Red Rabbit Report post Posted December 5, 2008 Lots of shots were fired on this Unit 9 Bull hunt. However, I came home with all my bullets as the shots were taken with the Nikon. I drove into the area early Thanksgiving afternoon with about 1" of the white stuff on the ground. The tracking compound quickly became liquid as the day warmed. After a Thanksgiving dinner in Tusayan of pizza pie and a Kiltlifter beer, I headed out again to be ready for the morning opener. Roads became slippery with the moisture, the truck slid into the deep ruts, and the low spots becoming wallows. More inclement weather was in the forecast for that night and Friday, but just a light drizzle occured. Dawn broke with clearing skies, but no elk out feeding. This one particular clearing was said to be feeding grounds for a large bull. Many evenings and mornings were spent awaiting his appearance like Santa on Christmas eve. Like Santa though, he was not spotted. A solitay raghorn was busted on a travel ridge while trying to stillhunt opening morning. Two mornings were spent above a watering spot, hoping for him to stop by for an early morning toddy after a night of feeding, but alas, only the sun made an appearance, along with a few yodi dogs and birds. Morning horizons broke into a plasma glow above the water. Like lichen and sage on limestone, Rica and I spent the day overlooking the watering spot, hoping he would come for a quench. Besides the coyotes, just 8 javelina stopped by for a grunt and swig. More evenings were spent glassing the edge of the clearing, but only the crescent moon joining the evening planets made the view. Mornings were cold and frosty. One of the final evenings was spectacular as the sun did a flaming crash. The final day of the season broke with frost crystals on the windshield. Worth a moment with the Nikon before the defroster melted away their glory. All the marbles were placed in this particular area, as this bull would be worth it. Some 320 six by's walked past in hopes of the big guy, but in the end, all days were blessed by the companionship of a good hunting dogand time spent outdoors. in Gods' elk country. He left us with his final sunset from his Heaven's handiwork. Doug~RR Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WFGinNM Report post Posted December 5, 2008 Doug, As usual great pictures and story. Thanks for sharing your time in the woods with us. --Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZbowhntr Report post Posted December 5, 2008 Too bad there were no elk but these are some great pictures. I was out on an elk hunt also and the roads were awful. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
willhunt4coues Report post Posted December 5, 2008 Sweet pics and story doug. Sorry no elk but it looks like you still had fun. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cramerhunts Report post Posted December 5, 2008 Sorry for the no elk part but what beautiful pictures, sometimes the success of a hunt can't be measured in inches. Thanks for sharing with us. Phil Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snapshot Report post Posted December 5, 2008 Great pics Doug. You can't beat a hunt with a good companion by your side. Maybe next year you will get another tag and that big one will be waiting for ya! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted December 5, 2008 Doug, those were some amazing pictures as usuall! Sorry to hear you never let any lead fly, I've heard the same tale from many on that hunt.....at least you were able to capture the beauty of being there on film! JIM> Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rabbit Report post Posted December 5, 2008 Jim, A friend was hunting in the southern part of 9 and saw 56 cows and 1 spike. Everyone i talked with was having a hard time seeing bulls. Doug Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SunDevil Report post Posted December 6, 2008 incredible pics Doug - don't think I could have let a 320 6X6 pass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobbyo Report post Posted December 6, 2008 Doug you should burn that poisonous unlucky redbean in a fire as a sacrifice. Those pictures are sooo good. Are you a professional. You have probablly mentioned it before, but I would like to know what equipment you use for photography and possibly the name of any literature that helped you with potog.. Bob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rabbit Report post Posted December 6, 2008 Bob, That lucky bean remained at home for this trip. You are probably correct in that it should be made into a sacrificial burn, but then there would be toxic fumes and ashes and would have to file a report with the EPA . Until recently, I have been using a Panasonic FZ20 to take all my pics. It is 5 MP, 12x zoom (36-432mm). Right before this years coues hunt, I bought a Nikon D90 with the 18-105 kit lens from Joel at Camera Land NY. I will need to save a few bucks to get a 300mm f/4 for the wildlife pics. Unless you count 2 years as a high school yearbook photographer, I am not a professional. I did read a few books and magazines 20 years ago about photo composition that gave some different photo ideas. An SLR always was carried on my summertime backpacking trips to Glacier and Yellowstone. Doug~RR Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rabbit Report post Posted December 6, 2008 Chris, I was hoping that one of those 6 points would again step into the clearing the last evening if the monster bull that was in the area did not. But alas, only a road hunter drove into the clearing 15 minutes after sundown . This was a trophy hunt for muy grande, as two 331s already grace the wall above my desk. I was going to mail that bean back to you, but the post office would not accept any hazardous materials Doug~RR Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted December 6, 2008 Doug, some of my memorable hunts had an unfilled tag left in my pocket after the hunt and the memories of each sun rising morning and sunset evenings have still stayed fresh in my head. Thanks for sharing yours with us. TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobbyo Report post Posted December 6, 2008 Bob, That lucky bean remained at home for this trip. You are probably correct in that it should be made into a sacrificial burn, but then there would be toxic fumes and ashes and would have to file a report with the EPA . Until recently, I have been using a Panasonic FZ20 to take all my pics. It is 5 MP, 12x zoom (36-432mm). Doug~RR Good to hear I was planning on buying the newer version of this camera. I think it has a 18x optical zoom. Did you ever have any problems with the Panasonic? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rabbit Report post Posted December 6, 2008 Bob, Here is a camera site that gives some useful camera reviews. http://dpreview.com/ The only problem I have with the FZ20 is that the shutter button is sometimes "catchy" on the first push. I have heard it is an internal spring. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
