| It's safe to say that the most majestic big game | | | | can't cry over spilt milk. |
| animal roaming wild in North America is the North | | | | We took off down the hill and needless to say the |
| American Elk. I began hunting elk when I was just 18 | | | | rest of the day was one of the toughest days of |
| years old and learned very quickly just how majestic | | | | my hunting life. My buddy ended up getting a |
| elk are and how difficult and intelligent they truly are. | | | | migraine an hour after first light and went back to |
| The summer before my very first elk hunt I made | | | | camp, slept for a couple of hours, woke up, stuck his |
| sure to put in lots of scouting hours and in a few | | | | head outside of the tent and watched 5 spike bull elk |
| different places. I had been consistently watching a | | | | run about 20 yards past our tent. That's not what I |
| small herd consisting of 6 cows and a spike bull for | | | | wanted to hear after I'd been hiking all day. |
| about 2 months prior to the hunt so I thought for | | | | I hunted for 6 more days and came close to taking a |
| sure I should be able if nothing else take a spike bull | | | | big 2 point but he was too fast for me. After that |
| on opening morning. | | | | day I gained a whole new respect for elk. It took me |
| Well the night before the hunt arrives and right | | | | 5 years after my first hunt until I was able to |
| before the light left the sky, my buddy and I spot | | | | harvest my first elk. What a great day and great |
| the same herd I'd been watching not 50 yards from | | | | memory that was. |
| our camp. "This oughta be easy I thought." Opening | | | | If you've ever sat on a crisp, cold morning and |
| morning arrives and we climb out of bed and strap | | | | watched an elk bugle, screaming to the tops of his |
| on our gear and head over the hill about 200 yards | | | | lungs letting the mountain know who the king is, or |
| from our camp where I'd watched the herd come in | | | | you've ever watched elk fight for dominance or |
| and out to feed at first light. We take position on the | | | | you've ever had the pleasure of hunting them. Then |
| hill and just as it was starting to get light we hear our | | | | you'll understand and know why elk are the most |
| first 4-wheeler come barreling over the hill straight to | | | | majestic big game animals in North America. |
| our position. I imagine the expression on my face | | | | I encourage everyone who has the chance to go out |
| when I looked at the gentleman on the 4-wheeler | | | | and hunt elk, take pictures or just simply enjoy their |
| looked something out of a horror movie. Oh well, | | | | beauty and majesty. |