Archery Talk

Straight public for me and heavily gun hunted, which sucks. But its Illinois and you never know what may come by next.

 

jumped 6 deer, and shot 2 grouse with my bow...lol

 

elk have ghosted in the last couple days...

 

Looking at the body and head, he looks like a 4-1/2 year old deer. He "appears" to carries his body mass straight back to the rear hips with no tuck or taper.

 

Herded up with cows?

 

I dunno I found a couple beds but bugled a few places and its dead quiet...

 

3rd group @15 yds slightly elevated position.
2nd time using the new bow
Needs some work but not a bad start.

 

helps not to death grip your bow. Not saying you did or didnt just a helpful tip.

 

Here comes a long story for those who want to read about my first elk archery experience and I'm going to go day by day. Remember it is my first big game hunt AND doing it solo. Here it goes! Goes from Friday - Tuesday.

tl/dr: went on an elk hunt and things happened. It's a goodish story though so if you have the time to read it you should.

Friday: Got down to the spot where my buddy told me I should go. Found my camp spot and got finished setting up around 5 pm. Pretty quiet, not too much happening. 7:30 rolls around and elk are literally screaming all around me and what sounds like the canyon behind me (later you'll find out what I realized). I get into my tent to get some rest for an early morning wake up when I hear branches brake, breathing, and a LOUD bugle. Open up my tent and a 6x6 elk is standing 37 yards (ranged the next morning) from my tent. Of course this was day before season and past shooting hours anyways but got me super exciting for the coming days. Hardly got any sleep because the elk were calling all night and kept me up. Have video but it just turned out black with a really loud bugle.

Saturday: Woke up early and walked up the road, found a tank, then walked a little further to glass up these two mountains. Before the sun rose you could already see the elk on the ridge. About 8 cows and a couple bulls. One possibly being that 6x6 from the night before. I let the sun rise and just watch them do what they do thinking what I should do. The 6x was bugling at another bull on the ridge which was bugling at a couple other bulls that were way down hill and I just let them distract each other while being quiet. A rifle would be nice right now.

I have no idea what to do below so I make a wide circle around the bottom and start hiking the hill very cautiously. I get to the top and no elk, walk a little further and I see the two heads of cows run off. Fuck. Well, lets just go explore as it is only opening day. Walk the ridge then the saddle to the other ridge where I saw 5 cows earlier as well. Get to the top and glass for awhile - lots of mountains, lots of trees, lots of bugling everywhere so went to mark the spot on my GPS... Well... I DROPPED MY ONE DAY OLD BRAND NEW GPS WITH BRAND NEW ON X NM CHIP. Felt absolutely sick to my stomach, I saved up for that device and chip. Did I drop it when I picked up the saddest elk shed ever (only one of the trip)? Going over that rock? So I retraced my steps the best I could over 3 miles, 2 ridges, 1 saddle. Nothing . Went to camp to eat some food and recoup a little.

Went to another tank a little bit later, glassed up a doe and forky, tested my ability to stalk and how good my ASAT camo shirt and Walmart pants were and lets just say if NM had doe hunts or if I had the archery deer hunt, one would be dead. They even laid down. I got tired waiting so got up walked towards them waving my arms and finally they trotted up the hill. Went back to camp feeling down and got another sleepless night of elk bugling and little creatures running around the tent.

Saturday pics:
6x bull

mama and calf

Doe


Want to see what a $315 elk shed looks like?...



Sunday: Woke up to elk screaming. Had to be quiet at camp because they sounded like they were within 100 yards of me from all sides. Went back to the same spot as Saturday to glass the mountains. No elk on either. Maybe they smelled all my scent and frustration from the day before looking for the GPS? I don't know. Decided to hike the mountain again where I busted the cows to glass the other side and ridges for bedding area. Went to the top, glassed awhile, maybe saw some on a far away ridge? Could've just been downed trees. Anyways, too far for a new and solo hunter to go after. Got up, walked a little more and saw an old elk carcass! Yes! I will be bringing home a dead head I thought. Well, got over to it and of course it happened to be a cow. Pulled one ivory out as the other one was missing and put in my pocket - never to be seen again. Went back to camp for a break.

At camp I heard some mid day bugles from the mountain (or is it hill?) top and the valley right behind my camp. Made a wide circle and got to the top very quietly as the two bulls were just yelling at each other. Once at the top, I could hear the branches breaking and this bull just getting pissed off, so found a place to sit and wait with good shooting lanes. Hear bugling and branches breaking when he steps out... about 40 yards too far! I only got a look at the vital areas for a good 30 seconds when he ran down hill screaming. A rifle would be good right now. Went after him but at that time he was long gone in the canyon. Found a spot for the morning that had tons of sign. Went back to camp, ate, and again, elk and little creatures made for a long night.

dead cow


Monday: Never thought I would've said this but the sound of elk bugles is driving me insane (weird problem right?). They aren't just far away bugles, they are women being murdered screams sounding right outside my tent. Had to be quiet at camp again, which is tiring too, zippers closing slowly, 4runner door shutting quietly, muffling the sound of that crunchy granola bar wrapper. Hiked up the hill from the day before to the sound of a bugle in the canyon on the other side. Cautiously making my up and around when FLAP FLAP FLAP from right in front me. In that split second of wondering if I needed to change my underwear, how this smaller grouse are here when they should not be this far south, and if my broadhead would cut one into 4 even pieces, I looked around to see what the heck that was. Three cock Montezuma quail! Beautiful quail I have never seen before. Too bad it was not season because they flushed perfectly onto a log and were lined up like peas in a pod. That will never happen in November. After that excitement, headed down the canyon to find this bull that was now silent. Damn quail.

Found the spot in the canyon I was going to perch up for a bit for a hopeful wandering elk. 30 or so minutes pass when I see some heads about 120 yards up the hill coming down. 3 elk, a cow, a yearling bull, and an adult bull. Here is my chance I thought while getting all positioned and ready to draw. After 20 yards of coming down the cow and calf veer right (I was left) behind some brushes and stumble, the calf falling, down the hill into the canyon behind a tiny ridge that is just big enough to conceal an elk. I hoped the yearling didn't break it's neck.. but then again maybe that would mean an easy harvest. Waiting for the bull, all I could see is his antlers, he moseyed around in the brush out of sight. Maybe he would come down, nope, just about 12 other cows taking the same trail as the first two before I could even move.

Went over the little ridge, found it to be elk highway. Made a blind near the trail and started bugling an elk down the canyon. I was cutting him off, breaking branches, making so much noise we were both getting out of breath. I thought he would get so pissed and come running up. But he did not, a weird thing that elk don't like approaching from down hill which is pretty annoying. It was getting late and did not want to ruin the spot for the next day so went back to camp. Glad I did not get an elk and processed it in the dark because sure enough the coyotes were calling right when I got back. As the yelps faded away, the bugles began again.

Outside my tent door


Legs or camo'd hot dogs?:



Artsy?:



Tuesday: Opened my tent door and saw a skunk tail scampering away. That could've been bad. Feeling drained and hating the sound of bugles I was determined to get an elk today. Went up then down to my elk highway blind, again quietly as I could because the elk sounded as if all around me. Today I was going to call, make noise, get aggressive since they are very noisy in this canyon. Sat in my blind and had a great conversation with a couple bulls down the canyon. "Hey you, wanna piece of me", "No no no, you wanna piece of ME", "Imma come over there and whoop your ass", etc. They never came. So I went after them.

Hiked up the other mountain (the second ridge behind my camp where the elk fell down) and followed an elk trail. There were fresh rubs, tracks, crap all over the place. These are the ones that have been keeping me awake. I decided for this whole stalk to be quiet, did not want them to know I was coming since it was just me and had no one to call behind me - just followed the sound of their calls. One hour down and went around one bend, oh they have to be down there, nope the calls kept coming from further away. Hour and bend number 2 down, still not there and still further. Hour and bend number 3 - nope. It sounds like they are right there! This whole time these elk have not been right behind me, they have been miles in the canyon and their calls of traveled so well. It all makes sense now! Approaching bend 4... a cow elk head bound away and hear the heard crash through the woods. You are fucking kidding me, this whole stalk and busted by one cow So I just went off, calling, breaking things, being loud and these bulls reacted to it - even from afar. I went after them and kept cutting them off and bugling so hard and so often that is seemed like it would get into blows if this were people. It sounded like any minute they would come charging down the mountain, I even turned around after starting to hike away because they sounded so close. But I think the canyon was playing its game with me and knew they were probably long gone by now even if they sounded right there. I even drank up my 2.5 liters of water so had to go back to camp.

I tromped my way back up the mountain to get back to the road. When I got over the top, there he was. A bull. At least a 5 point something. I don't care. I like meat. 50ish yards downhill obstructed by many trees. We locked eyes, he moved his head trying to get a better look at me while munching his leafs. I don't think he could see me, just heard me. I sneaked to get a better position. I ranged him at 41 yards. I drew, and fired. He turned around and trotted down hill.

rub:


the crazy sound traveling canyon:



The elk (note I did not shoot when he was there, this was when I first came across him):


I marked where I shot from and looked everywhere for sign of blood - can't find any, I could not find my arrow to see if I hit him, and could not find a body. At this point I was questioning everything. Since it was such a steep angle did shoot over him since it isn't really 41 yards? Should I have taken the shot? Did my emotions of being busted make me take it out on this elk? I don't remember anything! I was getting light headed from no water and still a mile from the truck. My safety was a concern so had to go back to get water. Drove the 4runner back to the spot and could not find anything again. Also lost my calls in the process of searching. I felt physically sick of wounding an animal that I could not find. However, I did not find any sign of blood but could I have looked harder? But I needed water. I hate this feeling and don't like having excuses even though they are valid. I mentally broke down - I have been alone with no in-human contact for 5 days with little sleep on the hardest thing I have ever done. So I packed up camp and drove home when a storm was rolling in. I needed to recoup a little after all that happened and see my wife and may go back out Friday-Monday with her since she will have work off. However, I have the ethical dilemma if I should try again because I took a shot at one.

Thoughts, opinions? Would like to talk to someone who has been in a situation like this and how to get over it. I feel bad and still 'recovering' as that was probably the hardest thing I have ever done and lost a lot of money.

Things I learned:
- Always secure all belongings - especially GPS and calls
- Have a hunting buddy or someone to go out with. You (or I, or a newbie) need someone to bs with at camp at night or talk about plans and strategies and to share the experience with. Also can carry some stuff so you dont have glass, rangefinder, calls, pack, bow, water, food, etc. all yourself. Would've helped me get through the tough times.
- Bring food that makes you feel good. I had a breakfast granola bar and a powdered breakfast shake for breakfast. A PBJ and jerky for lunch. and a can of soup for dinner. What lead to a couple mental break downs was probably nutrition.
- Bring a longer book to read.
- Don't let emotions lead you to the wrong decision

p.s. I hear elk screaming in my sleep. Brakes squealing at the stop sign by my house sound like elk

 

That’s why I like the focus grips that you can put on Matthews bows

 

Good God son, did you write an article for a magazine or something ? Lol

 

I'm going to write a book I think called "Stories of the first time hunter" since I'm new to hunting I think all my misshaps will be great in a book

I just needed to get it all out there, get the real story of hunting. Not just the picture of the animal haha

 

some might say you need to look harder or longer. But Just a guess you probably went under it. Bow hunting you have a chance of missing, wounding, or killing animals just like rifle hunting. Hard to say if you hit the animal or not but if you didnt find any blood or hair I'd say you prob missed.

if you looked and found where it turned around and there wasnt any drop of blood or hair its possible it was a shoulder hit but in a grid search you'd find something if it was hit. The other side of it is if it didnt look like stumbled around or limped off again you prob missed. Arrow doesnt need much needles or dirt to get lost under/covered up. If you had a shoulder hit you would prob notice a loud pop/crack sound when the arrow hit the animal.

Bow hunting has its highs and lows, if you feel you did your best to find the animal and believe it wasnt hit or wounded get back out there. Even if you think you might have had a bad shot but you gave it your best just remember and learn what you could do better next time. Get back up on the horse and try again! Its about persistence and patience!

http://archeryreport.com/2010/06/uphill-downhill-shots-adjust-proper-arrow-impact/

 

$50+....I did a quick look and $54 on ebay...lancaster archery doesnt even carry them anymore...

 

BUT THERE WELL WORTH IT!!!!!!!

 

Cool story bro! Lol!

So I say worst case scenario if you have a metal detector you can track the arrow down possibly. Sounds like you probably missed him honestly. Even a deer with not that great of a shot normally bleeds at least a little initially or you can find some hair if nothing else.

I would expect you could find hair for sure and blood maybe if you did hit it. Also, stuff like this does happen. You just have to be really sure about the shot and your accuracy. That’s what takes a lot of the question out of the equation if you don’t visually see the impact.

For instance, if I have a deer at 25 yards with an unobstructed shot and I know I had good form, even if I don’t see the impact I will be confident in my shot.

Another thing is (if there are legal)... Always use lighted nocks. That is the best way to track your arrows path. Either way, keep us posted and it was really cool to hear about the stuff you did. I would love to do something like that one day. Just rough it and hike the mountains. Very jealous man! Let us know what’s up!!!

One more thing... The best lessons I have learned have been from screwing up. That way you always remember what not to do again! I didn’t know what the hell I was doing turkey hunting, and self taught myself and I’ve killed three on my own! Keep at it!

 

first year bow hunting whitetail I recovered zero...I shot one looked and looked for her jumped her a couple times. Never did get another shot on her nor did I find her. Next year I got 3 white tail with bow one with muzzle loader. Following year I got 2 with a crossbow and 2 with muzzle loader. It takes persistence even if you miss or have a bad shot.

 

Should have told me you needed some help with your bow. I'm not that far away

 

I’m around also if you need a hand. I need some practice anyway lol!!!

 

Ha! where are you? I'm most likely sitting this one out again as the shoulder still isn't great but honestly about as good as it can get. I had the Wake out a while ago and can shoot it ok but not the steadiest yet.