First branch bull down!

slave4chrome · 09-12-2008, 02:15 PM

well after one of the most eventful season to date, it has come to a close. on wednesday night, i got to a spot of mine. a bit late it was about 5:30. up on the ridge top of the cut i was going to hunt i look across the valley and out pops a bull from the timber heading to the creek in the bottom for a drink.
i had seen this bull on three other occasions but always with about thirty other cows calves and spikes. we had himm straight glunking at us one day but a cow busted my buddy before the deal came together. next time was another hunter, and then the third cam down to bad wind and half the herd entering the timber before daylight, which we did not know at the time. anyway...
so i can here him in the nasty bottom and i decide to set up at the ridge top 30 yards from a saddle i watched them come and cross before. anyway 2 soft mews and i mean soft he comes out of the bottom on my side of the canyon. 2 more softy mews and he is now about 80 yards and coming right up the draw. then a minute goes by 2 more mews. then i here a bunch of noise i figured i was busted, i stand maybe to get a shot? way too step can't see a thing beyond 10 yards. i kneel back down then here him peeing! he has to be close. next thing i know he didn't continue up the saddle he climbed the near cliff in front of me. rack walking broadside at 3 yards. i am at full draw with only his head exposed. he bails over the edge.
i stand at full draw and mew over and over and he stops. but there is a huge stump between us no shot . 30 seconds and he walks 10 yards and stops quartering away. i put the 50 pin on him and concentrate. touch it off and hit him but really uncertain of the exact entry point. he runs 75 yards to the bottom flat and stands there. after 10 minutes i decide to maybe get another shot, he has not moved. he is listening to other elk entering the cut. everytime he looks away, i slip down the hill 5 yards. for thirty minutes i do this. i close the distance to about 70 and he procedes to start moving away. i stop and watch as it is getting dark.
he stops after about 75 yards and groans and lays down in the middle of the cut. i couldn't believe it he must have been hurting. i wait till dark then back out slowly. took me 45 minutes to claw up the slope he cleared in a minute.
i gather my stuff from the top of the ridge and head home for a drink. i make the decision to leave him over night, this is about 10 miles from the house. round up the pack boards and rope for the following morning, with two friends committed to come back in the morning with me to see what we were dealing with.
arrive a daybreak as i crest the second landing i spot him still in the cut at about 500 yards. he is down! never got back up but he flipped 180 to how he was when i left him.
hit him a bit far back but it angled up through his liver and everything in between. full arrow was inside him. 5 back pack loads and 6 hours he was out. this area is extremely steep literally shear in certain areas, so thanks again two my two pack mules!
he is a real nice 4x5, no one is happier than my wife, she was hating all that noise at 4 am every morning. 13 days of it to be exact, she let me know.

jr5575 · 09-12-2008, 02:21 PM

Nice work

good lookin bull and good story

ehunter · 09-12-2008, 02:24 PM

congrads sounds like you earned him

cityfisher · 09-12-2008, 02:57 PM

outstanding...

jokester · 09-12-2008, 03:02 PM

Cool!

Congrats

-jokester

Linejerk · 09-12-2008, 03:05 PM

great job

stlhdr1 · 09-12-2008, 03:19 PM

Great job, it's a great feeling!!

Keith

redfish89 · 09-12-2008, 03:30 PM

Nice work

That was a smart move to leave him over night.

sturgn · 09-12-2008, 03:32 PM

Nice!! Great job!

D3smartie · 09-12-2008, 03:39 PM

Congrats! great job.

fisher22 · 09-12-2008, 05:15 PM

Nice Bull, and a great story to go along.

Beamerfish · 09-12-2008, 05:51 PM

Good bull - sounds like you paid your dues and earned him the old fashioned way.

Prowler44 · 09-12-2008, 06:07 PM

Contgrats, a full freezer and new memories.

huntntrap · 09-12-2008, 06:53 PM

nice job

Big Unit · 09-12-2008, 07:24 PM

Nice job! Gotta love that feeling!!

I love the packout pic the best!

BU

No Fences · 09-12-2008, 08:16 PM

Congrats on a great bull.

ORsouthpaw · 09-12-2008, 09:53 PM

Way to go! Sounds like a well deserved trophy!

scubaseth · 09-12-2008, 10:00 PM

Nice!!!

Thanks for sharing pics and story.

Scuba

Blacktailfiend · 09-12-2008, 10:17 PM

Very nice.....

Weather or Knot · 09-13-2008, 06:39 AM

GOOD JOB! Thanks for sharing.

Brandon

RipsDrift · 09-13-2008, 06:41 AM

Sweeeet!!!! Nice bull and great pics plus story.

Nw dukn · 09-13-2008, 09:22 AM

Great job on a fine bull..

nakoa · 09-13-2008, 09:30 AM

congrats

57chevy · 09-13-2008, 12:47 PM

I bet he'll taste great!!

slave4chrome · 09-14-2008, 06:44 AM

thanks guys still recovering from the pack out. it was back strap dinner for friends and family last night. i love to watch peoples reaction to eating delicious elk for the first time. they are always so suprised how good it tastes!
also a guess on the age of the bull, i know he is not old but just wondering 3 1/2? thanks again boys.

Rank Amateur · 09-14-2008, 07:09 AM

2 1/2

bbell · 09-14-2008, 08:55 AM

congradulations man! thats a nice bull!

BlacktailBowhunter · 09-14-2008, 03:18 PM

That is a nice bull, congrats.

gonfishenagin · 09-14-2008, 03:52 PM

Nice Bull and story i got out yesterday for the first time this season with my 13yr old daughter. only had a day full of exercise.......

blacktail hunter · 09-14-2008, 06:07 PM

nice bull.

Scrillznac · 09-14-2008, 06:25 PM

Nice work and congrats......

Killertraylor · 09-14-2008, 09:18 PM

Great bull. Way to back out and let him die. A lot of guys would have messed that up. Great shot at 50 yards