An Elk Hunt Story

[Fishy-Fingers]

An elk hunt story

This year my son Shane, finally, got drawn for an elk hunt in Nevada after 13 years of applying. He hired a guide and invited me to go along. We had an absolutely fantastic time and he scored an elk of a life time.

We rode horses for miles through some beautiful country and camped at 10,000 feet. Ate, drank, told stories and had some awesome hunting. The evening before the hunt the guide, his son and his brother went scouting on horseback. When they came back to camp they were extremely excited about a big bull they saw, a huge 5x5, and we made a plan to go for him in the morning. My son told me when we went to bed that he was not really that excited about a 5X5 so early in the season but at least would check him out before deciding to shoot. But why was the guide so excited we wondered?

We got a dark early start and think we may have spooked him in the early morning because we saw some elk busting through the aspen trees but could not see them well enough to get a good look or shoot. We hunted all day and saw a lot of bulls, maybe 10, of various sizes. My son and the guide did a long sneak on a big six point and Shane decided to pass on him at 150 yards even though the guide said he was record book. He was just not impressive as the one the guide said je had seen and it was only the first day. After riding miles and miles that first day we rode my sore A-- back to camp.

The next morning we set out early again to check out another spot across the mountain that the guide knew about and thought might be holding elk. We rode miles again looking for elk, not spotting any. We stop and the guide gets off of his horse and goes to peer down over some rim rock into a bowl. He comes sneaking back saying to my Shane, "get your gun, boy's we have ourselves a bull and its a big one. They sneak up to the edge while I held the horses. Shane gets a rest and this time, BOOM. "Shoot again", BOOM. Then the guide jumps up and start doing the happy dance and giving high fives to everyone. He says it a monster and is down, laying in the aspens. I looked over the edge and was surprised to see that Shane had just made a 300 -350 yard shot almost straight down.

We got on the horse and headed for a trail that goes around the rim rock and into the bowl while Shane bailed off over the side, into the bowl and into the aspens, whooping as he went. When we got to the elk, the guide said it was the one he had seen the evening before hunting season and was really surprise how far he had traveled to this remote place accross the mountain. It was meant to be.

As you can see from the pictures, the Elk is a dandy. He is a 5X5 with 20 inch brow tines and 24 inch seconds. He was 48 wide and 56 tall ( I may have that backwards). He had an raw score of 365. The guide told us that the elk was the largest known 5 point shot in Nevada and may never be beaten because of his size and the length and evenness of his points. No matter, the elk is magnificent and will look majestic mounted and displayed in the living room extension Shane is going to have to build to accommodate it.

We had a great father and son time and the hunt experience of a lifetime. I taught him at an early age how to hunt and now he has taken it beyond what I have ever done, or probably will do. Oh well, It was actually almost more fun to just be part of the experience and take the pictures. However, I am going to keep applying for my own tag and will show him how it's done, if ever I get the chance again.

Fishy(I am the gray haired guy holding the horse)

[Capin' Dan]

Wow what an animal and what a great view. That is a patch of gods country If I have ever seen it.

Dan

[gottafish]

Wow, Thats a big 5x5 :shocked:

[sliverpicker]

Beautiful bull! Although the brown horse you're standing next to doesn't think so, he's sticking his tongue out at the camera! LOL I've only heard of one 5x5 being larger then your son's, it was shot on an Indian Res in Northern Arizona. 385" minus his bez tines.

Which mountain range were you guys hunting in? I love that Great Basin country.

Congratulations on a great "family" hunt!

[nitrobass]

Whoa! Big bull, gorgeous country. Thanks for the story!!

How long until next elk season?!!??!

[OneLastCast]

Wow, great story and pics. I especially like the last one on the pack horse, that really gives some size to the rack.

With all the great stories and pics I may just cancel all my magazine subscriptions.

[Mello-Yello]

Wow! What a monster! There's nothing wrong with the son outdoing the Dad....just ask my dad.

[Norm]

Sweeeeet! Sounds like a really fun hunt.

[Grip It-N-Rip It]

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] WOW That thing is a TOAD!!!!!!!!!!!You all ought to be proud of that one. Not to mention the shared experience.

[periwinkle]

Wow, wide rack.....Thank God (and Pizarro) for horses... :grin:

[willametteriveroutlaw]

wow, Nice bull

[Ras]

Now, that 5x is NOT a raghorn!!!!!

Beautiful bull.


Ras

[northriver1]

What part of the state was your son hunting in and who was the guide? VERY nice elk.

[Gun Rod Bow]

High Desert and Big Bulls!! HOOYAHHH

Biggest 5 point I've ever seen.

[Bait O' Eggs]

Fishy Fingers, I read this post the other day and thought, dang that is a big bull, and he sure looks familiar

I think I just put it together, didnt we go crabbing a couple years ago? :whazzup:

Nice bull and great photos.

[Fishy-Fingers]

Hi Bait-O-Eggs:

Yes it was me that went crapping with you, Pete and his kids. It was the best crabbing trip I have ever had and I think about it often, especially when I am at Tillamook. If I remember we had 60 keepers. I think the last time I saw you I was fly fishing for shad at the falls in oregon city.

Hi Northriver1 and Silverpicker:

We hunted out of Tonapah, Nevada in the Monitor Range. The guides were Timberline Outfitters from Tonapah. I can not say enough positive about them and the experience they provide. They are true hunters, outstanding horsemen, hard working, and really great guys. I highly recommend them. They hunt all big game species found in Nevada and have guided hunters to many record kills.

[REEL HANDEL]

One Hell of a Bull Great. I used to live in sherwood #30 years.

[salmurai]

MONSTER BULL, MOST IMPRESSIVE. CONGRATULATIONS!!

[Fishy-Fingers]

Bait-O-Eggs:

Opps, I meant "Crabbing" even though we did shoot a lot of bull that day.

[KingFisher85]

that is one very nice bull elk! :shocked: