Successful FHL Tule Elk Hunt

[PheasantHunter]

Well the hunt is over and the pictures are downloaded. We had a great time. It definately would not have been as successful and enjoyable without all the help I got from all of you, the wildlife staff at FHL, and some caring members/employees of the Rocky Mountain ELk Foundation. I didn't get a monster bull, but then again I really don't care much about scores and numbers in a book. Most of the big guys were hanging out in the off limits areas. There is a picture of an elk/hog that were harvested in the hog forum, I was able to witness that elk get shot. He sure didn't want to go down that is for sure, I think that he was hit 7 times when it was all said and done. Opening day it rained for half the day and then got nice for the remainder of the day and the following. The 3rd, 4th and 5th days were supposed to be nonstop rain but only the 5th was a total washout. I shot my bull on day 2 in area 9. This bull was with about 40 cows and 5 smaller bulls. The herd wanted to go into 12A but this guy wanted to push them back into 9. When they were in 9 I walked in on the road that divides 12 and 9. When I started seeing tracks I slowed up, and they got nervous and came out of the trees and milled about on the road for a minute or so. The bull was in the middle and after a bit he worked his way to the outside of the group, 80 yard shot and it was all over. I ended up pushing the herd to another fellow who was hunting 9 and he got his bull out of that group too. I think the success was 12 out of 14 with everyone having an opportunity to harvest. I'll see if I can get some more pics when I have this figured out. Thanks again for all the help! PheasantHunter.

 

[PheasantHunter]

If I could figure out how to put more than one picture in per post I would, but for now here is another...

 

[PheasantHunter]

Couldn't have done it without my wife...she put in my application for me when I was overseas.

 

[PheasantHunter]

When I think of the PIGS out at FHL this is what comes to my mind...These 2 were brought in on the 2nd day in the afternoon.

 

[OMNRA7]

Great job and great pictures man, I am happy you had a good time.

 

[Speckmisser]

Way to go, Pheasanthunter!

Nice bull, and sounds like a great hunt. One day, I'll get drawn in CA

 

[308 Sniper]

Great Elk!

 

[Ridn9high]

Very good job. Congrats on the draw

 

[RVRKNG]

Neat stuff! Nice job!

 

[BOWUNTR]

Congrats. Nice Tule bull.

Ed F

 

[spectr17]

Very nice bull PheasantHunter. That's the one tag I would love to draw out here. Great place to hunt.

When we were there last weekend another guy pulled up to the gate behind us with a nice bull from area 24 I think it was. A couple tines were broken off but it was a 7x7 I think. That was Friday night.

When we left, the older gentleman who had a tag left had turned the tag in. They said he was tired of all the rain.

 

[PheasantHunter]

The guy who turned his tag in was in his mid 80's. We offered to help him out and look for elk with him but his son said that they were going to give up because of the weather. I guess that they had not seen much at all their whole hunt. Too bad that the tag couldn't get used. There are some really nice bulls out there, but most are in 21-23 and off limits. Not much reason for them to leave there either, plenty to eat and with all the rain lots of water...and no one shooting at them. Quite a few of the bulls we photographed were broken, some with main beams snapped in half. It is a great place to hunt though. We definately had a good time. I'll see if I can get some more pics posted soon. PheasantHunter

 

[HingeTree1992]

Great story! Congrats! Nice looking Bull.