Eddie Claypool, Author at Guide Outdoors

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Eddie Claypool

Eddie Claypool provides tips on bowhunting, with an emphasis on whitetails. Claypool has harvested 63 Pope ...

Eddie Claypool provides tips on bowhunting, with an emphasis on whitetails. Claypool has harvested 63 Pope & Young-class recordbook animals including 35 whitetails (Coues included), 16 elk and eight mule deer. All the animals were taken on do-it-yourself hunts.

Hunting Elk — Just Do It!

If you’ve got a healthy body, a few greenbacks and a little time, you can bowhunt elk on your own successfully — here’s how to do it.

My Greatest Bowhunts: My First Crack At Mule Deer: Part 5 Of 5

There was no need for an alarm the next morning, as I’d been awake for a
good while when it finally sounded off — it was 3:30 a.m. Rolling
out of my bivy sack in the darkness of a cold, alpine Colorado night, a star-filled sky greeted my appearance. Far in the distance the sound
of a bugling bull elk reached my ears. Oh well
— this was a BIG deer morning … I hoped.

My Greatest Bowhunts: My First Crack At Mule Deer: Part 4

After my initial close encounter with the group of bucks, I was more determined than ever to make something positive happen from the golden opportunity that I’d been afforded. Seeing some flaws in my planned approach, I immediately started to come up with a new idea. But could I pull it off without running the bucks completely out of the country?

My Greatest Bowhunts: My First Crack At Mule Deer: Part 2

I decided to spend some spare time glassing the rocky slopes of the mountains peaks that terminated nearly 2,000 vertical feet above the elk. I was thrilled when my glasses came upon a group of animals. I wasn’t looking at sheep, or goats, rather, a group of mule deer bucks … and one of them wore an unbelievable set of antlers! I realized that my elk hunt was temporarily over; greater opportunity was knocking — loudly!

My Greatest Bowhunts: My First Crack At Mule Deer: Part 3

Having come into the presence of a world-class mule deer buck — along with a couple of other really big bucks — I knew that my “elk plans” needed to be quickly discarded. Every time I
looked at the buck, I was in shock — it was impossible to become even slightly accustomed to the sight of such giant rack!

My Greatest Bowhunts: My First Crack At Mule Deer: Part 1

When I returned from my first successful bowhunt in the high country of the Colorado Rockies in 1980, I knew that I had sparked a new all-consuming passion in my soul. I could not wait to get back into such adventure the following year — the following 11 months were the longest days of my life! I’d allowed a full five weeks for this outing and I intended to spend ever available moment of that time in the backcountry.

My Greatest Bowhunts: My First Crack At Elk: Part 5 Of 5

With arrow already nocked, I peered around my brushy hide as
five bull elk passed by at 30 yards. Quickly placing my sightpin on ribs, I set into motion an event that would forever change the way I lived my life. In a split second, my
arrow appeared on the side of the bull, buried to the fletching, right behind his shoulder … the 5×5 stood for
a short moment, then toppled over!

My Greatest Bowhunts: My First Crack At Elk: Part 4

I spotted the group of bulls as they slowly made their way back down to their bedding area. Hiding behind a patch of
brush, I watched as the group approached my location, hopefully passing on a trail 30 yards uphill — and upwind — of my hide. Fate was now riding on my shoulders. I was strung tight!

My Greatest Bowhunts: My First Crack At Elk: Part 2

With the strength of youth and a passion for adventure flowing through my veins, my senses were on edge — and then I heard IT — a high, piercing whistle-like sound! Slamming to a stop in the grayness of the pre-dawn morning, I stood completely still, wondering what I’d just experienced. Soon, the sound of
pounding hooves and breaking brush became apparent. Instantly freaked-out, I headed for cover myself … .