Submitted photoMark McPhail recovered from a severely injured elbow to hunt down this bull elk in Colorado.

Mark McPhail is an avid elk hunter and has hunted them in the rugged San Juan Mountains in Colorado for 26 years, taking 14 bulls during that time. That almost came to an end two years ago due to an untimely accident.

McPhail didn’t know if he’d ever be able to hunt out west again as he’d crushed his elbow and cracked his pelvis. If he did recover, there was a strong possibility that he’d only be a shell of his former self physically, and that might not be enough to traverse the rugged mountains.

McPhail took quite some time to heal fully and he worked that reconstructed elbow throughout each day, hoping to regain all his strength, range and motion. Though he did make a trip out west last year, he finally recovered and was raring to go this fall.

Opening day of the season not a bull was heard as the weather warmed and the elk activity was almost at a standstill so the veteran hunter decided to change gears.

“The third day of my hunt I drove 11.2 miles from our camp and then walked another 2.5 miles,” McPhail said. “I went to an old favorite spot I’d had success in before and was about to sit down when I heard a bull elk bugle about a mile across the canyon. Right after that I heard three shots across the canyon about three quarters of a mile away and thought I’d better sit down right there because they might scare some elk by me.”

McPhail got settled and then had another thought.

“There was a spine running across the meadow and I thought that elk might be right over that spine, so I walked down the mountain about 200 vertical feet and topped a knoll and there was a small meadow with some dark timber on the other side,” McPhail said. “Just as I scurried out of the timber I saw a bull run to the east and then I saw another bull.”

McPhail assessed the situation and made a decision that would determine success or failure.

“I grabbed my Primos Hoochie Mama call that was hanging around my neck and cow chirped,” he said. “When I cow chirped I saw movement and a third much bigger bull charged out looking for me and went through one opening before I could get my gun up.”

The bull stopped behind a spruce tree and McPhail feared he’d missed his chance, but he wasn’t going to let an opportunity such as this slip away.

“I proceeded to pick out an opening in the spruce and shot through the limbs and he went straight down at 75 yards,” McPhail said. The 6X6 bull weighed nearly 700 pounds and was the largest elk by weight he’d ever killed.

One shot from his 7MM Magnum Ruger did the job once again as the .139 grain bullet put the bull down swiftly.

“It was the only bull I’ve ever killed that fell in a flat spot,” McPhail said.

When it comes to hunting, some people are hunters, and a few are killers. Mark McPhail is an expert hunter who knows how to find and harvest those big bulls, bucks and gobblers. While he’s harvested many bulls, McPhail is especially thankful for one more opportunity to hunt in his cherished Colorado mountains where he was in his element once again. McPhail is ever mindful of the fact that his last hunt could come at any time and he’s thankful for yet another opportunity to hunt in God’s creation once again and for that he is truly blessed.

Call Mike Giles at 601-917-3898 or email mikegiles18@comast.net.