I have been in the military the last three years. Do to this fact, I haven't been able to hunt much. This year was actually my first chance I've had at an OTC Colorado archery bull. I have been fortunate growing up. I grew up in a small town in Idaho, which has always offered superb elk hunting. My father moved to Montana when I was young, so I also was blessed enough to hunt a lot in the big sky state. Little did I know what I had in store for me for my 2012 season. It all started off for me returning home one summer after spending a rough 12 month deployment in Afghanistan. I was lucky enough to harvest a nice Montana black bear on my midtour leave, other then that I hadn't got to hunt in a long time.
I finally made it back to the springs July first. I was stationed on fort carson. I had an area planned out to start scouting immediately when I got home, so that weekend I went right out. I love the west. I have traveled all over the world and have came to conclusion, the west is where I will live for the rest of my life. The smells sounds sights I was seeing after being gone for so long can't even be described. I ended up seeing quit a bit of fresh sign and decided this is my 2012 colorado archery spot. Weekend 1 was slow. Saw a cple cows no opportunities at anything. Weekend 2: called in a nice 5 pt broadside thirty yards couldn't seal the deal.
I was standing behind a large pine tree calling waiting for a friend to finish using the bush when I looked over and saw this bull staring at me. With no arrow knocked and not knowing quite sure where my hunting partner was I had a quick decision to make. Turns out I wasn't the only one using the process of elimination in my head cause 2 sec after finally getting my arrow knocked the bull turned around and was gone. Which brings us to weekend 3: right off the bat we get to bulls to start screaming at us. One about 300 yrds across the draw on the other mountain, and one about 200yrds straight down the hill. We decided to set up. My partner walked about 40 yrds up the hill behind me.
Him, also being from another small town in Idaho, was no stranger behind a call. He would criss cross up above me buggling breaking sticks cow calling the works. Me, being the shooter would throw an occasional cow call in there every now and then. Finally I see this bull. In about a 15 min process it finally works its way on the otherwise of group of small pine trees. I draw back. The bull steps out. It's a nice 5 by 5 I don't have a shot. Patience is key when it come to bow hunting. I hold back for about a min, which is no easy task with 600lbs of testosterone standing 30 yrds in front if you, when finally he gives me a clear shot. Little did I know there was a small twig in my "clear shot." My arrow skipped off it and shot right under the bull. The bull took off I was ashamed, but it happens. This is where patience kicks in.
We couldn't get the second bull to come in so we decided to go after it on account it was still up bugling an hr later after bull one got away. We finally set up on this bull about a hundred two hundred away and like before me and my partner break off and get to work. We had been calling for about 10 min when I heard a cow bark at me. I spent the next half hr calling back and fourth to this cow. Meanwhile my partner had stopped calling and I couldn't figure out why. It turned out the cow was actually a hunter. Which was easy to figure out after about 5 min of him calling. Hoochie mammas are great, but you can't make more the one tone or long drug out mews. Stick with mouth calls. I stood up so this other hunter would be aware of my presence, and as soon as a stood up a nice 6 pt bull took off from behind me.
Turns out that's why my friend stopped calling. Live and learn. We decided to take a nap for a cple hrs then go set up on a cple wallows till dark.we got the wallows around 3 pm and sat till about 630. With no luck we decided to pack up and hike out while we still had a little daylight left. On the hike out I noticed a big tan object about 70 yrds down the hill from us. It turned its head and that's when my heart sunk for the third time that day. My partner quickly rushed up the hill behind be and start calling. The bull walked into a opening at 50 yards. I sent my arrow. Third times a charm. I stuck him perfectly right behind the shoulder. A nice 5 by 4 and my first colorado archery elk.
I finally made it back to the springs July first. I was stationed on fort carson. I had an area planned out to start scouting immediately when I got home, so that weekend I went right out. I love the west. I have traveled all over the world and have came to conclusion, the west is where I will live for the rest of my life. The smells sounds sights I was seeing after being gone for so long can't even be described. I ended up seeing quit a bit of fresh sign and decided this is my 2012 colorado archery spot. Weekend 1 was slow. Saw a cple cows no opportunities at anything. Weekend 2: called in a nice 5 pt broadside thirty yards couldn't seal the deal.
I was standing behind a large pine tree calling waiting for a friend to finish using the bush when I looked over and saw this bull staring at me. With no arrow knocked and not knowing quite sure where my hunting partner was I had a quick decision to make. Turns out I wasn't the only one using the process of elimination in my head cause 2 sec after finally getting my arrow knocked the bull turned around and was gone. Which brings us to weekend 3: right off the bat we get to bulls to start screaming at us. One about 300 yrds across the draw on the other mountain, and one about 200yrds straight down the hill. We decided to set up. My partner walked about 40 yrds up the hill behind me.
Him, also being from another small town in Idaho, was no stranger behind a call. He would criss cross up above me buggling breaking sticks cow calling the works. Me, being the shooter would throw an occasional cow call in there every now and then. Finally I see this bull. In about a 15 min process it finally works its way on the otherwise of group of small pine trees. I draw back. The bull steps out. It's a nice 5 by 5 I don't have a shot. Patience is key when it come to bow hunting. I hold back for about a min, which is no easy task with 600lbs of testosterone standing 30 yrds in front if you, when finally he gives me a clear shot. Little did I know there was a small twig in my "clear shot." My arrow skipped off it and shot right under the bull. The bull took off I was ashamed, but it happens. This is where patience kicks in.
We couldn't get the second bull to come in so we decided to go after it on account it was still up bugling an hr later after bull one got away. We finally set up on this bull about a hundred two hundred away and like before me and my partner break off and get to work. We had been calling for about 10 min when I heard a cow bark at me. I spent the next half hr calling back and fourth to this cow. Meanwhile my partner had stopped calling and I couldn't figure out why. It turned out the cow was actually a hunter. Which was easy to figure out after about 5 min of him calling. Hoochie mammas are great, but you can't make more the one tone or long drug out mews. Stick with mouth calls. I stood up so this other hunter would be aware of my presence, and as soon as a stood up a nice 6 pt bull took off from behind me.
Turns out that's why my friend stopped calling. Live and learn. We decided to take a nap for a cple hrs then go set up on a cple wallows till dark.we got the wallows around 3 pm and sat till about 630. With no luck we decided to pack up and hike out while we still had a little daylight left. On the hike out I noticed a big tan object about 70 yrds down the hill from us. It turned its head and that's when my heart sunk for the third time that day. My partner quickly rushed up the hill behind be and start calling. The bull walked into a opening at 50 yards. I sent my arrow. Third times a charm. I stuck him perfectly right behind the shoulder. A nice 5 by 4 and my first colorado archery elk.
