tjwking Report post Posted September 23, 2010 What a tough hunt!! Opening morning started off great, we had a nice bull come in to my cow calls and my wife got a shot off but miss judged the distance and shot just over his back. We were able to get on to another bull but could never close the gap on him. For the next week we chased and tracked bulls all over the place but never got close enough. We ran into one of the guides from Mullins (Brian) and he offered to go out and call for us, we were on a bull but once again we couldn’t close the gap between us and him fast enough before the bull stopped calling. Brian offered some advice and gave me his number in case we got into a pickle and needed some assistance. My wife and I had hiked the canyons early one morning and the bulls were hardly talking again. It seemed each day there was less and less bugling. After hiking the canyons all morning my wife and I were pretty tired. So we decided to set up on a water tank that had a lot of tracks around for the evening hunt. We hadn’t been there more than an hour when we heard a bull sound off 100yrds behind us, 20 minutes later we heard snapping of branches, 4 cows started walking down to the water and I could see a big body hanging back in the brush. The bull started to make his way down to the water. I was in a bad spot for the shot but I noticed my wife was already at full draw and waiting for the shot on the bull. She was only 15 yards from him. I had a split second to draw but I wasn’t fast enough. The bull caught me moving and he shot out of there like a rocket! I was so mad at myself for blowing it for her!! The next morning we went to another area we had scouted and found a great bull with his harem across the ridge from us. And he was fired up big time! We had him coming and we had worked our way to within 60 yards of him but didn’t have a shot, it was way too thick! We kept going back and forth until around 9am and he SHUT UP! We watched him bed down so we decided to back out and get some food and head back and watch him. We get back and see another hunter in the area bugling over and over like a sick cow. The big boy was gone. That night we went back to the water tank we had set up on the night before. We didn’t hear anything, then we hear a loud snap come from behind us again. My wife and I are ready this time. But we don’t hear anything else. Then out of the corner of my eye I see a big blonde body walking out 12 yards away and going straight for the water. The bull came in so fast my wife didn’t have a chance to draw. The bull walked behind a big bush and I went to full draw. He walked right to the water and I put the pin where I wanted it and pulled the trigger. He shot out of there fast. My wife and I were letting him calm down and we started talking about what just happened and she told me that was the big bull we were chasing that morning. My wife and I started tracking after an hour and the blood trail stopped quick. I made the call to Brian and he flew out to help track!! We spent about 2 hours tracking in the dark when I was asked “if I wanted to see my bull”. LOL I can’t post what I said next LOL. Brian made a call and had one of the other guys from Mullins (Scott) come out and help with the bloody part. We had the bull caped and ready to go in no time. The hunt was super tough but in the end all of our hard work paid off. I want to thank the boys from Mullins, Brian & Scott; they really impressed me with their professionalism willingness help out even though I wasn’t a paying client. They are GREAT guys!!!!! But most of all I want to thank my wife. This was her first big game hunt and she did awesome! Never once complained about all the hiking or getting up at 3am every morning. I’m very proud of her! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azpredator@work Report post Posted September 23, 2010 Sounds like a great time with your wife. Congrats on a fine bull. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted September 23, 2010 Congrats on a nice bull and that's cool that the Mullins offered their assistance to help you out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcelkhunter Report post Posted September 23, 2010 Congrats!! he is a good looking bull. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arizonahunter Report post Posted September 23, 2010 Congrats on a great bull. Nice of the Mullins to do that. Way to go to all who were involved... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nohoch Report post Posted September 23, 2010 Great bull...thanks for the write up as well. Heck of a post for your 5th post! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken Wheels Report post Posted September 23, 2010 Great, realistic hunt and props to Mullins Outfitters for assisting without asking for a credit card number first! USO could learn a thing or two from this story! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted September 23, 2010 GREAT hunt story! I bet you enjoyed some very memorable times with your wife on this hunt. I hope she enjoyed it enough to want to keep hunting! Glad some other CW.comer's (the mullins crew) were able to help you track and pack out that bull! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjwking Report post Posted September 23, 2010 She is hooked bad now!! She's the best! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arizona Griz Report post Posted September 23, 2010 Great story and hunt. Sorry your wife didn't get one but sounds like she had a good time. And kudos to Mullins for helping you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobbyo Report post Posted September 23, 2010 Great Story. Imagine if you got lucky on the first day and shot a humungeous bull. Would it mean anything compared to this bull, with all the trials, tribulations, effort and emotion. Experience of a life time. Congratulations. Bob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justinspe25 Report post Posted September 23, 2010 Great story and impressive bull. Congrats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Condor Report post Posted September 23, 2010 Wow great bull and the pics turned out really good! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coueshunter Report post Posted September 23, 2010 How come we dont see any pictures of the wife with you? Sounds like a great time and you shot a nice bull..............congrats.............Allen;............... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjwking Report post Posted September 23, 2010 How come we dont see any pictures of the wife with you? Sounds like a great time and you shot a nice bull..............congrats.............Allen;............... LOL she was working the camera. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites