idgaf

It was self defense, this time. The headless elk it was protecting

Alright just getting home. Long Day. Go through the elk stuff pretty quick. I go to Bulltopia and only see one small (300ish) bull. Then a herd of 10 comes out and I think they are making there way to there normal bedding area all of sudden they make a sharp right turn catching me off guard and stuck in no mans land for the better part of an hour. then the skyline turns into stuff Kings Calenders are made. First wave second wave Small bulls make it to the point I am on. At least I thought they were all small until I looked at the pic just now. They catch my movement but that was ok I wanted this bull anyway I go the top of the hill I am on and I notice the main herd is still in the field after 800 and then they redirect. I put a play on the bulls I wanted. I didnt give them enough time to fall asleep and they bolt I notice that they start acting funny and redirect about the same spot the main herd did. I thought well maybe that lion from yesterday is back. It about 1100 now and I decide to walk by that spot and go to the point where the main herd goes and find a hiding spot for the morning. I get to where I saw the lion yesterday and hear snarling and the cat takes a stand at a headless head elk. It growling now and piercing through me with its stare. I'm 25 yards away. Oh Snap (it wasnt snap btw) angry cats kill people in California. It position is facing straight at me very low to the ground. (this is 1120 in the morning). I grab an arrow pull back as quickly as I can and put my first pin directly between his eyes. I was not doing this for hunting purposes I was doing this because I felt eminent danger to my personal well being. I release, expecting a dead cat, it jumps 10 feet in the air runs by at 15 yards up the hill next to me then crosses the field behind me. The voice in my head was yelling take the effin picture say I search for four hours, text a few friends and going through my phone for Houndsman. I text a few of those, no answer till later anyway. Then a friend says he knows a guy. They are there in less than two hours now 510. I had gone back the two miles to my truck (phone was dying) to take the two track in. within a minute of catching the trail (3 bear dogs 1 lion dog) they found the tree he was hiding in only 10' up and a tree I walked past at five times. They jokingly (i Think) said she wanted to take you out. I never thought to look up except for the time when I saw unnatural branch movement. The arrow hits the lungs perfectly and she runs 100 yards trees again. After waiting a few minutes, no very last light, I put a third arrow into her and 30 seconds later she falls. Back to elk tomorrow and a trip to G&F. Pics on the next post they are on my phone.

Sorry semi-live means the ending wasn't fulfilled yet. It got crazy!

*****spoiler alert**** Elk hunt just became a lion hunt with dogs

Another plot twist this one is epic no matter the outcome

Today hurt on several levels. Ive been sick so my food intake for the last couple of days has consisted of a bowl of frosted wheats (yesterday) and three little debbie oatmeal cakes. Couple that with a 1.85 mile to get to bulltopia and my energy has been sucked from my body. It didn't disappoint. I get there and with a minute or two I find these bulls. The herd was split up in four groups 'only' around 25 bulls total that I counted. I see a group below and I take cover. I'm watching them then I notice big deep forks feeding my way, I range the tree next to him and its 40 yards. I wait for him to turn broadside, thinking You know I can put the arrow through his antlers and into his spine. I wait. He starts feeding to my left (I'm behind a burned ponderosa) now under 30 yards with two other full sized bulls to the right. I step out and pull back he catches my movement and bolts causing a mini stampede of 13 bulls Guess which bull I was drawing back on. There group headed to the main herd and I follow in the trees. There's a couple of giants in the group. I head to the main group and I get to a point and I look to my right a bit and there is MTN Lion less than 50 yards away. I grab an arrow and try to do my best Legalos impression for Lord Of the Rings. He wasnt having it and bounced away. I reach what I think is the front of the group, But I was 85 yards on the wrong side of the group (very bad wind) they move into the baby aspens where it is to noisy to go after them. I gave up kinda early because I just didnt have the energy. Ive got the pattern now and barring any operator error on my part or outside influences (a couple of other hunters have found bulltopia as well and they drive there diesel into the middle of it) tomorrow will be an exciting day oh for you cow lovers 97 in this group that I counted.

Screwed the pooch twice this morning! Once on a very large bull that I had at less than 30 and even worse on a MTN lion that saw me before I saw him at less than 50. Pics to follow this evening

Productive Morning. I'll get for serious this afternoon and weekend. Headed to a place this morning where I left the large bull in an open field the night before season. He's back and has nine friends. I know where I will be this evening. the first "little guy" I see. Apologies for the quality of the pics, it was right at first light. The group of nine bulls. The big guy is in the trees going to bedding area. Where they went and where I will be going this afternoon

oops!

Do they sell those at Cabela's?

Houston you do some cool stuff!!

Yesterday may have been my best day elk hunting ever and I did not fire a shot. If you guys are use to me posting pics of stuff that isnt seen very often this is the post for you. Over 60+ branch antlered bulls seen. a group with 36 bulls and bugling like it was the peak of the rut. It started off with a late start but not horribly, I look off to the open field to my right and see four branched bulls. I roll pass them by a few hundred yards get my bow and look to the other side of the road and 113 yards away are two more branched bulls. I try to walk up to them, but they werent having it and take off. second group on the skyline I go back after the first group and they high tail it across the plains like a cheetah was after them. I follow thinking they will stop eventually, taking only my bow and camera thinking I would be going for only a bit. I get to an overlook (hard breath taking hike) I see the two bulls above, but cant find the original four bulls. I look to my left and I think I see a herd of cow elk and at the distance I was at I thought the first four joined the cows (seeing some with antlers). I put my glasses up and I see they are all bulls, so I start wondering where did the first four bulls go. I find them and then I am in interesting juxtaposition. I have 20+ bulls in three different directions, which ones do I go after. after some debate, I decide on the ones with the most and best wind. The herd to my left a little after I first saw them I make a surprisingly hard climb to get to where I think they are going to bed and I look over and in the distance 20+ more bulls. Its like Bulltopia. Bulls as far as the eye can see. These bulls are to my left and have me pinned. They are making a racket with there sparring. Enter Elliot the Elk. I'm staying put taking pics and figuring out where they are headed. I see a smaller 5x6 headed my way. and few 320-330 class bulls just in front of him. a few bulls disappear and I dont really notice where they went. I think they are headed to the main herd but I was wrong. Elliot one of the bulls that disappeared headed right towards me. I have him 60 facing me and he has no idea Im there. I need him to drop to 45 for me feel comfortable with a straight forward shot. I drop to my knees and wait, snapping a couple of pics and grabbing an arrow. As I wait, elliot steps between me and my intended target. Flashback to my strip hunt. I am absolutely not shooting until elliot is clear. after a five or ten minute standoff, the tingling in my right leg is getting extreme. Elliot knows something is not right, he is about 40 yards from me and his warning bark rattles my cellulite. I dont move. he twitches his head and I think I can readjust my now numb leg. He startles, scares the bull I want to shoot and the little guy behind. He circles around and stops at 50, I pull back out of anger and was going to take elliot but change my mind at the last moment. there is nothing like the sound of 36 bull elk stampeding. I watch the direction they go and decided to go after them after lunch. On my way back I remember I left 6 bulls on the south side of the hill. Just then I hear the primal scream of a couple bulls sounding off. I figure 'well I am already here.' and go after them. They sound off every few minutes I get close than I see antlers and about 50 cows. Stampede 2 for the day. I follow and get close enough to go into stealth mode. one of the bulls from the herd with cows. there were about ten branch bulls total with the group. I end up about four miles from the truck, no water. I leave looking at bulls across the field. Great Morning. the afternoon I park 1.25 miles from where I think the bulls went. after some classing I find a couple. I make nearly a great stalk but the bulls moved to the opposite side of the bedding area and I blow five more bulls out of the country. I sit on tree stump have a drink and enjoy the view. I put my camera next to me before I walk back. I leave and .25 miles from that I remember I left my camera at that spot. I drop my pack and bow and jog back to get it. as I am on my way back I see this. Murphys law biting me in my butt. They play tag with me until I get to my bow then the wind shifts and it's bye felicia headed out again in a few minutes. Than two painful days in phoenix so my boss can see me at the office and Ill be back at. GREAT DAY

Pics get way better. I'll post shortly

A 252" buck was taken Archery

Crazy day, nearly hit a WMAT trophy bull on my way in. Saw seven more bulls before light and got into 6 bull bugling before light. Saw close to 300 elk today. My up high trail cam pics. I will post the video ones later. One shot has 40+ elk in it. I went to check a camera only taking my and my camera. I ended up staying from 100 to dark. The bulls were bugling just a couple hundred yards from me and elk were hitting the water every 15 minutes. Once the main group of elk started coming in the horses got aggressive and pushed the wave of elk away about 515. I did pass on a 300 class bull today at 60.

Message me your Email address and I will share what I learned and some non typical spots for the early hunt

opening morning, I went all in with going after that big bull from last night. With the heavy fog I snuck into the corner of the giant field to find somebody beat me to it. He parked right where they exited and entered the field. After a few cuss words, i wished them well and left the area. pic of the fog lifting I only saw one bull (more like a non-cow) ill be headed to the same spot if nobody is there in hopes of finding that big guy in a couple of hours. More Gratuitous turkey pics

II thought it was cold in unit 1. I take it back

Pretty productive final evening of scouting. First Cam I checked... Shooter? (im asking I already know my answer) Last Picture of an elk other than feet from this Cam Beat the heck out of this one. The rest of the pics are of feet Now for the live action shots. Headed up to spot I havent been for a bit and saw this guy, just feeding 50 yards off the road I go down the road a bit getting towards sundown 540ish and I see these little guys in a very large field I go for another five minutes or so and head back the way I came. As darkness was taking over the much, much larger version joined them(pic didnt go through). I know where I will be at first light tomorrow. His mass and main beams were huge. And of Course gratuitous turkey pics

Sunday Scouting Headed out towards Vernon on Sunday. On my way crossing into 3b I see these guys. I love the irony of last day of the 3b muzzy dear hunt and I got these guys at 30 yards. I'm sure more than a few of the tag holders would have been happy to be in that position. I was in that end all morning only saw 1 elk (not Pictured) coming down the fenceline I was going up. He spooked at about 40 yards. Good fronts and mass, smaller frame. Turkeys were everywhere and dumb, I wondered why that isnt the case when I am hunting them. Im headed out to check cameras this evening and scout a bit before the hunt starts once I dwindled this pile of work that I have to do, (but dont want to)

I forgot to mention my truck is in ICU for a couple more weeks after being taken out by a suicide bomber

4Almost wasn't worth going down there for this one. That's how I found it

Pretty good internet from my house. I live in show low.

When my super brain daughter did her walk through at ASU they should her every Starbucks on campus, when she did her walk through at UA they showed her the science labs. Moral of the story if go to UA you will become a scientist, if you go to ASU you will become a barista.