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This hunt started with a long discussion about the "right" way to hunt elk with my 13 year old son! He has a friend who's Dad took him cow elk hunting, and they harvested a cow while driving around in a pick- up truck with a loaded gun..... Needless to say, we did not. Wednesday morning before the hunt found us packed into a wilderness area glassing into some pretty nasty canyons. We were fortunate enough to find 16 bulls in one spot. My son asked a very insightful question. " Dad, how are we going to get down there on opening day?" I answered with an equally insightful responce....." I don't know" We checked several other areas to hunt but did not turn up the quality of bulls... Opening day found myself, two friends, and my son glassing off into the same canyon. We glassed four Bulls in the first five minutes; off we went. After a very sketchy climb down we were 770 yards from the Bulls. My son begged to shoot from there, but I opted against it.we watched as the Bulls fed out of range and up onto a very thick cedar flat, and out of our lives forever. We decided to wait it out and see if the Bulls came back that afternoon. After a 12 mile hike ( gps miles) and a 13 hour day, we got picked up in the bottom, as there was no way we could hike out in the dark! To say my 13 year old was spent would be the understatement of the century. Day two found us at another trail head, and hiking into the wilderness area at 5 am. But this time it was only about a mile hike in. We glassed two small groups of cows and spikes, but no shooter Bulls. At approximately 8 am I glassed a 6/6 bull across canyon at 550 yards. I told my son Ethan it was up to him if he wanted to shoot the bull or not. He said, " Dad, after yesterday I definately want that bull!" The bull stopped broadside, at 487 yards. After a couple attempts to see the bull in the scope Ethan finally said, " ok, I have him.... What cross hair do I use?" I instructed to hold for 500 and no wind.... His first shot from my 300 win connected, and a second shot was fired to follow up as he was taught to always shoot twice on an elk. The bull ran 30 yards closer and laid down. After a couple minutes of regrouping, and watching the bull we decided one final shot was needed to assure this bull in the bag. At 450 on the nose Ethan made that final shot. It took the four of us one trip, and about an hour and a half to get the bull packed up to the trail head! Great time/ great memories/ happy kid!!!!! Thanks for reading Not the 370 we were looking for, or the 340 bull that we glassed, but a great first bull for a kid! Whitey