Credence | Rifle Elk Hunt

I arrived at the unit I was hunting the day before the season started. This way I would be able to scout a few different areas and help to make a plan for opening morning. I always have high hopes of finding a target bull, but this hunt was around the tail end of the rut so bulls start to split off the cows and head towards their sanctuary areas. But, this time of year can also be great because some bulls will still be rutting with the cows. Unfortunately after opening morning when the rifles start to go off the elk tend to shut up and it becomes a glassing game. This is why scouting can be so helpful and critical to the success of my hunts. 

I would be truck camping on this hunt and would be joined by my buddy Tanner on the opener. I set up camp with a table, chairs, and cooking supplies so we’d be set for the week. After camp was set, I hiked up the mountain to gain some elevation and be able to glass for the evening. Hiking in I found fresh rubs and all the signs from the rut. Things were looking promising. I got to my glassing point and scanned the country below for elk. I was not able to glass up any elk, but this country is somewhat thick with pinon and juniper trees that can hide even a big herd of elk. After spending some time on the glass I decided to drop back into the area where I found all the fresh sign and let out some location bugles. My call was quickly answered by a bull elk. The bull sounded a little ways off so I moved closer in hopes of getting eyes on the bull. Not wanting to bump the elk I opted to back out of the area and return first thing in the morning for the hunt knowing the general area of where I had last seen heard the bull bugle. 

The next morning Tanner and I hiked up in the dark to move in on the bull I had located the day before. On our way in we saw headlights heading our way. We were might by some angry locals that had access through private. They were apparently after the same bull. After some heated discussion we went our separate ways. The hunters we ran into went right on top of the bull where I had found him the night before, but we went the other way hoping they might push the herd in our direction and avoid any more conflict with these hunters.

As the sun rose the bull started firing off bugles. I answered the bull with a bugle and shortly after so did the other hunters. We held our position as they moved in and we listened and watched from a distance. There was a small meadow below us where our calling had brought in a young spike bull. He was curious, but not legal or what we were after. The spike bull eventually wandered off, but we did here one shot. After the shot there were no more bugles, so we assumed the other hunters had shot the bull. We also watched the herd of cows spooked through the trees. No bull was with the cows. We decided to start hiking and working our way to a different location. We later heard 4 more shots. Our theory was they hit the bull badly and had to track it then follow up with some more shots.

The rest of the day was spent looking for bedding areas. For the evening we set up above a bench hoping something would feed out where we could see it. Towards last light we started moving through the trees and bumped into a small herd of elk, but it was too thick to even get a look at what they were. On our hike back to camp we spotted a decent sized 5 point bull on the edge of the trees that was feeding. Light was fading so we moved fast to close the distance. I was able to get to 250 yards but the bull’s vitals were covered by brush and branches. I moved in closer trying to get a better angle. The bull was about to disappear into the trees and was broadside and clear of brush, so I took a quick offhand shot. The bull was gone. We spent the next few hours looking for blood and following tracks, but it was a clean miss. 

The next morning, we decided to try a new area in an attempt to avoid other hunters and find some less pressured elk. The new spot did not produce any elk that morning so we decided to go check the rifle and make sure everything was dialed. The rifle shot great so I assumed the miss was due to not having a steady rest and rushing the shot. We decided to go back to camp and make a good lunch before heading out for the evening hunt. I had recently shot a mule deer buck so I had fresh back straps to grill which made for an amazing meal. We headed into a different area for the evening hunt and set up in a good glassing location. Things were pretty slow till later when a herd showed up below us in a draw. They were moving quickly and in a tight draw. I was set up on the rifle if one came in an opening. At last light we moved in closer, but the elk had used the draws to move through the more open country and disappeared into the timber. There five cows, two branch antlered bulls, and a spike in that herd. Tanner had to leave that night so this herd would be my plan for the morning hunt solo. 

I hiked up above where I had last seen the herd of elk from the prior evening. I was trying to get to the same vantage point we were at before and as I was making my way there when a bull crested the ridge above me at about 200 yards. I had the rifle ready and set up on a boulder. The bull was broadside and I took my time with the shot and hammered him. The bull went about 30 yards and stopped in some brush. I shot again and the bull dropped out of sight. The bull was a beautiful six point and it was a magical morning. Now that I was solo, I had a lot of work ahead of me. Since it was early in the morning I had all day to pack out the bull. I made two heavy trips back to the truck before dark. Thankful for every adventure and glad I was able to share a lot of the hunt with a good buddy.