Kilimanjaro Report post Posted October 1, 2009 I am recently back from my AZ elk hunt.. It was a blast to be up in the cool mountains and chasing bulls. The hunting was a tough cookie on this hunt!! It wasn't from a lack of bulls, it was that the rut (while I was there and where I was) was completely nocturnal.. The bulls would scream ALL night, but then shut off before daylight. It was frustrating, to say the least! I got up there a full week before my season was to start and I set up camp.. The scenery around camp was picture perfect.. The changing aspens just made it that much more enjoyable.. During this week, I saw almost everything that the unit has to offer! Big bulls, coues deer, mule deer, Rocky Mtn Bighorns, bear, javalinas.. The only game animal I didnt see was a lion.. Here is a pic of 10 RM rams I glassed up.. 2 were brutes and there were 8 young straggler rams in the group.. Always cool to see sheep! A nearby neighbor left his calling card very near camp.. I finally got eyes on him the day before the opener and he quickly vacated the countryside when he saw me as well! Once the crew came in (a couple of them all the way from TX), we had a great time in camp every evening with great food, cold drinks and lots of BS'in around a warm campfire during the hunt.. That part of the hunt was just as important, if not more so, than the actual hunting itself. You guys all made the hunt a blast, and I couldn't have done it without all of you! You guys can count on me to be there when you guys draw that elk tag, whether it be in AZ, NM or elsewhere! Once the hunt got rolling, we had to ajust our hunting tactics because of the steadily warming weather and the nocturnal rutting activities of the bulls.. We decided to hunt them bowhunter style and stake out known wallows.. We saw ALOT of bulls this way, and passed many up and comers (some bigger than the bull I shot!) waiting for that AZ monster to come out.. He is a youngster feeling his oats at a wallow.. He was fun to watch get into the mud and thrash the muck with his rack.. Fast forward to the 5th day and we found ourselves once again hitting the road by 3:45 to get out there in position to try and intersept the bulls coming out of the meadows before they made to the dark timber for the day.. I decided to try a different tactic on this morning.. No packs, no coats, nada.. I went in light and quiet.. There was 2 bulls screaming their heads off still in the meadow and it was still pitch dark by the time we got into the area.. Had a good breeze this morning to get in close to the meadow without being heard or smelled.. I snuck in and was in the black timber just to the south of 1 of the bulls who was headed my way.. He was screaming his head off and already headed for the safety of the timber to lay up and wait out the heat for the remaider of the day.. I glanced at my watch and it was 5:32AM.. The bull was still coming my way and I had to do SOMETHING fast!! I found a clear lane and quickly set up and waited for him.. Thank goodness I remembered to crank my scope all the way down.. The bull was CLOSE now and I was ready.. He was screaming and grugling and chuckling.. He stepped into the clearing I had set up on and blasted a bulge at me at a whopping range of 10FT.. I threw up the muzz and lined it up on him.. I could clearly make out the line where his cream colored body met up with his chestnut colored rutting neck.. He stopped and it was now or never.. I let fly with the 250 grain Barnes and the rest they say, is history.. He made a made dash back out into the meadow and piled up.. He was SMOKED through both lungs..So much for all that practice I did all spring and summer at the range, shooting out to 250!! While he's not the legendary AZ monster we all hope for when we draw these rare, coveted rut tags, I couldn't ask for a better hunt.. I had some great buds there, a great time around the camp every evening, and a formidable advisary to chase every single day on this hunt.. I wouldn't change a thing.. If I had a chance, I do it all over again.. He was my 1st bull, and it was everything I could have asked for in a hunt!! This guy gave me a rush like no other!! He blew my hair back when he let me have that last bugle in my face at 10FT away! Myself with another CWT regular!! The packout.. Luckily, he expired near a FS road, so it was an easy packout to the truck.. It was a great hunt and I hope that the next time I am lucky enough to draw another AZ elk tag, that it will be as fun and enjoyable as this one.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rabbit Report post Posted October 1, 2009 A couple of weeks high in the mountains of eastern Arizona is good for the soul. Bet the camp camaraderie was great. Doug~RR Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakehaffey Report post Posted October 1, 2009 Great hunt and story! That is a good looking bull! Thanks for all the pics too! Congrats! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted October 1, 2009 Scttyboy, way to get the job done and thanks for sharing your story and pictures of your bull. That is a very heavy bull and a fine one at that. I know you will do a great job on him for the wall. Congratulations! TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobbyo Report post Posted October 1, 2009 Scotty, WAHOO, NICE JOB. congratulations. He is a nice bull! Maybe you should get a bayonet for that muzzy for that close in work. Bob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gr8 White Jr Report post Posted October 1, 2009 Way to go Scottyboy!!! Congrats to you on a great bull! Awesome write up! -Tracy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IHunt2live Report post Posted October 1, 2009 Congrats on the bull scotty! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 300ultramag. Report post Posted October 1, 2009 nice... that bull is awesome.... I wanted to see some pics of firstcoues doin some pack out..I figured you would put his but to work since your his superior in the BPs also that is a pretty slick front stuffer you got there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
palivs2hnt Report post Posted October 1, 2009 Congrats on the Bull...I really enjoyed the story! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bustedknuckleinc Report post Posted October 1, 2009 Great bull Scottyboy. I also agree that it was a tough hunt and alot different than I had expected. The bulls would keep my father and I up all night but would go dead silent during the day. I will post pics of my bull as soon as I get all the photos from my father. Again congrats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kilimanjaro Report post Posted October 1, 2009 Thanks guys! I totally agree, Busted.. It was a totally diff hunt that what I made it out to be in my head prior to the hunt.. The date change for the hunt that AZGF implimented this season made the hunt fall just short of the full blown rut, IMO.. I can count on one hand how many bugles I heard during legal shooting hours.. They just weren't all that fired up during the hunt.. The weather surely didn't help either.. The 1st morning I awoke up there, the thermostat read 21 degrees. The morning I shot the bull, at the same time, it read 41. Ah, well.. That's the way the cards are dealt! Not one of us can control the weather, no matter how MUCH we'd all like to be able to! It was a challanging hunt for sure, and I had a blast trying to outwit one of those legendary AZ brutes that are out there. I can't wait to get another chance at one! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coues7 Report post Posted October 1, 2009 Congrats Scotty. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scoutm Report post Posted October 1, 2009 Congrats on a great bull!! I like the heavy fronts. Well done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GameHauler Report post Posted October 2, 2009 Great story and pictures not to mention a super bull. Everyone had a tough time this year and you fared well. Looking forward to seeing your mount. It will be a full body won't it Not like its is a Elephant or Giraffe like you love to hunt so much Congratulations Scott Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted October 2, 2009 nice... that bull is awesome.... I wanted to see some pics of firstcoues doin some pack out..I figured you would put his but to work since your his superior in the BPs also that is a pretty slick front stuffer you got there. Dont worry Beau, I earned my keep packing out quarters. It was just Scott and I when that bad boy died, so the weight was split. It was a blast! I wish the bulls were "ruttier" but it was still a good time! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
