September 2007
Monthly Archive
My Mule Deer Story
Posted by Wes on 27 Sep 2007 | Tagged as: Mule Deer
Well, let’s see, I have spent many years of my life writing songs for a living so you would think writing this story would be a piece of cake, but somehow I’m scared I’m not going to be able to sum it up and describe the feeling well enough…. I will do my best.
Let me first say that the couple of days that I had to hunt were packed full of excitement! Besides obviously coming home with this incredible buck, I was in the thick of things for 2 days. The thick of things meaning I was at full draw on 2 different muleys - one being at 5 yards, a 170 inch trophy - (deer stood up with no shot, mahogany bushes covering vitals, then blew), and I was at full draw and 30 yards away from a 300+ bull elk who made my knees so weak I’m still having trouble walking straight! - (again, that darn mahogany, he was supposed to come in below us, he came in above, I had to get around the bush, he busted me!) I mean to tell you I was in their world! I have never in my life been that close to such magnificent creatures. Did I mention, that this was my first hunt that I did not sit in a blind but stalked these animals for the first time? Do I have to even tell you that I will probably never sit another blind? Did I die and go to heaven or what? What an experience it was to climb a mountain, to crawl, to overcome obstacles, one quiet step at a time, to get as close as a human possibly can, to these incredible animals! What a small but wonderful feeling!
So, with all the close encounters that I had, I still had not closed the deal and it was my last day and really down to the last hour because my hubby and I were supposed to be checked out of our room and on our way back to Nebraska by the time our last opportunity had arrived in the late morning. Wes and Marty had spotted some deer up on a ridge; they thought there were 7-8 deer with a couple of possible shooters. We discussed the options, talked about how horrible the conditions were, in fact we all made the comment that this was our worst set up of the whole trip. We’d had incredible wind the last 2 days that allowed us to move in very close, but this day there was absolutely zero wind! It was so still and quiet, we thought we would never get close enough, plus if there were 7-8 deer think of all the eyes and ears! The side of the mountain that we would have to take is full of mahogany bushes and big boulders, good enough cover I guess, but would we be able to even get through the thick bushes? This was it though, we either made a play or my hunt was over and we headed home. I actually said to Wes, “This is our worst day for conditions, which means it will probably happen”, so with that we headed out. Now, I have forgotten to mention that in these worst conditions that we have to stalk through with no wind and many deer, we are going to go ahead and try to not just get me close enough, but 4 of us! Wes, myself, my husband Marty and Wes’s wife Rachelle. Why? you may ask yourself? Well, because I HUNT LIKE A WOMAN, and I wanted my man and my best friend with me! Rachelle and I have become super close due the fact that we have set in a blind together hunting for apprx. 120 hours….something like that. You get pretty close to someone when you’re in solitary confinement with them for that long! We managed, together, to kill my first antelope last year. Rachelle got the whole thing on video and it was just an awesome thing to share together, so I knew she had to be there if something happened. And, guess what, the impossible became possible when Wesley Atkinson got the 4 of us 20 yards from this beautiful 3×4, 6 1/2 yr old muley! I thought about trying to describe the stalk, but really it’s not describable. I will just say that it was a team effort, holding branches out of the way for each other, handing off my bow to Wes so I could crawl under bushes, lending hands to muscle our way over boulders, I mean it was intense! I wish I would have timed how long it took us - a long time. Wes could not even film any of the stalk like he normally does because it was just too woolly. So….we finally stopped when we thought we might be getting close enough. Wes peeked over the top of a big boulder and spotted some tines sticking up through a mahogany bush. We ranged, closer than we thought, 20 yards! Marty helped me up and helped me keep my balance on the rock by holding onto my waist. He kept whispering in my ear sweet nothings! No, just kidding, he was whispering “CALM DOWN, SLOW DOWN, TAKE A BREATH” my whole body was shaking! Marty said, “When the deer goes to stand, draw your bow and be ready.” Well, I stood like that for probably 10 minute or so and then it happened! The deer stood, I drew, there were once again mahogany bushes covering his vitals, I heard Marty whisper, “Wait, wait…” The deer took a couple of steps in our direction, his vitals opened up, Marty said, ” If you have a shot take it!” I had the shot so I let ‘er fly, perfect shot! Double lunged! We watched the buck go about 60-70 yards and fall over! To say that I was overcome with emotion is such an understatement. I always get a little weepy when I shoot something, (HUNT LIKE A WOMAN) but this one really got me. Not sure if it was just because it was my first stalk and I felt more like I earned it, or whether it was the fact that I was so in awe of being so close to these animals for 2 days that it just had a different feel to close the deal. I have to say that I have never in my life had a feeling like I had when I finally got my hands on that gorgeous animal. I cried like never before. I feel sorry for the folks who will never have the feeling I had. I thanked God for the deer, for the good shot, for the clean kill, for the food, for the gorgeous surroundings, and for my husband and my friends that helped make it happen for me. I sat with him for some time, just soaking up the moment and putting my hands on him. I felt so privileged to be in his world and to be so close to him that I could touch his nose. It was a Sunday, and I definitely made it to church!! I know some may think I get too mushy about my huntin’, I don’t really care, I take it pretty seriously when I take an animal’s life, that’s a big responsibility that I will never take lightly, those who do I feel sorry for and give this advice…. HUNT LIKE A WOMAN! then you’ll “get it”!
A very grateful hunter,
Jolie
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Jolie and THE 3×4
Posted by Wes on 23 Sep 2007 | Tagged as: Mule Deer
I will post a story that Jolie will write in her own words in a couple days. I would like to say thanks for an incredible 3 day hunt, and what a stalk that was!!!!!!!!!! We are so fortunate to have you guys come chase our critters here. We are definitely going through withdrawal and you guys have been gone just hours. See you in Kansas.
There was no wind today and Marty, Jolie, Rachelle and I put ourselves 20 yds from this 6.5 to 7.5 year old management mule deer. Jolie made a perfect shot the deer went 80 yards and the camera captured it all.
Later, Wes
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Daren is speechless!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Wes on 17 Sep 2007 | Tagged as: Elk
![Daren Coryell 008blog1[1].jpg](http://blog.atkinsonexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/Daren%20Coryell%20008blog1[1].jpg)
We set out our last day of a 5 day hunt with whatever thoughts burden the minds of pensive elk hunters. Mine the thoughts of an outfitter on a hunt: that no matter how many mature bulls we have seen it just doesn’t feel right not closing the deal for Daren. In Daren’s mind somewhere must be the ‘almosts’ of the last couple days and the doubting thoughts of “will I ever get my first bull?” Mike, his brother, who was fortunate to harvest the heavy 6×6 two days before, pulling for his brother and wondering why he was so lucky on the coin toss. And no matter how you stretch it, to hunt bulls of this quality these hunts are not cheap and the dollar amounts sure rest easier with that spot above the fireplace being home to ‘the dream’ rather than settling for the wife’s favorite picture another year.
So we sleepily drive the 30 minutes to the ranch not talking somehow understanding each other’s world. I park just in the usual, check the wind, glass through the dark and listen. The night before we saw the elk head for the field but we saw no shooters, so mostly we know the elk will be there but will there be a shooter? Sure enough I can see the shapes fade in and out of my fuzzy eyes and several bulls are posturing. The night before, the herd bull was an over-eager 4×4 who for a night had all that he could have ever wanted. We didn’t know that it was only for a night though and when a 300″ 6×6 skylined I almost didn’t want to say. And then another shooter and the pressure left the Toyota like someone burst a balloon. The game was on again, and we started to talk a little. Someone laughed and I breathed. Now elk will do this to you in a sadistic addictive torturing way - show themselves and then head for the nastiest, rockiest, swirliest, windiest part of the ranch they can find. Did I mention that there are 100 elk and 3 shooters? Whatever you are thinking right now about where they are going, just picture three times worse. So bad in fact that the elk have to change directions several times just to keep from sliding off a cliff. Even they are confused. I think they have finally outdone themslves - they will be there for a week before they can get off that mountain. Hours go by and we’ve got a plan. A couple of times we even dare to discuss the size of that bull. Mostly we think about the wind and send out vibes to give us one last chance. Our approach is from the blind side - our wind is good and we are in the zone. So focused, in fact, that several hundred yards into our hike I stop to share a word with Daren and Mike and they ask me if I saw the snake I stepped in the middle of. I say no and we head off. We spot the elk as we clear the last rise - a cow and a calf 80 yards away - the sentries and security system the old bruzer has built in for himself. Then without surprise we know the herd is headed right at us. For the next 2 hours we live with the elk. We are 50 yds from the bull with no shot. We are 70 yds from bull number two and a cow will not clear. But can I say this - we HAVE A GOOD WIND a real elk-killing wind and inside we challenge the other variables. Then we are pinned by a young cow and I say thank you to her youth as she turns her head and filters through the mob. Another hour goes by and we are at times too close, even in a good wind, but it holds. Another 10 yds and we’ll have a shot, nope they are all flopping one by one as they begin to lay down. The bulls sift through the cows and we back off for another approach. We chill a bit and reach for cactus. The bull screams and reminds us of our task, we creep through the velcro mahogany and there he is 120 yds away taking a break. Daren knows he can make that shot, I know Daren can make that shot, and Mike calls out the range. 124 yards - we just need him to stand….quickly he does, the camera rolls and the air fills with white cloud. It’s not the muzzle blast we hear though it’s the WHACK - the bull stumbles, he coughs and collapses. We don’t talk again and it sounds like we are just leaving the hotel all over again. We wait, mumble, and wait and mumble. The approach is positive as we know he only went 10 yards. Mike sees him first and says he’s got to be 330″ we decline but he is definitely growing. In fact we’re not talking again. Daren wrestles him from the tree, actually we all wrestle him from the tree, all noticing that he doesn’t budge. His beams are super long and he is growing still. So we don’t talk for a bit, not loud anyway no yelling here just WOW. Last day WOW what a bull. We know he was born a long time ago and we just can’t believe we got to hunt him. A big thanks from all three of us.
Awesome hunt guys see you another day.
Later, Wes
338 6/8″
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Can you say MASS??!
Posted by Rachelle on 15 Sep 2007 | Tagged as: Elk
We can’t get enough of this incredibly massive 6×6, double-lunged by Mike at 116 yards. An older bull with tree trunks for beams, we won’t see mass like this for a long time to come. Congratulations, Mike, great shot! Tomorrow it’s Mike’s brother Daren’s turn, so stay tuned! Tonight Wes and Mike and Daren were treated to an evening of dueling bugles bouncing off hillsides, so we’re looking for more action in the morning.
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4 days, 4 bulls
Posted by Chanse on 13 Sep 2007 | Tagged as: Elk
Saw five bulls one 40″ wide 5×5 bugled. I called, the bull trotted in, Jim shot him at 60yds. We packed him out. That’s how we do it. End of story we’ll get another one soon.
Later, Chanse
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Another Hunter’s First!!!!
Posted by Chanse on 11 Sep 2007 | Tagged as: Elk
It is the third day of the hunt and all of the other hunters in camp, including Rob’s long time friend Jon, have harvested a bull. After seeing Gary and Jon harvest a bull with muzzleloaders, Rob was ready for his turn with a stick and string. The afternoon before we had spotted a small five point running some cows around and decided to get a closer look at him. However, when we arrived to where they were supposed to be, they were gone! So we moved on to another location that afternoon, but no luck. The morning of the third day Rob opted to go back and look for the five point we had seen the day before. After glassing for about 45 minutes I spotted a bull elk on the hillside. Rob was ready to do some stalking. After gearing up, checking for release, arrows, and bow we headed for the elk. Walking as quiet as one can through dead sticks and noisy brush, Rob stopped and pointed out some cows working their way up the draw. We dropped in our tracks, nearly busted. Checking the wind we set up uphill and back from the elk. After putting Rob into position Jon and I retreated back a few yards and settled in. I left Jon with the camera and snuck down the hill to setup the montana decoy, then worked my way back to Jon. Now the fun begins!! I started cow calling and working that bull and his harem towards us. It took some convincing but they started to come, but they were working up instead of across. I told Jon to stay put and started moving lower into the draw, trying to work the bull down towards the decoy. It worked! I could just see his antlers, and was hoping that Rob could see him coming. The bull finally stopped, looked to his right where the cows were and I could see Rob appear out of the brush to his left less than 20 yards away. I called and Rob let one fly. The bull took off and I could see that he was hit in the boiler room. After doing our jumps and high-fives, we went to tracking. After only 150 yards Jon spots the bull, I see it and then Rob the last one to the spot sees his trophy. As you can see in the pics, Rob’s bull is a huge-bodied, massive, mature 5×6. What a hunt!!!! Rob and Jon, both first time elk hunters, are able to harvest elk and see each other’s hunts. Definitely a hunt to remember. Congrats to the both of you!!!
Chanse
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