Nothing in my life felt like bringing home my 1st elk. Sounds like you are in the same frame of mind. Congratulations, hoping for a good story to follow.
Today I was able to get back into an area that I hunted a couple of days ago(but had a bad wind that day). My plan was to check the wind when I crested the hill and hunt the good wind.
Luck would have it that I was able to go where I wanted.
I still hunted my way to my spot after daylight. I cut some fresh deer and elk tracks on my walk in, which gave me some confidence in my choice.
I found a tree that was void of snow at the base. I set my pack in the dry area and began to unpack my warm clothes.
After I cooled off from my walk in, I started to put my warm clothes on. As soon as I start that, mule deer does and a young buck move in to about 50yds.
As I stood there with my down pants half on watching the deer, 2 bull elk came walking in.
I picked what I thought was the bigger of the 2 in the short time I had to look them over.
It fell at the shot and the rest is history.
Turns out the one I shot had a broken beam on its left side making it a 4x5.
Sorry for the long read. I’m not much of a writer, as you can very well tell. Lol