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Too Many Elk: Part 2

My arrow was sailing toward a magnificent bull, and since my first daybreak in this wapiti wonderland, I’d known such a moment was inevitable.

Too Many Elk: Part 3

On the last morning of the hunt, I went out on my own and glassed until I
spotted a bull. I put on a careful stalk, only to have it ruined in the final
moments when a cow I’d looked for but missed, spooked and sounded the alarm.
"Too many elk," I muttered to myself, as I wandered off in a random
direction. It didn’t matter which way I went — I knew I’d find more elk!

Too Many Elk: Part 1

The elk who would be king was proclaiming so to the world from a sandstone
throne far below. To the tune of his bugling, I sneaked in close as I dared,
set up shop beneath a twisted, dwarf oak, and began my sweet-pitched impression
of his queen. The bull responded with vengeance and was now, incredibly, in my
lap!

Elk Calls And Calling

Elk calling has reached epidemic proportions. It is the most dramatic way to hunt elk. It has all the appeal of turkey calling with the added adrenaline rush of calling a massively antlered, brush-ripping trophy bull right up to you. However, bugling can be overdone and often is. Here’s how to not overdo it.

Route-Finding Skills

Bowhunting rugged, backcountry areas for species such as elk requires the ability to successfully navigate by the use of topographic maps and compass. If you aren’t well versed in this department, I highly recommend that you become so before going afield. This will ultimately save you a lot of heartache.

Elk On A Budget: Part 2

We are very fortunate to have millions of acres of public land on which you and I can hunt elk at no charge. However, If you anticipate seeing hundreds of elk each day and working one-half dozen bulls per morning, you are going to be disappointed with public land elk hunting. Temper your expectations and you will have a good hunt.

Elk On A Budget: Part 1

The six cows and calves were 30 yards in front of me. The bull would arrive momentarily. It was all too perfect. And that’s when the three cows, which had caught my scent earlier decided to make their appearance. The six cows in front of me froze and stared as the three strange cows walked slowly towards them. Everything was falling apart!

When Bulls Won’t Bugle

Have you ever seen a bugling, rut-crazed bull elk coming to the call? Few events, which occur in nature can compare with it. A bull elk is a regal, striking creature just standing in a meadow chewing his cud. A bull that is hot-to-trot and coming to your call is the ultimate adrenaline rush for most hunters. I personally know one-half dozen bowhunters who could not get the string back when a bugling bull got in their face. Call it nervous system overload!

It Ain’t Over, ‘Till It’s Over

My hunting partner, Steve Hingey, and I had been up every mountain and down every canyon in western New Mexico for the past 16 days. The elk were still around, yet almost all the action was occurring during the coolest part of the day — rather, make that, night! By nightfall of the next-to-last day of season, I was harboring the thought of packing up and heading for Oklahoma. However, I knew quitters never win and winners never quit!