Well, I try not to label hunts "bad" like I also approach life as not "bad". There are always challenges that make you better and disappointments that make you more appreciative of successes.

I have had a hard hunting season so far. The 2 week Alaska Dall hunt not tagging out with the bad weather and lack of opportunity. I am now sitting back home after a Texas Elk hunt where I saw more big 300+ bulls than I have seen in 20+ days hunting Colorado and Idaho. I put a bullet in a lifetime type bull, at least 350+ and at least 7x8. Bull was head on and I hit it free hand quick shot, but evidently bull took the bullet pretty good. Little blood to go off we lost trail and picked it back up 300 yards away after he jumped a fence. We quickly lost again until next day I busted him 3/4 mile away in creek bottom no shot, but did confirm still bleeding. No more sign yesterday and buzzards haven't started working.

I'm torn up inside all of the "could haves" and "should haves". Many things out of my control like most guided hunts, but I will certainly try to up my game for this type of western hunting. My favorite hunting is mountains sheep, elk, and deer. I have great equipment and shoot great sitting at the bench, but I'm going to start practicing harder all forms of possible shots free hand, shooting sticks, close, far, prone, kneeling, and breathing hard. The animals deserve our best ability at making the best shot!

We decided that until he dies there is little we can do, so we pulled out and the ranch manager is going to check every couple days. In 2 weeks the ranch already has a helicopter survey scheduled.

live, learn, and then live some more, better.

Sorry to hear that, Rob. Where can a man hunt free-range elk in Texas with that many big bulls?

PM sent. Texas is a hidden treasure free range Elk, their population, quality, and range is massive. Hunts aren't cheap, but aren't ridiculous yet like AZ/NM Private Land/Indian type hunts because B&C isn't letting Texas Elk book yet. I think argument is these populations were introduced back 50's and 60's. It is possible B&C starts allowing these Elk to book which will jack up the prices. There were Elk in Texas orginally.

That's a tough pill to swallow.

I've lived through the same type of elk hunts, working really hard and nothing to show for it.

Missed a few from working so hard to get to the shot, couldn't control my breathing.

Sure enjoyed the solitude of the mountains though.

I wish you luck with them finding your bull.

You read and hear about people losing animals and always hear, it happens. It's true it does happen, but hardly ever happens to me, then it did and it was worse than I ever thought. Horrible feeling and nothing will make it better until you find him. I never found my buck last year and that is still a sore spot.

Hope you find him

A dog will track a wounded elk too

X2

we know, we called all around, surprisingly there are not a bunch of dog trackers down in that area. seems to be a high turnover different people will get a dog and do it a couple years, then stop.

once we realized it was still alive and little blood except when it jumped a fence etc. we became less motivated for a dog. the Elk has held to its home range so far and we don't want to push it.

Heck Rob, I have been hunting for well over 50 years and I ain't had a bad hunt. It is always great to be outdoors and doing what you love to do. In fact, I find myself doing it over 200 days a year.
Hope you find the bull. It would be a shame to loose such a great animal.
Adios,
Gary

Rob I hope they are able to find your bull but like mentioned you were still doing what you loved and
and became a better hunter for the future. In the heat of the moment there are always a million different things
we could have done different.

Rob,
Hope you find your bull.

What is B&C?

[b][/b]

Boone and Crockett. Scoring system for trophy animals. Fairly strict on what qualifies for a trophy in terms of size, acceptable location and fair chase.

http://www.boone-crockett.org

Summed up by the following:

FAIR CHASE, as defined by the Boone and Crockett Club, is the ethical, sportsmanlike, and lawful pursuit and taking of any free-ranging wild, native North American big game animal in a manner that does not give the hunter an improper advantage over such animals.

As an example to qualify for typical whitetail you would need a minimum score of 160+. Not sure what it is for elk.

One word on finding lost animals with out pushing them use them for cows all the time and a few times on deer....Drone.
Long range is best just drive around on a four wheeler or the truck. With missing cattle they pay for themselves rather quickly I imagine the same with trophy elk hunt prices these days, might talk the outfitter into buying one instead.

Look at it this way you can afford to do all that stuff, in God's country. Life isn't always about the success and failures it's about enjoying it along the way. Not saying it ain't frustrating to have a wounded animal you can't find.

We used to hunt Elk on family ranch that was my great uncles out that way, family has gotten too big and the ranch is disputed have to pay to go out there just stay not even hunt. I can't justify the money for something I used to do for free but the memories would be worth every penny if I had never done it before. At least you never had it taken away entirely. Hell most countries don't have space or resources like that left. People starve everyday at least you can go back to camp or home and eat a good meal regardless of killing the elk or not. I highly doubt your family isn't counting on the meat to make it through winter.

Thanks

Hunting trips are like sex. No such thing as bad. Some are just better than others.

drone is a great idea! I flew RC planes awhile before i got my real pilots license, just haven't had any interest in drones so far.