He's Hanging

Got out of my truck this morn at 5:30 not really expecting much after the sitting for 4 days on last days off and not seeing anything. Atleast until I got to the back of the truck to grab my bow and an elk bugled to my left and then an elk bugled to my right, about 100yds away. I ran to my tree stand which was about 200 yds from the first elk I heard. And was about 1/2 mile from my truck. On the way I distinguished 5 different bulls bugleing around me. I can't believe I got to my stand undetected. I had to wait about 20 mins. before I could even remotely see my pins. and I started calling. Bugleing at them didn't really do anything but make them yell back. So I started cow calling. They very slowly moved towards me until I could finally see the one that was near my truck. He came in about 200 yds away and stopped and milled around. Straight oposite side of the tree from him was the one that was about 200yds away. He came alittle closer and I didn't know which way to stand. I was kinda squating down so I could see the one out in the field whenlow and behold  there was a bull standing right under my tree on the other side of course. I slowly steped back and manuvered my bow to his side of the tree. He played his part very well and turned his head away from me. Standing broadside, 27 yds.. What else was I to do? It was still kinda dark and I couldn't count the pts. I figured he was prolly a 4 pt or so. I drew back, put the first pin bhind his shoulder and cut loose. I heard the hit and thought I could see a dark spot where I aimed. He ran off and ran into the fence. Just like my bull did last yr. cept he didn't waste any time getting up and out. I played with the other bulls for about 45 min. before I climbed out of the tree and tracked him down. Not an easy track. The arrow stayed in and must have blocked the blood flow some. Mostly followed hoof prints. About 500yds later there he was. 6x6. Not a monster but who cares? A 6x6. Next best part, the land owner told me to drop the fence and drive in and get him. Took the 4 wheelers right to him. No dragging. See if I can get some picts. up now. Hope the wife got them downloaded cuz she just accidentally deleted them from the camera.

deadeyerik:
 
Awesome!!!  Congrats, man!
 
Thanks much for sharing your story and posting the pics!  I enjoyed it.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

Way to go rik. Any bull or any animal with the bow is a trophy as far as I'm concerned, big or small, horns or no horns. GUess you lived up to your name huh? "Deadeyerik" Congrat's man, be some good eating.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Thanx guys. Now it's time to get off this puter and do some butchering. Better stop and get some bandaids on the way.LOL Always need them when butchering for some reason.

Thats awsome Rik that thing looks as big as a beef. A tip of my camo hat to you buddy.

I kinda wish my photographer would have told me that my elk was being shy and hiding his face behind a bush all the time.

Most of us aint looking at his face anyways. Just as most of do with the opposite sex. LMAO!!!! Had to go there man, sorry.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Yeah, I hear ya Tx. Now all of a sudden having to go on this fishing trip this weekend in the middle of the rut doesn't seem so bad.

Way to go ric nice bull

The concessions we have to make huh rik?  LMAO!!!!!!!!!

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Good job Rik, that's a nice bull. And the pics are great. Thanks for sharing and have a great fishing trip, now you won't have to sulk around thinking you could be hunting.LOL
Steve Albers

Back from fishing. Real cool. 42 deg. Only 1 walleye and about 4 rainbows. All good though, scenery is great at Houser lake. All I caught was 1 trout and 1 nasty cold. But we had fun playing wii last night and just a good time seeing freinds.

WTG, 'rik!!!

Nice to get one out of the way early in the season ... more relaxin' that way ... huge congrats on doin' all the stuff correctly ... or guessin' ... or gettin' lucky ... but I've learnt that most successful folks make a lot of their own luck ...

All of life is six-to-five against, just enough to keep you interested. (Damon Runyan)

Gravity makes all the important decisions ... (John R. Powers)

NRA, REMF, PF, NAHC-L, NAFC-L, KC, NPPA

Thanx O. Yeah I can't say what was the major factor in my success but It was nice to be able to waqtch that bull out in the field to see how he reacted to my calls.