The dictionary defines a quest as “An expedition undertaken in order to perform a prescribed feat.” My quest for Elk began as a youngster of 14 years of age laying at the top of a park, with my Dad, on a frosty cold October morning in Montana. I remember listening to the mewing of cows and the squeals of bulls in the darkness below and my imagination ran wild as only the young know how to do, and I formed a kinship with Elk in my soul that is renewed every fall.

That day set me on a quest that, over the years, has led to my efforts to attain certain goals. This quest is ever changing. First I wanted to harvest an Elk. It took 10 years for me to accomplish that with the killing of a cow Elk with a recurve in the Oregon coast range. Others quickly followed that success. With a string of 8 cows tallying my Elk harvests.

About eight years ago my quest led me down a path that has given me more rewards and friendships than any other undertaking in my life. I decided I was going to harvest an Elk with a self bow. I bought a copy of the Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume one and proceeded to read it cover to cover 3 times. I was fascinated with the process and intimidated by the skill it would require to actually make an all wood bow of hunting quality. I finally realized that parts of the book just wouldn’t make any sense until I started making shavings and I bought my first stave. It was a $100 Yew stave of premium quality. I worked that piece of wood carefully over the next 8 months. I shaped it and got it bending on the floor. I built a tillering stick and started taking it home. I got excited as it really started bending and a little voice in my head said it’s ready to string. I strung it up and was elated that I had gotten so far along in the process. Seeing a stiff spot I went at it with a vengeance and rather than put it on the tillering stick I strung it up again, this time with different results. All I remember is hearing the loudest crack I’ve ever heard and with no warning the wood I had nurtured so carefully was now in splinters.

After many years, and a lot of shavings under the bench, I have achieved my goal of making an Elk hunting bow. This was accomplished through shear stubbornness and more importantly the help of good friends. Friends that I have met mainly online through sites like the Leatherwall and Tradgang. People sharing a common love for bow building and all things outdoors. People, many of whom I’ve never met, that have shared their experience freely. Some of whom I’ve had the great pleasure of meeting to build bows and share campfires. Two Texans, in particular, opened their doors to me and allowed me to visit them. On that visit, under their patience guidance I realized my dream of building my Elk Bow A 69”ntn Osage Selfbow pulling 70#@28".

The following is a chronicle of my first Selfbow Elk hunt. Thank You Mike Westvang, Rusty Craine, George Tsoukalas, Steve Sefsick, Mickey Lotz , George Nagle and others for enduring my slow learning process.

Day 1: 9-11-03
I arrived in the high country this afternoon and got camp set up. I sat back anticipating the next days opener and as light faded the first trill sounds of an Elk bugling drifted through the pines.

Day 2: 9-12-03
I had 6 Elk bugling around camp last night. One in particular had a very distinct aggressive bugle. It was started with a two note crescendo up then a three note decrescendo down into a deep throaty growl. I heard two fights between this bull and two others during the night with Goliath emerging victorious both times.

On my morning hunt I set up on a tank in a ground blind that I had built with Mike and Connie Westvang two months before. 15 minutes after first light I had a nice 320 class 6x6 bull come into the tank. He lingered for 10 minutes or so, offering several 20 yard or closer shot opportunities, before drifting off into the timber. But I have a cow tag this year.

I could hear other Elk, mewing and bugling up on the ridge above the tank and decided to move in on them. On my way to them I ran into another hunter. He told me he had two friends working that herd from the other side of the ridge so. I backed out of the area.

I headed about a mile away and called up a medium sized 5x5 280 class bull before calling it a morning.

This evening I still-hunted along the West canyon rim and quietly cow called. I had a response with about half an hour of shooting light left. I stalked in on a herd of 8 cows, closing the gap to 40 yards before swirling winds carried my scent to them and they left.

Day 3: 9-13-03
More bugling all last night. Goliath hooked it up with another bull for a vicious fight. They sounded like they were only about 30 or 40 yards from my tent and I had not to pleasant visions of being trampled in my bed by 1600 pounds of raging bull Elk. Goliath won and chased the interloper off.

This morning I was up at 4:30 and headed out in the dark for the West canyon. I first had to get around Goliath and he was none too happy about hearing me trying to quietly slip through the burn. Coming at one point to within 50 yards and giving me one of his vicious warnings. Man if that doesn’t get yourblood racing nothing will.

Just after first light I got on to a bugling bull and started calling him. I used what I had learned from listening to the bulls around camp and the calling that proceeded the fights. The sequence went something like this. I sounded off a locating bugle when we were about 150 yards apart. He responded. I closed the gap to about half the distance and called finishing off with aggressive chuckles. He started getting agitated and we exchanged bugles and chuckles with increasing intensity over the next 10 minutes. I closed the gap about another 20 yards and started loudly raking a tree finishing off with a loud bugle and chuckles. That was all he could stand and he closed the gap popping out at 20 yards. I wasn’t ready for what I saw. This was easily the largest bull I have ever called in going at least 360 and maybe even Boone and Crockett quality. He was a 6x6 with perfect front tines about 20” long and thirds about the same length. His daggers were incredibly long and he finished up with a whale tail 5 and 6th points that I’ve only seen in magazines and videos. He put on quite a show over the next 5 minutes, bugling at me and doing the parallel pacing they do just before locking horns. When he failed to see me he finally started to think something was wrong and faced me letting out a bugle that shook the trees and practically knocked the hat off my head. He then swaggered off towards their bedding area leaving behind one shook up and exhilarated hunter (With a cow tag) WOW!!

Went into town to get some ice and give the love of my life a call to let her know I am OK. My wife is a rare and precious woman who understands and encourages my September pilgrimage into the high country each fall.

Quiet evening with no encounters. But I’m still reeling after this mornings encounter. WOW!!!

Day 4: 9-14-03
It was quiet last night with only a few bugles around camp. I didn’t get into any Elk on the morning hunt.

I set up in the ground blind I used on opening day at 1:00pm and sat it out with a good book until dark. No sightings and no bugles until after dark.

Day 5: 9-15-03
They’re back!! Had bugles around camp all night. Goliath has bugled himself hoarse and sounds almost comical. But I wouldn’t mess with him. I left camp by 4:15 and got out in front of the Elk before they left the burn. I wanted to intercept them heading out to bed down. Just after first light I heard them coming. They were headed around the head of the West canyon and I had to slip over about 150 yards to get to a good intercept point. I let out some cow calls as I moved . I spotted a cow about 60 yards out and closing and I got set up. She went behind a clump of small Gamble oak shoots and I took one step out and got ready to draw. She would be under 20 yards when she cleared the brush. Just then I heard the dreaded Cow bark from behind me. I thought I was on the edge of the herd but somehow I had worked my way smack dab into the middle of them. Needless to say the game was over and they scattered. So close and yet so far.

On a good note I did get another good look at Mr. Whale Tail. I stopped him with a cow call as they were leaving. Man what a bull!!

Went into town and got Ice and talked with the better half. I am a lucky man.

Day 6: 9-16-03
Had Bulls bugling all night again. I decided to give the West canyon a break and hunted the East canyon this morning. I located a heard in the dark and tried to get out in front of them for an intercept but they beat me.

I sat on a funnel tonight for about 4 hours with no luck. At least until I got back to camp. I had 3 cows feeding in the meadow 50 yards from my tentwhen I got back. Too bad it was dark.

Day 7: 9-17-03
I had bulls bugling out in the burn all night. One was heading up the cows saw last night. I slipped along the edge of the burn in the dark to within 100 yards of the Elk and waited. Just after first light I spotted two herds. One with a 340 class bull and 8 cows, the other with a 350 class bull and 4 cows. The second herd started moving into the burn to bed and I paralleled them about 80 yards back in the timber. Everything was looking good as they started up out of the burn into the timber. I had to get about 30 yards to a patch of x-mas trees that would offer me cover for a 20 yard shot. Just then I spotted movement to the left out of the corner of my eye and I was pinned down by a cow. The bull and 3 cows passed 50 yards away. My new friendkept her eye on me until they were clear they looped out 80 yards away into the timber with the rest of them.

Made another Midday Ice run and called home. Solo hunts are taxing on the body and mind and it’s sure nice to hear my wives voice . What a wonderful woman.

Tried to set up to intercept the herd from this morning returning to the burn but had no luck.

Last Day, Day 8: 9-18-03
Very few Elk sounds last night just a few bugles. I set up for Whale tail and his cows this morning. My set up was almost perfect. I had to shift about 50 yards to get the wind in my favor as they came in and they were headed right for my shooting lane at 25 yards. The first Elk into the lane was Mr. Whale tail himself , he proceeded to stand in the shooting lane and let his harem of 8 walk behind him, and past me, before moving on. What I wouldn’t give to have a bull tag.

I went to a spot about 3 miles from camp for my evening hunt but some kids moved in about 2 ridges away and started popping off rounds. I headed back to camp and hit there with about 40 minutes of shooting light left. On a him I let out a bugle into the burn and got a response about 400 yards out. Off I went. When I got to within 150 yards I called again and got another response from the same bull and another one off to the right. I started cow calling and moved in trying to cut the gap in half. The Elk were just over the crest of the hill and when I got to where I wanted to be two cows came over the crest around 80 yards to my left. I could also see a couple more in the tree line 80 yards beyond them. I was pinned down in the burn doing my best imitation of a bush and threw out a couple of cow calls to the right trying to get the cows to come closer. The second Bull responded with a bugle and came over the hill with a cow in tow. The bull stopped even with me about 30 yards out and started raking a tree and bugling. The cow stood 20 yards out beyond the bull at 50 yards broadside but just about 25 yards too far for me too feel comfortable shooting. After about 10 minutes they figured out something wasn’t quite right and headed back over the hill. It was almost dark at this point and I slipped away to the sounds of the herd bull bugling and cow chirps.

My friend Rusty Craine once put to words something I came to realize some time ago but I hadn’t really given much thought too. Paraphrasing he said the meaning of life is not in reaching an ultimate goal but in learning to enjoy and cherish the process of getting there. So it is with my selfbow hunt. This adventure is but one of many journeys I have taken on my quest.

A quest is achieved after the completion of one or more journeys and each journey is taken one step at a time. It is in learning to live in the moment, in the taking of each step, that we acquire memories rich beyond measure. That is for me the measure by which success is gauged.