SirRoyal Report post Posted October 4, 2012 Well , I thought about making posts thru out scouting and into and thru archery season until the early rifle hunt . But decide not to jinx myself!. I talked to every hunter I met and went out of my way to track folks down who had hunted. This helped me to keep a great vibe on the area. Phillip is the young man who killed this real nice bull. It all started 2 years ago when we were setting on a mtn glasssing some good bulls . I told him to put in for a premium elk unit and I would take him hunting. Well was I shocked when he called me claiming he had a awesome early bull rifle tag. Bummer now I was obligated . This unit saw a 50% increase in tags this year and I knew it would be tougher than normal. Started scouting July14th. See I'm killing 2 birds with 1 stone my buddy Jay and I have late archery bull tags also ! Phillip came up scouted with me on the 3 rd scouting trip! and we found this bull # 1 Photo.. We glassed 125 cows all herded together .We knew if you find them , the bulls would come. The next weekend Jay and I went up scouting for antelope for a buddys son who drew another tag! We realized this was a tough year for big antelope . Following weekend we go back scouting antelope again. STOP! thats what I should of done ! But no the drive to be successful was pushing me and my buddies hard. Alas all the rain had set up a mud bogging race. Just seeing if we could get thru to higher ground. what a joke it was all mud!!!! Any way got stuck for 4 hours no shovel no rocks just old fence posts laying on the ground. Jay busts them against each other and makes kinling and lays them cross ways in 1 ft deep ruts I had made . I gun the motor and we make 20 ft per try.We blew a $350 tire on the way out of the bog thanks to a sharp piece of wood. Oh well needed some tires anyway! The next time out Jay and I go help the boys hunt antelope . Here is the results #2. On the way home from a successful hunt we go scouting for elk. I decide not to glass but listen in the nite for the bulls talking . We over heard several conversations . We climbed a knoll to see who or what was talking . We found a huge bull escorting his harem to his bedroom! And lots of wishful dinkers ! Archery bull started the following weekend . I was also helping 2 firefighter buddies from Tucson that had archery elk tags. They got 1 bull with many chances at big bulls ! The whole time I am scouting helping watching elk . Oh, I forgot bummer I had to come back and pay the mortgage once or twice! That kept momma happy FINALLY sept 28th is here ! YES! Boom on a toad first light we're pass'n up his sattilites. Never have a shot ,to thick. Lots of broken bull running around looking for thier antlers I had told Phillip before the hunt you practice shooting, I'll do the scouting. Next 3 days all broken up bulls . This unit has way to many bulls. They need to cull them a bit or its going to be San Francisco all over ! OH I forgot we did one awesome marine sniper like setup . We ran with a monster bull in the night for 5 hours. Now understand its a full moon and has been the whole hunt and the elk are in the thick junk by daylight! Tough hunt ! It was killing us! Any way we stayed in the flats with this toad using shadows of lone trees and belly crawling and using washes to stay with this huge bull till daylight. Oh I promise you there are gonna be baby elk running around from that bull in the spring. That monster might of blushed at what we saw happening in the moonlight that nite! But alas we had him at 150 Yards at 5 minutes before daylight and some Yahoo comes in on the farside with the wind and there went all our work! Fast forward to Tuesday Oct 2nd we get out of the thick its just not fun hearing and not seeing them. This morning by privy of a very nice outfitter we find out we are on the bull of all bulls. We pull back so they can go kill it, They can' t make it happen now its our turn . We work the area all day and setup a plan . Phillips in the field near bedding area and his Dad's on a nice knoll glassing and I am on a opposite knoll. By the way Jay was there the whole time but he had to go back and work to cover for me! Thanks Jay you were apart of the whole hunt because of you I got to keep hunting . Back to the grand finally! John (the dad) glasses a bull coming right out where we saw all the cows this summer! I cant see it yet wrong angle . Phillips on the run tryn to find the Bull! Oh I see him Its a great bull , I warn Phillip its 5 th is broke, he dont care he's ready to kill. Wow I know he's pumped . I get to watch the killing shot at 487yards thru the heart . Boom He's down. Boy Im glad he stayed home and practiced! A few minutes later a Game Warden walks out behind me on the knoll all excited about the kill! He said " Lets go see it hurry ! Thats awesome, I love it when I get to see a big bull go down." Needless to say Everbodies real happy ' although they think its a 320 bull , the warden says 340 . I say no way with at least a 60" main beam and great width its a 360+. It almost touched 370 when scored it. NICE suprise no ground shrinkage here! And you know what Jay and I get to hunt the big bull of all bulls in 6 weeks. I hope Jay kills him!!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
200"mulie Report post Posted October 4, 2012 Congrats!! Very nice bull!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trophyhnter Report post Posted October 4, 2012 Great bull! Was that a rifle hunt? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ready2hunt Report post Posted October 4, 2012 Nice bull! congrats! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CATERPILLAR Report post Posted October 4, 2012 not to bad for a dink, I would take a dink over a raghorn any day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
loco4coues Report post Posted October 4, 2012 Great bull! thanks for sharing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted October 4, 2012 It doesn't matter one bit what that bull scores, whether it be 315" or 415", hes got "the look" and is a super pretty and awesome bull! Hunter should be very proud of him! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
huntjunkie Report post Posted October 4, 2012 Congrats! It was good talking to you before the hunt. Awesome bull! Love to hear about it sometime. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirRoyal Report post Posted October 4, 2012 That bull is a 370" class bull. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chef Report post Posted October 5, 2012 Great bull. Congratulations! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cmbbulldog Report post Posted October 5, 2012 I want a dink. Awesome bull. COngrats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues Sniper Report post Posted October 5, 2012 Nice bull! Need more/better pics! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
reganranch Report post Posted October 5, 2012 Great looking bull congrats to the hunter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted October 5, 2012 Awesome bull! Congrats to the young man. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirRoyal Report post Posted October 7, 2012 Finally got the full story and lots of pics . I hope you like it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites