From: ketchum@cs.montana.edu (Steve White)
Subject: Elk Hunt Story
Summary: successful elk hunt 
Organization: Dept. of Computer Science, MSU, Bozeman Mt 59717
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1992 02:30:46 GMT

The MT general bowhunting season opened the 5th. Myself and three others
(too many) set up camp in the mts Friday and came out Monday. I saw 9 bulls
and was within about 50 yds of four mature bulls but nothing happened. The 
other guys didn't fair as well and were disappointed in the area. Well I 
know that there are bulls there but since they weren't bugling for some 
reason yet, it was a little discouraging. I was excited though.

Thursday I left the house about 3pm for an evening hunt. I had crossed a 
river and hiked for over two hours up a good drainage when I was about to give
up and try to get part of the way back to the truck before dark, seeing as 
how there is nothing that even resembles a trail into this spot. It was about
7:15pm and I was a little disappointed since I hadn't seen much sign or seen, 
smelt or heard any elk. I thought that I would bugle a few times before 
leaving and was surprised when a bull answered me with a chuckle at about 100
yds distance.

Within minutes the bull came right in and I shot just below his brisket 
sticking a log laying under and behind him. He was a little farther than I 
thought. Naturally he spooked and ran about forty yds around to my left. I 
cow called and he put on the breaks. He was a little suspicious and just
stood off at 40+ yds looking in my direction. Well I talked to him and he would
chuckle back. Once in awhile would he bark and then chuckle. I had several 
frontal and quartering to shots for a good ten minutes but I wouldn't take
them. I was sure that if I were patient and waited he would give me a 
broadside shot sooner or later.

Sure enough, he finally turned broadside at about 43 yds and I Zwickey-ed him 
in the heart. He ran about 50 yds off into the alder brush and I heard him 
pile up. I waited about 10 loooong minutes and then found him. I tagged him 
and thanked the Lord for the good experience, etc. Then I noticed that I didn't
have my flash light in my otherwise well equipped fanny pack. So I gut him out 
in a hurry and try to get as far out of there as possible while its still 
daylight. Thank the Lord for a near full moon. I made it out fine about 10pm.

The bull is a 5x6 that is probably 3.5-4.5 yrs old. I shoot an Easton Spectra
1000, 80lb pull, 2216 shafts with Zwickey Eskimo heads that are razor sharp.
I didn't do an autopsy like usual since it was too dark in the rib cage and
I was in such a hurry. The arrow did pierce the heart area and the broadhead
did make an exit hole. I didn't hit any ribs.

It took me four trips to get him out. I boned him out and made three 70+lb 
trips of meat. It took me 1.5 hours in and 2 hours out each trip. I was one 
tired but happy hunter when I made my last trip out. Luckily a friend packed 
out the head and hide for me.

I wish that each of you could get to hunt these magnificent critters in the
mts like I do. It is always quite an experience, good or "bad".

I got a report today that the bulls are finally bugling but haven't rounded 
any/many cows up yet. Now is the bowhunters best time to be out there.

Good luck this season and remember, there are a lot of non-hunters watching
us.
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