My First Archery Anything... and My First Bull

[bigbuckclub]

I had some good luck on the early archery tag. Killed this bull opening morning at around 11am. He was the main bull we heard bugling and that turned out to be his downfall. My cousin - who also had a tag - was able to get a good chunk of time off work so he was out scouting 4 days before the hunt started. He saw this bull every single day prior to the hunt. I made it up late Wednesday and scouted with him on Thursday... and again, saw this bull and his cows in the morning and in the evening. Bugling as well. We saw another 10 bulls or so in this same drainage so we figured we'd start there opening day and give them heck. 

We hiked into the area in the morning and we were able to chase some bugles, but they weren't as vocal as they had been the couple of days prior. We ran into a good group of elk, but they spooked and we thought we might have boogered everything up too bad for the afternoon. My dad and uncle were on a ridge glassing above us and could hear elk below them bugling every so often - even after the bigger group spooked. For some reason - even though we were pretty close - we couldn't hear the bugles. The ridge we needed to climb was pretty steep and thick with overgrowth so I wasn't thrilled about the hike to get up it, but we sucked it up and made the short, but steep, hike. We finally got up to the same elevation as the elk and spotted them about 250 yards away. I saw a group of cows and had a feeling we were on the same bull we had seen all week prior. Sure enough it was him. We watched from a distance as he ran off a couple of raghorns that were nearby. He was one of the few bulls that seemed to be ready to rut. We continued working in closer, but didn't feel like we would have the shooting lanes available if we kept stalking straight at them. We were in some thick cover. At this point, the elk had been milling around in the same small area for more than an hour. We backed out and looped around to get on top of them. For the most part, the wind cooperated. It started to swirl a bit as we got close to the elk. They were in a thick stand of aspens and the cows knew something was up. They weren't quite sure where we were though, because the vegetation was so thick. They first trotted one way and then back another way. We could see them in the aspens less than 20 yards from us. The bull let's out a bugle to corral his cows and get everyone going the same direction. At that point my cousin gave a quick cow call and the elk stopped. I side stepped to an opening to my left and could see the cows going one by one up a trail into a small shooting window. Naturally, the bull was last. My cousin ranged the cows at 65 yards and I drew back. Right when the bull stepped out and showed his vitals, I shoot. Downhill, quartering away. I hit the spine and into his cavity. He was paralyzed. I quickly moved in closer and finished him off from 20 yards. (I would love to say that my first and only shot was the arrow shown in the picture - I'll be honest with you guys, but probably not my drinking buddies )

Needless to say, I am thrilled with this bull. Good mass, lots of character. It's also pretty cool that we were able to watch him for a few days in a row and put a plan together that got it done. This early archery elk stuff is awesome. Can't wait to do it again...... in twelve years. 

[CouesPursuit]

Now you're part of the bug bull club. Congrats and solid work!

[duxngeez]

Congrats on a great bull and a great write up. Thanks for sharing!

[Coueser]

Awesome write-up.  Thanks for sharing.  Fantastic bull!

[eddielasvegas]

Fantastic bull and great story!

Which unit?

 

Eddie

[az300wby]

Nice bull!

[ctafoya]

Congrats! Hopefully if history repeats itself I only have 4 more years for another chance. 

[bigbuckfever]

Very nice!   Congrats and thanks for sharing the story.

[mc68]

Very cool! Congratulations and thanks for the write up!

[CatfishKev]

Well done man congrats 

[AZbowhntr]

Congrats! And thanks for posting.  It has been pretty bleak on here so far this hunting season.  Not many people post pictures or stories any more.

[Sam]

Congrats. And you're right about seeing animals while scouting and then coming up with a plan that works. 

[Neverdrawn37A]

Congrats awesome bull and story and tough shot at 65 yards in thick cover!

[reece_mess16]

Excellent Bull!  Congratulations!

[bonecollector]

Well done, Congrats!