I think im cursed!

[Hilljackoutlaw]

Nittany?

She was with me, but she is a pheasant hunter she wasn't any help on the blood. Lol

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

I know there are blood tracking dogs in Stevensville, vom de Berge kennels. Chris Blasowski is the owner. If he can't help, he may be able to refer you to someone closer.

Good luck. Been there, it sucks.

Cool ill look them up now.

 

[Western Traveler1]

The birds will show you soon...

 

[Scarey]

I've been there. A few years back,I shot a nice "Wall hanger" white tail at 60 yds right through what should have been his front shoulders. I seen him leap up into the air, land on his back legs and do a 180 straight for the brush. I sat for a minute before I got up to follow his trail. a few spots of blood on the ground and a big spot where he coughed up a bunch of blood and lung tissue. I saw a few more tracks and then all of a sudden they vanished. Went back at first light and searched for half the next day. Never did find that buck. Several family members went back to see if they could find it over the following few weeks and turned up nothing. I totally understand the feeling of being cursed and it's probably not going to be the last time I go through it. I take what I can and try to learn something from it for the next time.

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

The same exact thing happened to me this year, first elk I've ever shot too. Murphy's law strikes again it seems. It's amazing how tough those animals are. Strange things happen.

I'm sorry to hear that. You know I feel your pain. . Im going back in Saturday morning and looking again hoping to find him for some closure.

 

[MTelkHuntress]

I'm sorry to hear that. You know I feel your pain. . Im going back in Saturday morning and looking again hoping to find him for some closure.

At very least, maybe some birds will be on him....or a bear. I really hope you find him. I didnt find mine so I kind of chose to believe that against everything, he will live and have a crazy story to tell.

 

[rtraverdavis]

The same exact thing happened to me this year, first elk I've ever shot too. Murphy's law strikes again it seems. It's amazing how tough those animals are. Strange things happen.

Sorry to hear that. I know you’ve been working hard to get an for a long time.

 

[FI460]

Damn. This hunt sounded so cool.. I was really rooting for you. Maybe you've got all the bad luck out of the way and deer season will be productive.

 

[zpooch]

Yep, time for things to come together with Chief

 

[Losing_Sanity]

Dang, that is a rough one. Elk are tough critters!

Good Luck!

 

[TomTom8989]

went back into the Frank solo this weekend. Shot a really good bull Sunday. It was an unreal hunt and experience. This bull came from a long ways away and he was VERY VERY angry. I was kinda in a crappy spot in a bunch of brushy trees between 4 and 7ft tall. When he got close he was just plowing crap over and screaming challenge bugles. I seriously think he would of ran me over eventually if I didn't shoot him first. He was circling and trying so hard to find me all i could see was antlers above the brushy trees. Just awesome as all get out. Anyways I eventually shot him at 15 yards slightly quartering to me. He ran around to the other side of me and the blow down I was hiding in. He stopped 12 yards and was staring at me for roughly 5 minutes. I was trying to get another shot but he wouldn't turn his head. During this time I was watching the bright red blood pour from his side right where it should like a faucet. He finally turns walks to about 20 yards and I flung another arrow thru the brush at him and wacked his front shoulder with that arrow. He took off running after that shot and I hit the calls. I investigated the blood and went back to retrieve all my gear and settle in for a few minutes before the tracking. Then i heard a bugle close by so my curiosity peaked to see this other bull. Well I snuck up to the top of the finger and looked. Sure enough it was the bull I shot. Wtf???? So I unstrap my bow and nock an arrow. Sneak up there and can't get a shot. He starts moving tho be it very slowly across the side hill (cliff). I follow him calling with bugle and cow calls. He responds half the time and when he does the blood sprays from his side. I keep following him but he never turned for me to shoot. He was barely moving but moving and bugling none the less. It was close to dark by this time so I pulled out. Well I just spent the last two days looking for him in ridiculous terrain with zero luck! I'm mind boggled that I can't find him. Only thing I can guess is that I hit one lung because of the quartering to shot. The blood was by the buckets tho so its just crazy to me. Also buckets of blood at the spot of impact with first arrow. I may go up this weekend and try and look for him more tho the meat will be wasted i feel its something I need to do.

So the reason I say I'm cursed is because everything under the sun happens to me while elk hunting is completely unconventional. Nothing ever goes according to plan atleast when im the shooter. If im taking an out of state friend or family member its all rainbows and ice cream cones and the world is perfect..haha
I'm bummed and pissed but oh well the world keeps spinning and work still comes at 7am tomorrow morning. ☹

Stuff of all kinds happens, especially when you combine wild game, shooting things, weather, life...Keep pressing on, keep learning, keep at it!