With Labor Day approaching, we took advantage of the break from school to get out west for KC's first elk hunt. I picked him up early from school and we picked up my dad and headed west.
Both my dad and I have spent many trips elk hunting, so this was a lot more familiar to us than the alligator hunt. We settled into our cabin and met our guide Henry. Unfortunately, we had the odds against us on multiple levels. First, it was still pre-rut so calling would be difficult. Second, it had been very wet so there was grass (aka food) everywhere. Third, with travel, we only had roughly 4 days to hunt. Lastly, our mobility with a 6 year old and a crossbow was very limited. Henry had some cameras on a few wallows and waterholes, which had elk coming fairly regularly. One in particular had an old shooting house for rifle hunters to view the valley, so our plan was to use that to our advantage and hope any elk would pass within crossbow range for KC.
The first few days the weather was rainy and elk activity was very limited, we did hear some elk in the distance and had a couple cows come in. Henry was pretty confident that once the weather cleared if we stuck with our plan a bull would eventually come check the wallow. On Day 3 the weather cleared and our hopes were high heading out that evening. As the sun set over the ridge, the familiar sound of a bull bugling on the ridge above us could be heard. I glassed the ridge and soon saw a group of cows coming down the hill in our direction. The bull kept bugling and pushing his cows in the direction of the wallow . KC got ready incase the opportunity presented itself. The cows passed by within 30 yards and KC was locked in ready as the bull made his way down the same path as the cows.. As he entered the opening I told KC to get ready and I would cow call to stop the bull. As hunting goes the bull just never stopped for a shot and our hearts sank as he pushed his cows out of sight. We were all disappointed, knowing many times on elk hunts your first opportunity is likely to be your only, especially with our situation.
The following evening was our last sit, so we decided to go back to the same spot we saw the bull the night before and hoped the same herd would still be in the area. It didn't take long before we heard a bugle from the same spot as the night before, only this time another bull bugled from the valley below us. Henry looked at me and said, "This could get interesting", as a third bull chimed in further down the ridge. We watched as the bull below us worked his way up the ridge, stopping to tear apart some small trees while the other bull gathered up his cows. Soon the third bull came running down the ridge to square off with the other bull and a fight ensued. KC's eyes were wide open , watching the bulls go at it just 80 yards from us. We would hear the bull with the herd of cows bugling get further away, so we knew he was pushing his cows away from the other bulls. The bigger bull made quick work of his sparing partner and was heading right towards the wallow.
KC prepared for the shot as the bull walked past, I stopped the bull and KC made a perfect shot. The bull went down in eyesight and KC was crazy excited when he saw it tip over. We gathered up our gear and got out of the blind to go put our hands on his first elk!
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