"FAR FROM THE CREATURES" TROPHY HUNT - BULL ELK

Imagine looking eye to eye with a towering 1200 lb. Bull Elk
standing over 10 feet tall including the rack of antlers!

We will return to this amazing hunting story later in the post!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elk

One week ago I had a request for a Archery post, and while out researching, I ended up at Timberline Archery in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. For 18+ years Roger Peterson has been owner/operator of this Archery Shop. Roger has also been a bow hunter for over 40 years. He started out as a teenager and shot his first White Tail Deer with a bow at the age of 15. His first was a Doe (female white tail deer) he bagged with a re-curve bow. Re-curve bows are now mostly obsolete, made of a curved length of wood or fiberglass, with a bow string from end to end.

Compound Bow's at Timberline Archery

Most hunters today use what's called a Compound Bow. The Compound Bow is usually made of aluminium, magnesium alloy, or carbon fiber. In the most common configuration, there is a cam or wheel at the end of each limb. The wheels act as a pulley, allowing the shooter to gain leverage, dramatically increasing the power of the shot.

Paradise with Compound Bow

However, in 2014 the State of Wisconsin legalized the use of Crossbows for hunting, this signaled the start of a downward spiral for Archery Shop sales. Legalized Crossbow's along with losing sales to online shoppers, forcing Roger to close his shop. And to be honest, Timberline Archery was one of the 50 top Archery Shops in the USA for 5 years running (out of over 1300 shops) and Roger has the awards to prove it. My visit comes on his last week at the Shop, he is moving all his equipment to his home where he will work doing Bow repair.

Roger with Crossbow

BULL ELK HUNT STORY

as told to me by Roger Peterson

In late September of 2006, Roger and his hunting partner Ron were in Saskatchewan, Canada for a 7 day Elk hunt. The second day rolled around and it was a nice one, temperature in the mid 50's. Roger was hunting from a tree stand, some 14 feet above the ground.

At around 7 AM he saw some movement on a animal trail some 65 yards out. Roger relaxed, after seeing it was only a couple of pine squirrels, running about in the leaves. One hour later, an Elk Cow (female) came down the same trail, slowly walking into view, then turned away and went out of sight.

Another two hours passed before the imposing Bull Elk emerged on the same trail. Roger had dialed in his bow to 75 yards, he could group his arrows in a tight pattern of 6" from this distance. So the 65 yard shot was long, but within Roger's range. However he wasn't comfortable with this shot and waited. It was then the hefty Bull Elk turned away, Roger had thought he missed his chance. A impressive Bull this size doesn't come around often, and Roger felt terrible for not taking the shot.

That is when the mammoth Bull made a U-turn and headed straight for Roger. This immense Elk was trotting straight at him. He felt as though they were eye to eye, when at 27 feet away the Bull turned broadside to Roger in the tree. WOW - an amazing opportunity!! Zip, Roger let the arrow fly, and it was true, a perfect double lung shot. The gargantuan Elk took 2 gallops, turned away, took another 3 gallops, before falling over dead.

Roger called their guide who came and helped him cut and pack this huge 1200 lb. Elk, carrying it by 4 wheeler back to camp. Because the weather was nice (no nighttime freeze) they needed to take it in to the locker facilities to be refrigerated. It wasn't until the last day his partner, Ron, would get his Elk, completing a very successful Canadian Elk hunt.

Mount of Roger's Elk in his shop

Roger has many trophies on the walls of his shop, here are a few of them

In 2005 Roger shot this 178 lb. White Tail Deer locally using a Compound Bow.

Roger with White Tail Deer mount

Roger shot this 275 lb. Wild Boar while hunting in Texas in 2007, also with a Compound Bow.

Wild Boar Mount

Thanks for visiting, I hope you enjoyed this adventurous true story.
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