Here's my story

[Bryan Stone]

First off want to say thanks to everyone for their congrats on my first bull.

So Tuesday morning I decided to make a short hunt before heading to work in an area that I had hunted Sunday with my brother, and saw a good number of elk but just couldnt catch up to them. So I got up there before daylight and began my 45 minute trek up the road to be at the bottom of a very large clear, with fingers of timber and a few strips of reprod to hopefully locate some elk right as it got light outside. After probably and hour of slowly making my way across not seeing a thing I walked out on a landing and began to glass the hillside in hopes of finding something worth my time whether it be an elk or a blacktail buck. So I looked...and looked...and looked some more...nothing. I began doing some calling trying to get something to answer and let me know I wasn't the only form of life in the area. I started cow calling then let out a few bugles. and listened...and listened...nadda!!! I continued glassing for a couple more minutes when all of a sudden I heard a large branch break about 500 yards up the hill at the very top of the clear cut. I threw up the binos and sure enough...there was a bull feeding his way across the hillside towards the top, upon further inspection there were also about 10 cows not too far away and probably more where I couldn't see them. They had been tucked away in a draw out of my sight that was blocked by another landing about 300 yards directly above me. Luckily it was still cool out and the thermals hadn't switched on me yet so I had a good wind coming straight down and I planned my attack. The plan was to sneak up the road to the next landing then somehow get around the elk and cut them off...lol yea right. after 20 minutes of sneaking I got to about 150 yards from where they used to be and of course they were gone. So frustrated and dissapointed I sat down and started to think about where they might have gone. Well they didnt come down, or to the right so they either went up in the timber or to the left into a creek drainage. Well for a little background info I had been up to this area once last year right at the end of the season and stumbled upon thier living room in the timber right at the top of the clear cut where they were headed. This area was covered with trails, beds and reaked of sweet elk smell. Well I had a 50/50 chance that was where they might be and those odds were good enough for me, so I grabbed my pack and bow and hustled to the top. 20 minutes later I was kealed over trying to catch my breath and wiping the sweat off of me thanks to the nice cool weather we got last week... so there I am 100 yards from where they were and not an elk in sight. I began creeping along the old logging road across the top to peak down into the creek drainage when I heard some rustling in the brush right below the road 30 yards below me. So I nock an arrow and wait in hopes of an elk walking out onto the road oblivious to my presents. Well the noise gets further and further away and instead a nice hard horned 3pt jumps up onto the road 70 yards away, followed by another almost identical in size. The two buck begin slowly feeding until they stop, look up, face eachother and begin sparring! Never have I seen buck do this and what a sight it was, they continued for probably 5 minutes until they caught me pants down in the open trying to put a sneak attack on them, and they trotted off over the ridge. K back in elk mode. I continue over the top to look down in the drainage and to no surprise no elk. getting discouraged and pressed for time I decide to try one last thing. I slowly creep into the timber about 20 yards and start cow calling, of course without a response. I stand there for about 5 minutes and decide to give it one last try before heading back down to the truck. So I start making some more sweet sexy cow music only this time I found a really large branch and broke it sending a loud crack echoing across the valley, 2 seconds later I am presented with a noise that makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck just thinkin about it, a short low gutteral bugle from a bull 100 yards below me in the creek. OH BOY!! GAME ON!!! I frantically nock an arrow and start ranging various trees trying to figure out where this ol boy might show up and present me with a shot. I continue cow calling and can here the bull making his way up the hill through the timber, as my heart pounds harder and harder with every branch he breaks it takes everything in me to stay composed. I continue calling at him snapping twigs off the tree next to me until I hear a loud crack 30 yards directly to my right, holy smokes there he is walking through the sparse trees quartering to me getting closer and closer with each step. I stand motionless, heart ready to explode! he continues to the edge of timber and is almost broadside. His head goes behind a tree. I draw. he finally gets perfectly broadside at 20 yards, I let out a soft cow call and he stops in his tracks. Time seems to stand still as I stare through me peep settling my 20 yd. pin on THE SPOT right in his wheel house. I let my arrow fly and watch as it burries into the side of my bull instantly staining his tan hide red. The bull wheels and heads right back down where he came from. I immediately cow call again in attempts to settle him down hoping to convince him to retire close by. But being the amazing tank like animal elk are he continued to slowly walk down the edge of the timber towards the creek with my arrow burried in his side. My heart continues to race as I watch him out of sight carefully pinpointing the last place I saw him go. I am overwhelmed with emotion and have to sit down to get my head on straight. I know I made a good hit on him but decide I don't want to chance pushing him and turn the situation into a wild elk chase. So I grab my gear and head straight down to the truck to head to town and get some help. 30 minutes later Im in cell service and on the phone with one of my best friends and hunting buddies Eric. A quick conversation about the events that took place and he was dressed and ready to roll. A couple more phone calls to my brother and mom to tell them the news and we were on the road. The two of us hustled up the hill anxiously to the spot I shot him from. From there we headed down the creek and to the last place I saw him, split up and began our search down the creek. 50 yards into our walk I am greeted with a sound I had been praying to hear the whole time. Eric began hoopin and hollaring as he walked up on the sight of my bull lying motionless in the timber. I immediately ran down to him and was greeted with a big hug and the sight of my prize! Oh what a feeling! For minutes the two of us stood there admiring and staring at the enormous size and beauty of my Roosevelt Bull and the realization that the work just began. After taking pictures I ran back out into the middle of the clear cut where I got the faintest of cell reception and got ahold of my anxiously awaiting brother and told him to come on up, we needed packs and bodies. Eric and I began the long process of gutting and quartering out the bull as my brother, dad, girlfriend and two other good friends met up and came out to give us a hand. Finally after a couple hours of wrestling that thing we had him quartered, loaded on pack frames and headed down to the road. As I stood there at the top of the clear cut with head and horns on my back over looking the valley as the September sun set. I realized just how fortunate and blessed I am. Not only did I just accomplish something that I had worked so hard for and dreamed about for years but I got to share that experience with the people that mean the most to me. The whole experience will be a memory that will I will never forget.

So thats my story, sorry its so long but thanks again to everyone for letting me share my success with you and good luck to all for the rest of the season

Here's a few more pictures
getting everyone loaded up:

[blackdog]

Congrats on your first archery bull which just happens to be dandy!!


Here's my one and only tip - learn to use a paragraph!!! Great story just strained the eyes to read that monster.

[Archer1000]

Very nice job!!! Nice bull and an excellent story to read. Thanks for sharing.

[Limbhanger]

congrats again, great story.

[osulogger]

Great story.... congrats on a fine animal!

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

[Don Becker]

Very nice job and great story. Thanks! Don

[Cliff D.]

Great story. Thanks for sharing.

[Smokin'Bulls]

Congrats again! Awesome story, I'm jealous.

[ElkChaser]

That was a great read. Good Job.

[Small Fry]

Congrats. Great story.

[pdxkevin]

What a great and inspirational story. Thanks for sharing.

[Sea Jypzee]

Wonderful story and Congratulations again!!!

[Grantspastor]

Outstanding!

[gully_20]

No worries on the "long story". Enjoyed reading it. Reading things like this will get a person's blood going in hopes of them shooting the big one. Can't wait until season opens up for rifle hunting. Congrats on a great animal. Too awesome...too awesome.

[Bryan Stone]

blackdog
yeah my bad on not using paragraphs you think I would actually learn something in college.

[tailwalker]

Great story, it seemed like I was right there with you right up to the point of the pack out! Nice work!

[Dave Smith]

Awesome, Bryan! Now you can add Rosie Bull to your resume'! Congrats on a great trophy and way to keep it together. Dave

[Mountain Climber]

Wow, that's great!!! That's the kind of story I think we ALL dream of telling! Whether if it's the first time or the 100th time! Great job man! Hopefully, I can do the same here in the next week....

Chris

[leadeyedbugger]

Great story man, great, i could sit here and visualize the whole thing....awesome....

Its a hard thing for us rifle boys to be sitting here chomping at the bit while you guys are out making it happen.

[greenbuttskunk]

wow, it was like being there with you. I know those feeling well, after my first bow kill. One of the greatest, most exciting moments of my life. I can still recall every moment, as you will too years from now.
enjoy the steaks!

[outlaw1776]

Awesome read and beautiful bull! Thanks for sharing man.....I'm jealous!

[JIMBOUY]

Congratulations! Well done

[mbklmann]

Congratulations!! We have the exact same arrows

[duckboy]

Brian,

What a great Bull!

Congratulations.

I noticed in that 2nd photo that there is an Orb over your shoulder.

That is not the sun, and not the moon.


It could be a mere photographic anomaly, or, it could be evidence that your were chaperoned that day by someone in the spirit world.

Hard to say,

But anything can happen up on a mountainside.

[chukardave1]

Excellent work. I always seem to be the one on the receiving end of an excited archery phone call.:grin: Great Story and Congratulations!!!

[Eric Strand]

That was a moment I'm glad I could share with you Bryan. Congrats again on your first bull, that was an awesome day. Now is it time to start chasing birds yet or what.....

" Shoot em with their feet down "
Eric Strand

[DTSportsman]

WOW!!! Now I am officially kicking myself for not buying an archery Elk tag this year. That story was awesome and as others have said the story made me feel like I was right there with you.

Excellent Job!

Daryn

[Amahnee]

Congratulations and great story! Good first bull and awesome memories with that hunt. I wish I had friends closer to give us a hand with the pack. Way to go!

[redfish89]

Great story and great bull!!!