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I got the opportunity to go on a friends archery bull hunt. First time for me to do this, tag along and help out. I learned alot but this was one of the most epic hunts I have ever been on. It was a ton of fun chasing bugles through the forest and watching them rake their racks. This one was the 3rd attempt to get on a bull. This time I dropped him off and drove around a mile on the other side where the meadow was because I knew he would chase them out of there if he spooks them, so I can get eyes on them if they ran out and radio in. Not long I got the radio and he said he stuck one. Drove back to the old logging road and hike into him. My buddy was worried about his 55 yard shot and showed right where he shot him. I looked down the narrow corridor of trees about a 100 yards down and the sun beaming on the body and antlers and said "dude your bulls right there" Hugs and congrats happen! Man that was fun!!! Sad its over. Gutted it out and drug it out into the open for some nice pics.

Congratulations to both of you! Here is another look at him, 24 hours later.

Well with no hiking ability right now i needed that 1 goat that didn't mind hanging out near dirt road. Friend of mine bowhunter4life Mike had location and Cliff also from Christian Hunters of America was kind enough to go up Thursday and bed the lovesick buck who hung out in the exact pocket i needed him to be in this morning. My son was able to join us!😀 i know for many this might be a last day buck but for me this was a 6:10 am opening morning buck and i couldn't be happier!!! I saved that poor doe from this guy who was trying to run her to death i believe. After a bunch of 200 yard dashes back and forth they finally stopped for a snack at 311yards... and better late than never doesn't count in this case but here we go anways-OH BY THE WAY GUYS PLUG YOUR EARS... YEP I FORGOT TO WARN THEM. 😯 the 243wssm barked with 1 of SHERMAN's reloads and done deal. Gonna give cape to anyone in need if you lost yours during archery hunt or what not but only keeping a day. I have not skinned the head out. I have a euro skull business, i do not remove skulls from cape nicely but it was caped up to neck properly. 6mm/243 wssm hole on left side shoulder not bad and no exit. if in need of cape and wanna come cape out head let me know asap👍 6024994136 N.Phx

I had the privilege of helping my nephew get his first elk this morning. He has a CHAMP and crossbow permit. Walking more than a 100 yards on flat ground was going to be tough, so sitting water was going to be our main focus of hunting. Yesterday, he and his dad found a tank that had a lot of elk coming into that was easy access for him to get into. After sitting last night, no elk were seen but some nice bucks did come in to keep them occupied while sitting. This morning I was able to go, so we decided to go sit the same tank. We got there just before daylight and we could hear some bulls blowing but they were a long ways off. After a little bit a bull started getting closer an closer blowing as he come. Finally we could see him on top of the ridge and he was coming in. He first got to the water facing straight on. He walked out into the tank and screamed right at us. He turned broadside and Mike was just about to shoot when he turned straight away and started drinking. After a minute or so, he started raking his antlers in the mud and little by little he started to turn. He was quartering away and I told Mike to aim right at the last rib and squeeze it off. The shot hit perfect, lodging in the opposite shoulder. The bull took off and I cow called and got him to stop. Not five seconds later he was down at 80 yards. The hunt was so much fun and glad I was able to be apart of it. Everything worked out perfect. Brian

This is from August 14th to September 11th. Not a giant buck but I am impressed with the growth in a short amount of time. 54 days out from opening day.

Very nice Bull. Congratulations.

I like the brawler bulls. Congrats to your nephew.

That is a great bull

Awesome job.

Yes, congrats to ALL ,now You have to get him a Goulds...LOL.................BOB!

Well guys/gals... just got back from the trip. Didn’t get one but it was a successful trip in my opinion. I saw tons of game (elk, muleys, coues, javelina, bear, and turkeys). Hunted extremely hard and but on some miles through rough country. Did locate a few decent bucks and unfortunately blew a stalk on a 150” 4pt on the last day. Just give a big thanks to everyone who helped me with information for this hunt. I can’t wait to get back after em. Josh

He is starting to show more interest so definitely wanted to see how he handled the death of something bigger than a dove. He passed with flying colors. We woke at 3:15 ate McDs, hunted, went to Camp Verde ro drop Lope at Carl's Custom Meats, Verde Cafe for blueberry pancakes and amazing link sausage and like 4 cups of coffee to wake up, back to Precott Valley costco for berry sundae, up Walker road to his Grandpas for few hours, back to P.V. for giant Iced Mocha with extra shot cuz by now my eyes closing then home... My kids know i'm good for more than just the killin part, they know sweets, caffeine, carbs all gonna happen when we go play. 😂 This little man needs some prayers as his daddy is messed up in addiction and it is really affecting my boy-(stepson). As many of us know feeling unimportant to your father SUCKS! A man could not ask for better kids than i have been Blessed with! Thanks for all the congrats but all i really did was show up and shoot straight. Cliff hooked it up! Really thankful also as this was a donated tag to OE4ALL. OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE FOR ALL and Eddy Corona for thinking of me when tag popped up. I was dissapointed and down right angry i couldn't do the 13b hunt but my 3rd week plans were crushed when main incision from fusion in foot started draining and we all know open wounds and a week of dirt do not get along. 😖 Hoghntr

Man, you are right Bro! I grew up there & wouldn’t spill the beans cause the good spots are slowly dwindling! Not that this helps, but this buck was killed In there last year. This is the gun smiths brother.

4b is on FIRE....wait. not this year for once. Worked 3 bulls this morning and one hunter. Bugling was sparse but pretty good for the first couple hours of light once we found the active boys. Unfortunately none of them had cows. The hunter may have but that is a different issue.....

Didn't hear a single bugle this morning lol

In 8, I haven't heard them open up into full out bugles. Lotsa other vocalization. Wallows stinking mightily. I stalked in on one elk just using my nose. Found him and got within 40 yards of him. He was standing under a juniper with his head held low watching me. The antlers were up in the juniper and not visible, but he looked very healthy, just super stinky. Last night, I spent most of the night and morning in a blind. Partially because it is the last day of deer archery, but I haven't seen much Muleys in this particular area. What I did know, I'd be in the center of the rut. Well, they were fighting. Boy were they fighting. Sounded like vehicles flying off an interstate into the trees. I listened to them fighting and tearing stuff up for hours, but not a single bugle. I had one collared 6x6 come in to my blind and stood less than 10 feet from me staring at me, but can't see me through the no-see-um mesh. After a couple minutes he walked back up the hill to rejoin the fight. Fighting lasted until about 9 am.

Last weekend 6b they were bugling all night , lotta a barking soon as sun came up it was silent .

All I hear is everybody heading to elk camp this week and Im at work with no tag. Lol Good Luck!

Typically in 7e early you don’t glass down, you glass up.

The deer herd up here took a major hit this last winter. No moisture fell in any quantity from November-June. Water dried up that has been steady for decades. Fawn survival will be minimal and deer health was poor until July when the spotty rains started. If this tag was drawn by mistake turn it back. That's my take. Few places in the unit have deer in any number like is mentioned above. To say you don't want "honey holes" is silly, any place that's holding deer is a honey hole. You will encounter a lot of locked gates and little chance to gain access. We could talk about the various reasons but most are due to previous conflicts between land owners and hunters leaving gates open, driving ATV's off road and a sense of entitlement by both sides. To think you might solve these issues in the next 6 weeks would be naive. If you do come I'd like you to consider this one thing, without the ranches pumping water for cattle the deer, elk and antelope numbers would be 10% of what they are now.

These 2 where taken from these units a few years back, heard they where running together theres a gunsmith up there in Holbrook, you need to go check out, more big bucks mounted in his shop than anywhere I know.

Just oil/bleach/fuel your area. Oh and threaten the suspect with murder. It makes for good tv/(forum reading)

Put razor blades on the backside of your camera latch.

Bleach will work but will burn the noses of any animal that has been used to using it. If you plan another lick anywhere within a mile of that area they may be “gun shy” of a new lick. Not to mention you don’t want to mess with the wild life. Best thing is to start a new one elsewhere. Next best, dig the ground out in a 5’ circle, 2’ down, third best, kill the guy and bury him. Sodium in his body will make a nice lick.

I have had a camera out since early August and was a bit depressed at first. Overall growth seems to be down from previous years in the area I hunt. Just comparing old pictures to this year. Anyways, I was pleasantly surprised to see the growth over the month of August, with little rain most of the summer in my unit. This buck is only a forkie but he has impressive size. Last year he was a bit bigger, but still a nice buck this year. The first picture is from August 4th and the next two are from August 28 and August 30. I will be keeping an eye on him and see how he finishes out. I might pursue this buck as I think it would be a cool buck to harvest. I have some other good bucks hitting this particular waterhole but they aren't as wide as this one. Not sure why the pics are so blurry, they are clear on my computer. Anyways, thanks for looking.