Michigan Sportsmen’s Web

 

This was submitted by Tina. Picture is of a 6 X 6 taken in 1997 in area M, between Atlanta and Onaway. He dressed out at 678 lbs and the DNR recorded it at 668 lbs. Good Hunting Tina. Click image for a larger view We hired a guide for the elk hunt. he was absolutly awesome. his name is Duane and his partner is John, they guide together. opening morning we went out with John (Duane had another hunter) we went to a site North of Atlanta where they had saw a massive bull the night before. We were there for about 1/2 hour or so hearing bugles the whole time, then we got a call on the radio that Duane’s hunter had gotten one already! Wow, 11 minutes into the hunt and he got a huge 6×6 Bull. My confidence in these two skyrocketed.We hunted all day with a short break for lunch then took off in the afternoon into somewhat unfamiliar territory. That was so much fun, I learned the how to track so many animals, like bear, and does, bucks, cow and bull elk, we even saw coyote tracks. I even learned how to identify some wild mushrooms. That part was great. after lunch I rode with Duane, my husband was with John, so we could split up and have 2 teams looking. that evening we went to the same spot we had that morning. We sat awhile and all of a sudden a huge cow and calf walked right in front of us. I was so excited that I got “Buck Fever” I couldn’t breathe. my heart wanted to jump out of my chest. The hardest part was that I had a choice permit so I could take any elk. I had a perfect shot at the cow, but the bull was just 20 yards off the road bugleing. He never did show himself. It got dark so we went in for the night. The guys kept telling me not to get discouraged, and I wasn’t. I had seen and heard so many elk that day that I knew mine was out there waiting for me.The next morning, we took off again. We heard some shots off in the distance like we had the day before. We were sitting in the same spot as the previous day. He was there again, calling like crazy , his cow was in feeding and the calf was behind some trees, but he just wouldn’t show his face. There was a bull just across the road out of shooting range and he wouldn’t stop honking at us. He blared for a good 2 hours.We drove around some more looking for some action when we came across another female hunter who had just taken a nice size cow. She said that her bull had taken off into the hills and her calf took off the other way. So, off we went on foot. we looked all over and we knew he had been there not too long ago. there was a fresh wallow and the smell was terrible, but I loved it. I knew he was so close, but again nothing.

We drove again, scouring the trees and looking and listening. John called us on the radio and said he was out tracking and found him. WHOA what a rush! We flew through the woods, and got to where they were( my hubby and John) I stripped off my coat and was told be prepared for a walk! How cool, I get to stalk! But why isn’t Ken, my hubby going? John said the less noise the better. Off we went. I could feel my heart in my throat. I knew I had to calm myself down. So, that I did. One advantage I have is I’m a mother of 3 and I learned how to breathe! so every step I breathed very slowly and calmed myself down. John looked at me and said “he’s close! I don’t care if it takes us an hour to to go this next 200 yards” The thrill, I can’t even explain. “he’s a monster” said John. The next 100 yards we walked very slowly then. the following 100 we tiptoed. making sure we walked on only solid ground. there were so many leaves and broken twigs, it was sometimes a few feet in between steps. Then John stopped! he pointed up the hill to the right of me. The most magnificent creature I’d ever seen was laying before me. That massive rack, he was so peaceful. John motioned for us to get a little closer, so we tiptoed. it seemed like eternity taking those next 20 steps. All of a sudden , a twig snapped! The head of this awesome creature popped up. We froze, mosquitos were biting the back of my neck and one landed on my nose. I couldn’t hardly stand it. Then he layed back down. We took 2 more steps when a squirrel started making an awful racket. He awoke again. He knew something was up. he jumped up and turned to run, then turned broadside. Wham! he stood up on his back legs took 2 steps then jumped further than even, I can believe and down he went. I was in my glory! He popped his head up again and was trying to get a footing, I pulled up on him with the 30-06, got his face in my scope and said ” you are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen” I moved the sights back a little and down he went again. A little high but a double lung none the less. I was completely overwhelmed. There really are no words to describe the feeling. I hugged John so hard! WHOA! I did it! I did it! he dropped about 60 yards from us and about 40 from where the first shot was taken. Where he was laying there was blood everywhere. He was coughing some and so he wouldn’t suffer a bullet through the neck was neccesary.

A few minutes later Duane came up to us. A great big bear hug was neccesary for him too. Then my husband! I don’t think he’s ever been so proud me. It was my first kill, and I don’t think anything could top it! I’ve been hunting for about 8 years and will hunt as long as I can, but this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Only about 1/2 of the hunters lucky enough to get chosen for the September hunt, were especially lucky to take an animal home. I happened to be one of the fortunate few and would trade anything to do it again.

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