2016 AZ Elk Hunt Part 2: Cody's Turn

huntinaz · October 24, 2016, 06:45 PM

Two weeks ago my wife was able to shoot a nice bull and it was awesome. After a two week wait I was playing guide again to my brother-in-law Cody. Cody has been in AZ 3 years (Minnesota transplant) and has not been able to draw a big game tag. He drew an any-elk tag this year (finally) in a limited opportunity area. The terrain is the challenge, steep thick mountainous country, but there are elk around. The more I hunt this area the more elk I find but getting shots at them is tricky. The forest is so thick and the terrain so steep it makes still-hunting a challenge and spot and stalk is out of the question. There's nothing to glass.

Day 1:
Being his first elk tag and his last for awhile (plan is to move out of the country in a few months) Cody was holding out for a decent bull the first two days and then was going to shoot any elk that gave him a shot. The first morning found us in an old hot spot that has been cold of late. It was cold again, so we moved to another spot where I had success finding elk last year but we couldn't ever get a shot. Sure enough, still hunting the thick stuff, we jumped a bull out of his bed but we didn't get a good look or a shot at him.

The second part of the day we hiked into a set of hills that we found elk in last year but is terrible to hike. We found a new and easier way in which was nice. We also jumped a nice bull out of this area but again, the forest and the terrain did not allow us a shot. We jumped a cow and calf on the way out and couldn't have gotten a shot at them either although he was holding out for a bull still.

The evening found us calling the same spot my wife killed her bull two weeks ago but no luck.

Day 2:

Day two we did the same routine as day 1. As soon as we made the climb into our morning spot, almost light enough to shoot, we hear a bugle not too far away from the bedding area we jumped the first bull in the day before. We set up and distress called and had a cow and calf come in but they did not bring the bull. We decided to leave the bull alone and not spook him and would maybe come back to him.

We ended up having no luck the rest of the day.

Day 3:
Cody was ready to put an elk down at this point. After seeing elk 4 times and not being able to shoot any of them we decided it's hard to pass up opportunities on this hunt and he wanted to knock any elk down that he could. This is a tough hunt to hold out for a good bull, you may only get a chance at an elk a time or two in 7 days.

My sister came along which ended up being great but is also hindering to have 3 people try and still hunt in lousy country. We set up and called our morning spot with no response and then went back home so Cody could watch the Vikings lose

Early afternoon we headed back out and decided to try something different. We decided to get to the top of "Spike Hill" which is a mountain that is absolutely terrible to get up/down but is generally covered with elk sign. I nicknamed it Spike hill because the first time I ever glassed it I found numerous elk and they were all spikes. The problem with glassing this particular hill is that it's a worthless endeavor; you can't shoot the elk you see and you can't get to them either. You can, however, climb the other side to the top and it is usually covered with elk sign and should be a daytime spot for the elk. The issue up there is the same as the rest of the area; it's very hard to successfully still-hunt.

Well we tried. We got up there with the intention of setting up and distress calling awhile before dark to hopefully pull something up to the top. As we crept to the north side we busted a big herd of elk that was already there. It was so thick we could just see bodies and hear the herd rumble to the side of the mountain. They stopped but we could not shoot through it, the only shot he had was at the arse-end of an elk. Eventually they left down the side and we were frustrated again.

We made our way to where they had been and stood there awhile looking for a spot to set up for the evening. We decided to walk to the edge and as we stood there I saw movement. We froze and stood in disbelief to see a young bull elk making his way UP the hill at about 40 yards right towards us! As he slowly walked up his body came into view but he was behind some scrub brush/trees. It was steep where we were standing and my sister kicked a pebble! He stopped and we froze, and after a minute he looked forward again. I motioned for Cody to step in front of me to where he had a shot. As I stepped to let him by I broke a twig! This got his attention but he just watched as Cody inched over slowly, raised his rifle and drew a bead on him and fired. Down he went, thrashed around and slid down hill but was stopped by a tree. Just like that, Cody had his first elk down and we had our work cut out for us:

We worked on getting him in pieces and boned out for a packout

It worked out ok that he was a little bull, less to pack out that way. We got a hind leg and two shoulders hung and half of him packed down just at dark. Went and got the rest of him this morning:

The pictures do no justice to how steep in was. This was the easy stretch at the top of the hill:

This was a great hunt for me. Cody is a great guy to hunt with and I'm very glad to have been a part of his first elk. We hiked a lot for this bull and worked our tails off to get him out. Well worth it. Bull elk are what I love best and I loved every minute of this hunt. Can hardly wait to see what next year brings.

huntinaz · October 24, 2016, 06:47 PM

Bonus material:
I mentioned there was brush in the way of the shot. I don't love shooting through brush but at 35 yards and on a hunt like this I will take it. So will Cody apparently

30-06 blew through this small fir tree and still knocked him down. Man I'm glad that thing didn't make it any further down the side of that mountain, the side he was on is just terrible:

Mr. Hill · October 24, 2016, 09:45 PM

Nice elk! Congrats to him!

Good pics, too.

Mr. Hill · October 30, 2016, 02:26 PM

I'm looking for new elk medicine for my .308. Can you remember what brand/bullet of ammunition that Cody used? I like the look of that tree....

huntinaz · October 30, 2016, 05:56 PM

He was shooting Federal Trophy copper 180gr which is a monolithic copper of some sort, was guessing a Nosler Etip by the black tip.

I highly recommend bonded/monolithic/partition/Aframe type bullet for elk. I shoot a Barnes 168gr TTSX in 30-06 at elk and have been happy. I shoot a 180gr Nosler Accubond in 300WSM and like that too. I think the Barnes TTSX is better for elk but the Accubond gives me the range I want for coues deer. Dual purpose rifle.

Mr. Hill · October 30, 2016, 06:06 PM

Thanks !

Arizona Fusilier · October 31, 2016, 08:32 PM

Any elk? That's the ticket I need! What hunt number is that? I had a limited opportunity cow tag this year, but simply could not devote the time to scouting like I should.

October 24, 2016, 06:45 PM	#1
huntinaz Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2010 Location: az Posts: 1,332	2016 AZ Elk Hunt Part 2: Cody's Turn Two weeks ago my wife was able to shoot a nice bull and it was awesome. After a two week wait I was playing guide again to my brother-in-law Cody. Cody has been in AZ 3 years (Minnesota transplant) and has not been able to draw a big game tag. He drew an any-elk tag this year (finally) in a limited opportunity area. The terrain is the challenge, steep thick mountainous country, but there are elk around. The more I hunt this area the more elk I find but getting shots at them is tricky. The forest is so thick and the terrain so steep it makes still-hunting a challenge and spot and stalk is out of the question. There's nothing to glass. Day 1: Being his first elk tag and his last for awhile (plan is to move out of the country in a few months) Cody was holding out for a decent bull the first two days and then was going to shoot any elk that gave him a shot. The first morning found us in an old hot spot that has been cold of late. It was cold again, so we moved to another spot where I had success finding elk last year but we couldn't ever get a shot. Sure enough, still hunting the thick stuff, we jumped a bull out of his bed but we didn't get a good look or a shot at him. The second part of the day we hiked into a set of hills that we found elk in last year but is terrible to hike. We found a new and easier way in which was nice. We also jumped a nice bull out of this area but again, the forest and the terrain did not allow us a shot. We jumped a cow and calf on the way out and couldn't have gotten a shot at them either although he was holding out for a bull still. The evening found us calling the same spot my wife killed her bull two weeks ago but no luck. Day 2: Day two we did the same routine as day 1. As soon as we made the climb into our morning spot, almost light enough to shoot, we hear a bugle not too far away from the bedding area we jumped the first bull in the day before. We set up and distress called and had a cow and calf come in but they did not bring the bull. We decided to leave the bull alone and not spook him and would maybe come back to him. We ended up having no luck the rest of the day. Day 3: Cody was ready to put an elk down at this point. After seeing elk 4 times and not being able to shoot any of them we decided it's hard to pass up opportunities on this hunt and he wanted to knock any elk down that he could. This is a tough hunt to hold out for a good bull, you may only get a chance at an elk a time or two in 7 days. My sister came along which ended up being great but is also hindering to have 3 people try and still hunt in lousy country. We set up and called our morning spot with no response and then went back home so Cody could watch the Vikings lose Early afternoon we headed back out and decided to try something different. We decided to get to the top of "Spike Hill" which is a mountain that is absolutely terrible to get up/down but is generally covered with elk sign. I nicknamed it Spike hill because the first time I ever glassed it I found numerous elk and they were all spikes. The problem with glassing this particular hill is that it's a worthless endeavor; you can't shoot the elk you see and you can't get to them either. You can, however, climb the other side to the top and it is usually covered with elk sign and should be a daytime spot for the elk. The issue up there is the same as the rest of the area; it's very hard to successfully still-hunt. Well we tried. We got up there with the intention of setting up and distress calling awhile before dark to hopefully pull something up to the top. As we crept to the north side we busted a big herd of elk that was already there. It was so thick we could just see bodies and hear the herd rumble to the side of the mountain. They stopped but we could not shoot through it, the only shot he had was at the arse-end of an elk. Eventually they left down the side and we were frustrated again. We made our way to where they had been and stood there awhile looking for a spot to set up for the evening. We decided to walk to the edge and as we stood there I saw movement. We froze and stood in disbelief to see a young bull elk making his way UP the hill at about 40 yards right towards us! As he slowly walked up his body came into view but he was behind some scrub brush/trees. It was steep where we were standing and my sister kicked a pebble! He stopped and we froze, and after a minute he looked forward again. I motioned for Cody to step in front of me to where he had a shot. As I stepped to let him by I broke a twig! This got his attention but he just watched as Cody inched over slowly, raised his rifle and drew a bead on him and fired. Down he went, thrashed around and slid down hill but was stopped by a tree. Just like that, Cody had his first elk down and we had our work cut out for us: We worked on getting him in pieces and boned out for a packout It worked out ok that he was a little bull, less to pack out that way. We got a hind leg and two shoulders hung and half of him packed down just at dark. Went and got the rest of him this morning: The pictures do no justice to how steep in was. This was the easy stretch at the top of the hill: This was a great hunt for me. Cody is a great guy to hunt with and I'm very glad to have been a part of his first elk. We hiked a lot for this bull and worked our tails off to get him out. Well worth it. Bull elk are what I love best and I loved every minute of this hunt. Can hardly wait to see what next year brings. __________________ "When there’s lead in the air, there’s hope in the heart”- Hunter’s Proverb "Feed me, or feed me to something. I just want to be part of the food chain." -Al Bundy

October 24, 2016, 06:47 PM	#2
huntinaz Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2010 Location: az Posts: 1,332	Bonus material: I mentioned there was brush in the way of the shot. I don't love shooting through brush but at 35 yards and on a hunt like this I will take it. So will Cody apparently 30-06 blew through this small fir tree and still knocked him down. Man I'm glad that thing didn't make it any further down the side of that mountain, the side he was on is just terrible: __________________ "When there’s lead in the air, there’s hope in the heart”- Hunter’s Proverb "Feed me, or feed me to something. I just want to be part of the food chain." -Al Bundy

October 30, 2016, 02:26 PM	#4
Mr. Hill Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2015 Posts: 384	What ammo did Cody use? I'm looking for new elk medicine for my .308. Can you remember what brand/bullet of ammunition that Cody used? I like the look of that tree....

October 30, 2016, 05:56 PM	#5
huntinaz Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2010 Location: az Posts: 1,332	He was shooting Federal Trophy copper 180gr which is a monolithic copper of some sort, was guessing a Nosler Etip by the black tip. I highly recommend bonded/monolithic/partition/Aframe type bullet for elk. I shoot a Barnes 168gr TTSX in 30-06 at elk and have been happy. I shoot a 180gr Nosler Accubond in 300WSM and like that too. I think the Barnes TTSX is better for elk but the Accubond gives me the range I want for coues deer. Dual purpose rifle. __________________ "When there’s lead in the air, there’s hope in the heart”- Hunter’s Proverb "Feed me, or feed me to something. I just want to be part of the food chain." -Al Bundy

October 24, 2016, 09:45 PM	#3
Mr. Hill Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2015 Posts: 384	Nice elk! Congrats to him! Good pics, too.

October 30, 2016, 06:06 PM	#6
Mr. Hill Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2015 Posts: 384	Thanks !

October 31, 2016, 08:32 PM	#7
Arizona Fusilier Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2000 Posts: 1,082	Any elk? That's the ticket I need! What hunt number is that? I had a limited opportunity cow tag this year, but simply could not devote the time to scouting like I should.