Black Hills Elk Season 2006
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Dec 9 unit H2b |
Day One -
Found Susan, Doug and myself leaving the house about
Doug &
Sue
Gman & Sue
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Oct 22& 23 unit H2 |
Day One - Found Joe M and myself driving to a afternoon location where we had hunted the Sunday before. We had 2 1/2 inches of fresh snow, so the elk track stuck out. We followed a group of track right back to the same bedding area. once again we walk right into their bedroom and just watch for two hours glassing and looking for the big bull. There was not a big one to be seen. So we decide we would give it a full day try in the morning.
Day Two - Found Joe M and myself driving back to the same location for the third time. As we closed in on the area, we spied a big bull just off the road in the trees. Joe proceeded to get out of the truck and over the near bank, before the bull realized that he was there. Once the bull saw Joe, he started to move out. I quickly hit the cow call and he stopped on a dime. Bang!.. the bull move on, cow call. Bang!.. the bull move on, cow call. Bang! By now Joe need more shell for his gun in the truck. We regrouped feeling that Joe had made great shots on the bull. As we pick up the track, we began to see blood. Then more blood. We new, it would only be a short time before we found him. Sure enough there he was pile up by a tree. Great hunt Joe!! You redeem you self on this one for last week.
Joe with his 5X6
Bull
Left side View
Right Side
View
Joe, I had him tied to a tree this time for
you
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Oct 19 unit H2E |
Day One - Found Wyatt, Becky, and myself on a afternoon hunt. As we got to the hunting distention, The snow started coming down in sheets and visibility was only 400 yards. we check a couple area, waiting to see what the weather would do. A hour later the snow stopped and we covered a couple ridges. There was fresh sigh and track, but no elk. We never did see any elk that afternoon, probably due to the storm coming in and they were hold up for the evening waiting out the storm.
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Oct 15 unit H2 |
Day One -
Found Joe M and myself driving to a afternoon location. Once we got
to our destination, we stuck out for a known bedding location. As we approached
the area, I decided to set down and make a few calls before we moving any
closer. I throughout a couple cow call followed up with a bugle. We got a
instant bugle back at us only a couple hundred yard away. So we moved
closer slowly.
Suddenly, I spied a cows head on the near ridge. We
melted to the ground to watch and wait to see what they were going to do.
As we glass the near ridge, we started to see more cows and calves laying
down. I throughout a couple more cow calls and another bugle followed in
response to my calling. We sat there for about ten minutes, just watching and
waiting. Soon the cows started to get up and feed up the ridge. Joe
and I started to move in an angle to intercept them at the top. We got to
the top, just as the cows started to feed out on the top of the ridge. We were
stuck in the open, with cow and calve feeding only about 80 yards away. we
remained in this location for about two hours. During this time frame the elk
continued to feed and even lay down on us. Your probably saying at this
point, why is an elk not hitting the ground.
Well Joe has been waiting for 12 years for a big bull and we
wanted to check out all the bulls in this bunch to make sure we got the big
one. At the end of the two hours, the elk feed over the hill and no big
bulls in this herd. But the wood were starting to erupt with other bulls
bugling all around us. We were looking to the right, left, in front and behind
with anticipation of a big bull. all the elk were moving toward a water
hole down the ridge.
Joe and I move in the direction of the water hole. Soon we
had elk, all over in front of us. there must have been about fifty or sixty cows
move around the water hole. There were also Three good bulls working back and
forth checking their cows and keeping them in check. Pretty soon Two big
boys were facing off and pushing and shoving, the fight was on. It lasted about
two minutes, but what a show. Oh!!, mean while Joe was having a hard time
Picking out the big bull because of the excitement. Finally, we located the
biggest one and readied for a shot. Bang!
The elk scattered in mass confusion, we just let them move
off and went to check our results. Guess what? A complete miss, no
blood, hair or any sign of a hit and to make things worse the big bull started
up bugling again down the ridge. We listen to the three bull bugling
for two more hours. He wasn't hit, I think bull fever played into this shot.
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Oct 7 unit H3 |
Day One - Found Joe T and myself at a location where we had put three elk a bull, cow and calf to bed the night before. As the light started to brighten. we glassed the open meadows looking for the elk we had seen the evening before. But they were not in the same location. So we moved on down the ridge. Then I spotted a brown butt on the far hill side. We moved closer keeping what little trees there were between us and the elk. We finally ran out of trees and could make out four cows and a calf in the group. I sat Joe down in front of me a found a good rest. Then I said "Shoot the Big One" Joe stated "which big One?" I said." Can you get on the lower one" "No" Joe said "How about the one above her" I said again Joe said "NO" " How about the one to the left and Up" I said. "I can get on that one" Joe said Bang "you shot over her" I said Bang "You got her" I said. Now the work begins, We had harvest the cow at 7:00 a.m. and we got back to the truck at 11:30 a.m. Just a little dragging involved. Great hunt Joe. Just a side note: Joe had made a promise to his dad and grand dad that he would get his first Elk with the rifle in the picture. Thanks to the heavenly Father we helped that promise come to pass on a beautiful October morning.
Click Here to View Joe's Interview
Joe's Email back to me
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Oct 1 unit H2A |
Day One - What
an awesome opening day. My hunter Ron & his friend Jay joined me on
opening day. We started at a location that I had put about 35 head of elk
to bed the night before. As we got out of the truck the bulls were going crazy
about 300 yard in front of us. So we proceeded up the road toward them,
but as we started to top the ridge a bull suddenly appear in the sky line only
80 yard in front of us. We were stuck out in the open and need to find a tree
quick. We quickly moved to a near by tree. just as we sat down Jay stated that
we had elk right in front of us. He started to call out, "The first
one, no the second, no the third one is the one you want Ron." Once I
looked at the bulls, I said " No!! the big boy in on the ridge behind them
all." This whole process continued for thirty minutes, as the light bighted
our surroundings. In the end the big boy and the herd melted away out of
sight.
After the elk move out of our sight, we move to get a better
look, but they were gone. We move on down the ridge looking for them the rest of
the morning. The circle we made brought us back to the truck tired and
hungry. As we were eating, Jay asked Ron "where your rifle?" Ron replied,
"Over by the truck" Jay followed up with "well you better bring
it over here, just in case we see one." Ron moved to the truck and grab his
rifle. We all proceeded to relax and wait for the evening hunt. Each was sprawled
out on the ground get a little shut eye. Then All of a sudden there was a familiar
sound of elk running through the woods. As we all jump up, Ron was scrambling to
recover his rifle that was near his last location. There to our right was a big
bull running through the trees. I hit the cow call and he stopped on a dime, but
not where Ron could get a good shot. Then he took off again, giving Ron just a brief
window of opportunity to connect. And He did!! Dropping the bull with
first shot. However, it just broke his back and a follow up shot was
needed. Great Job Ron!!!
Ron & The Gman with Ron's 6x7 Bull opening day 11:15 a.m.
Click Here to View Ron's Interview
