Welcome to part 2 on our series for planning and executing your cheap Midwestern whitetail hunt! In part 1, we described how to go about planning your hunt. Here in part 2, we will describe how to find land to hunt on and tips on being successful once you arrive.

At the end of each section I have added a Lazy Hunter TL;DR (too long; didn’t read) section. I realize this article is long and most people can’t get through it without a nap so I added this to summarize each portion. God bless America. Amirite?

How to find public hunting land

So long as you don’t live off the grid, there are multiple ways to find public land. I have listed below the sites that detail public land for each state via the state agency’s websites (except Illinois, as the site I have shown is more user-friendly). Some are better than others but they are all a great starting point. Insider’s tip: Ohio has a number of different properties owned by coal companies and others that are open to public hunting. Kansas has a draw for special hunts on wildlife preserves within public ground. Be sure to check those out on each state’s site.

Iowa: https://programs.iowadnr.gov/maps/huntingatlas/default.html

Kansas: http://ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/Locations/Hunting-Fishing-Atlas/Fall-Hunting-Atlas

Kansas has what they refer to as the WIHA (Walk-in Hunting Access) Program in which the state leases private ground for public hunting use. These properties change year by year so be sure to get the updated Fall Hunting Atlas that will come out in late summer. Also, each parcel can have different restrictions on when and how you can hunt it so be sure to refer to those. From my experience, WIHA gets hunted much less than the other public ground.

Wisconsin: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Lands/PAL/

Ohio: http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/wildlifeareas

Indiana: http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5427.htm

Illinois: http://engineeredpursuit.com/illinois-public-hunting-areas/

You can also purchase apps for your phone/PC that will make it simple to find public ground and know when are on it via GPS location. I have personally only tried the onXmaps Hunt App (starts at $29.99 per year) and was impressed with what I saw. On top of easily showing public land, the map also shows you landowner names for private parcels as well as other features such as topo, roads & trails, and bodies of water.

onXmaps is an invaluable tool for the DIY public land deer hunter.

I am not going to go into a lot of detail on private for a couples reasons. 1. I have not had much luck obtaining access to hunt private ground. It can definitely be done but be ready for lots of rejection.  2. I enjoy the challenge of hunting public land and these states have plenty of it.

Lazy Hunter TL;DR: Go to the link for the state you want to find public land for. Try asking private owners for permission if you want to learn what rejection feels like.

Cyber-scouting

When it comes to scouting, ideally you would spend a couple days walking these properties but in most cases, it is not possible due to distance. Therefore, I would suggest doing it online as much as you can using Google Earth or a similar type mapping program. I would tend to break up terrain types into two segments; hilly, big woods areas and open terrain.

To be honest, I have yet to have much success in the big woods areas like southern Ohio. So rather than claim to be the expert I am not, I will point you towards the experts. A great site for understanding how to hunt hilly terrain and big woods areas, among other things, is The Hunting Beast which is run by renowned public land hunter Dan Infalt. The site is full of talented hunters who will describe what they look for on properties. (Hint: analyze how the members on these sites utilize topography and cover. Also, understand what a Thermal Tunnel is. I highly recommend reading Brad Herndon’s book “Mapping Trophy Bucks.” He does a great job of describing what to look for in hilly areas by studying topographical maps. After you understand how to use topographical maps, you can find those Topo Maps online using or on your phone with apps such as Hunt GPS or onXmaps.

Lazy Hunter TL;DR:  In hilly areas, find a saddle or cut between ridge points and hunt there, they are natural funnels.

As far as open terrain goes, I have found most success lies in the areas with any type of cover which mostly consists of creek bottoms. Topography can also play a role so still use similar tactics to hilly areas. Deer will most likely bed in the best available cover and move from there to feed. One type of terrain that is often overlooked is milo fields. On my last trip to Kansas, we saw four different shooter bucks in two days in a milo field that stretched a few hundred acres. The great thing about milo is that it is tall enough to make the deer feel secure but short enough that you can see antlers above it when the deer stand up.

Lazy Hunter TL;DR: In open terrain, deer like cover. Find the cover in open terrain.

What To Do When You Arrive

Your first day, possibly two if your trip is more than a week, should be totally devoted to scouting as many properties as you can. In open country, this means plenty of driving around or sitting on a high point and glassing. In big woods country, you are going to have to do some walking and investigate areas you had found with your cyber scouting. If you enter an area and see fresh rut sign (specifically looking for scrapes in early November), you are in business. If not, move on to the next one.  Any success I have had on my trips has been accompanied by seeing large rubs and multiple scrapes. If you are in a low deer density area during the rut, sticking near does can be a good secondary tactic.

Keep in mind you have plenty of land to hunt and you need to find where the big deer are. Spooking deer is not the end of the world and can even can let you know you are in the right area. After you find some areas worth hunting, hunt them but don’t get hung up on a spot just because it looks good. Move and keeping moving unless you are seeing mature bucks. I spoke with a fella that shot a 160-class buck on public land on his first trip to Iowa. He said his strategy is to never sit a stand more than once. He moves his stand after every sit. The wall of bucks in his house told me he knew what he was talking about.

Scouting public land means you will have to spend time walking parcels quickly and effectively. If the sign isn’t there, move on to the next piece.

One thing I notice regarding people that have consistent success is they look for areas where other hunters won’t be. The obvious choice would be to go at least a mile from the road but there are other ways of accomplishing this. Examples would be having to cross a river, climb up/down a steep ridge, or even just hunting close to the road. A good way to think is if you see a spot and your first thought is “that area would be a pain to access” or “there’s no way deer use that area” then that spot might be worth a sit.

The main point I would stress to someone going out of state for the first time is to not get frustrated. Yes, there are large bucks in these areas but they aren’t around every corner. You can go days without seeing a mature deer. Magazines and hunting shows have convinced us these states are deer farms and people feel they are doing something wrong if you aren’t always into the huge deer. You are hunting an area for the first time and it can take years to figure out the best spots. The most successful hunters I know all have one trait in common; persistency. Stay persistent and results will follow.

Lazy hunter TL;DR: Scout the first day you arrive. Keep moving until you find big bucks. Don’t hunt where other hunters are. Other hunters are dumb. Don’t give up.

Getting Your Deer Home Without a Hefty Fine

One thing I didn’t realize until I shot a buck in Kansas is that many states do not allow transport of deer carcasses across state lines. For Michigan, you are not allowed to bring back any deer, elk, or moose from the following states: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Alberta, or Saskatchewan (Source: Michigan DNR).  If outside of Michigan, it is best to check with your state game agency. They do this to limit the spread of diseases, mainly Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). So I imagine some people think, “that isn’t a big deal, I will just quarter the meat and bring back the head.” Not so fast. In Michigan, you are only allowed to bring back “deboned meat, antlers, antlers attached to a skull cap cleaned of all brain and muscle tissue, hides, upper canine teeth, or a finished taxidermy mount.” (Source: http://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/0,4579,7-186-25806-73145–,00.html)  I learned this after shooting my buck and spent a lot of money getting the animal processed and caped because I wasn’t prepared. Bring a cooler, learn how to quarter and debone the animal, and learn how to cape if you want to get a mount done. See below for some helpful links:

• Quartering Your Deer 
• Caping a Deer

Learning how to properly cape a deer is a good skill to have when hunting out of state. It will save you money and will ensure you are doing everything legally while transporting game.

If you are intimidated by caping your deer and afraid of screwing it up, call a taxidermist nearby and have him do it. Tip: When skinning around the antlers, use a flathead screwdriver to pry the skin off the antlers. Cutting with a knife can thin the hide.

Lazy hunter TL;DR: It’s a good idea to not transport your deer across state lines unless you want to lose your deer and get a sizeable fine. Learn to butcher and cape it yourself.

Conclusion

The last piece of advice I want to leave with you is to simply enjoy it. Hunting is supposed to be fun. Don’t let the pressure of wanting to shoot a big deer ruin the experience of getting to take in new scenery and how lucky you are to get to hunt in different areas. On my last trip to Kansas, I hunted hard all week with my father and brother. We had countless close calls with large bucks but none of us connected and it was still one of the best trips of my life. The memories made still bring a smile to my face and we are constantly reminiscing at family dinners about this trip. Not all days are created equal and most of them will pass with obscurity throughout our lives but with the right mindset, you will remember your trip with vivid details long after it is over.

Lazy hunter TL;DR: Go hunt out of state. You won’t regret it.

Which state is at the top of your mind when it comes to world class whitetail deer hunting? For me it’s Iowa. I’ve dreamed about hunting this great state for years and hopefully with a little luck, I will draw a tag and will be chasing mature bucks later this Fall. While there are many other states that offer great deer hunting opportunities, every hardcore deer hunter dreams about the day they will finally step foot into the land of giants.

Over the past weekend, my buddy Joe Wilson and I set sail to Iowa to scout public land areas in the units we are targeting for the 2017 deer season. Currently, both of us have 3 preference points so there is a good chance we will draw tags but even if we don’t successfully draw non-resident archery tags, 2018 will be right around the corner. Some people think we’re crazy (we probably are) for spending time and money prior to an already costly out of state hunt but when you wait 3-4 years to draw a tag, it’s worth the extra scouting trip, especially when hunting public land.

I am lucky enough to know a few guys locally in Iowa who were able to give us some pointers and spots to check out. I’d like to thank my buddies, Dan and Erik, for their help during our short trip – it helped us tremendously.

Day 1

After arriving to our hotel late in the evening on Thursday, we woke early on Friday morning and left the hotel by 8am to get an head start on the day. With a major rain storm on the horizon for mid-afternoon, we knew our time was even more limited so we started walking parcels close to our hotel. Within minutes of leaving the vehicle at the first location, we quickly found rut sign from the previous season, consisting of rubs and scrapes.

Finding concentrated rubs on public land is always a good sign.

The general area consisted of low grassy bedding areas with steep hardwood ridges mixed in between; a recipe for holding deer in good numbers. Our strategy for this piece, (along with every other parcel) was to walk as much ground as possible and mark good areas on my onXmaps GPS app. Within an hour we located a good rub line, doe bedding area, and a few scrapes in the general area. Shortly after that, Joey picked up a small matched set of antlers on ridge between a field edge and a swamp. Aha – shed success!

Joey picked up this small matched set on the first morning of our scouting trip and his shit-eating grin is a sure sign he is happy!

Later in the morning, we moved to a different public hunting area about five miles away. This chunk of land was unique because much of the area backed up to a small lake and made it tough to access, which is important for leaving the crowds behind. Much like the first area, it was filled with big oak ridges and plenty of bedding cover. Within an hour of walking fingers of the lake, I determined I will be utilizing a kayak as a way to creatively access the surrounding tracts of public land. As we walked back to our parking spot at 2pm, the rain starting pouring down so we called it a day and headed back to the hotel.

Day 2

With the major rain system lingering until noon, we spent the better part of the morning hours digital scouting from out hotel room in search of areas to check out on our final day. When the weather finally broke, we set out for three other spots within an hour of our hotel. The first area was a small parcel that looked like it had potential but we basically just drove the edges and didn’t walk around due to the roads being too muddy for our little car to get down.

We then moved to a much larger tract of land that had a mix of CRP, hardwoods, and thick tangled messes of bedding cover. Although we jumped a few bedded does, we weren’t able to locate much rutting sign from the previous season. We also discovered stand locations from other hunters, so combining hunter sign with relatively easy to access terrain, this area screamed DO NOT HUNT! Needless to say we moved on.

Within 10 minutes, we were at another location but quickly discovered the same song and dance as the previous parcel; easy access, tree stands, and minuscule rut sign. It was time to pull the plug on this area altogether and put some miles on the vehicle to a completely different geographical region.

Iowa offers great public land hunting opportunities but you will have to get creative and put in the work to evade other hunters.

With the clock ticking on the final hours of the scouting trip, we arrived to a different public hunting area with the hopes of leaving the crowds behind. Much like some of the areas we scouted the previous day, this area was tougher to access because of a large river that ran close to the roads and outside perimeter. The river was running high and fast, preventing us from crossing so we marked this location on the map and will hunt this area as a secondary spot if our first targets aren’t producing.

Lessons Learned

Although our strategy was to walk as much as possible, we also kept efficiency in mind by not getting hung up on mediocre properties. Just because a parcel looked great from an aerial map, didn’t necessarily mean that it was killer once we had boots on the ground. In fact, the parcels that looked good on paper were the exact opposite we were hoping for. Turns out, many other hunters had the same idea, which meant deer activity was sparse, so we moved on. It’s important to not waste time hunting or scouting areas that “look good” because your days are extremely limited and time is precious. It’s really that simple. We needed to actually see deer or find good rut sign and trails for us to really slow down and scout the area but until we did, we kept moving.

We laid our eyes on this shed buck during the final hours of the scouting trip. I hope to cross paths with him in November.

During the last hour, we were finally able to locate a secondary public area with good deer sign. Although we weren’t able to walk this piece, we believe this area holds good bucks based on deer sightings and terrain that is tough to access due to a large river that no one wants to cross. Many public land hunting experts say they won’t hunt areas that they can easily access on foot. In order for them to actually hunt public spots, they have to take a boat, ford a river in waders, or climb steep/nasty terrain before they spend time there. If these terrain features aren’t in the equation and it’s a cake walk to get to an area, they simply won’t waste their time knowing that the quality of hunting will be poor.

Although the rain and thunderstorms took a solid 10 hours away from our scouting trip, all in all we were still able to cover a bunch of ground. If anything, we were able to put boots on many properties that we would have wasted time on in November, which will pay off big during a DIY week-long hunt. I look forward to hunting the great state of Iowa in the near future but until then, I’ll be saying “Is it November yet?”

View the full photo album from our Iowa scouting trip.

Make sure to read up on PART 1 and PART 2 and PART 3 to complete the entire season. Here’s the final chapter.

By Adam Parr

Day 5

Shortly after first light on Friday morning, Thad and I gather our gear and depart the cabin on foot with our morning plan following a similar loop and strategy as day one. We think it will be good to work up the mountain in the morning and then pop over the other ridge to the next drainage, grab my trail camera and circle back towards the cabin by 2pm. If we had yet to get into elk after five miles of travel, the evening plan was to head back to the same meadow where I’d shot the bull two days prior.

While working through the dark timber, we come across good elk sign in an area with shooting lanes so we set up 40 yards apart and start cow calling. We continue to do this for the next few hours but to no avail and by the time my clock reads 11am, we hike up and over the next ridge and work through the opposite drainage.

By noon, we are at the same creek bottom we know all too well and make our way along the same route towards the trail camera overlooking the waterhole. By 1pm, we grab my camera and jump back to the creek and follow it down a mile back to camp. Not a single elk was seen or heard so we make the climb out of the creek drainage back to the cabin.

Thad carves our initials into an aspen tree before we depart for our final evening sit. I can barely see him, can you?

After a quick lunch and some much-needed target practice to increase my shooting confidence, we rest our feet for a few minutes before loading up the truck for our final evening sit. The plan for tonight is to create an ambush setup in the top corner of the field where the bulls from two days prior initially entered the field. Thad and I set up about 75 yards apart directly across each other with the anticipation that if something walks out into the meadow during shooting light, one of us would have a shot. Thad tucks underneath a spruce tree for some cover, I do the same and we wait anxiously for the night to unfold.

Game Time

After a few hours of enjoying the sunset and overlooking the mountain backdrop, I can’t help but think how lucky I am to be in elk country. It’s an amazing sight and something I have dreamt about doing for years and now it has become a reality. As we enter into the final hour before heading home, I grab my cow call and let out a few minutes of cow chatter in hopes to pull a bull or some wandering cows from the thick timber above us. The thermals have now switched and the wind is funneling perfectly away from me, down the meadow and in the opposite direction of where I believe the elk would come from.

My view overlooking “Magic Meadow” on my final evening sit.

With 30 minutes of light left in the day, I am alerted by sticks breaking off to my right and to my disbelief, two cows emerge from the timber less than 100 yards away heading directly towards my position; my heart rate increases ten fold. I have an either sex tag in my pocket and I anticipate shooting one of the cows if they offer a good shot. Seconds go by and now they are standing just three yards away on the other side of the tree, trying to decipher what’s going on. In a matter of seconds, they catch my scent on the ground and run 25 yards in front of me and stop. As I’m about to draw, I hear more crashing and catch movement to my right of a huge bull entering the meadow from the dark timber and because of his dominant rutting behavior, he is clueless the cows are spooked. At this point, I can’t believe my eyes and with each step he takes, he releases a guttural grunt to show his dominance to the cows. He is king of the forest. If this isn’t the most picturesque colorado elk hunting moment in the world, I don’t know what is. Although he is moving at a steady walk and is quickly closing the distance, it’s as if time is standing still. I am absolutely caught up in the beauty of this bull and the position I’m in to watch one of greatest shows an elk hunter can ask for.

He keeps walking, he keeps walking, and he keeps walking until he’s standing in the exact same spot as the cows a few minutes prior. I have a 700lb, Colorado 6×7 bull elk standing next to me at three yards on the ground and I don’t have a clear shot. I’m waiting for my chance to draw. In an instant, he bolts but slows up at 25 yards and I’m already at full draw. I settle the pin, let the arrow fly and once again, time stands still as I watch my lighted knock bury into the bull’s rib cage behind the shoulder. It’s the most amazing moment I’ve ever experienced in my entire, short pathetic life!

The bull takes off on a death run through the meadow and I see the arrow fall out shortly after. I watch him disappear into a small draw with the cows and within seconds, the sound of running hoof prints come to a screeching halt and the Colorado high country is quiet once again. After the chaos calms down, Thad emerges from the trees with his hands in the air and I signal back confirming I hit him good! Oddly enough, I’m rather calm given the circumstances and the events that just unfolded. It all happened so fast I didn’t have a chance to get worked up or nervous.

The Recovery

I meet Thad in the center of meadow and we walk over to recover my arrow where it fell out of the bull before he ran out of sight. Unfortunately, the arrow only stayed in the bull for a few seconds before falling out, which is concerning but I know the shot placement was good. Upon inspecting the arrow itself, it appears to be a solid hit with bubbly red blood all the way up to the fletchings! With light starting to fade, we start to follow the blood trail in order to further assess the damage and we find good blood. I tell Thad that we will follow the blood to the small creek drainage and stop there, give him about 30 minutes and then take up the trail after dark.

As we continue down the hill, the grass gets thicker, taller and the blood trail gets better and better to the point of where it’s covering bushes and small trees. I mention to Thad in excitement the crazy amount of blood and all of sudden, Thad grabs me by the shoulder and says “THERE HE IS – Big Bull Down!!” We nearly tripped over him due to how thick the cover was and because our eyes were glued to the ground. Thad and I high-five, hug, scream, kick, and just go crazy when we find my bull dead. I’m in utter disbelief it all came together on the final evening of my hunt with a mature, 6×7 bull elk on the ground!

6×7 Colorado Bull Down!

The OTC archery bull gross scored 312 2/8″

I call Sam and Gareth to help us get the bull out and they meet us at the truck after Thad and I finished gutting the elk. Instead of skinning and quartering in the field, Thad thinks we can pull the elk out to the truck whole, so we hook up ropes and drag him out like quarter horses. It was amazing. It takes us over an hour to drag him but in no time, he’s in the back of my Tundra and we make the 30-minute drive back to camp. By midnight, the majestic bull is hanging in a tree outside our door and the celebration begins.

Have you ever seen a big bull in the back of a pickup truck?

I was very fortunate to harvest such a magnificent bull during my first archery season of elk hunting and I may never shoot a bigger bull ever again. There are people who call me lucky, and I have to agree but to only to a certain extent. Persistence is what killed this bull, not luck. There were many times I wanted to throw in the towel, between my bow breaking, rolling an ankle, losing my quiver, shooting a different bull and not recovering it, along with many other mental battles along the way but I stayed in the game. Elk hunting is tough, especially with a stick and string. It’s a wild ride to say the least but if you keep at it, success will follow.

I want to say thanks to everyone who helped out and supported me along this crazy journey of my first elk season but all I can think about right now is, “Is It September Yet?”

To view additional pictures from my elk hunting adventures, make sure to check out my facebook page album: 2016 Archery Elk Season

Make sure to catch up on 2016 Colorado Archery Elk Hunting Season Part 1 and Part 2 of this series. It will help paint a picture of the events leading up to the days that are about to unfold. 

By Adam Parr

Day 3

On the morning of day three, Thad and I find ourselves driving back down the mountain into town instead of heading deeper into elk country due to my swollen, throbbing ankle from my mishap the previous day. My only course of action that would allow me to hike the hills the remainder of the week was to get a sturdy ankle brace and a heavy dose of meds to keep the pain at bay.

If I had to describe my hunting partner, Thad, in three words or less I would have to go with “experienced, burly woodsman,” a Teddy Roosevelt of sorts. He’s a humble guy, has one of the best beards I’ve ever seen on a man, and is one of the most skilled guys when it comes to navigating terrain and hunting in general. He is also one of the most selfless guys you will ever meet and he is happy to help anyone in need. If I ever acquire half of the woodsman skills and compassion he has, I’ll die a happy man! With that being said, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I look forward to many more hunting trips in the future.

We arrive back in town at my buddy Sam’s place and he welcomes us with a hot shower and ankle brace. After refueling our minds and bodies, Sam joins us and we head back up the mountain by 2pm and arrive at the cabin with enough time to set out for an evening hunt. Thad decides to head out to an area South of the cabin while Sam and I pick a meadow that is roughly a 45-minute drive away.

Although Sam is not an avid hunter such as myself, he does enjoy many aspects of the pursuit and he was happy to go with me for the Wednesday evening hunt. Sam is one of my best friends and I can’t thank him enough for everything he does for me. He was also a great pack mule and guide! When we arrive at the parking area, another truck pulls up behind us and a young couple jumps out. They are friendly and I ask them where they intended to hunt this evening so that we don’t interfere with each others evening plans. They said they were heading to the section we planned to go to but with us not knowing the area and my ability to walk severely undermined, we headed in the opposite direction towards an alternative high country meadow a little over a quarter-mile from the parking area.

Sam is quite the guide and pack mule!

Sam and I make our way up the meadow and I tell him were not going to see a damn thing but at least I’m out there and still in the game, even if the chips are down. I try to convince him we need to climb way up into the aspens in the distance but he won’t let me so we settle into a ridge overlooking the grassy meadow. I give Sam all of the credit to picking this spot because if I would have had it my way, I would have attempted to hike three ridges over the mountain!  Now we sit and wait.

“As the thermals begin to shift downhill, I peer through the spruce trees towards the corner of the field and movement catches my eye. ELK!”

As the thermals begin to shift downhill, I peer through the spruce trees towards the corner of the field and movement catches my eye. ELK! I can’t believe my eyes that there are two rocky mountain elk feeding down the draw into the meadow about 200 yards way; my heart begins to race. With a quick glimpse of the binoculars, I determine one is a spike bull and the other is a cow and my only chance of a shot opportunity is to sneak in closer for a spot and stalk scenario. I have an either sex tag in my pocket and as a first-year elk hunter, I would be more than happy to fill my tag on a nice cow. I urge Sam to come with me but he insists I go alone so I leave my pack and other belongings behind and slowly move into position.

I cover the initial 100 yards rather quickly. From my prior Western Whitetail Spot & Stalk experience, I know when, where, and how to move in for a shot. As I pop up out of a small creek drainage, I am now 150 yards away and pull up the binoculars for a closer look. What I thought was a spike, is now a 5×5 and what I thought was a cow, is now a 4×4. I have TWO legal bulls feeding calmly within view and my heart rate increases through the roof! I lower the binoculars and plan the remaining route of my stalk to drop into a small drainage and pop up on the edge of the field with hopes that they work my way before dark.

“After five minutes of slow and steady movement, I slip to within 100 yards just in time to see antlers clashing together in an early September sparring match. This is what Colorado elk hunting dreams are made of.”

After five minutes of slow and steady movement, I slip to within 100 yards just in time to see antlers clashing together in an early September sparring match. This is what Colorado elk hunting dreams are made of. With the end of legal shooting light approaching, I grab my cow call, drop back into the small drainage and let out a few soft mews to see if I can pull them in my direction. After a few minutes of chaos going on inside my head, I figure they did not hear the calls so I start creeping up out of the drainage and by surprise, they are close!

In one smooth motion, I range the bigger bull at 42 yards, settle the pin and let the arrow fly. Slow motion ensues as the lighted knock finds its mark, mid-body, tucked behind the shoulder on the 5×5 bull. He kicks and runs approximately 30 yards before spinning in circles three times. At this moment I thought he was down for the count right there but he runs full tilt to the back corner of the meadow and slows to a walk as he disappears into the dark timber. The shot placement was great but it appeared the arrow only buried about 10-12 inches deep.

Meanwhile, Sam was watching the whole stalk go down from our original position a few hundred yards away. I hurried back up to Sam in excitement and he too thought the shot looked great and at this point, I am in pure disbelief that I just put an arrow in my first Colorado elk. We call Thad and let him know I shot a bull and head back to camp to gear up our packs and supplies for tracking and recovery.

We arrive back at the meadow around 9pm, a full two hours after the initial shot and immediately pick up the blood trail in the corner of the meadow where he vanished into the trees. The blood trail is good and there are bubbles in much of the splatter which confirms a lung hit. 

As the search continues I keep telling myself, “only a few more yards, only a few more yards” and he will be lying dead. The three of us continue the search and 30 minutes later, the blood trail continues up the mountain. Fears of doubt start to enter my head and the track job becomes ever more difficult as the blood starts to slowly recede. Just after midnight and three hours of tracking, we find his first bed with my arrow laying 15 yards away and it confirms only about 10 inches of penetration. Not knowing if we had bumped the bull or if he had walked off on his own, we make the decision to head back down the mountain and pick up the trail in the morning. My heart sinks and a sleepless night ensues.

Finding my arrow confirmed what I already knew about the lack of penetration and a single lung hit.

Day 4

The next morning we pick up the trail at 8am and push further up the mountain. The blood actually gets a bit better for a few hundred yards but then begins to fade shortly after. Upon cresting the ravine, we follow the blood trail over the ridge line and at this point, we are on our hands and knees locating blood. Many times throughout the morning I want to give up but Thad and Sam keep pushing, not letting the lack of blood keep us down. After four hours of searching, Thad locates another bed with a decent amount of blood but it is coagulated to the consistency of soft rubber; my heart hits the floor once again. We scour the hillside for another 45 minutes, desperately trying to find another drop of blood but it proves unsuccessful. We grid search the area for another 30 minutes without any luck so I call off the track and we walk back down the mountain with our spirits low and legs tired.

Later that day Thad and I head out to a different area for a quick evening hunt but we did not see a single elk. Tomorrow is another day.

Next up is Part 4 and the final chapter of my 2016 elk hunting season. Stay tuned!

By Adam Parr

I’ve been waiting for this day the entire year and finally, I am at elk camp in Southwest Colorado! It’s a beautiful day. The sky is blue, the clouds are white, the air is fresh, the leaves are changing, and there’s no other place I’d rather be.

I arrive at the cabin late in the afternoon and immediately get to work unloading supplies and organizing gear for the upcoming hunt. After I settle in and my gear is somewhat organized, I grab my bow and take a few practice shots down range but right off the bat I can tell I’m not sighted in. The weekend prior, the cam broke on my new hunting bow so I am now using my back up Hoyt Avenger for the week hunt. Due to the timing of my bow breaking, I was not able to get it fixed before the trip so I tried to get my back-up bow sighted in before hand but I obviously didn’t accomplish that prior to my arrival.

Sighting in my bow upon arrival at elk camp in SW Colorado.

After 20 minutes of practice, I finally have some confidence in my shooting abilities and am starting to put together decent groups out to 40 yards. The rest of the evening was filled with hunting stories, good friends, and the anticipation of the morning hunt. It was great to have my buddies Dustin, Abdullah, and Thad at hunting camp with me!

Day 1

If a tornado was to ever make landfall in the mountains of Colorado, I could have sworn that one did the first morning of our hunt. The gale force winds had the mature aspens and spruce trees looking like flailing toothpicks in the morning sun so we held tight at the cabin until things calmed down. Thankfully, at 6:30am we emerged from the walls of safety and we were able to make our way slowly through the north-facing dark timber. Our strategy for the first morning was to get further up the mountain so that we could glass the surrounding drainages on either side of the ridge we hiked in on. After a few hours of slow travel, we had made it close to 12,000ft in elevation. We picked a spot to set up and glass for but by this time in the morning the sun was starting warm the mountain so elk sightings were obsolete. After 45 minutes of glassing, we had yet to see a single elk but we were able to get a birds-eye view of the areas below which revealed grassy meadows. Time to get moving.

By noon we found ourselves in the drainage below after a steep descent over loose stones and sharp rocks. We stopped and had lunch next to a clear mountain stream as the beautiful landscape engulfed our surroundings. The game plan for the rest of the day was to still-hunt through fingered timber draws that lead to the avalanche meadows that we spotted hours earlier. Before we head out, Thad spots movement above tree-line but after a quick glance, we determine they are black bears in search of their next meal. Still pretty cool to see!

Dustin, Thad, Abdullah and yours truly resting up for the rest of the days hunt.

As we approach the meadows, the amount of elk sign increases ten-fold with beds, rubs, tracks, and the pungent smell of a barnyard; Now we are in elk country! Unfortunately, we hiked and hunted the remainder of the day with not a single elk sighting or bugle from the Colorado mountains but we now had a plan for hunting in the morning! As the sun sets, we hike back to camp and tell hunting stories next to the fire as the cool mountain air fills the night as we retire to our beds.

Day 2

Come Tuesday morning, it was just Thad and I setting off into the darkness; Dustin and Abdullah, unfortunately, had to head back home. Although there is no “easy” way of travel in elk country, we determined the best way to access the remote area was to utilize the creek bed for its direct, yet rugged path. I’ll take rocks and water over logs and thick brush any day! After 30 minutes of slow going, we dropped down to the creek and headed South towards avalanche meadow. The brightness of our flashlights start to dim as we traverse the rocky river bottom. I start to rush my pace because I know we are late to the elk party and instead of slowly stepping off the log in front of me, I take a leap of faith and in an instant, I rolled my ankle on the rocks below.

Thad and I stop to take a break and assess the status of my foot and we determine it’s a sprain but nothing is broke. The pain is excruciating but it’s the second day of elk hunting and I’m not backing out now. Thad digs out a bottle of pain-killers and I down 5 to take the edge off. Although I know I should turn back and head for the cabin, I insist we press on. After another 45 minutes of slow going over the rocky creek bed, we arrive to our hunting area with hopes of bugling bulls in the nearby meadows.

Utilizing a stream for access to remote elk hunting spots makes the journey a little easier, except when you roll an ankle!

Despite my ankle injury, hopes were high of locating elk due to the amount of sign that we located the previous day. With the clouds above getting darker, the rain moves in and the wind picks up. This should get elk talking! As we slowly make our way towards the meadow, a faint bugle carries through the trees and catches our ear. Alas, we heading in the right direction. As the morning rolls on, the sun starts to shine and by noon, we are at the top of the avalanche chute with zero elk sightings. After a short lunch, we both kick the boots off and enjoy a nap to recover but the pain shooting from my ankle doesn’t allow me to get comfortable. At 2pm I decided I’ve limped around the mountains enough for one day so Thad and I part ways. I leave him with a bugle and a water filter and I depart the hunting area and begin the two-hour trek towards the cabin.

The walk back is slow going and painful but luckily I was able to follow a decent game trail which made it slightly easier on my ankle. After two hours of hiking through the pain, I reached the river and set down my pack only to realize my quiver is missing from my bow. Damn! Part of me wants to go back up the steep draw to look for my $150 loss but the pain in my lower leg does not allow me to do so. At this point, I am still another 45 minutes away from camp and the entire route requires steep travel through nasty downfall timber. It’s a bear of a climb but after what seems like an eternity, I wander into camp and ice my leg for the remaining hours of the day. Thad makes it back to the cabin at 9pm and unfortunately, he did not see any elk despite many hours of hunting. We retire the night with a hot meal and confusion as to why we have not yet seen an elk. Tomorrow, I hope for the best but to be honest, my morale is low.

CLICK HERE TO READ PART 3

It was opening day of the 2016 archery elk season in Colorado and although I just returned home, exhausted from a 23-day work trip, the mountains were calling and it was time to go. All of the last minute items I ordered finally arrived and I viewed my first elk hunt to be more of a “trial run” where I could field test all of my newly purchased hunting gear and work out the bugs before my week hunt in Southwest Colorado.

I have to admit my preseason scouting efforts were rather lackluster considering that I live in elk country but I only have myself to blame for being unprepared. With that being said, I decide to hunt an area that is just over an hour drive from my doorstep and in most cases of going in blind, plans change and I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.

“He said I had trespassed on his property and then proceeded to threaten me by telling me to leave his area or else he would lock the gate and it would cost $300 to open it back up.”

I picked a place to hunt based on a recommendation from a co-worker so I marked the spot on my map and drove to an area of public ground only later to be run off by a local outfitter. He said I had trespassed on his property and then proceeded to threaten me by telling me to leave “his area” or else he would lock the gate and it would cost $300 to open it back up. I wasn’t about to argue with the guy so I left frustrated knowing that I wasted an hour of daylight and the original plan was out the window.

Plans Change

Knowing that there would be zero cell phone service in the area I was hunting, I pre-downloaded the map on my OnXmaps Hunt App so I could still navigate the terrain without a reception. By now it was 4:30pm, it gets dark by 8pm, and I still have no clue where I’m going or how long it would take to get to a camping spot. For the next 20 minutes I find myself playing mind games in the parking lot contemplating, should I stay or should I go? After second guessing myself numerous times, I made the decision to go for it and picked a new spot on the map that looked somewhat promising.

A beautiful sunset on opening day of the 2016 archery elk hunting season in Colorado.

I begin the trek and the first hour isn’t bad but I’m racing the clock because I know I don’t want to setup camp in the dark. After an hour of hiking, I’m still less than halfway to where I want to be and the terrain is getting ever more treacherous with each and every step. I stop for a few minutes to contemplate my decision and my mind is making every excuse in the book as to why I should turn around; “You won’t even see an elk anyways. You’re tired and worn down and you should be resting up for your trip next week. You have no clue where you are going or what you are doing.” All of these are valid points but I ignored the voice inside my head and pushed further.

Just after 7pm I work my way out of a ravine and am now actively looking for a spot to camp but the terrain in my immediate area is not suitable to for a tent so I continue on. With the sun beginning to set upon the Colorado sky, I decide to make camp in a pocket of spruce trees just up the hill from where I’m currently at. Just as I begin to unpack my Sitka Bivy 45 Pack, a bugle erupts from the drainage below. Did I just hear what I thought I heard, or am I dreaming?

There is just something about a fire that helps calm your senses and makes you feel at ease.

Shortly before nightfall, the camp is set up so I start a fire to calm the senses as I envision screaming bulls in the distance. My mind wanders and as I’m about to retire the night to my tent, another bugle echoes through the timber and gives me the chills. As I lay my head down for the night, elk bugles continue to cut through the air until the early morning hours. Needless to say, a restful night’s sleep is not in the forecast.

On To The Hunt

The next morning I crawl out of bed at daybreak and I immediately start hunting from the tent because I know I’m in a good spot. Less than 10 yards from camp, I see a flash of brown off to my left and a 5×5 bull crests the hill above me at 75 yards. Am I dreaming? Yes, I think so, but I throw my pack down and knock an arrow just to be safe. I let out a few soft cow calls and it grabs his attention; my heart races as he stares in my direction. After a few heart-pounding moments, he continues on his way to the drainage where I heard the bugles the night before and based on the rather quick encounter, I believe he was spooked by another hunter further up the mountain.

“As I let down I hear a loud THWACK and the string unravels from my compound bow. In an instant, I went from bowhunter to birdwatcher and the hunt was over.”

After watching the majestic bull vanish into the dark timber, I regain my composure and moved closer to the ravine where the bugles are coming from. With the call in hand, I rip a bugle that echoes through the mountain and within seconds I received a screaming response right back at me! Am I still dreaming? Probably, but I find cover in a nearby spruce tree and knock another arrow. After 10 minutes of silence, I decide the best option is to loop around the ravine and make a move on this bull, which I believe to be less than 300 yards away at this point. But before putting my arrow back into my quiver, I take a practice draw and hold for a few seconds and as I let down I hear a loud “THWACK.” The string unravels from my compound bow! In an instant, I go from bowhunter to birdwatcher and needless to say, the hunt is over. 

Success Doesn’t Come Easy

As I stand in disbelief, the bull bugles once again as if he’s trying to taunt me knowing that I’m completely out of the game without a functioning weapon in hand. I shake my head, mumble a few choice curse words under my breath and make the 200-yard walk back to my tent and after packing up camp, I make the mile hike back to the truck. It was too good to be true.

This is what a tired bowhunter looks like after the cam on his bow breaks.

Although I had a major equipment malfunction that ruined the morning hunt, I chalked my first elk hunt up for a win. I was able to get into bugling bulls, I prepared myself mentally and physically for the week to come, scouted a new hunting area, and tested out the equipment I had not yet used. With that being said, I hiked off the mountain that morning with a sense of accomplishment and a deep burning desire to get back to elk country as soon as possible.

Make sure to read part 2 where I tell the full story of my week-long elk hunt filled with many trials and tribulations along the way. If you haven’t already done so, Subscribe To Transition Wild to have our blog articles sent directly to your inbox. Thanks for reading!

CLICK HERE TO READ PART 2