Congratulations to Ryan Holzhauser on his successful season using GrizzlyStik Momentum arrows and Maasai 200 grain single bevel broadheads. Ryan shares his story below.
"Last nite was awesome! I found an elk herd feeding into a clear-cut right before dark. They were a long long ways away and I didn't have much hopes of encountering them but I still let out a short bugle in hopes of locating a bull. No answer - but I saw an elk start pushing other elk around and through my binoculars noticed that it was a small herd bull. I hit him with some short cow pleads and this time he responded with some chuckles in an attempt to call this lost cow towards him...
He walked away from the herd and went up on the skyline of the ridge. He was still a long ways away and I did not think I was going to be able to close the distance into the hundred yard RedZone but by using the cover of my cow decoy I slipped into the clear-cut in plain view of the rest of the herd. I was giving him some excited, cow calls as I quickly moved his way. I had his attention locked as he thought he was gaining another cow for his harem. I made it as far as I could into the cover at the bottom of the clear cut. In the riparian zone I ranged all the open lanes I had and was getting ready for a 40 yard shot if he showed interest in coming. In my attempts to call him in my cow calls were answered with chuckles and small bugles since he was not willing to come towards me any further I resorted to making some raking and light chuckles in an attempt to make him jealous thinking another bull was sneaking in to snag this cow (me). He instantly got fired up and started throwing small sticks and logs into the air with his antlers when he bugled I immediately cut him off with am aggressive bugle followed some chuckles... he got mad. He worked his way towards me thrashing trees and saplings along the way. Entering the zone the opposite way I expected him to be coming at me with the wind right at his back. After holding my Bow at full draw for what felt like forever I had to rest my bow and cam on my leg as he closed the last few yards and exposed himself from the dense cover. The shot was close - 12 yards. He came in quartering toward me. With my new-found confidence shooting a heavy front of center heavy weight arrow I had no problem taking the shot at that angle. At the shot, my 650 grain "spear" split right through the shoulder and slammed into his vitals. It was a quick recovery. I watched him bed down in the clear-cut an expire within minutes. Woo hoo!! What an experience!! Delicious meat. Beautiful animal. I am so blessed to be able to spend so much time in the woods chasing elk bugles for most of September! Thank you to my beautiful wife Caitlin for understanding and allowing me to pursue my passion - and thank you to my fellow workmates and friends who have helped me along the way." - Ryan Holzhauser
