COOSEFAN

Awesome bucks and congrats to you and your pops! JIM>

Hey guys, I'm finally back and I'll try to get some pics' and a story on here tonight.....I'll add more as I get pic's off the video tapes tomorrow. I'll try to keep it short here, but that probably won't happen... The past couple of weeks have been an incredible adventure to say the least! During scouting we found some amazing bulls and even found several bulls that we've been hunting for several years! Before opening day we had several MONSTER bulls picked out and the plans were set! My brother Matt and Shortypants teamed up and set out after a bull Matt has nicknamed "Willy" and he's in that 390" class this year! I was teamed up with a good friend of mine, Jeff Wright, and our hunter was Don Roach from Tucson. We were to hunt an incredible 415-420" 8X8 on opening morning that we called "Ocho Grande". We found Ocho every time out for the previous 4 days and opening morning was no different! We had Ocho moving up to his bed and just when eveything was lining up, the wind changed and despite our efforts to out-run the wind....we got busted! That evening Matt and Shorty informed us that "Wrongway" (his beams turn up the wrong way) was hanging out close to Willy and they had no intentions of giving up on Willy, so we decided to give Ocho a break and go get a look at Wrongway. Popps had Wrongway move past him that morning and watched him bed down with a bunch of cows, so he took us in and we found him right where Popps left him! I hadn't seen Wrongway since last year when he was smaller, and as soon as I got the 15's on em'.........I knew it was this bull or nothing! Wrongway is the biggest typical framed bull I've ever seen alive and to see him on the hoof struttin' around just blows you away! We watched and patterned Wrongway all day and knew where he would water that evening so we devised a plan. Jeff would stay high and Don and I would set up on his route hoping to intercept him. Now, you need to realize that we are hunting country that would be hard to hunt even with a rifle, so getting close to 10 elk wasn't going to be easy! To make matters worse, the wind was rippin' across the prairie, but Wrongway got up and started pushing his girlfriends our way! With camera rolling, the cows started to veer our way at 130 yards to go through the saddle we set up in, but the majority of the herd decided to go up the side and out of range! I video taped Wrongway skyline around us at 100 yrds and then head on down to the water. We were excited to just have a bull of that caliber so close, and we knew we had an even better shot the following day if he bedded in the same place as before! We left Wrongway alone in the morning and hunted close to Matt and Shorty because of the amount of "shooter" bulls they were getting into. As luck would have it, we stumbled onto Willy and after a long and grueling belly crawl we realized it just wasn't going to happen, so we backed out hoping to not spook him. We then went and admired Wrongway as he watched over his harem that now included 10 more cows for a whopping total of 19! That's 38 eyeballs we had to fool and the wind was rippin' through just as bad as before! This time we set up on the opposite side of the saddle hoping he would take the same path as yesterday, but if they took the middle, the wind would get the lead cow possibly before Wrongway got there. We took our chances and sure enough the herd showed up and took the saddle! Wrongway was in the rear as the lead cow winded us and we had no shot. I cow called to calm them down but the herd bolted over the rise and Wrongway stayed back confused. I kept stopping him as he left and as soon as he disappeared I started doing a "lost calf" call. My desperate mews brought back 1 little cow who was going balistic trying to find the calf! She was calling nonstop and loud! We now had a chance, and all of a sudden I could see ears lined up over the ridgeline and coming our way! Soon the whole herd was visible and headin right for us with white ivory tips towering above and pullin' up the rear! My "decoy" cow, who is still mewing like crazy, is about 15 yards in front of us staring us down. Wrongway moves through the herd and lines up perfectly for a shot and stops broadside looking at the cow who just let him down! The shot was high but the tracking job lasted no farther than 1 yard! He dropped in his tracks and with a fast follow up shot he was down in no more than 1 minute! I can't explain how genuine Don's emotions were when this all happened, as well as my own. We knew this was a bull of several lifetimes and we knew how fortunate we were to just experience the hunt for Wrongway! I know some poeple think that most times guys who hire an outfitter and kill a bull like this don't deserve it.......and sometimes they are right. But that's not the case with Don and Wrongway.....Don practiced very hard and is a very accomplished and knowledgeable hunter, he knew how valuable his tag was and he wanted to make the most of it........I'm glad he asked us to help I'll get some live pic's of him during scouting and during the hunt on here later.......here's Mr. Wrongway! And here is the team.......Popps unfortunately missed the photo shoot, but we got em' in there later I know everyone's gonna ask what he scores.......and all I can say right now is that Shortypants had the honors of throwing a cable and tape on this beast and "conservatively" came up with 412 6/8" gross! We are firm believers in gross score and giving the critter credit for all the bone he grew. But I'm sure you all can see that this bull isn't going to lose much after deductions for a net score! I'll keep ya posted on what he finishes out at! Thanks, and I'll get some live pic's on here soon. JIM>

beautiful bull! Congrats! JIM>

WHOOOHOOOO! I talked with Gino yesterday and he gave me the play by play! I was excited for you just listening how it all happened! Great shot, and fantastic bull! It doesn't get any better when you get to share it all with family and friends! Great job to all and congrats! JIM>

Hey Sunset.......you in Westpark? Oh, and good luck with the truck...I've got one for sale too

I tried to find one of the pics that Pop's is talkin' about, but this is all I've come up with for now! Sorry Bret, but I had to do it! Here's Jakob's daddy only a few years older and alot more serious about his fox slayin'! Check them ears out....it's no mistakin' them fox slayers are related......like father like son! I think that fox and a 'yote or two got us first or second place on that hunt didn't it Bret? It's all outta love bro.....congrats to Jakob again! JIM>

Ya'll keep bustin' me about how many guys we got...................to tell you the truth, the Mullins team is by far smaller than most other outfits in this state! We are all just family and friends tryin' to hunt more than we can afford to........the very little money we make at it goes straight to our wives so that they'll let us do it again next year Seriously though, thanks for the reply's everyone

Hey David.....you know, I did tell this guy we should let this one walk and see how big he grows next year ........NOT AND you and I both know that there's no reason for those boys to move over I have nothing but respect for those boys and for what they've achieved over the years.......matter of fact I just got an email about another HOG put on the ground by those very same guys...congrats to them if they read this! JIM>

Popps called earlier on his cell phone from the woods up north and I could hear Christian (Younghunter) in the background giving his "hero" speech to the video camera! Appearantly there is a bull down in the woods with Christians tag on it! Whoooo hooooo! I wanted to be the first to congratulate him......he definitely did his homework and without a doubt deserves this bull! Can't wait for the pics! Congrats Christian! JIM>

Awesome archery buck! Congrats! JIM>

Absolutely awesome Christian! I bet your pops is one proud pappy! When my dad called me and I heard your voice in the background, I could tell you were freakin' excited and wished I was there to see it first hand! Great job to Manny for hangin' in there with ya, sounds like a bunch of determination and persevearance went into that hunt...........that makes for an unforgetable experience for all involved! Congrats Christian on a great first bull!!! JIM>

Hey you noticed Craiger, he was a huge help and he had a front row seat that day! Craiger spent hours keeping tabs on Ocho for me the rest of the time and believe it or not he never complained

Thanks again for the reply's guys! My brother was trying to stick Wrongway last year in the exact same area where we killed him this year. Last year he had a smaller top end and his beams didn't grow out enough to turn up, so we didn't give him a name until this year. Matt got close, but never had a good shot last year and we were guessing him in the 380's last year. As far as the growth on other bulls in the unit.....this year amazed most of us! There have been at least 4 bulls killed that I know of that are over 400" and we know of at least 2 other bulls that are over that magical number that are still alive! I do want to emphasize again, that most of the time it is mostly in part of the guide/outfitter when a big bull hits the ground.......but not this time! We did our homework and hunted this bull to the best of our ability.......but this bull would not have seen his last day if it weren't for Mr. Don Roach! This guy is the best archery shooter I've ever seen and he amazed everyone in camp prior to the hunt with how good he was. Just before the shot, he and I talked about shot possibilities and I had nothing but confidence in him and it made all the difference in the world that day! With a cow staring at him less than 20 yards, he was able to "slowly" draw his bow with out moving the bow itself at all, and then held for ever as the bull made his way through all the other 18 cows! I watched out of the corner of my eye to see how bad his bow was shaking, and he was rock solid! My huge congrats again to Mr. Roach for a well derserved trophy! JIM>

WoW! What a stud bull for the tag you had!! Huge congrats to you on a great bull! My first impression on score is 342 5/8" JIM>

That's funny stuff right there! 9 days is stretchin' the truth a bit though becuase....We don't take showers at all......The trick is you gotta acquire that natural smell to be at one with nature, and that's the secret to success in the woods!

Thanks for the replies guys! We do have a great group of guys involved with our business and luckily most of them were close by that night to get in that pic........as far as herdin' that dude into a horse trailer...I don't think his antlers would fit Here are a few pic's I snapped off the video tapes. The first ones are a few of Wrongway from last year..... Here's a few from scouting and during the hunt..... Here's a bull we've hunted for a while now and were happy to see he showed up this year again.... Here's a bull that Matt and Shorty's guy passed up.... And here's "Ocho Grande".......these video pics don't do him justice, but this bull grosses over the 400" mark, you can see he has matching extra points between his G2's and G3's and kickers up top, also, check out those bottom mass measurements when he's bugling I'll show you close up pic's of him in my hands after this next weeks Rifle hunt!! And lastly, here's a pic from when it was still light enough to see how open our hunting area is.......super tough hunting, but it was worth it! Thanks, JIM>

Whoohoooo! There's nothing quite like the rush you get when you draw your bow back on a big bear! Great job! JIM>

Huge congrats to your buddy! That is a super stud bull right there! Tell him we said thanks for lettin' ya share the pic's with us!!! JIM>

That spike pic is funny........I stopped by his camp last week and left a pic on his trailer that was a pic of a spike and I wrote "Christians Bull" on it. Yeah it's not a spike, and My dad got to be there when they tracked it I think, I just know Christian sounded really excited in the background when I talked with Popps on the phone. Way to go dude! JIM>

Hey, I've heard of that GTT feller....... he sure likes to mount them critters He mounts em' real good too You know.......if everyone would stop taking their critters to em'.......he might get my mounts done Just kiddin'....... that velvet euro looks awesome, congrats! JIM>

What a stud bull!!! Huge congrats to you and your buddies, great job! JIM>

Fantastic critter Josh!!! That is a beautiful bull, congrats! JIM>

Fantastic bull and great pic's!!! JIM>

Hey Guys, I'm finally home for a few days and cannot beleive how fast news spreads in the hunting community!!! Bobbyo....I do know a little about that bull! I will post up some pic's that I took and a little story.......it was an unbelieveable hunt, and if I didn't have it on video.....nobody would believe me! Thanks guys, JIM>

I just noticed Amanda has officially started the "2000 posts" club! She is the all-time, #1 CouesWhitetail.com JUNKIE! Thank you Amanda for creating this site and for everything you do outside of this site for our wildlife and especially for our beautiful little Coues Deer! Congrats on 2000! JIM>