My son was picked to hunt bull elk on one of the special bull elk hunts on the Fort Apache Rez. he is 12 years old and already have killed two mule deer bucks, so we were both excited to start hunting. the Month of sept. was a long wait because his hunt started in Oct. So opening day we went out to an area where we have in the pass hunted bull elk. We where both surprised and disappointed that elk where not bugling. we hunt hard that 1st morning hiking and calling we heard one Bull elk and where busted by cows before we seen him. We hunted hard for the next four days and didn't hear any other calling. So next to the last morning we left home at dark and where heading to a new area, when i decided to give the area one last chance. We went to one of the watering tanks in the area and spotted a bull elk feeding. we both got excited so we stalked closer, we got about 150 yards and i asked my son if he was able to make a good shot. We set up and he let the 1st shot fly. the elk trotted like it was not shot, we moved closer, the elk was standing there again, my son tried to get a shot but could not hold steady, so like a good dad I laid on the ground and said " use my back as a gun rest " lol. he did and let the 2nd shot fly as the elk was moving off. I believe he hit him but was not sure how good. we got to the area where we thought he 1st shot at the elk, and began following what i believe where the bull elks tracks. We got to the second shot area and still didn't find any blood. we kept following what we believed where bull elk tracks and we both spotted some droppings of blood, we both got an shot of adrealin and began moving faster after the tracks. we followed the tracks and more droppings of blood up the hill. we hiked up one area and we both spotted the bull elk only 30 yards in front of us. my son shot his 3rd shot hitting the bull on the side, but the elk began running down the hill now, we ran over to the edge of the hill when my son shot his 4th shot. The elk slowed down and fell down! we walked closer and my son shot his 5th and final shot at his bull!!! I was relieved and excited we got the bull. We both jumped up and down and gave each other an hug. We took pictures and began the work of getting the elk to the truck only me and my son. We got the Bull there only in quarters and the head. we where both burnt out after that whole experience. the one picture with both of us, i had to use the timer on the camera and balanced the camera on a manzanita bush. We both look forward to one of us get picked again. The Bull Grossed 339 6/8 and netted 322, not bad considering one the main beams where broken and one forth point had about 1 inch broken too.
