robertramsey61 Report post Posted September 23, 2010 Well this archery elk season turned out to be one of the best hunting adventures I have had!! The year started off great by getting drawn for the second year in a row for bull elk, I was anticipating an antelope tag as well (seeing how I have 18 points), but that did not happen. I spent countless weekends in the field scouting and looking for sign, I found a few nice bulls and got into some areas that I decided were going to be the areas I would hunt. I hunted for 9 days prior to harvesting my bull, he scored in at 359 inches and has good mass, great fronts (19 inches), and was wide. The hunt began slow, only saw two elk the first 3 days of the hunt, but it eventually picked up and the elk sightings began to increase. I had multiple shooting opportunities and finally sealed the deal with the bull I ended up taking. The day I harvested my bull, the day started the same as the other days, up at 3:45 and out 45 min to an hour before light. Hitting ridges and wearing out boots was the name of the game on this hunt, covered 8 to 12 miles a day and climbed hill after hill and glassed and glassed and glassed some more. Once I had located a good group of elk I sprung into action as I had a good mile and a half to cover to get in on them. I started moving fast and would stop periodically to glass and listen for a bugle, I would relocate them and off I would go again. Once I got into position into a meadow, I saw a few cows feeding 80 or so yards out, I knew this was going to be the spot the bull would show. Sure enough after a few minutes the bull came screaming from the tree line pushing a cow. I looked up and to my disbelief the bull had one long main beam with his 4ths and 5ths broken off, while the other main beam was broken off after the third. Not wanting to shoot this broken bull, I took this time to practice my calling and see what kind of opportunities I could get. I started with some soft cow calling, the cows did move closer but the bull was locked on to one particular cow and would not give me the time of day, so I turned it up a bit and through out a bugle of my own. The bull sung around and screamed at me started to thrash a tree and go crazy! I waited a min and bugled again to get him even more fired up, he bugled three or four times and got in close to me. I was having a great time, when all of a sudden another bugle from behind me chimed in! I did not want to shoot the broken bull so I backed out without disturbing the elk, made my way to a spot to get a look at the other bull and could not see much out side of the top of his rack and his legs. I got into position and started to call, that bull worked in on me faster than I could of ever thought. I found myself at full draw with this bull under 6 yards away, problem, he was standing on the other side of the tree I was behind and would not step out. He actually stuck his head into the tree, eventually spooking and taking off. I immediately began to cow call and it shut him down, he spun around and started to bugle back, I worked my way back up the hill in hopes of getting a shot when I found myself 30 yards from him with no shot. I kept calling softly, but he was not going to come in, he just turned and slowly quartered away, I had one shooting widow, I ranged it at 46 yards and told myself if he enters that I would shoot for 40. He walked right into the opening, I gave a quick cow call to get him to stop and let the arrow fly!!! The arrow passed right through and he ended up going 60 yards and piled up!!! I have to say thanks to everyone that helped getting him out with me, had to call in a few buddies as I hunted all but 2 days by myself. This is a hunt I will never forget and I sure hope to be lucky enough to get another bull elk tag in the future!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
palivs2hnt Report post Posted September 23, 2010 Way to get it done! Sensational bull! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted September 23, 2010 Excellent!!! Nice job and thanks for the writeup! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chef Report post Posted September 23, 2010 X2! Thanks for taking the time. Nice bull. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heat Report post Posted September 23, 2010 That's an awesome bull! Especially for your first! Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your story and pics. Nick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcelkhunter Report post Posted September 24, 2010 Very nice looking Bull. Congratulations Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lucky2hunt Report post Posted September 24, 2010 Very nice! Way to stay after it! Great looking bull!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arizonahunter Report post Posted September 24, 2010 Thats a sweet bull, Big congrats on a big bull... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
