Mendocino Mayhem

I am sitting at a water hole watching a herd of 50 plus elk in a meadow. They are laying in full sun and I am confident that by noon, they will head to the water that I am hidden near.

Mendocino Country, California is some of the best Tule elk hunting in the country.

At 11:30 cows and calves start heading my direction and the herd bull is following, screaming out warnings to all the satellite bulls to keep their distance. Another herd bull bugle to the north! Then, from the west, mire elk are bulging. In minutes I have elk 360 degrees around me and I am hoping for an "Ah Ha" moment from my Ozonics.

I can hear bulls fighting and elk splashing in the pond. Out of my blind, I see a 6x6 bull at 40 yards wade into the pond to drink. I settle my pin at the last rib at the quartering way bull and aim for the opposite shoulder. At the shot, elk explode everywhere and my bull walks 20 yards and goes down!!!

In all the confusion elk start watering and calling again. There are over 150 elk within site. Some running away and others coming in to water with bulls going crazy and calves and cows frantically trying to locate each other.

I call my son and explain what has just taking place, as I had just witnessed three herds of elk coming together at once to a water hole!

The adrenaline rush will never get old!