Long Days, Tough Decision, and Long Update
It’s Wednesday aftermoon, 23 September, the second to last day of my elk hunt and I’m sitting at my desk. It has been a long hunt that has been both emotionally and physically demanding and draining and I’m done. It may sound silly or strange, but my body and mind just can’t take anymore.
I went out Monday afternoon to my spot after my last update and around 5 pm, had two bulls bugling. One was definitely a young bull, probably a spike, but I started calling to him to see what would happen. In the process of that, a bigger one bugled closer. He caught my attention so I started calling to him, too. It didn’t take long to figure out he was getting closer, so I got myself ready. Arrow was knocked and I was up behind the tree I knew would have me well within range for an easy shot. About 15 minutes later, I see legs moving through the trees coming towards the far side of the tank. Then there were antlers. He came into the far side of the tank, where I didn’t have a shot and he was out of range at 85 yards or so. He was a young 5x5 raghorn that had come into the tank on Sept 15 (the day I took a break). He waded out into the tank up to his chest and started playing around. I took that opportunity to get five yards closer to the next tree down. The bull moved in closer to the bank and started pawing at the water. I mewed at him a couple of times to see if I could get him to head my way. He looked my direction, but proceeded to start thrashing a log with his antlers. You know, that kind of “I’m the tough guy when nobody else is around!” kind of behavior. It was absolutely great to watch. After a couple of minutes, he started to walk off, so I called to him and he took a path above and across from me that had him trying to get upwind of me, but we were already in a down slope/down canyon wind. I kept the calling up and when he was behind a tree, I ranged the next tree from him at 66 yards. I knew he would come down to the canyon bottom and hit a known 50-yard mark, if not closer. He did exactly that, but his path of travel had him walking right toward me, looking right at me at 45 yards. I’m not sure what I did (flinched or leaned wrong), but he busted me and turned to trot off. I chirped at him and he stopped broadside looking at me. I remember thinking “Its all or nothing here.” and drew my bow as he watched me. I figured if he ran off, it was still a great experience. He stood there instead. I couldn’t get my range finder on him, but I guessed him at about 60 yards, so I settled my pin on his chest. I watched the arrow hit home but a little high in his chest as he turned to run. I called to him, but he kept running. I called my wife at 5:29 pm, shaking like crazy. I called a couple of buddies and they said they’d be there to help me. I marked the spot I hit him and ranged the tree I shot from at 55 yards. It was about an hour when we started tracking him.
We got on good blood and his tracks and followed him for about 150 yards when I found my arrow with the Nockturnal glowing in the dark. It had almost 19 inches of lung blood on it. We were confident that there was a dead bull not far in front of us! Around 0830, we lost blood and his tracks in the dark. The decision was made to come back in the morning and get back on him before the heavy rains predicted started. My two buddies from Monday night had to work early, but another buddy (Erik) agreed to meet me at the sight at 0500 and pick up his track at first light. He saw my arrow and agreed that he was dead. At first light, we couldn’t pick up his tracks for find more blood, so we started grid searching in the direction of travel. We grid searched all morning above and below his direction of travel and found nothing. We figured, like most wounded animals, he’d head downhill, but he was nowhere below us. Eventually, we picked up his blood trail again, and it was headed in the direction we’d already covered, following the contour of the slope we were one. It was steep up above us. We went back in that direction and up into more steep, thick nasty stuff, but never found any more blood. Erik had to head to work, but my wife had texted me saying she was skipping out of work for a bit to help me look. I was fighting back tears all morning and she knew it. She brought the dogs, extra water for me and something to eat (I packed light thinking we’d be packing elk back to the truck by 0700). I grabbed a quick bite to eat while she and the dogs hiked around in the direction of the bull’s travel. I joined her and we went back into the steep country. That’s when the rain prediction came to fruition. Minnie realized we were losing blood at known sites and that finding was getting tougher. After 7 hours and 6.5 miles of grid searching in some steep, rugged country, I made the decision to call it off. There weren’t any other places to look that wouldn’t jeopardize our safety and the rain was making it more difficult (footing and blood finding).
I can tell you that was a long half-mile hike back to my truck, but I’m glad it was with my best friend and our dogs. We talked a lot about my hunt, the effort I put into it, and all the advice I’ve given fellow hunters in my shoes, as well as what I teach kids in Hunter Ed classes. One of her coworkers shot a great bull right in the chest the other day, but lost blood and the bull, too. If you hunt long enough, especially with a bow, you’re going to lose one. If you give it your all to recover it, but still can’t find it, you have to accept that and keep moving forward. I’ve had countless texts, emails, and FB messages from friends giving me encouragement and reminding me of my ethics. Its been uplifting to say the least. As my buddy, Erik, put it before he left: “You’re putting a terrible amount of undue pressure on yourself. You hunt long enough and you’ll lose one. Even the best hunters do. You have to accept it and move forward, learning as you go. Besides, you’re doing it right. You’re not driving around the roads drinking beer and looking for elk like a lot of hunters around here do.” He’s right. I’d rather come up empty doing it right than to fill my tag the other way. I told Erik that I was thinking about hanging it up. He told me I’d earned the right to throw in the towel and nothing to be ashamed of if I did. He lost two bulls last year, so he knew exactly what I was going through. It still hurts, but I’m learning to accept it.
When we got home, my wife gave me a big hug and I finally released a week’s worth of pent up emptions. I won’t lie. I’ll own those tears, short-lived as they were. Shooting and losing two bulls in 5 days and losing a good friend in between was just too much for me. I told her I missed my family and that I was done. I got out of bed this morning and hurt from head to toe. Walking on flat floors hurt. It still does here at my office. Since September 11, I’ve logged over 50 miles in some rough country. Only one day of hunting was done on relatively flat ground; the rest was in and out of canyons and up and down mountains. I’m running somewhere close to a 12,000-15,000 calorie deficit (calories in vs. calories out) since Sept 11. We hunt because we love the roller coaster of highs and lows. This is the first time I’ve hit the lowest low we hunters can hit. I know I’m not alone, but I just can’t take it anymore. I’ve finally hit my limit. 14 days ago, I didn’t really want to this hunt to start and now I don’t want it to end, but its been a good run. It recharged my heart and I found “it” again! I’ve learned even more, had GREAT experiences, and had my family supporting me every step of the way. What more can you really ask for?
Now, its back to my family and getting Syd ready for her hunts. She’s getting excited and we’re hoping her knee is healed enough to get to the shooting range this weekend. She’s still planning her own journal entry, so stay tuned for that. I’m looking forward to joining my favorite hunting buddy on her hunts. I know I’ll be chasing mule deer in December and January, so that will get me back in the saddle and give me something to prepare for in the meantime. Thanks again for following along so far and all of the encouragement!
This might actually be the bull I shot Thursday, but jumped the highway after I hit him near his back leg
This is the 5x5 raghorn I shot Monday night
My bloody arrow Monday night. 19" of lung blood and we lost the trail and he disappeared.
I threw my rain-soaked hat onto the passenger seat after getting back to my truck Tuesday. It reminded me of you all the support. It only seemed fitting to take a pic to share.
