Another great season in elk camp
 

A couple weeks back I went to scout our usual elk hunting grounds, because of the wet spring, very little crop was seeded on and around my in-laws farm. There was elk sign, but not promising. On to the opening day, I went out that morning, didn't see much of anything. Heard a bugle or two in the timber along the creek, and decided that because of the dry conditions, close to heavy timber and water was where I was going to hunt that evening. The wife and I lazed around camp, went cruising in the sxs, had supper and headed out around 7:30 for a quick hunt. I cut trails through the timber on the back of the farm to connect fields and just for fun cruising. I stopped short of the field by 100 yards, and walked up with just my bino's and rifle, no calls, or shooting sticks. I get 50' from the opening and a 3x4 bull elk steps into view about 75 yards away. Now I have a cow tag, I freeze and wait to see what develops. Sure enough a nice dry cow steps in view. I chamber a round, she doesn't like that racket and bolts. The bull spooks and buggers off too. I go for broke, run to the edge of the opening and see a few cows and calves along the timber. I pick out a nice young dry cow at about 150 yards, kneel down, wrap my sling, and touch it off. I'm using an HS Precision 300WSM

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My son and Nephew both show up the next night, I figure the best place is still that same area. The critters are feeding on volunteer canola and wheat, and its close to water and bedding. Saturday morning, I send my nephew and his sweety through the bush to the North, my son and I come up from the East on to a ridge. We're in position 5 minutes before legal light, there are 2 bulls in the timber bugling, and about 20 cows and calves in the bottom of the field. The wind is from the SW, both hunters were about 350 yards to the farthest point of the field where the elk were. I let out a few bugles, get answers but no sign of the bulls. The cows are getting antsy and moving to the timber. Time to change tactics. I start cow calling, the cows stop, and start chirping back, more cows come out of the timber. This is what is going to suck out the bulls. Sure enough, the bigger of the two pokes his head out and starts beating the hell out of some willows. I bugle at him and thrash some brush myself. Now he's pizzed! He keeps on bugling, I answer bugle for bugle, he commits and walks to within 250 yards of us. My nephew doesn't have a clean shot, but my son does. He's shooting a Tikka 658 in 338WM, that used to mine years back, sold it to Lone wolf, and got it back for my boy.

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Nephews turn. I give him my strategy, take him and his sweety out in the sxs around 6:30. There's a rock pile in the field, I tell him to set up there, as it's only 200 yards to the bush on 3 sides the elk are likely going to pop out of. I tell him to bugle once or twice every half hour but cow call often. Wife and I, son and Daughter in-law head off to look for bears, and scout other fields for elk for the next day. I'm only gone 10 minutes when the nephew is texting me. "The bull is bugling at me already". I told him not to bugle back, as I knew it was likely the smaller bull, and he was easily spooked by aggressive bugling. Just cow call and nothing else. He did exactly that, called out a hot cow. The best decoy ever. About 5 minutes later his bull comes in quiet looking for love. Mel, his sweety cow calls to stop him, and voila! Nephew's shooting my HS Precision.

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All in all, it's one of the most productive years of our family hunts. We had fun, filled our freezers, and got to spend time together. The youngsters got to see the old fella still knows how to hunt elk, and with any luck learned a few things.
Leo,

great hunting there! congrats to all involved

Awesome!

Bagged 3 and got to spend some quality hunting time with family. It just doesn't get much better'n that!

Excellent write up of a feel good story. Congrats to all involved.

^^^^^^^^

What he said!!! :sHa_shakeshout:

Excellent hunt and popcorn worthy story.

Seeing all these elk and having a late season tag is like having no teeth and a big juicy rib steak!

Heck of a hunt successful on every level 👍

Very nice hunt Leo,one that all will remember for life.

CONGRATS many times over.

JD

Wow. That's going to be tough to beat.
Congrats to everyone involved.

Nice!

Congrats, looks like some good eats there.

Outstanding job, to fill 3 tags like that with family, that's going to feed a lot of people this winter!

That’s super impressive Leo!

I had four Bull sorta zoned in last week this Aug

But I’m zero for three so far on finding them..... stupid mountains..

Excellent pics! Good eats there !!!

Congrats Leo and family.
All I can do is weep, ha.
This will be the first year in 35 that I won’t hunt the general season due to travel.
But maybe my Dec Jan cow tag will produce.

Stay safe bud.

TBark

A dream hunt for you and your Family. Wow folks!!
Congrats on the shooting and some wonderful memories..Love it!

keep one racked in the pipe ready to go!

awesome story

Those are some fine pictures and great times man !! Keep on keeping on !!
Love it.

Fantastic pics and a big congratulations to you and your Crew Leo!
Cat

Pics with the write-up always makes it more real. What a great time hunting! Thanks for sharing. Well done. Congrats!!

dam Leo....pro guide tactics right there...awesome time spent in the field with family....

Congrats to you all! Great write-up and pictures.

Thanks folks, it was a hunt to remember. In my 41 years of hunting in Alberta, it’s one of the most productive, and the most cherished.
PS: It was a hell of a lot of work too.😉

Nothing like knowing the “pattern”. I’m sure it took you a few years to figure them out but sounds like you got it dialed in!

Awesome...Awesome....thanks for sharing with us.👍👍
Zip:)

Congratulations on a great hunt and even more important the time and memoirs with family.