My first six-point bull

nootka · 11-16-2008, 08:40 PM

I was lucky to get my first branch antlered bull on opening day in Hells Canyon, Oregon. I've been a meat hunter for many years - never hunting for horns. One shot with my 7mm took him at 45 yards. Lots of good meat to eat this winter.

Big John

Art Vandeley · 11-16-2008, 08:41 PM

Nice bull!!! Congrats

Mitch

buckhunter · 11-16-2008, 08:42 PM

The ones with horns come with meat also?

Nice bull

. Congrats! BH

scarr · 11-16-2008, 08:43 PM

nice bull. too bad your not going to get him mounted.

Ras · 11-16-2008, 09:22 PM

That's a dandy Oregon bull; a pack of critters must have chased him across the river this way

.

Ras

Eagleclaw · 11-16-2008, 09:35 PM

very nice bull.. congrats

bigjake_888 · 11-17-2008, 03:49 AM

Nice bull. Love those pants! Brings me back a little bit.

dwsurfer · 11-17-2008, 04:43 AM

Yes love the pants also. very nice bull.

how about a story

just_hunt'n · 11-17-2008, 05:19 AM

nice job congrats

JHoyt · 11-17-2008, 05:23 AM

Great job!

JHoyt

The Fish Box · 11-17-2008, 05:54 AM

nice six point

elkthumper · 11-17-2008, 06:13 AM

nice bull! congrats

OR_Bo_Huntr · 11-17-2008, 06:18 AM

I can not believe your arent mounting it!

ehunter · 11-17-2008, 06:29 AM

Pretty bull what is the story behind your hunt?

No Fences · 11-17-2008, 06:39 AM

A dandy for sure.

MJ13 · 11-17-2008, 06:44 AM

That's a heck of a bull. Looks like it was a steep pack out.

Elk Czy · 11-17-2008, 07:16 AM

What a toad... Congratz

elkhuntr28 · 11-17-2008, 07:17 AM

Great bull.

Give us the hunt details. . .please.

Nw dukn · 11-17-2008, 07:21 AM

Awesome bull congrats..

ORsouthpaw · 11-17-2008, 07:32 AM

Congrats, that's a beauty! It looks a little bit steep there. Did you tie the antler off for the picture or to keep hime from rolling down the hill?

beardbuster · 11-17-2008, 08:45 AM

Thats a great bull. Love the swords!

ommedia · 11-17-2008, 08:53 AM

Excellent Bull!!

well earned for sure.

nootka · 11-17-2008, 11:13 AM

My story goes like this:

Last year I put a sneak on a herd of 100 plus elk in Hell's Canyon.
Trying not to expose myself I got too close and they walked away. I had a cow tag. I was really bummed about it.

So this year I was determined to get redemption! I've never hunted for horns before so had to study what to look for. "Big g-4's" they say. Antlers wide and going back to the rump they say. "Big whales tail" I heard. Am I fishing or hunting I say?

I went in 3 days before the season to scout. Weds. I saw 6 bulls down in a canyon. I mean WAY DOWN like 1000 feet. Just like you see in the hunting magazines. What a thrill! It rained Thursday so I stayed in the tent and read old Bugle magazines to get pumped up for my big hunt. I was hunting alone which I do not advise in this big canyon country.

Friday I spotted a nice bull in a basin about half a mile out on a ridge about 600 feet down. Didn't have my spotting scope but could see he was a nice one. Ranged him at 1035 yds. The next canyon I see a bull with cows and he's bugling. Late rut I guess.

On Saturday, opening morning, there were no bulls to be seen in the first basin. I hiked to the next basin and the bull was still in the same area. He was 800 yards away, way too far to shoot. He had 3 cows with him this time. Six more eye balls. Just what I need! Through the spotting scope I can see very tall g-4s and a big-ass rack. This is a big boy!

I sidehilled over above him and snuck down. Another hunter appeared on top of my ridge which caused me a little concern. I hurried down so he wouldn't spook the elk. Luckily they weren't visible from the main trail. I don't think he ever saw them.

I get down to where they were and they are GONE! Damn! Last year all over again. I sit down and wallow in self pity. I squish some elk turds in my hand. Should I go down and hunt the bulls I saw in the next canyon another 800 feet down? I eat an apple and toss it away in disgust. I decide to go look over a small ridge about 250 yards away to see if they fed over there. As I side hill over I hear a commotion below and the bull comes boiling out of the ravine and stops to have a look at me.
Luckily the wind was in my favor or he'd have headed for Idaho.

I raised my 7mm and put a 160 grain nosler partition through both shoulders at 45 yards. He goes down, stumbles and gets dead. I yelled, "I got you" to nobody in particular.

I tied the antlers up for the picture. The head and horns were heavy.

My red hunting pants are my favorite. I got them at an army surplus store in Seattle. They may be WW II military. They have cuffs at the bottom that I really love. My wife calls them my Elmer Fudd pants.

I did not cape the head because I had to carry it out of the canyon. It was pretty heavy. The mules couldn't carry it safely. We did get mules down to the meat thank god.

This was a wonderful, memorable hunt. My first branch antlered bull.
Things went just right.
I would not do this hunt alone again.

mtn300 · 11-17-2008, 11:30 AM

Great bull

GameChaserFid · 11-17-2008, 11:55 AM

Very nice bull, thanks for sharing.

billc_sbio · 11-17-2008, 01:28 PM

That's a dandy...and great story too!

scubaseth · 11-17-2008, 01:45 PM

Congrats!! That is a dandy bull. Kind of funny you where eating an apple just above him and his cows.

Scuba

Crayfin · 11-17-2008, 02:11 PM

Helleva first bull!! Nicely done!

VBsteelheader · 11-17-2008, 05:47 PM

Awsome bull. You can't eat the horns, but they are sure nice to look at

deadelk · 11-17-2008, 06:27 PM

Awasome way to go, thanks for the pics.

blacktail519 · 11-17-2008, 06:31 PM

Great bull!! I'm thinkin i would have packed out the cape for a head mount. Awesome bull for sure. Great job. Solo in the Snake none the less!!! SWEET

beardbuster · 11-17-2008, 08:44 PM

Did you eat the apple with the same hand you squished the elk turds with? Just wondering, Maybe I'll squish some deer turds this weekend...