Well everyone, I have harvested my first elk! It happened two days ago on Dec 1st, 2001. I am so happy and still filled with adrenaline. Here is the story.

I am 28 years old and have been hunting off and on since my dad first took me hunting at age 12. (Without a rifle that year) My dad is not a big outdoors type person and did not take me hunting too much as a kid. I would usually go with friends and whatnot. I tell you this because I have never hunted for elk. I have only had the means and time to hunt deer, that is until this year.

My brother and I knew this was going to be a great year the moment the regulations came out. The area that we hunted deer had gone from a short-range-weapon to any weapon, and we knew where all the deer were in this unit. We also put in for elk for the first time hoping to draw on a late season bull hunt. Well as it turns out my brother drew on the elk hunt and I did not, but we both did get two deer tags. (Extra either sex whitetail)

My brother shot his first bull elk way up in the steep mountains of the Challis National Forest. It was a nice bull, but it had three of the points busted off. Otherwise it would have been a nice 6x6. You can see pictures of the elk at www.hunting-pictures.com/memebers/monyhunter

I bought an elk tag that was in a flat, sage brushy, and farm type area. I bought this tag because it had a very long season, and I knew I would need it. My dad has started to hunt more with us, and he has never shot an elk either so he bought the same tag so we could hunt together.

In all, my dad and I have put in about 15 days of hunting in this unit without ever seeing a single elk! We kept talking to the local farmers and they would always tell us that there were elk all over the place there, but we were starting to think they were just lying. We had driven countless roads, hiked many miles, and strained our eyes looking for the elusive elk. We were really starting to get frustrated.

When the snow first hit in November, we got excited again. We knew this would give us a better chance to see the elk. At least we would be able to pick up on some tracks. So we headed out again with renewed excitement.

My dad had spoken to a few farmers the week before and had found out about some areas we had never tried. So last week we decided to try the new areas, and see what we came up with. At about 8:30am my dad�s truck stalled. We popped the hood and found that the bearings in the alternator had blow out and the unit had seized up. We were stranded. After a 10-mile hike, and a return trip with a new alternator, the day was finished. Our first good snow day of hunting had been ruined. But that just made me want to hunt even harder for the rest of the season. I was determined to hunt every weekend for the next month until I was successful.

The next weeks hunt was planned and the only way my wife would let me go was if I waited until she got back from work on Friday, November 30th. She works part time in the evenings and gets home around midnight. She did not want to take another day off work, so I had to stay and watch our cute little girl till she got home. So at 1:30 am on Friday I left for the 4-hour trip to Idaho Falls. I got there just in time to meet my brother getting his hunting close on, and a few minutes later my dad showed up ready to go.

We were all excited as it had snowed a few inches more, so where we were hunting there would be about 6-8 inches. It was also much colder and we knew the elk (if there really were any) would be moving around. As we drove along we started talking about different things. All of the sudden my dad butts in and says, �no more talking about anything unless it has to do with hunting! We are hunters today, so start concentrating!� (You have no idea how obnoxious we all are).

We get to the first area we were going to try and did not see anything but huge herds of antelope. They are exciting to watch, and we all vowed we would put in for antelope next year. We drove to many different spots, but did not see anything at all. We were really getting frustrated, but kept out spirits high by being obnoxious. We had a face drawing contest in the snow (yes, with pee), played along with the radio with our game calls, and took turns diving. My brother had even written on the tailgate of the truck in the snow the words, �Where are the ELK!� But through it all we did not see any sign of the elk.

It was about 2pm and we thought we would try the hay fields where we had started that morning. We figured that if there were going to be any elk out here, they would stay close to the haystacks. When we got there my brother and I decided to take a hike up to a small hill about 1 mile out in the sagebrush. My dad did not want to come as he said we would not see anything anyways. We made fun of him for being so lazy, but we also knew in our hearts that we would not see anything.

As were getting our stuff ready for the hike, a truck drove past. The guys in the truck saw my brother�s sign on the back of the tailgate, and as they drove past they shrugged their shoulders. They too did not know where the elk were. We thought is was funny that they had not seen anything as well. By this point we knew that the local farmers were definitely lying about where the elk were. They were probably sitting in their homes all nice and cozy warm, laughing at us stupid elk hunters out freezing our butts off.

My brother and I headed out through the snow in search of the elk that were not there. After we were about � of a mile from the truck we heard something very strange. My dad was honking the horn of the truck. Beep beep beep beep��..Then all of the sudden we hear the most beautiful sound of the day��..CRACK�swoosh�boom. It was the sound of a rifle shot. From where we were at you could hear the initial crack of the bullet leaving the barrel, the swoosh of the bullet flying through the air, and finally the boom of the echo. We took one look at each other, and then darted off at a full run.

We did not run very far before we were totally out of wind. Running in the snow with thick clothes and a rifle is not my idea of fun. We slowed to the fastest walk we could manage and kept plugging along. The whole time I was thinking, �Man, what luck. My dad stays at the truck and the elk come running right up to him.� Part of me was jealous, but I knew I would not be mad if my dad got an elk and I did not. I still had three more weekends to hunt.

We did not hear any more shots, so either my dad shot and killed, or shot and missed. It took us about 15 minutes to get back to the truck. My dad was not there so we planed what we would do. My brother hurried and grabbed the radios and we were going to head off in different directions to find him. Then all of the sudden I saw my dad about 500 yards off waving. He was signaling for us to hurry up to where he was. We started running again.

When we got there we told us what had happened. The truck that had gone past us while we were getting ready to go on the little hike had come back over the hill and asked my dad if he had seen the elk. My dad was like, �what elk?�. They said that there was a heard of about 30 elk just over the hill. It was then that my dad ran to the truck and started honking the horn to signal to us. Just then a third truck that was about � mile down by the hay fields had shot one time. The elk had been pinned between three trucks and a herd of cows. With nowhere to go they had stopped in a little gully behind some small hills where none of us could see them.

So we made plans to go over the hill from both sides. We had a truck to our left, and one to our right with the herd of cows on the far side of the elk. The elk did not have anywhere to go without going between us.

We started heading out when all of the sudden I saw the elk running to the left straight at the truck that was there. The elk could not see the truck yet, and so they kept running. There were about 20 in the herd, with two small 4 points. They were about 300 yards away, and moving too much for a good shot. They ran up to within 50 yards of the truck before they could see it. CRACK�.SLUMP Then one of the cows fell. My brother was now yelling at us to take a shot. I said, �they are too far and moving too much�..wait�look�.they are coming our way!� Sure enough the elk were running right for us. They stopped about 200 yards out and did not know where to go. They were still moving around a lot, circling in the herd. Then they started a slow jog to the right. My brother was now yelling, �Shoot one before they get away!� I kept looking through my scope but did not feel good about the shots. They were moving just a little too much for me. My dad also did not shoot yet. Then the lead cow stopped and stood. I said, �There�s my shot.� I pulled up and the cow turned to face me. I lined up the cross hairs on my Tikka 7mm rem mag with 139 SST and I let one go. CRACK�.ssssssslupe�.it was a direct hit. I pulled the scope down as I jacked another round into the chamber. I wanted to make sure I knew which one I had shot as the elk where still moving a lot. Then about 2 seconds later a huge cow tumbled and fell. �I got one, she�s down!�

Next it was my dad�s turn. The elk were still standing pretty still. My dad was shooting a ruger 7mm rem mag with the exact same Hornady 139 SST. He took aim at another big cow and let one go. The shot sounded like a direct hit, but nothing fell. About 10 seconds later the herd started to trot off to the left, up the hill. We were all looking for the one my dad had hit, but could not see any wounded elk. Then we noticed that there was still one huge cow that had stayed behind. �Don�t shoot it yet dad until we make sure yours is not in the herd.� We scoped out the herd until it was out of sight and did not see anything that looked wounded. Now we knew the one my dad had hit was the cow that stayed behind.

It was walking very slowly to the right, and was about 200+- yards. My dad took another shot but missed. The adrenaline was too much for all three of us. He took another shot and missed. I told him that we needed to get this cow down. He took another shot and hit it again but the elk did not even flinch. Man these elk are tough animals. I told him that I was going to shoot, as we needed to get the cow down before it ran off. I took a shot and I too missed. I was to excited. My brother, who was there for backup and did not have a tag, took one shot with his .243 with 85 grain Barnes X. He too missed and now we were getting desperate. The elk was now about 230+-, and moving farther with every step. My dad did not want to shoot again as he thought it would fall at any moment, but we did not agree. He also did not want to ruin any meat, so I took another shot at the neck, CRACK�..another miss. My brother�..CRACK�..nailed it and she fell with one step.
WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Two elk down!!!! We had shot our elk and the excitement could not be higher. We headed down to the elk while my dad went to get the truck.

When I got to my elk I could not believe how huge she was. Gigantic!!!!! At least 3 times bigger than I ever thought. I had always heard people talk about how huge elk were, but this was really huge. It was probably only about average size as far as cow elk go, but when you have never seen one this close before, they look huge. I had hit mine square in the middle of the neck just high enough to take out the spine. She had died almost instantly. Then we walked over to my dad�s and found that it was still moving although it was not breathing. We made sure by finishing her off and then started looking for where we had hit it. We could not find any holes at all! It was very strange. She had been hit three times, but even after dressing her out we could not find any wounds. Even the heart and lungs were intact.

Well that is the story of both our first elk. It was a long season, but I think it made it just that much more enjoyable to finally get one. There are a couple of things I learned this year.

First, you can always be successful with any hunt. You just have to keep hunting till you find one. Some years you just don�t have enough time.

Second, elk are tough animals. I have read on many hunting boards about the discussion of what is the lightest bullet for elk. I think you can kill an elk with just about any bullet, but this cow took two shots with a 7mm and one with a .243 before she went down. They are such beautiful and majestic animals that I would NEVER want one to run off wounded. For me at least a 7mm rem mag is going to be the smallest thing I will ever shoot at an elk. I think my P14 is going to be a .338-06 improved.

Third, and most important. There is not much in this world that is more fun, more enjoyable then being in the outdoors with family and friends while hunting. I have been able to hunt about 20 days this fall. More than I have ever hunted before. Every one of those days was with my brothers, my dad, or both. It has been so fun, and has brought us closer together. The only thing that would be better was if I could get my wife addicted to hunting. I think nothing could be better than to see my wife by my side out in the woods.

I love hunting so much, I always have. But after this year I have found a more spiritual side of it. I don�t know if this makes sense, but after this year, hunting has become more �sacred� to me than it ever has been. I have taken more time to look at the creations of god while I am out there. I have listened better. I have cherished the game, the mountains, and the time with my family more.

I hope you liked this story. I am not the best writer, but I thought you would like to hear the story of my first elk. I will get pictures posted as soon as I get them developed.

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Monyhunter

[This message has been edited by monyhunter (edited 12-03-2001).]

Congratulations MoneyHunter. Are you still shaking?

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NRA Life member

[This message has been edited by Bear Claw (edited 12-03-2001).]

Sounds great sometime the best comes after the hard .

Yes I am still shaking. It all seams so surreal. I just got off that phone with my dad and he just dropped the elk off at the meat "cutter-uppers" place.

I think all my co-workers are going to get sick of me talking about it today! Hee hee, hunting RULES!! My brother and I are so addicted now that we are going to go coyote hunting this weekend!

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Monyhunter

Congrats.......... And a damn fine story it is!!!! May you have many more.

Ben H

Excellent story, thanks for taking the time to post it.

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~Ann

Every day spent outdoors is the best day of my life.

Congratulations monyhunter! There is nothing quite like elk hunting. I didn't get out this year (put a kid in college instead), but next year I'll be back at it. Hope you have many more successful hunts!

monyhunter,

Congratulations.

Great Story.

Ain't them elks addictive? !!!!!!

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Say what you mean, and mean what you say.

Ol'Sarge:

Yes they are addictive. Given the TIME, MONEY, AND HEALTH, I Will be out there every year for the rest of my life.

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Monyhunter

monyhunter,
More than any other type of hunting, I've found that Elk hunting requires the most work, patience, and bullet placement. Even then, chances of success are sometimes rare for most of us.
Great job staying with it, you'll never be a successful Elk hunter without it.
Those cow Elk are going to be good eating!- Sheister

Monyhunter,

I enjoyed your story greatly. Good narrative! I felt I was there watching the entire scene. My hand almost reached out for a rifle to finish off the cow.

After reading this, I can hardly wait to finish up our household move because as soon as that's done (in another day or two) I'll be off to Utah for a cow elk hunt myself. Hopefully I'll experience that magic moment once again.

Thanks for taking the time to tell your tale! Welcome to the Elk Hunting fraternity. I might encourage you to feed this fever by joining the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. They have a magazine unto its own and you'll learn a lot about these amazing creatures.
Congrats, Nate