2021 Wyoming elk - solo hunt

MIhunt44

FNG
Joined
May 2, 2017
Messages
13
Location
michigan
I Drew my first Wyoming general elk tag for the fall of 2021. after spending a few days prior to season scouting and looking around at different units, i was not liking what i was seeing due the inability to get away from other hunting pressure due to all of the roads/atv trails. so the day before the season, using a sandwich shop's wifi, i scoured onx on my phone and decided that a unit(s) about 2-1/2 hours down the road looked more like it. so i finished my sandwich and headed that way.
over the course of the next 12 days of hunting i took a ride on quite the elk rollercoaster. i was feeling very good when i was immediately on elk opening morning. the next few days kept spirits high as i was able to find and get close to nice bulls every day, just no shot opportunities. then on labor day i called in a 6 point to 43 yards and made, what looked like, a great shot, the arrow entering just behind the right shoulder on a slightly quartering away, down ridge shot. i had, what looked to be lung blood, right away. after waiting an hour i took up the track, easily following blood for over 350 yards. after that it dried up and i spent the next 8 hours and as many milers scouring the area for any sign of the bull but was unable to recover him. i made the 4 mile walk back to the truck exhausted, disappointed, bewildered, and feeling about as bad as a bow hunter can feel.
i slept in a bit the next morning then forced myself to get my ass out of bed and get back at it, nothing else to do but keep going.
over the course of the next 7 days i called in 4 more bulls, even a couple big ones, to bow range. one as close as 8 yards with nothing between us but a couple small saplings, bugling right in my face, the kind of experience you dream of and see on youtube videos. i also had a few days of seeing/hearing nothing and wondering if i was in the right place, doing the right things, and every other doubt and second guess you can have when things aren't going the way you want.
finally on my 12th day of hunting things came together. after a close call with a great bull in the morning i finally connected with a 5 point at 18 yards around 11 am. he was down in less than 50 yards. i could hardly believe it when i walked up on him after being unsuccessful the previous 4 years. after sitting there in awe for a while, also wondering what the hell i had just gotten myself in to alone and 4 miles from my truck, i got to work.
late the next afternoon i got back to the truck with the rack and the last load of meat, wrapping up my 2021 wyoming elk hunt. my first elk and a hunt ill never forget.
FYI - for the photos, i taped my phone to one of my trekking poles and used the timer selfie feature...a surprising amount of people have asked about that.
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Joined
Aug 10, 2015
Messages
2,242
Way to stay after it!

I lost a real nice bull on my 14th day last year. It's tough to keep your head in the game after that.
 

Morrid7

FNG
Joined
Apr 15, 2018
Messages
86
Location
Texas
Congratulations! Great story of determination and perseverance


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Jul 2, 2015
Messages
37
Location
New York
Very nice - congrats! I get the same questions about pics when solo. I've got all sorts of tricks for pics but my favorite is using my apple watch as a remote - lets me view the camera screen and take the pic.
 
Joined
Feb 17, 2013
Messages
2,254
Nice bull. How many points did it take to draw?
3 in the regular drawing, 2 in the special… or zero in the random. That was last year anyway. It’ll take more in 22 but there’s always a chance in the random. I’ve had 3 friends draw with zero points in the last 2 years.

Great job MLhunt! Congratulations! Will you apply again this year?
 
Joined
Mar 19, 2021
Messages
52
Nice job! There is a small device from Clip-Shot that will attach to a small camera or phone and clip to a trekking pole, tree limb or piece of brush. Very small, light, and inexpensive. I have used one for years.
If this is against the rules I apologize and feel free to remove it but I believe you can get one at clip-shot.com
 
Joined
Mar 15, 2014
Messages
462
Location
OR
Great work, hunting can be such a huge emotional roller coaster for sure. Way to stay with it!
I take almost all my pics with my phone squeezed between my bino tubes since I'm solo the majority of the time. Either make the shutter voice controlled or move the shutter button up to the side and use the timer.
 

bmrfish

WKR
Joined
Aug 15, 2015
Messages
326
Pulling off hunt like that is 90% mental fortitude. Only half of it is physical.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Sep 28, 2018
Messages
1,669
Location
VA
Meat on the ground and antlers on the wall. Its generally a kick in the balls to have to slug it out in an area you didn't invest tons of e-scouting time, but you pulled off a successful hunt.

Was this your first solo hunt or first elk hunt ever?
 
OP
MIhunt44

MIhunt44

FNG
Joined
May 2, 2017
Messages
13
Location
michigan
Meat on the ground and antlers on the wall. Its generally a kick in the balls to have to slug it out in an area you didn't invest tons of e-scouting time, but you pulled off a successful hunt.

Was this your first solo hunt or first elk hunt ever?
No, I’ve hunted Colorado 3 times and Montana once. 2 years in Colorado literally seeing nothing, moved the 3rd year and got on some bulls. Got my first shot opportunity in Montana, got excited and totally wet the bed, horrible shot, lost the bull. It’s been a progression for sure.
 

Disco14

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 11, 2014
Messages
266
Wow- congrats on a great bull and sticking it out! You earned that one!
 
Joined
Dec 1, 2021
Messages
17
Location
Montana
I Drew my first Wyoming general elk tag for the fall of 2021. after spending a few days prior to season scouting and looking around at different units, i was not liking what i was seeing due the inability to get away from other hunting pressure due to all of the roads/atv trails. so the day before the season, using a sandwich shop's wifi, i scoured onx on my phone and decided that a unit(s) about 2-1/2 hours down the road looked more like it. so i finished my sandwich and headed that way.
over the course of the next 12 days of hunting i took a ride on quite the elk rollercoaster. i was feeling very good when i was immediately on elk opening morning. the next few days kept spirits high as i was able to find and get close to nice bulls every day, just no shot opportunities. then on labor day i called in a 6 point to 43 yards and made, what looked like, a great shot, the arrow entering just behind the right shoulder on a slightly quartering away, down ridge shot. i had, what looked to be lung blood, right away. after waiting an hour i took up the track, easily following blood for over 350 yards. after that it dried up and i spent the next 8 hours and as many milers scouring the area for any sign of the bull but was unable to recover him. i made the 4 mile walk back to the truck exhausted, disappointed, bewildered, and feeling about as bad as a bow hunter can feel.
i slept in a bit the next morning then forced myself to get my ass out of bed and get back at it, nothing else to do but keep going.
over the course of the next 7 days i called in 4 more bulls, even a couple big ones, to bow range. one as close as 8 yards with nothing between us but a couple small saplings, bugling right in my face, the kind of experience you dream of and see on youtube videos. i also had a few days of seeing/hearing nothing and wondering if i was in the right place, doing the right things, and every other doubt and second guess you can have when things aren't going the way you want.
finally on my 12th day of hunting things came together. after a close call with a great bull in the morning i finally connected with a 5 point at 18 yards around 11 am. he was down in less than 50 yards. i could hardly believe it when i walked up on him after being unsuccessful the previous 4 years. after sitting there in awe for a while, also wondering what the hell i had just gotten myself in to alone and 4 miles from my truck, i got to work.
late the next afternoon i got back to the truck with the rack and the last load of meat, wrapping up my 2021 wyoming elk hunt. my first elk and a hunt ill never forget.
FYI - for the photos, i taped my phone to one of my trekking poles and used the timer selfie feature...a surprising amount of people have asked about that.
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Congrats man! Good work .
 
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