elkoholic Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 After 12 years of failing to draw on a limited entry Utah elk tag I finally lucked out this year and the 15th of this month found me on a mission to put that tag on a nice bull. Unfortunately, this past year has been one of little rain (actually, there was none this summer) following a couple of hard winters so the trophy potential was not the best. With the temperatures in the low 80's during the day the hunt was going to be a hot one. Anyway, the first morning started with a bugle before shooting light just up the mountain from camp and shortly after sunup some cows and calves were spotted along with a glimpse of a bull but no shot opportunities. Later that day we slipped in above where the elk had gone and found a mecca of sign with between 50 and 100 rubs, many scrapes and torn-up ground and many beds. It appears that the elk had moved down over the backside of the mountain to a creek bottom 1/2 mile away. As we hiked back to camp another bull was spotted but we ran out of daylight before we could get a shot opportunity. The second day produced no sightings but a quick check of the where all the sign was turned up fresh sign from over night. The third morning was spent in the spot where the bull was spotted the first afternoon but no luck there, with the exception of hearing a bugle come from the direction of the area with all the fresh sign. That bugle cemented a plan to spend the last couple of hours of the day watching a trail that came up from the creek bottom where I suspected the elk were bedding during the day and to bivouac near there so that we would be there at first light the next day if nothing showed that evening. The last hour proved quite eventful as some cows and calves had kicked out as I slid into position and they moved off up hill but no bull was with them. I at first thought that maybe I had blown it by trying to set up where I did but after sitting for about 15 minutes I heard a bugle from down in the creek bottom. The bull was slowly making his way up the mountain in my direction, grunting and bugling every now and then. Another bull also bugled down in the creek bottom off to one side. When the bull bugled from about 50 to 100 yards below me another bull suddenly cut loose above me with several aggressive bugles and headed down to confront the bull advancing up the hill. That was his undoing, as I stepped out behind a tree that was between us and managed to get off a shot as he was passing through a small opening in the brush. At the shot he turned and started running quartering to me and it looked like he was headed down over the edge to the creek bottom. I quickly snapped off another shot (did not really aim) and he went right down as I got lucky and caught the spine. I'm not sure how far he would have run down the hill with a hole in both lungs but I think that last shot saved a grueling pack from becoming even worst. We were 1&1/2 miles from the truck with the first 1/4 mile being uphill and most of it through sage brush. Thanks to my cousin who accompanied me on this trip and an all night of packing elk quarters we were on the road back to Montana by 11:00 AM the next morning. I wished we could have used the ATV to bring him out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texastrophies Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 Congrats. Sounds like an exciting hunt. Man, 12 rejects first. Guess I got a ways to go. Think I have 7 points, not sure right off hand and my computer with that info is not here right now. Thanks for the pictures and story. We will be in Colorado in a month chasing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetailfreak55 Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 Congrats that's awesome. I'd love to hunt elk and if it took you awhile I'm gonna start applying right now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pruts Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 Congratulations! Sound like a great time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 Great story nice bull!!...I need to do that some day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 great hunt and nice bull... I've got 5 points in for Utah so I figured it would still be a few years before I'm drawn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iron buck Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Congrats on a nice bull :clap: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 what a cool story. nice bull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 Thats a beauty, CONGRATS :gun1: too_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.