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Patience + Lucky Charms = Elk Down! Archery Season Wrap-up wi

Boss Crewmember Shellie McCarthy
Oct 10, 2015
4 min read

Elk Archery Season 2015 with my husband (Joe) was one I will not forget! As with most things in life we are faced with highs, lows, challenges, and victories! As most of you know we had a very dry summer resulting insome very tragic forest fires. These fires altered many different areas of Idaho, closing and limiting many of our favorite elk rich areas. (CHALLENGE #1)

Before my season began, I was told by my orthopedic surgeon that I need to have a total knee replacement. My knee has been painful for quite some time and seriously limited the areas and terrain I can hunt. For those who know me, these types of limitations don’t sit well with me, but they will NOT stop me. Realistically, I did have to re-think the areas I could hunt. (CHALLENGE #2)

The season started with bulls screaming on every other ridge. How exciting. My first encounter was with nice sized herd bull that I was able to get within 50 yards of. Oh I can't explain that rush of excitement when they starttalking back! Unfortunately our communications with this bad boy was interrupted by a truck full of hounds being turned loose only 100 yards away. Busted! (CHALLENGE #3 HIGH #1)

Our next encounter was very exciting! Joe was able to call in a very excited bull. He was magnificent! Just a beautiful elk. I first saw him at 100 yards and quickly took cover below a skid road and planned to let him walk past me out toward Joe where he was concealed and throwing down some pretty awesome calls. Something in this assortment of calls got him FIRED UP enough to come in at a galloping RUN! The heart was seriously pounding at this point. This fantastic bull stopped only 15 yds from me and I only had a front right shoulder shot...no good. I prayed he would just keep walking toward the call. No chance....he turned and trotted away throwing those beautiful antlers on his back. (CHALLENGE #4, HIGH #2)

At this point in the season the weather was either way warm or pouring rain! We continued to cover ground by scouting new area and checking existing areas for sign. Things got pretty quiet. (CHALLENGE #5) Thank the good Lord the rain finally stopped and the air was clean and cool.

After chowing down some Lucky Charms at 4:30 am we hit the trails. The morning hike was beautiful but still quiet. Things were looking pretty tough as we were hoping the change in weather would inspire some communications with the Elk. It was just too quiet. (LOW #1) I was not going let that brief discouraging moment keep me down. They had to start talking soon! So…..feeling lucky due to the consumption of Lucky Charms, we moved into a new area and changed up our strategy. As we were traveling into the new area, we ran into a local rancher looking for wayward cattle. He said he had not seen any elk moving in this area and their ranch was having issues with wolves this year and lost several cattle. (CHALLENGE #6)

Staying hopeful, we continued to cover ground and bugle in our new area. That afternoon we were able to get a bull to bugle back. SWEET!! I quickly slapped on some cammo face paint, grabbed my bow and hit the trail. We moved quickly up to the top of a ridge where we could get into position to call him in. Once we hit the top the bull was still bugling we had two other bulls beginning to talk. WOAH!

(HIGH #3)

SO.....there we were.... bulls going crazy, wind is in our face, and it’s getting real! My husband reminded me not to get "pinned" into one spot I needed to keep mobile and able to move as the elk move while staying concealed. OK...UGH. Panic. I have two Bulls coming in!! So I quickly position myself with two shooting lanes and confirmed my ranges. Let me tell you folks there is NOTHING compared to being in close proximity to a SCREAMING BULL. At this point excitement and nervous energy was overwhelming. I had to have a serious conversation with my self and calm down! Sounds funny, but this conversation was truly epic and went like this "pull up your big girl panties and don't mess this up! You got this! FOCUS!"

Honestly from that point forward everything went calm. No more than two minutes later I saw tips of antlers and went to full draw. I stayed completely focused on my target. I let the spike close the distance to 7 yards and that point I released my arrow with confidence.

The bull went 15 yds and Joe quickly bugled at him, he stopped and swayed a bit. I quickly knocked another arrow and watched the bull turn and slowly walk another 20 yards and drop right in his tracks only 35 yards from me. I continued to watch him with overwhelming emotions of victory, sorrow, and sincere RESPECT. (HIGH #4,VICTORY #1 )

He never left my sight. We remained quite and still for another 30 minutes, however, the elk around us did not. The bulls continued to bugle. Cows came in chirping and continuing about their business as if we were not there. While taking a photo with my smiling elk (HA! see the photo) a 6x6 reached the top of the hill and stood in the exact spot I was standing when I shot the spike. What an amazing sight while admiring my harvest.

This is a hunt was an experience I will never forget. I thank the good Lord for this blessing and don't forget to eat your "LUCKY CHARMS!"