Why Elk Are So Majestic
It’s safe to say that the most majestic big game animal roaming wild in North America is the North American Elk. I began hunting elk when I was just 18 years old and learned very quickly just how majestic elk are and how difficult and intelligent they truly are. The summer before my very first elk hunt I made sure to put in lots of scouting hours and in a few different places. I had been consistently watching a small herd consisting of 6 cows and a spike bull for about 2 months prior to the hunt so I thought for sure I should be able if nothing else take a spike bull on opening morning.
Well the night before the hunt arrives and right before the light left the sky, my buddy and I spot the same herd I’d been watching not 50 yards from our camp. “”This oughta be easy I thought.”” Opening morning arrives and we climb out of bed and strap on our gear and head over the hill about 200 yards from our camp where I’d watched the herd come in and out to feed at first light. We take position on the hill and just as it was starting to get light we hear our first 4-wheeler come barreling over the hill straight to our position. I imagine the expression on my face when I looked at the gentleman on the 4-wheeler looked something out of a horror movie. Oh well, can’t cry over spilt milk.
We took off down the hill and needless to say the rest of the day was one of the toughest days of my hunting life. My buddy ended up getting a migraine an hour after first light and went back to camp, slept for a couple of hours, woke up, stuck his head outside of the tent and watched 5 spike bull elk run about 20 yards past our tent. That’s not what I wanted to hear after I’d been hiking all day.
I hunted for 6 more days and came close to taking a big 2 point but he was too fast for me. After that day I gained a whole new respect for elk. It took me 5 years after my first hunt until I was able to harvest my first elk. What a great day and great memory that was.
If you’ve ever sat on a crisp, cold morning and watched an elk bugle, screaming to the tops of his lungs letting the mountain know who the king is, or you’ve ever watched elk fight for dominance or you’ve ever had the pleasure of hunting them. Then you’ll understand and know why elk are the most majestic big game animals in North America.
I encourage everyone who has the chance to go out and hunt elk, take pictures or just simply enjoy their beauty and majesty.