Jerry Slaugh
Limited Entry Elk.
Hard work and persistance pays off. Of course, there is always a little luck
involved.
Jerry was fortunate to draw a limited entry Book Cliffs Archery Elk tag. Knowing the area well, would prove benefitial.
Jerry setup his trail camera on what he called, "King Wallow", (more on the name later) He setup the camera the weekend before the opener and returned to check the camera Wednesday morning before the hunt opened. There was activity in the area so his hopes were high. Jerry and his good friend, Scott Weatherspoon had one other area to scout before opening morning.
After checking the camera at King Wallow, he decided to setup another one later that afternoon on what he called Crooked Horn Spring.
Opening morning found Jerry at King Wallow, setup in his blind before daylight. After sitting there until 10:00am and not seeing any animals, he went back to camp for breakfast and to regroup for the evening hunt.
During the night at Crooked Horn Spring, several nice bulls had visited the area. With the activity in the area, he and Scott decided to hang a tree stand in the area and focus his attention on this spot. After a nasty thunderstorm rolled in Thursday evening, Jerry was back at it early Friday morning. Around 5:30am Jerry was setup and ready in the stand. His hopes were high, but the only animal to visit the area that morning were 9 bucks. Around 10:00am, Jerry was headed back to camp to recap the morning and make a plan for the eveing. BIG MISTAKE!! While Jerry was eating breakfast, the elk were looking for water and came in to his area.
After a quick bit to eat, Jerry was on his way back to his stand. Little did he know that while he was eating, the camera's caught several pictures of some nice bulls. When he arrived at the trail camera's, 60 new pictures had been taken.
Hopes were high again for the upcoming eveing hunt. As hot and dry as it had been, he know something would be coming in. Around 6:30, he could hear some elkd as they were coming down the trail. Only a glimps of elk and antlers could be made at first. When the bulls stopped at 40 yards, all Jerry could see was the top of his head and his awesome antlers. It was the biggest bull he had ever seen in the Book Cliffs. Jerry's heart was pounding and breathing extrememly heavy, but he just knew the bull was going to get a drink and would give him a perfect 30 yard shot.
After what seemed like hours with the bull standing there, Mother Nature decided she would change the wind and blow his scent right to him. In seconds, Jerry's dreams were gone and his heart sank.
Just as the big bull was out of sight, another elk bugled to his left. The bull was coming in and couldn't see Jerry.
