappeared shortly by way of the large bull elk.

As I waited in shock for one thing to occur, I don’t suppose I used to be even respiration. The bull flinched after I shot him, however he didn’t run; he simply stood there. I may see the place the arrow hit him because the blood was slowly pooling out of his aspect. With the bull not figuring out what had simply occurred, I took benefit of the chance. I shortly nocked one other arrow. After the primary shot, I used to be shaking and in a rush to shoot him once more.

The second shot was not as well-placed as the primary. I hit a tree proper in entrance of the bull, and he startled and ran just a few yards up the bench to my proper. At this level, the bull was going through away from me, simply standing there, nonetheless. I didn’t have one other shot. He stood there and began to cough blood. I knew I hit him good. He then took three or 4 steps and bedded down behind a thick wall of timber.

As he bedded down, I may now see the opposite aspect of him and will see that the arrow had handed utterly by way of him. I had whole confidence in my arrow setup and broadhead alternative. I may nonetheless see him, and he didn’t know I used to be there. With him coughing blood and the way he bedded down that shortly, I knew he was harm. I stayed put to hopefully watch him expire. At this level, I simply knelt and stated a fast prayer. I requested the Lord to please let this bull die shortly.

The wind began to shift now. After I had arrange, the wind was constantly downhill and to my left. Now, the wind would shift and go from left to proper and again once more. The solar was peering over the timber by this time and was heating up the air. The wind wasn’t going in the direction of the bull but, however it made me nervous that if it did shift and the bull winded me, he would take off. I made the choice to let the bull sit and die. I quietly slipped out of sight and down the bench. I had 1,000,000 issues operating by way of my head now.

Ending The Job

I attempted to name my spouse Kati after which my dad as a result of I knew they might be on their approach to camp. My dad didn’t reply, however Kati did. She was so excited she cried. It was so good to listen to her voice. I referred to as Kati’s brothers Ray and Dave, and so they have been on their approach. I referred to as my cousin Matt Clark, and he took off work and came visiting. I additionally referred to as Brandon Seamons, and he assured me the bull was going to be lifeless.

It took me what appeared like an eternity to slowly get again to the place I used to be after I shot. My coronary heart sank into my abdomen after I noticed the bull elk was not the place he was after I left! The utter disappointment and doubt have been overwhelming. I slowly labored my approach to the place I hit the bull and located my arrow and fairly a little bit of blood. Dave and Kati determined to comply with the blood path which led them over a small hill up the bench, perhaps one other 30-40 yards.

I used to be nonetheless the place I used to be standing after I shot the bull. My coronary heart was in knots, and I had 1,000,000 ideas of what may need occurred to this bull. Simply then I heard Dave yell, “Jeff! Stand up right here!” My head snapped in that course, and my coronary heart virtually dropped out of my chest. “Stand up right here! Hurry, nock an arrow, stand up right here!”

I ran by way of all of the thick deadfall as quick as I may to the highest of the hill. There, I noticed the large bull laying down together with his head up, simply taking a look at us. I gained my breath for just a few seconds as I pulled out my rangefinder; 28 yards. I took one other deep breath, and the place I used to be standing, I had shot on the bull, however he was barely quartering to me. I simply wanted to get one other arrow in him.

I lifted my bow up, slowly drew, and settled my 30-yard pin on his shoulder. WHACK! The bull thrashed and lifted his head. I grabbed one other arrow from my quiver, drew my bow once more, and let one other arrow fly. WHACK! I appeared on the bull and realized that he was dying. I dropped to my knees as all of the feelings overwhelmed me, and I put my head in my fingers and simply sobbed uncontrollably; I simply let all of it out. It was all a blur to me at this level. I gave the bull one other minute or two to verify he was lifeless earlier than I approached him. I CAN’T BELIEVE IT! I couldn’t consider this actually occurred.

This large bull turned a lot greater as I approached him. What an incredible expertise to have the ability to lastly put my fingers on this superb animal after all of the emotional highs and lows. All of the arduous work and energy to get so far was now justified. I couldn’t have requested for a greater bull.

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