Date: 2008 Destination: Arizona Goal: Elk
		OTHER STORIES SOUTH CAROLINA GATOR SOUTHERN COLORADO ELK ALASKA BEAR TEXAS HOG MONTANA MULE DEER QUEBEC CARIBOU ARIZONA ELK KENTUCKY WHITETAIL MANITOBA CARIBOU NEW MEXICO MULE DEER NEW MEXICO PRONHORN QUEBEC BEAR SOUTH DAKOTA WHITETAIL SOUTH DAKOTA MULE DEER WYOMING PRONGHORN AFICAN KUDU

Archery Hunting Elk, Arizona

On this archery elk hunt I logged well over a 100 miles on foot looking for the trophy of my dreams.

The hunting has been tough to say the least, but it’s a draw of a lifetime and I'm giving this hunt my all. The weather is slightly warmer than usual and the elk are simply not responding to calls, making it very difficult to get within archery range.

We are hunting public land and the elk are abundant but it's a lot of walking, stalking, and scouting. I've passed on several smaller bulls throughout the trip & had an opportunity at a 350 class bull on the second day.

The bull passed through the shooting lane but did not give us enough footage for a TV show...so the hunt continues on. With a day and a half to go, I'm convinced the rut is getting closer and the hunting is getting better by the day.

Yesterday we watched a 380-class bull nose to nose with the lead cow while several big satellite bulls surrounded the other dozen cows. There wasn't enough light to pursue this bull, but it shows yet another sign that the rut is getting close.

Each morning the bugles are getting more aggressive and our strategies are bringing us closer and closer. Of course I'm hoping for a trophy elk, but waking up at 3am to bugling bulls outside the camper is an incredible experience. I've seen some of the biggest bulls of my life, been within a hundred yards of bulls every morning, and regardless of the outcome this hunt has been both a great experience and a success in my book.