A Big NM Bull

[NMTcoueshunter]

Here are the pics of the bull my uncle killed this past saturday. I had scouted an area in the summer and found good elk sign and seen a couple of big bulls. My uncle just got back from Iraq and was relying on the information I had found earlier in the summer. We headed off on friday and backpacked the 7 miles into are camp. We didn't see any sign on the way in. I was hoping the bulls had moved higher into the high country, but I got the feeling the rut was still on, and the bulls were low down in the private land. Anyways, the next morning we woke up and hiked to the highest point in the area. We did not see a single track or any other fresh sign. My uncle and I decided to try looking into a few more canyons, and if we still didn't see anything we were going to leave that area and head to the north end of the unit to a new spot (Where my dad killed the bear). We started glassing a canyon that had some burned areas in it. We glassed for about half an hour, then my uncle said I see a bull. Neither of us could tell how good it was as it moved into a thick area just as he saw it. We decided to leave him alone for the moment and check some other canyons. Those all came up empty. On the way back I spotted the bull bedded in the thick stuff, and could see one good antler. I looked for a few minutes and then realized the other side was broken just above the browtine. We debated for a while and then decided to try for him since we hadn't seen a single fresh elk track yet. We moved onto the opposite side of the canyon to about 300 yards from where we had last seen the bull. We sat there until 4:45 (about two hours) then we finally picked him out again. He was moving though and went over the ridge before we could get a shot. So, my uncle and I bailed off the hill and ran up the other side. We spotted him across the canyon heading for the ridge. I told him that the bull was 235 yards and he shot. The bull fell instantly and rolled down the hill about 40 yards before finally coming to rest. This is the only elk I have seen that I thought would do over a 1000 pounds easy. The good side scored 174", giving 16" (the brow tine length on the broken main beam side) for the busted 1-3 points. Had this bull not been broken he probably would have been between 380-390 points. The tracks he left were the only tracks we saw on the hunt. We packed him out a different way then when we came in. My uncle was happy to have the meat, but still would have liked it if the other side had been there.

 

 

 

Sorry for the bad pics, but the camera was having some problems and only worked some of the time.

[DEERSLAM]

Nice bull nonetheless

[KGAINES]

I agree nice bull, unique, a trophy without question.

[BowhuntCoues]

Very nice bull. Congrads to your uncle!!

[jamaro]

Great Job.

jason

[Guest Ernesto C]

I'm glad your uncle get back from Iraq and I'm glad he harvested a nice bull,congratulations to the both of you. I can just imagine how big was the other bull that kick this bull bud. Once again,congratulations and God bless you more.

 

Ernesto C

 

We never sit anything out.We are cups constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is,knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beatifull stuff out.

[azcouesandelk]

Hey any bull is a good bull and to have at least one good side is better than not getting one at all. I personally think that only having one full antler gives it alot of character.

[az4life]

That bull was a real monster. Close to 1000lbs? And you have to wonder what happened to his other side.

 

All in all I would say that bull wasn't half bad

 

Great story and so sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

Congratulations and thanks for posting

[the breeze]

I want the bull that snapped him off...lol

[NMTcoueshunter]

Yeah, I've thought about what might have snapped this bulls main beam, and I think it probably was a really old bull that had short massive antlers...lol.

 

In all honesty though, I would also like to have seen the bull that snapped his beam just to know whether or not it was a bigger or smaller one. Another interesting thing about this bull was that it had a broken leg from years prior. There was about a 3" chunk of bone that was fused into the main leg bone just above the joint in the back leg. Looked like he had had a rough life.

[crazyaboutcoues]

Good job Nathan

 

Did you help on the Bull hunt in 16E? I was wondering how they did.

[NMTcoueshunter]

Good job Nathan

 

Did you help on the Bull hunt in 16E? I was wondering how they did.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Tommy, no I didn't get the chance to help on those elk hunts. I have not heard how they did yet. It was a tough year this year for elk in the unit we hunted. I hope they had better luck.