My 13 year old's first bull elk "wilderness style"

[lionhunter]

This hunt started with a long discussion about the "right" way to hunt elk with my 13 year old son! He has a friend who's Dad took him cow elk hunting, and they harvested a cow while driving around in a pick- up truck with a loaded gun..... Needless to say, we did not.

Wednesday morning before the hunt found us packed into a wilderness area glassing into some pretty nasty canyons. We were fortunate enough to find 16 bulls in one spot. My son asked a very insightful question. " Dad, how are we going to get down there on opening day?" I answered with an equally insightful responce....." I don't know"

 

We checked several other areas to hunt but did not turn up the quality of bulls...

 

Opening day found myself, two friends, and my son glassing off into the same canyon. We glassed four Bulls in the first five minutes; off we went. After a very sketchy climb down we were 770 yards from the Bulls. My son begged to shoot from there, but I opted against it.we watched as the Bulls fed out of range and up onto a very thick cedar flat, and out of our lives forever. We decided to wait it out and see if the Bulls came back that afternoon. After a 12 mile hike ( gps miles) and a 13 hour day, we got picked up in the bottom, as there was no way we could hike out in the dark! To say my 13 year old was spent would be the understatement of the century.

Day two found us at another trail head, and hiking into the wilderness area at 5 am. But this time it was only about a mile hike in. We glassed two small groups of cows and spikes, but no shooter Bulls. At approximately 8 am I glassed a 6/6 bull across canyon at 550 yards. I told my son Ethan it was up to him if he wanted to shoot the bull or not. He said, " Dad, after yesterday I definately want that bull!" The bull stopped broadside, at 487 yards. After a couple attempts to see the bull in the scope Ethan finally said, " ok, I have him.... What cross hair do I use?" I instructed to hold for 500 and no wind....

His first shot from my 300 win connected, and a second shot was fired to follow up as he was taught to always shoot twice on an elk. The bull ran 30 yards closer and laid down. After a couple minutes of regrouping, and watching the bull we decided one final shot was needed to assure this bull in the bag. At 450 on the nose Ethan made that final shot.

 

It took the four of us one trip, and about an hour and a half to get the bull packed up to the trail head!

Great time/ great memories/ happy kid!!!!!

Thanks for reading

 

Not the 370 we were looking for, or the 340 bull that we glassed, but a great first bull for a kid!

Whitey

[cramerhunts]

That's the way to do it! Congratulations to Ethan on a dang nice first bull! Great job dad.

[AZHog]

Congratulations to Ethan and to you! Great job teaching and making wonderful memories.

[Couestracker]

Very cool! Congratulations to your son on a nice bull.

[Critter]

Nice bull! Good work.

[Shedhunteraz]

Great job young man. Gotta love the youngsters getting bulls. Huge congrats on your bull. Kids always shoot for the moon, believe me we just finished a hunt with our boys and went two for two in the same canyon 3 minutes apart. Congrats again

[lancetkenyon]

Awesome bull and great story. Way to go Dad, on teaching him ethics of hunting.

[bonecollector]

Nice job Ethan and Dad! Congrats on your first bull and nice shooting.

[goinhuntn]

Congrats on a nice bull!! Way to teach good ethics dad!!

[Pine Donkey]

Your the man Ethan, that is a great bull! Congratulations.

[Chef]

Awesome job guys!

Way to really get after it and get it done in a big way.

[AZHUNTN]

That a boy Ethan congrats on your first bull.

[jgraffaz]

Good thing he didn't kill no 370 or 340 bull his first elk or he woulda been ruined!!! Haha

[cmbbulldog]

That's a good one. Congrats Ethan!

[Thedude138]

Awesome job!