I felt the only way my family would ever be able to enjoy quality hunts out west was through the preference point system. When Wyoming started their point system, I began purchasing points for all my eligible kids and grandkids. Seventeen years later, Cody, my oldest grandson, drew a Wyoming elk tag along the Colorado/Utah border. This tag had low draw odds even with maximum points.
The plan was to archery hunt the unit, and if that didn’t work out, we’d stay for the rifle hunt that began October 1st. What I hadn’t planned for was me drawing an archery elk tag in the best unit in Colorado after 30 years of applying. I headed out at the end of August, hoping I could get a good bull down before they arrived. The good news was that the units were adjacent to each other and our whole hunting family was ready to help on these hunts. My two sons, Brian and Bronson, and my grandsons, Cody and Collin, arrived the middle of September. I met up with them and we set up camp near the two states’ border where I could continue grinding it out in Colorado while they concentrated on Wyoming. With the help of Huntin’ Fool members who had hunted that area in the past, they were able to hit the ground running.
This was a high desert unit with one mountain with dense pine trees in the drainages dropping down to sage flats with a few aspen pockets scattered about. Although they were able to find elk, it didn’t happen while the crew was there and the boys had to leave due to work commitments. After 21 days of hunting, I was able to tag out on a good bull in Colorado which freed me up to concentrate on my grandson’s hunt. While Cody and I had some great archery hunts and close encounters the week before gun season started, we couldn’t close the deal on a good bull.
Opening day of gun season found us watching a drainage that had been holding a lot of elk, but the influx of ATVs running all over had the elk running for cover before shooting light. The afternoon hunt was a bust also. The second morning found us in the same drainage but with less ATV traffic. We were able to catch a glimpse of a herd working up into the downed timber at first light. We tried a different area for the afternoon hunt but with no luck.
The third morning, there was no ATV traffic moving through before daylight. This left the elk undisturbed, and we were greeted by a bugle far down the drainage. We had set up on a small ridge in the center of the drainage to be able to shoot both sides, and with a good crosswind, we were set. At first light, we spotted elk feeding below us at around 800 yards in an old burn area and quickly worked our way through some small aspens to 300 yards. There were three medium bulls feeding on a side ridge with several cows feeding in a depression behind them. At this point, I wasn’t sure if one of the bulls was the one we had heard bugling. While trying to decide to shoot or not, the herd bull came into view for a brief second and then disappeared below the ridge. Now the waiting game began for the bull to reappear or the wind to switch and blow the hunt.
With Cody on the sticks and both of us watching for the bull to reappear, it happened quickly. The wind died and began to downdraft. The elk were alert and on the move, lined out and headed toward the dark timber. I was calling out the yardage and the position of the bull. It looked like it wasn’t going to happen, but then we caught a break. One of the satellite bulls got too close to the cows and the herd bull turned to chase him away. He stopped broadside, and I said, “400.” Cody replied, “Hold your ears.”
At the crack of the rifle, I heard the hit and saw the bull stagger through my binoculars. Cody quickly sent another round before the bull disappeared behind some scattered pines. We watched as the string worked up the hillside with no herd bull following. We worked around for a better angle but still couldn’t see the bull. I left Cody to set up for the shot as I moved in to verify that the bull was down for good. I have seen too many dead elk get up and run away to not take this precaution. The bull was lying dead close to where we last saw him. After a quick celebration and photo session, the work began.
It was a great trip with five weeks of hunting elk in some awesome country and spending time with my family, doing what we love!
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