48 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 09 • 2019
Finally,by11:30a.m.,a bullwasjustovera hog’sback
from me and bugling hard. I was tiptoeing toward the
rise when a bugle thundered from just down the grad-
ual slope. Given the reverberating effects, I knew he
was facing toward me, which meant he was coming to
challenge the other bull. I cut 20 yards, nocked an arrow
and froze.
I drew back and followed him with my pins as he ap-
proached. No calling was necessary — 70 yards, then
50, then 40. His course would have brought him past
me broadside at about eight yards, but since I had no
brush or trees to disguise my outline, he slammed on the
brakes and fixated on me. He was about 14 yards away
and facing-to, so I lowered my pin to the center of his
chest where tan meets brown and touched my trigger —
a shot I’d prepared for all summer.
He whirled and bolted away as I cow-called to slow him
down. About 100 yards away, his legs became noodles,
and a death moan soon signaled his fate. I’d finally taken
a bull elk with my bow, success I attribute to God first, a
supportive spouse second and my unit loyalty third.
I called my wife, Becca, who usually comes along
to help with calling and photography, and said, “We
have a huge job to do.” I barely even looked at the bull,
because I knew we were on a time crunch with the day-
time temperatures climbing. I quickly hiked back to our
truck and picked up Becca, who was shaking and nearly
nauseated with excitement.
Finishing Touches
After arriving at the bull, we took photos and then
quartered him. In the first load, Becca hauled both front
shoulders and I hauled one hind quarter and the skull.
The skull was the straw that almost broke my back, so I
stashed it and then pushed ahead, taking breaks as nec-
essary. Once, when we stopped, I said, “Physically, this
is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Now that I’ve done it,
I don’t know if I need to do it again.” Becca agreed. That
nonsense faded after we completed the job, of course.
We hurt in places we’d never hurt before by the time
we reached the truck, so we decided to leave the other
meat bags out overnight, as temps were now declining.
Obviously, we didn’t sleep more than an hour that night
from the invariable flood of emotions and worries. At
daylight’s first wink, off we went to retrieve my bow,
the skull and the remaining meat. That trip out was even
harder given our sore, trembling legs — we had nothing
left to give.
After everything was said and done, I tallied the miles
I’d hiked throughout the 16 days of my hunt. The grand
total: 102 miles. Was it worth every step? Darn straight it
was!
Gear List
Bow: Hoyt HyperForce
Sight: Spot Hogg Fast Eddie XL
Rest: Trophy Taker X-Treme Pro Click
Arrows: Victory VAP TKO Elite
Broadheads: Wac’Em 100 XL
Release: Spot Hogg Wiseguy
Stabilizers: Stokerized SL and RDS
Apparel: Sitka Gear Subalpine
Boots: Danner High Country
Optic: Nikon LaserForce 10x42
rangefinding binoculars
Backpack: Mystery Ranch Sawtooth
Game Bags: Koola Buck
Anti-Microbial
Butcher Kit: Outdoor Edge
Wild-Pak 8-piece
Photo by Becca McDougal
