A number Bassmaster Elites set their sights on elk this fall, venturing west to pursue one of the largest terrestrial mammals in North America.
The anglers, most with bow in hand, covered miles and miles of mountains in the wilds and showed some fantastic scenery. Long an elk hunter, Brandon Palaniuk entertained cousin-in-law Carl Jocumsen on a Montana stalk near his home state of Idaho. Caleb Sumrall ventured to Colorado for a grueling first elk hunt, and Cliff Pirch, who guides elk hunts out of Payson, Ariz., was again outdone by his daughter.
Canadian Chris Johnston, who by a stroke of good fortune went to an elk mecca in New Mexico, came away with a 6X6 bull that scored 340 inches of antler, about 20 shy of making the Boone and Crockett list.
“I get lucky every once in a while,” said Chris, who was invited at the last second. “A buddy had an elk trip for four booked and one backed out.”
Thinking the hunt would start the next morning, Johnston was surprised when the outfitter took them out for a late afternoon stalk as soon as they arrived. They only needed to walk about 300 yards to sit near a water hole before the first encounters.
“One bugled, and I never heard one before,” Johnston said. “It makes the hair on your arms stand up.”
Johnston saw a dozen or so bulls that evening. He even knocked an arrow for a 320-class elk but passed. Johnston said that first sit gave him an idea of elk as the guide quickly assessed each on what he even called a special night.
“It was really cool to see these bulls,” Johnston said. “He’s like, ‘That’s a 280-incher, that’s a 300.’ When you’ve never seen them, it was good to get a gauge on them.”
It was on the fifth day of the hunt, and after a three- to four-mile hike, that their guide remembered a trail cam set up at another water hole. Seeing it had visitors, they set up a ground blind and waited, all the while hearing bugles echo through the canyon.
It was enlightening for Johnston, who with ultra-competitive brother, Cory, are serious deer hunters near their homes north of Lake Ontario. (See The legend has fallen.) Elk aren’t quite as elusive, he discovered.
“They’re nose is great, but when you’re walking and stalking them, they’re not as alert as a deer,” Chris said. “There are so many elk in the area, they’re used to hearing branches break. You can get away with a lot more movement.”
His bull walked into the meadow followed by 15 cows, but he remained out of range and even out of sight at times in thick brush. Another problem was sunset was coming.
“All the sudden, he popped into our water hole at 42 yards,” Johnston said. “I was drawn on him for about three minutes before he finally gave me a shot. He was kind of turning to walk away to his cows. I put an arrow in him.”
Johnston wasn’t sure he made a good shot but the guide was 90% certain he “smoked him.” As satellite bulls moved in trying to coax away the gals, the crew waited until dark and found him just 60 yards away.
“Massive animal. We loaded him in back of a pickup, which I learned is not an easy task,” Johnston said. “I’ve been eating that elk the last couple weeks. It was a bit of a pain getting here, but man is it ever good. It’s probably some of the best wild game I’ve ever had. We had elk burgers last night. None of it goes to waste.”
Chris might be sharing the haul with family, but he’s also made his brother green with envy.
“Oh yeah, he was not happy he could not go on the trip,” Chris said.
Another friend on the trip killed an elk, and Cory wrote this on Chris’ post: “I hate them both so much right now but at the same time I’m so happy for them on two great bulls.”
Palaniuk has conducted a number of successful Do-it-yourself elk hunts over the years, and this year he brought Jocumsen along, who posted this photo and wrote: “If you want to know what the end of the world looks like, I think we hiked to it!”
Although they didn’t get to pack out any meat, Jocumsen said it was one of the greatest experiences in his life. Heading out before daylight and staying past dark, they trekked miles and miles with heavy packs in high elevations under extreme conditions in grizzly bear country. Jocumsen said it was his toughest hunt.
“Not many people will ever get to experience something like this,” he posted. “I’ve worked hard my entire life to be in shape just to be able to do it. I took in every single moment.
“Can’t thank BP enough for the massive effort he put in to try get me my first bull. With camera and bugle in hand, he went as hard as possible to make it happen. Had a couple awesome opportunities the past couple days, but it wasn’t meant to be this time. Just being out there taking it all in is the biggest part for me, coming back stronger mentally and physically than ever after being in the mountains.”
Palaniuk equated their excursion to chasing ghosts, but commented that the views were amazing and his soul was full.
Sumrall had similar emotions after his Colorado trip where elk were all around, but they couldn’t close the gap on one. He did score a grouse, however.
“I have to say even though we were unsuccessful, it was probably one of those most awesome hunting experiences I’ve ever been on,” he posted. “From scaling mountains, walking five to seven miles a day (in some of the harshest terrain), and 1,000 to 2,000 feet of elevation gain a day, sleeping in a tent during a snow storm, and drinking from running creeks all week. That’s all a receipt for my kind of hunt. We’ll be back next year for sure!”
Pirch has guided many on elk hunts in the Arizona mountains, and he had another opportunity to take daughter Kassidy out during a short break from practicing for the U.S. Open.
“Kass has quickly put my shooting percentage to shame,” he posted. “She’s now at three elk with three bullets … me, I’ve got arrows all over the hillside as well as a few bullets.”
Pirch stood proud to share the tradition of putting wild game on the family’s table.
“This elk will feed many this year with good organic, wild fed, non GMO, antibiotic free meat,” he posted. “While we admire these majestic, beautiful animals, we’re thankful God placed them here for us to feed our families and enjoy the excitement, hard work and camaraderie of the hunt and the outdoors.
“We don’t take harvesting these amazing animals lightly. I say all this because inevitably I get messages and comments about how terrible hunting is. It’s certainly OK to have your opinion, but we cherish this tradition and hopefully my non-hunting friends may understand a little more what it’s about.”
The Elites anglers thanked the outfitters for their efforts, with Johnston saying the experience will stay with him for some time.
“I will be hearing elk bugling in my dreams for the next month!”