I dont know where or how to begin this other than we have just returned home from the most awesome adventure in Kentucky. It has been an awesomely wild ride from the time i was drawn back in May. Right after the draw i had numerous locals reach out and offer help one way or another some had monetary motives but most just wanted to help. OleRedBeard thank you for your help it was huge(i only wish i would have hunted to the east of the lake where u were shed hunting
). The professionals from ky f&g where nothing but that and one man in particular helped me more than he probably knows. His information put me in the area of elk, he always would answer any question i had very thoroughly, i felt like he went above and beyond what is required of him and went out of his way to help me. I truly thank you.
I really wasnt sure what to expect when we arrived in ky for our hunt. They had a lower than usual kill last year, there was alot of negative from locals who felt that the resource is being mismanaged ie. traded, relocated etc and after talking to a warden who said he would shoot any antlered bull he saw if he was hunting in that area i wasnt sure. But like anything I tried to go into it with an open mind and make the best of it reguardless.
During our scouting we laid eyes on a 4x4 (what we thought was a 4x4), 4x3 (bull i ended up shooting) and some cows. The elk sign was not everywhere but they are there and from my limited opinion there are more elk there than some of the locals believe.
We covered as much ground as we possibly could have in those 3 days of scouting and after learning how many hunters and guides were going to be in the area where we saw 4x4 ( we thought he was 4x4 but turned out to be a really cool 4x6 shot by another hunter) with cows we decided to hunt up the road where our other sighting was.
Opening morning we made our way to the top of the mountain and after getting the stink eye and cold shoulder from a local guide lol we made our way to our lookout spot for first light. The morning was peaceful, cool and quiet with no sightings. So we pushed around to other side of mtn near a big rub and we smelled elk. Knowing what i know now we should have pushed into woods and investigated but we continued along woods edge eventually seeing a bear but finishing morning at the top of the mtn for lunch.
We decided to still hunt the afternoon and just slowly made our way around and checked the grown over reclaim and wooded ridges for bedded bulls. After about 2.5 hours of walking we were ready for a break. We were in the area where we saw the 3x4 scouting and there was a strip of reclaim that sat higher than surrounding ground so we decided to head up there to eat some peanut butter crackers. Dont know if i mentioned it but my 9 year old daughter was with me on this hunt. She was with me every step and idk how but never complained that she was tired. She is tough. She was sitting on a rock and i said im gonna just peak over this side. I got about 25 yards from her and there he was about 220 yards away that 3x4 we saw scouting. Now, im just gonna be honest. Bein my first elk hunt I went into this hunt with the intention of shooting the first branch antlered bull i saw. But it was only the first day, i had barely experienced elk hunting and i had hoped it would be a lil bigger than that he is probably smallest branch antler ever lol. I whispered to my daughter i see the bull we saw during scouting and she immediately gives me the shoot him sign. I was hesitant and the bull left! I immediately i had this feeling of dread wash over me that i may have let my only chance walk away. My daughter immediately starts cow calling and eventually the bulls head pops out looking at just over 300 yards. There is an opening directly in front of him i am trying to steady on. I decided to travel light in the afternoon and stashed my shooting sticks and pack. The field i was in had nothing but grass so i was sitting and i had my left leg bent crossed over my extended flat right leg and was using my left knee as a rest for the bottom of rifle. The bull started walking thru the opening and i squeezed the 300 win mag round off. At the shot the bull bucked and ran like he was bit by a snake and during that i shot again. The bull disappeared into the timber and all was quiet except the ringing in our ears from the shots. I looked to my daughter for maybe some insight and she was smiling ear to ear and immediately tells me she heard the first shot hit him.
We decide to slowly head that way and when i get to where i think he was and the smell of elk is very strong when all of a sudden the bull appears and heads further into timber. Knowing the way he is headed we circle as fast as we can in hopes to cut him off. When we get around to the other side of wood block i slowly started to push in, i got smacked in the face again by the smell of elk and noticed some blood on the ground. Knowing i hit him and not wanting to push him again i find a rest on a tree and i start scanning with my eyes. All of a sudden i see him in the very bottom of a dry creek bed facing me. I confirm it is the same bull then finish him with a frontal shot into chest cavity.
I made my way over to my smiling daughter to tell her we got him! I dont think she could have been more excited it was a moment with her that i will cherish and never forget. After some hugs, high fives and some pictures. She helped me quarter and pack out my first bull elk!!
Now i am just gonna be totally honest i had some ups and downsabout tagging that bull so early. I just got a taste of elk hunting and it was over. But thankfully for the next day i was able to join up with a buddy and his dad to show them where some elk where at. On our walk in past the eastside of that lake OleRedBeard i let out some cow calls and we had cows then a bull answer close. We set up i called he bugeled but eventually they were heading away we tried to catch them only to catch a glimpse of a really big herd bull with cows slide into a thicket. I came to the conclusion right then and there that i gotta figure a way to elk hunt next year lol. Ultimately my friends dad was successful near by on a beautiful bull but it was not that herd bull.
I cannot say enough about what a great job i think ky f&g are doing and have done. The old mine sites are crawling with a wide variety of wildlife bears, coyote, deer, turtles, snakes, quail, grouse, birds of prey and the elk. We saw all of these species in multiple numbers. My opinion comes from limited experience but my family and i will return to enjoy the beauty of eastern kentuck again. I could not imagine never going back there.
Hats off to ky f&g and to one man in particular you know who u are thank you!!!
