Arizona Elk Journal.
- Thread starter Jackalope
- Start date
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That's also my delimma. That elk went toward the point of the mesa where those other elk we're bugeling after the shot. I'd bet a paycheck they bedded 1/3 the way down that slope. Without some evidence of a hit in 500 yards I am real hesitant to go off the point stomping around in there and blow them out. If i had an arrow, or blood, or any evidence at all, i'd go blow them out.
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- 118
Well only you know how confident you felt when you left that arrow go... We all know that good feeling and if it was a chip shot, then I'm guessing there's a bull out there somewhere with your arrow... Guessing it wasn't a lighted nock... I'd recheck the area for your arrow... GOOD LUCK...
- 38,859
- 260
Took the lighted nocks off before dialing in because they caused some wobble at about 20 yards of flight. Straightned out quick but i don't like inconsistency.
bigten05
*Supporting Member*
Good luck as we all know it doesn't take much to get off a trail or miss blood. Keep after them
triple_duece
Ragin Cajun.
- 9,172
- 159
No arrow found tells me you hit him. Could be a lethal hit or may not. If I was in your shoes and didn’t find him by noon, I’d chalk it up to a miss and arrow sailed away. It’s up to you what you do and there won’t be any judgement from me either way. What it takes to get that tag and hunt would have me thirsty for a quick recovery or move on and hunt another bull. If for some reason you did kill it and no recovery, well other animals need to eat also. Good luck and keep us “in the hunt”. We pulling for ya!
Thunderflight
Dignitary Member
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- 260
Was up there again today all looked most of the morning. No arrow, blood, stink, crows or buzzards. I did have a lone slob of a bull stroll through around 8:45, he rolled through the bedding area wind in his nose. Sucker just had that " imma kill somebody" look. He's probably out looking for a harem with a small bull to kick his ass and take them. No shot as he was cruising pretty good at 100 yards.
I was back up there this evening and as soon as I crested the top of the mesa i saw two bulls together with no cows working through the junipers. They were directly ahead about 100 yards and moving to my 11 o'clock. I tried to cut around and get up beside them. The first time i cut in too early. The second time i zipped back and ran for 100 yards and snuck back in. They didn't booger but they wanted no part of all that racket and changed directions walking away from me. Pretty hard to get an angle in an animal that can walk faster than you can run it's he's angling to you.
I went to pull out my phone to check onX to see how far away i was from where i wanted to be. No phone. Shit. In all that i dropped it somewhere. For those of you who have never been in western "woods" let me give you an idea. Its all Alligator Juniper, pine, and scrub oak. The ground is rocks rocks and more rocks cover by pine needles. It all looks the same and there is nothing to distinguish anything for a landmark except maybe a strange looking deadfall here and there. And they all start to look the same also. You can walk 100 yards from one of those deadfalls and be hard pressed to find your way back to it. And i can head off in to WNF and never get turned around because my mind just remembers things like an aerial photo and terrain. Not here. Buddy you are fucked. I was 1.5 miles from the truck. I wasn't too worried however because i do have a map and a compass and could have shot a good asmith from the edge of the mesa to a couple of distant mountains and got my location and then a bearing on the truck.
So there i am walking in circles looking for my phone. I had three hours before dark which meant two hours to look. While i could walk out in the dark i disnt want to. Of course the phone was in airplane mode. The only hope i had if i didn't find it tonight would be to come back there at 3:50am when the morning alarm went off. The problem with that is i would never be able to find where "there" was again. So I'm walking around finding the same cut branch, the same pile of elk crap, the same deadfall probably a half dozen times but no phone. Twice while looking i looked up to catch movement and tried to get an angle on a bull working through the junipers.. The place is thick with elk. The problem is it's thick with shit too. 50 yards will be the longest shot possible and they have to cooperate to pass through the lane i choose that he might walk through based on his angle. I did end up finding my phone with about 20 minutes to spare.
The spot is an hour from camp and a 1.5 mile walk up arounf 400 foot of elevation on what is probably a 30 degree slope. I decided to spike camp it instead of driving, i hauled a tent, water and clothes up tonight. Tomorrow I'll haul some more water, food, a lantern and a sleeping bag over there. I'm nestled in a small depression in a grove of pines about 150 feet below the rim of the mesa so as not to be up there with them. The tag is over Thursday. Its time to live with the elk and get shit done.
Campsite and home.for the next few days starting tomorrow.
But man what a view.
While looking for my phone i did find this bitchin leather hat.
I was back up there this evening and as soon as I crested the top of the mesa i saw two bulls together with no cows working through the junipers. They were directly ahead about 100 yards and moving to my 11 o'clock. I tried to cut around and get up beside them. The first time i cut in too early. The second time i zipped back and ran for 100 yards and snuck back in. They didn't booger but they wanted no part of all that racket and changed directions walking away from me. Pretty hard to get an angle in an animal that can walk faster than you can run it's he's angling to you.
I went to pull out my phone to check onX to see how far away i was from where i wanted to be. No phone. Shit. In all that i dropped it somewhere. For those of you who have never been in western "woods" let me give you an idea. Its all Alligator Juniper, pine, and scrub oak. The ground is rocks rocks and more rocks cover by pine needles. It all looks the same and there is nothing to distinguish anything for a landmark except maybe a strange looking deadfall here and there. And they all start to look the same also. You can walk 100 yards from one of those deadfalls and be hard pressed to find your way back to it. And i can head off in to WNF and never get turned around because my mind just remembers things like an aerial photo and terrain. Not here. Buddy you are fucked. I was 1.5 miles from the truck. I wasn't too worried however because i do have a map and a compass and could have shot a good asmith from the edge of the mesa to a couple of distant mountains and got my location and then a bearing on the truck.
So there i am walking in circles looking for my phone. I had three hours before dark which meant two hours to look. While i could walk out in the dark i disnt want to. Of course the phone was in airplane mode. The only hope i had if i didn't find it tonight would be to come back there at 3:50am when the morning alarm went off. The problem with that is i would never be able to find where "there" was again. So I'm walking around finding the same cut branch, the same pile of elk crap, the same deadfall probably a half dozen times but no phone. Twice while looking i looked up to catch movement and tried to get an angle on a bull working through the junipers.. The place is thick with elk. The problem is it's thick with shit too. 50 yards will be the longest shot possible and they have to cooperate to pass through the lane i choose that he might walk through based on his angle. I did end up finding my phone with about 20 minutes to spare.
The spot is an hour from camp and a 1.5 mile walk up arounf 400 foot of elevation on what is probably a 30 degree slope. I decided to spike camp it instead of driving, i hauled a tent, water and clothes up tonight. Tomorrow I'll haul some more water, food, a lantern and a sleeping bag over there. I'm nestled in a small depression in a grove of pines about 150 feet below the rim of the mesa so as not to be up there with them. The tag is over Thursday. Its time to live with the elk and get shit done.
Campsite and home.for the next few days starting tomorrow.
But man what a view.
While looking for my phone i did find this bitchin leather hat.
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I have a feeling that hat is gonna be your lucky charm. It's got Fred Bear vibes all over it! Good luck buddy!
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Yup... I agree that hats your new lucky charm... It's got Fred Bear and Indiana Jones written all over it.... Sure sounds like your seeing your share of elk... That alone is making the trip a success... Gotta ask are there rattlesnakes in the area??? Good Luck in the comming days....
Joe, what an adventure! That hat is the good luck charm you needed. Sorry to hear on the first opportunity, but that's hunting.
Glad you found your phone, that had to be an oh shit moment lol. Looking forward to a dirt nap picture this evening. Be safe!
Glad you found your phone, that had to be an oh shit moment lol. Looking forward to a dirt nap picture this evening. Be safe!
Good luck!
Thunderflight
Dignitary Member
That hat is an omen! LOL
Man, I've been there. I lost my arrow quiver once. Luckily I quickly found it. The flo orange wraps definitely helped.
Man, I've been there. I lost my arrow quiver once. Luckily I quickly found it. The flo orange wraps definitely helped.
Thunderflight
Dignitary Member
Man, that terrain is flat. Have you been seeing many hunters? After how many elk you have been seeing I'm seriously thinking about putting in for this unit next year.
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Haven't seen any despite poking sticks under every rock or log where i figured one would be. Did hear one walking out last night but didn't stop to mess with him once i located his directly. The area I'm hunting is called rattlesnake canyon, and i presume that's for a reason.
Milo
Tatonka guide.
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Well before stepping over logs look on the other side and when climbing watch where you put your hands.... But I'm sure you knew that... It's not like your near a hospital if you get bit...