ADDICT Report post Posted October 4, 2011 After unsuccessful draw results in EVERY state, I decided to look into non-resident vouchers. I got in touch with a great guy names Jeff Urban with SureWest Custom Hunts www.swcustomhunts.com. Jeff had a lot of options but what I wanted more than anything was access to rutting bulls. After several conversations and weighing my options, I elected to hunt a large 8,000 acre ranch in western New Mexico. I was told that there wasn’t a ton of elk on the property but there were some great bulls that hold up in there when pressure on public kicks in. I anxiously counted down the days until Sep 30 arrived and I was on my way to NM. I was greeted by Jeff’s associate Bart Hicks and after a morning tour of the property and access points I was left on my own to figure things out. I really liked the DIY approach they offer. It saves the hunter money and has the feel of doing it on your own—they essentially arrange access and give you area information. I was up at 4:00 am on Sat Oct 1st and out calling. Not a sound was heard across the cedars. It was around 40 degrees and absolutely no wind. I hiked the west boundary of the property and called until around 10:00. I saw very little sign and didn’t see anything. That evening was similar. Sunday morning I was out working an entirely different section; same results. The water tanks had few tracks and old cow/calf tracks on top of that. I was really frustrated. Three days and not an elk? On my way out I glassed the entire property and noticed the glimmer of a little pond way lower in elevation than Id been hunting. I worked down to it and couldn’t believe the amount of fresh sign. Not only tracks but at least one good bull track! He’d been wallowing in there the night before. I ripped back to camp excited about the evening. And then it rained. And rained. And poured until 5:00. When I finally dared peek my head out to check the status I expected puddles everywhere—nothing! The dry ground just sucked up the water so I grabbed my gear and hauled A to the tank. I got set up by 5:30 and began calling lightly with the Hoochie Mama. After 10 minutes I heard a faint bugle—way off. I kept plying with it on and off and about 20 minutes later I caught movement on the ridge about 1,000 yards away. I was able to coax this bull in with virtually no cover. Even though I didn’t have a decoy, he kept trotting in. At 80 yds, he had almost gotten around me, downwind. I finally let one rip. The first shot was a little high but the video is great and you can see the steam blast out of him as the 180 gr Scirocco waltzes through. Not a monster but a great and ONLY elk I saw on the trip. I had about lost my mind. I cant fathom some guys hunting 2-3 weeks without seeing action. Elk are addictive! "You skin grizz?" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted October 4, 2011 Congratulations and thanks for sharing the awesome video. TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted October 4, 2011 Nice job way to get it done by yourself and to get it all on video. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Will K Report post Posted October 4, 2011 Way too cool. Good job. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lookin4amonster Report post Posted October 4, 2011 Awesome video. Thanks for sharing! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azcouesfanatic Report post Posted October 5, 2011 Great bull and great video. Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azbownunter22 Report post Posted October 5, 2011 Awesome!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mason a Report post Posted October 5, 2011 why to hunt hard and stick with it , very nice bull ,love the video .I wish i had done the video thing on my elk hunt this year , mine happened to fast. Congratulation Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
