This was my first time elk hunting Montana, so it took me 16 days before figuring out the area and finding success. I hunted for two weeks straight from September 9th to the 22nd before having to go back to work with no success.
The following Friday, I decided to make the four-hour drive back to hunt the weekend, even though it was calling for wind and rain. On Saturday, September 30th, I was sitting on a ridge around noon just glassing to the west when I started hearing some bugles behind me in the draw to the east, so I packed up and moved over to check out the situation. The bull kept bugling every 5-10 minutes, so I moved in with a favorable wind and got as close to where he was bedded with his cows as possible.
Standing on a steep hillside ridge to the west of where they were bedded, I waited several hours for them to finally get up and start feeding in the open meadow at around 5:30 p.m. The bull had come out into the meadow with his nine cows around him. I knew I couldn’t get any closer to them and this was going to be my only opportunity to take the shot. Finally, the bull stepped broadside at 83 yards while feeding and standing still. I drew back and squeezed off the best shot I could, launching an Easton Axis arrow towards his chest. I happened to grab my one arrow without a lumenok, so I couldn’t see the arrow hit him, but I did hear a resounding “Thwack!” that sounded like a hit. The bull and his surrounding cows never heard the bow, and he reacted very calmly. He knew something had happened but wasn’t sure what, so he just walked about 20 yards and lay down. The cows remained by his side, and I let him be as it was getting dark. I honestly wasn’t sure about the shot placement, so I decided to back out and come back in the morning.
I went back in early Sunday morning and snuck into the area. As I approached the area where he was laying the night before, my heart sank when I realized he wasn’t there. There was a steep draw right behind where he was laying, and I peeked over the edge to find him laying within 30 yards of where I left him. I immediately felt a sense of relief and then the reality of the work starting took over. Examining the elk, I realized the arrow had made a full passthrough on the liver, and I estimated he expired a few hours after I left him. I was able to quarter him and make five trips out with the meat and antlers. This was my 21st archery bull since I started pursuing them in 2005, and it certainly will go down as one of my top accomplishments.
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