My First Elk

I drew a pretty coveted Bull Elk tag this year. There were only 30 permits issued and it was less than 4% chance of drawing. I have been so excited for this hunt since I drew because I had never had a Bull Elk tag before. I have put in for a Nevada Bull every year since I was 12 with no luck.



The down side to my tag was the fact that EVERYONE had good luck with the draw this year. So, I found myself hunting and scouting alone, except for one day when my good friend, Sheldon, took me out to his special place. We didn't see any Elk that day, but it was my favorite day of the hunt. It was really nice to spend the day with him in the area he has spent 30+ years of hunting with his dad and brothers. He told me stories all day long and was pointing out all the places where they had made so many memories.





I worked pretty hard everyday. I was the first guy out and the last guy in. I have found having success while hunting is all about luck. I feel that the more time you spend out and the more things you learn, often times increases the opportunities to get lucky. I saw some beautiful country and all kinds of critters like a black bear and a few moose.





It seemed like everything was going against me. I have little experience hunting Elk, I was in a new area, it was in the high 80's every single day,full moon wasn't helping, and nobody else was seeing any Elk, opening morning I had a mouse in my truck, I rolled into a cactus and had quills in my shoulder, the nice bull I had picked out during the scout was now nowhere to be found... I hunted high and low and could not find a big bull. I had decided Sunday night that I had hunted hard, and that if I had a chance at a 6 point, in a decent area, I would shoot it so that I would be able to return home and take Katie on the deer hunt next week.



Monday morning came and I had my chance and I took it. I had studied a group during the hunt and learned where they bed and where I could get access. It seemed like everything worked out and I was "lucky". I was able to get the truck right up to him and loaded him in whole by myself, with a little help from a come-along wench. He sure isn't the monster that I was hoping for, but I am still pretty excited about my first Bull Elk. I hope that my next post is Katie holding a big buck!