Well last September was my first elk hunt ever my dad and I had always talked about going but never having much money it always seemed out of reach. Well now that I'm all grown up and am fortunate enough to have a damn good job I surprised him with a week long Archery hunt along with a new PSE to roam the mountians with needless to say he was more than excited. Leaving straight from work with a co- worker riding shotgun going along on the hunt we began our 18 hour drive grabbing my old man on the way. We arrived at the continental divide about 4am wwe decided to camp there in the truck till sunrise seeing there would be no where open to get our tags. Its kinda corny but watching the sun Come up and hearing a few bulls on top of the divide is something neither of us will ever forget. So into Pagosa pick up our tags then up the mountain we go got camp set up at 10,500ft and we were ready to go none of us having any experience I was lucky enough to work with a guy that goes out there quite a bit and has a friend that's a guide and he pointed us in the right direction. Well on the third day of hard hunting and climbing it was starting to take its time ony old man (60) so him and I hunted low and our camp partners went high, we come across an area of aspens and dark timber with water it being 70+ degrees it looked promising. We set up for an all day hunt hearing no bugels all day I hit the ole hyper hot cow call a few times and waited it out about 20 minutes later I look up and 2 cows are on an old cattle trail coming my direction and all I can think is its gonna be elk steaks and cold ones around the fire tonight when out of no where I hear a bugel and again and again. I gave the call a couple quick hits and got ready for this bull was on these cows and was coming in hot little did I know what a bull he was. The bull made his way by me at 52yds I it was sink or swim so I let the ole Hoyt do its job, after what I thought was a good hit I found my first blood spot and my arrow and marked it and RAN to my dad. He was more excited than me well after looking all night and coming up with nothing and looking everyday after that untill the trip was over I was sick to my stomach at the thought of losing this bull. Well go home day came and we were forced to leave the monster 7x7 my first elk behind, fortunately while we were tracking this elk we had run into an older woman who let her cattle graze this area and I told her my story and and she helped us look along with her dogs and came up empty handed I gave her my Info and she said if she or her dogs found it she would. All me.well weeks turned into months and I had nothing to show for my first elk hunt but talk until I get a call in January. Yes she called me and told me she was riding through the area where we stopped looking for the elk due to thickness and blood loss and her dogs were acting as if they found something and find something they did a bunch of bones with the skull of a 7x7 elk. She said Pagosa being as small and big of a hunting town word spread about my elk and she hadn't heard a peep of some one else shooting in elk of that size so she called me as soon as she got it home. $320 for shipping later the elk was in Missouri and ready to hit my wall after a little bragging by me and my old man. I know this story was long but I just wanted to share a good hunting story and show there are still good honest people out there even if you ha e to go ta 10,500ft to find them.
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