A 2004 Utah Bull

[CHD]

 

 

 

 

I took this pull on September 21 of this year in east central Utah. I have hunted and scouted hard there the last 2 years, and really enjoy the area.

 

I found this bull last year, and in fact bugled him in a ways on the eve before the opener last year. I held out for him and another for several days last year, but couldn't find either on this thick (oakbrush and conifers), rugged mountain. There are other areas in the unit that are easier to hunt and have more elk, but the bulls are younger. Generally, I like to hunt areas that are more rugged and tougher to hunt so the bucks and bulls are older and bigger.

 

After losing 2 of the first 5 days to bad weather, I moved into an elk hole that evening that I found last year that usually had good activity. I could hear lots of bugling, grunting, and cow calls going on there from a long way off. I worked my way onto a ridge overlooking the spot. There were 8-10 bulls going crazy. But one bull stayed in a patch of conifers and wouldn't show himself. He didn't bugle, he just ROARED, and sounded and acted like a grandaddy to me. I didn't want any of the bulls that I could see (several 6x6's and a huge 5x5). So I just waited and watched, enjoying the show. I wished for a video camera. He really didn?t want to come out of the timber ?til after dark, and I waited for 1.5 hours. But about 30 minutes til dark, the 8 other bulls in their rutting frenzy tripped his trigger! He suddenly came running out into the meadow roaring like mad, ran off the other bulls (some other 6x6?s ran up the ridge to watch him), tore up a tree in front of them, and started rounding up the cows. What a mean, nasty, aggressive old bull! Sure didn?t know an elk could be so ferocious to his own kind. What a sight to see! I moved thru the oakbrush identifying his ever changing location by his roar, and shot him thru the chest with my .338 RUM at about 100 yards. This cautious bull let down his guard that evening and it cost him his life.

 

Here is "his" meadow (in fact it was his whole entire mountain!).

 

 

 

Here he is riding high in my faithful hunting companion for the last 5 years, my truck.

 

 

 

Lots of drought stunted bulls in the Utah Bookcliffs again this year with short mains and short or non-existent fifths. I hope we get some wet years soon.

 

Enjoy, and maybe I'll post last years bull (another good one) and story also.

[111]

Nice bull, what does he score?

[WHT_MTNMAN]

Great bull, thanks for the pics and story.

[Guest Ernesto C]

I like them bigger..............

 

 

 

 

I'm talking about the truck of course

 

Congrats.

[azpackhorse]

Another quality animal CHD..........so how did your unit 10 Az. elk hunt turn out?

[111]

Chris, you have taken some awesome animals. I understand you apply for a permit in Utah, Arizona, Wyoming and Colorado. Do you put in for the trophy hunts, or mostly general season? How often do you get drawn for a hunt in each of those States?

[CHD]

azpackhorse, I said 'former holder' of the 10 late elk tag because I returned it. I had one of Slimeball Taulman's lawsuit tags. AZGFD is offering us refunds and bonus points reinstated. They can't do this with 'drawn' tags, but can with these 'awarded' tags. There are many who returned them. We have problems at work with being shorthanded, and I can't get away. I'm okay with it tho, because I've taken 2 good bulls the last 2 years. Plus I'm really not into elk that much. Plus I only want a great big bull from now on, and 9 out or 10 will be broken due to waaaaay too many bulls in the unit. Most of the big bulls being taken in AZ any more are during the archery season before they get broken.

 

The one that is tough to hear is CB1's story about eating a 13b tag. OOOUUUCH! That is the best public-land trophy muley tag on the planet and definitely worth quitting a job over, LOL.

 

111, the trophy animals I have taken are from a mix of high-quality draw units, mediocre draw units, and over-the-counter tag units. I apply all over the west and build points where applicable. Another game you can play is save your money and buy a landowner or auction tag. The biggest mistake that hunters such as yourself make...............is thinking that a great draw automatically equals a great animal. That's usually not true. It might, but it usually requires good scouting, research, hunting savvy, and knowledge of the specific habits and behaviors of old animals to tag one. A unit is great because it has the potential to produce a great animal, not because it automatically does. Also, there are trophy animals in general areas, just not as many. You just have to work harder and really know the critters to take one there. That WY muley I posted was taken in a general area where most hunters were driving past in a rush to get someplace better. Oh well, their loss.

 

I think I'll go ahead and post 1 more pic and story of my last years bull, and call it good. I don't want to hog the forum, and there ain't that much interest in my animules and stories anyway. The other muleys I have are nice but aren't quite as good as the AZ and WY bucks I posted.

Edited January 1, 1970 by CHD

[bullwidgeon]

Awesome bull, crappy truck . J/K, that really is a good bull though. What are those mainbeams 51-54 inchers or longer? Congrats!!!

 

Bret M.

[Daniel in Ak]

well I have to admit that rack in the back of the truck made a huge improvement Speaking of huge.............wow! nice Bull ya got there,and awesome pic's.Daniel

[111]

I've got to admit, I do have a habit of putting in for the tougher draws. I realize the tougher draw doesn't mean your going to harvest a great animal, but it seems to make scouting easier. My first choice always goes for a trophy quality hunt, and second choice is an average unit I know well and can scout often before the hunt. Scouting is 90% of the hunt, so I take advantage of every opportunity to learn new areas. It also makes your hunt that much more rewarding once you harvest an animal you've been watching for a weeks or even years. Much like you've done Chris.

I also saw that thread on CB1's 13B tag. You seriously need to make some story up for your boss so you can go on that hunt.

[CHD]

Bret and 111, sorry I took so long in getting back to ya. I really don't go by measurements or scores anymore. I'm just tired of it all and reducing a magnificent animal to a number in order to compare it to another one's number. I am really happy and satisfied with the animals I've posted here. Maybe we can have a lengthy discussion about this here sometime. I posted the pronghorns score and measurments just 'cause I figured there would be questions since it's difficult to judge a goat from a pic or in the field

 

But, just for you Bret......................I measured this bull's main beams and they are both in the 49"-50" range.

 

I say we start a poll thread titled "what's your truck brand" just to make it very clear to the readers of this forum that REAL buck and bull hunters drive Fords, and everyone else is a wuss. What do you all think?

[25-06]

CHD, Check out my first coues... What a beauty huh? I cant wait to start eating it. Page 34 , rifle hunting.

Edited January 1, 1970 by 25-06

[KGAINES]

Chris, another great bull, my four year old was looking at the post with me and wanted to know how it got dead, I had to read it to him, he wants you to know that's a cool elk (his words), thanks for the pics.

Edited January 1, 1970 by KGAINES