/ The Meridian Star Mike Giles stalked to within shooting range of this big Ozark Mountain Bull elk while he was bugling and rounding up his harem of cows. Rocky Mountain Elk were re-introduced to the Arkansas Mountains in the 1980's after all but disappearing from their native range in the 1840's.

    “I can put you on some bull elk with no problem,” said Glenn Wheeler. “Just let me know when you can come and I’ll put you on them, or show you where to go.” The thought of experiencing a bull elk hunt and hearing raging bulls bellowing and bugling as they fought just sent shivers of excitement up my spine. Though my destination was Branson, Missouri for a little rest and relaxation, I just couldn’t help being enthralled by the thought of chasing those bull elk.  But the first order of business was to reach my destination at the Chateau on the Lake Hotel situated on a hill overlooking Table Rock Lake in Branson.

    After checking into the Chateau it was on to Big Cedar Lodge on Table Rock Lake for a night of food, fellowship and entertainment! Much to my surprise I met BASS Founder Ray Scott before I could leave the hotel and was invited to ride to Big Cedar Lodge with Ray and Alabama Black Belt Association’s Executive Director Pam Swanner. Needless to say I didn’t have to be asked twice as Scott is a living legend and responsible for spawning perhaps the biggest outdoor revolution in our nation’s history with the birth of the Bass Angler’s Sportsman’s Society (BASS). Scott’s fishing organization brought legitimacy to the sport of bass fishing and spawned a plethora of outdoor industries as well as pushing to enact groundbreaking legislation to prevent further pollution of our lakes, rivers and air.

    Riding to Big Cedar Lodge with Ray Scott was akin to riding back through history in a time machine as he related some of the groundbreaking events that happened during the early years of BASS. “We’re pretty sure that Bill Dance caught the first bass ever caught in a BASS tournament,” Scott said. “Bill jumped out ahead of the other boats and stopped near an old roadbed before any of the other competitors had started fishing. He pitched a worm across the old roadbed and promptly caught the first bass of the tournament, as we watched from the launch site.”

History of success

    I sat engrossed as Scott spun yarns and tales of his family and brothers and early years before he burst onto the national scene. And then he related a scene from a trout fishing expedition in Colorado in the Rocky Mountains. Upon seeing trout fishermen become so excited that they were just beside themselves with joy over the catch and release of a tiny trout, Scott’s wheels started turning and that one seemingly insignificant trout led to a revolution in bass fishing with the birth, a short time later, of catch and release tournament fishing.

    That one thing alone has had such an impact that even today lake owners are having a hard time harvesting enough fish from their lakes because Scott’s catch and release disciples just can’t bring themselves to “kill” a bass even to eat it! What an impact on the sport of fishing and on America as a whole. Yes, Ray Scott’s BASS was the American dream for a man who had a vision and brought America along for the ride, while remembering God, Family, and Country along the way.

    After a few days of exciting entertainment from shows like The Presley’s on the Branson Strip along with some rest and relaxation I found myself being drawn to the Ozarks just south of Branson. Armed only with a map, information and directions of how to find the elk, I left hours before dawn and wound my way up and over mountain after mountain until I found myself in a secluded valley near Ponca, AR. I arrived at my destination at the crack of dawn and pulled my truck off the road and quickly donned my Muck boots and hunting gear.

    Suddenly a shrill bugle rang out and reverberated through the valley and echoed around the mountains past my position. Could it be? Yes, there it was again. The rumble of the old bull bellowing was unmistakable and he was heading my way.

    All but gone from the Ozark Mountains in the 1840’s, elk were re-introduced to the Arkansas Ozarks in the 1980’s and now have now become a viable herd that is expanding and growing steadily. Though elk tags are hard to come by, some are available through limited draws each year to help manage and preserve the elk.

Preparing for action

    I moved quickly and quietly to my set up spot overlooking the meadow that was bordered by a road to the west and a river to the east with mountains on either side. In minutes a herd of cow elk approached through the meadow while a couple of enraged bulls came thundering down my way, sparring and bugling and trying to cut out the cows.

    Before they arrived at my stand site one of the bulls cut a couple of the cows out of the herd and carried them off into the mountains. The dominant bull bugled one last warning to his upstart satellite bull before returning to his harem of cows. For now the old warrior still commanded dominant bull status.

    But now he was closing fast on my position – 250. . .200. . . 150. At 100 yards I pulled a fine bead on his shoulder and squeezed off a shot, and then another and another! He was so close I could see his nostrils flaring and steam billowing out of his nose and mouth as he briefly looked my way. My trip was complete as I had found a bull elk in full rut and shot him with my Canon camera. Though I didn’t have an elk tag, outsmarting him and shooting him with my camera and practicing catch and release elk hunting, much like Scott’s catch and release fishing, was surely a thrill for a country boy!

    Contact  Mike Giles at 601-917-3898 or e-mail him at mikegiles18@comcast.net