pasinthrough
Senior Member
I just got back from the Selway Bitterroot region of Idaho. This was a fly in on a small Cessna from Hamilton, MT and horseback ride about 12 miles that took us about 45 miles total away from civilization. We contracted with 51 Ranch Outfitters to setup a spike camp for us and get the three of us back to the camp with their stock. Daily, I hiked between 9-14 miles climbing 1,200 - 1,500' or more through the ridges and draws.
We all had been working real hard on conditioning for the past year but that country is the roughest I've ever encountered in the lower 48. Everywhere seemed uphill and very steep. The week we were there, the moon was full and the bulls bugled very little. A good rain event and lower temps came through on Saturday and I ended up finding a bull that wanted to play the game on Sunday, just before noon. He was working a ridge left and right about 300 yards out. I dropped off the point I was on and setup in the middle of a burned hillside about 3/4 the way down on a small bench. I had a guy calling behind me about 90 yards and after a bit of cat and mouse, the bull broke off and started my way. He stopped at the bottom of the hill about 150 yards away and bugled. I've setup on enough turkeys to know he was committed at that point and it shouldn't be much longer before I could see him. About a minute or so later, I saw his tines start to appear from below the bench as he approached. I drew just before his eyes made it above the horizon. As he topped the bench at 23 yards, he turned towards me and bugled for the last time. Screaming in my face with that gutteral and high pitched note at the same time made my hair stand on end. I put an arrow through the near shoulder but as he ran off, I noticed I did not get as much penetration as I would have liked due to the heavy muscle and bone of that shoulder. He stopped after a cow call at 40 yards and faced me. I put a followup arrow through the base of his neck and took out his heart. He crashed downhill about 115 yards and fell a few seconds later.
I gave him a few minutes and picked up the trail. Where he went downhill, it looked like a skid steer went through there. The trail was easy to follow and we found him after only a few minutes of searching. We had to clear a good amount of brush so we could take photos and have room to start quartering him up.
He was shot at 1pm and when he was caped, quartered and hung, it was 6pm. It took a total of 7 trips to get everything out of that draw and up to the main trail to where we could get it on the horses. Roughly 500 feet of vertical travel over 600 yards of distance. Moving around in the thick reminded me of navigating a 5 year old clear cut.
Our group had other close calls, but none of them panned out. This was one hunt I have been dreaming of for about 25 years now. The first elk tag I've ever purchased and the most challenging environment I've ever been in.
The outfitter we used will do a spike camp or you can add a guide. I will tell you, they told us that most bowhunters come and bowhunt for one day, then pick up the rifle due to how difficult it is there. That wasn't our style. We all worked very hard and will be back in the elk woods very soon.
The 7x7 bull should easily make P&Y. I'll have him scored in November once the skull dries per the rules.
If any of you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer.
We all had been working real hard on conditioning for the past year but that country is the roughest I've ever encountered in the lower 48. Everywhere seemed uphill and very steep. The week we were there, the moon was full and the bulls bugled very little. A good rain event and lower temps came through on Saturday and I ended up finding a bull that wanted to play the game on Sunday, just before noon. He was working a ridge left and right about 300 yards out. I dropped off the point I was on and setup in the middle of a burned hillside about 3/4 the way down on a small bench. I had a guy calling behind me about 90 yards and after a bit of cat and mouse, the bull broke off and started my way. He stopped at the bottom of the hill about 150 yards away and bugled. I've setup on enough turkeys to know he was committed at that point and it shouldn't be much longer before I could see him. About a minute or so later, I saw his tines start to appear from below the bench as he approached. I drew just before his eyes made it above the horizon. As he topped the bench at 23 yards, he turned towards me and bugled for the last time. Screaming in my face with that gutteral and high pitched note at the same time made my hair stand on end. I put an arrow through the near shoulder but as he ran off, I noticed I did not get as much penetration as I would have liked due to the heavy muscle and bone of that shoulder. He stopped after a cow call at 40 yards and faced me. I put a followup arrow through the base of his neck and took out his heart. He crashed downhill about 115 yards and fell a few seconds later.
I gave him a few minutes and picked up the trail. Where he went downhill, it looked like a skid steer went through there. The trail was easy to follow and we found him after only a few minutes of searching. We had to clear a good amount of brush so we could take photos and have room to start quartering him up.
He was shot at 1pm and when he was caped, quartered and hung, it was 6pm. It took a total of 7 trips to get everything out of that draw and up to the main trail to where we could get it on the horses. Roughly 500 feet of vertical travel over 600 yards of distance. Moving around in the thick reminded me of navigating a 5 year old clear cut.
Our group had other close calls, but none of them panned out. This was one hunt I have been dreaming of for about 25 years now. The first elk tag I've ever purchased and the most challenging environment I've ever been in.
The outfitter we used will do a spike camp or you can add a guide. I will tell you, they told us that most bowhunters come and bowhunt for one day, then pick up the rifle due to how difficult it is there. That wasn't our style. We all worked very hard and will be back in the elk woods very soon.
The 7x7 bull should easily make P&Y. I'll have him scored in November once the skull dries per the rules.
If any of you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer.
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