4th day of 5 day hunt-weather was in the 50's-60's until this snow from the night before-spotted 4 bulls about a mile away below the tree line of the mtn-drove to a drop off point about 1000 yds in front of them-wind was blowing toward the elk(not good). we spook elk & pass up a 6x5 at 40 yds standing & lookin' me up & down real careful like & then he decides this isn't the spot to be & he's gone. after a hour of trekking, i'm sure we've missed 'em, but there they are 30 yds away--20 or so elk with one whoopin' a small tree. decision time-no clear shot can be made-tree in the way & elk in line except for a rear to front qtring shot. pro's & con's discussion & pro's win-338, 35yds & no elk in line. boom-he stumbles. boom-he's off and running with the other elk & now there's silence. no bull on the ground-this can't be-no blood, no hair, nothing. did i miss twice-no-we agree he was hit with the 1st shot, but we reconstruct the 1st shot-$@#$@ a nicely clipped branch- so off we go trackin' the group & 1 hour later no bull elk except the 3 that are splittin for cover 800yds away. i'm not to happy with myself to say the least. back to the truck for lunch, but when we get to the road the guide says he'll see me at the truck as he is gonna check out our starting point again. i'm to follow the road to the truck, but if i see some tracks i can follow them if i want. guess what? tracks peeling off from the main bunch-weird-so i follow them & lo & behold here's a bigger set. i follow this new set & there's a drop of blood-man i'm happy now-more blood and there he is bedded 20 yds off the road & one more shot and he's mine. no ground shrinkage here. i'm elated that we found him & glad it snowed.
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