Cache Bull Elk
- Thread starter patriot25
- Start date
cantclosethedeal
Active Member
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- 217
Beautiful bull on a very TOUGH unit. Well done. Now, let's hear the story!
Silentstalker
Long Time Member
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Awesome bull! Tell us about the hunt! Looks like a great bull!
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BUGLEMN
Guest
SWEET BULL. CONGRATS!!!
BUGLEMN
BUGLEMN
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apollosmith
Guest
Congrats on a fantastic bull! North or South? To get him on the archery hunt on a very difficult unit (if it's the North Cache, it is statistically the hardest unit in the state) is something special.
Please share the story!
Please share the story!
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bggmhtr
Guest
That looks like the same Bull we saw hiding in the hut while looking for the girl!! Now that you have finally and I mean finally, shot your Bull, maybe you can start concentrating on Basketball. Great job BR!!!! I am really happy for you.
This is a North Cache archery bull. Worst success rate in the state, that I am aware of. We didn't experience anything different either. It took scouting weekends starting the last week in May before roads were open, Many discouraging days of hunting, many exiting days of hunting, a lot of stratagizing, and tons and tons of luck!! It took a lot of time in the field and a positive attitude. He really wanted to join that small group of 11%(i think) of successful north Cache archery hunters. Again i was just a tag along the entire time. i will let him post the story i have said enough already. Thanks BR for letting me be part of the whole experience.
LAST EDITED ON Sep-10-09 AT 09:08PM (MST)[p]I am not Patrot25, I am just logging in under his identity. First off, thanks for all the kind remarks. I am one of the hunters on the pursuit of this bull and was lucky enough to be the shooter and tag holder. Let me say that Patriot is not a "tag-a-long", he is an elk hunting machine! I was fortunate to have his advice and determination on my side. Don't know if any of you want to hear it, but I will give a little of the story. As he said, we started scouting back in May before the roads were opened to us. We wanted this tag for many reasons and looked forward to the challenge and excitement of working this unit. It was even tougher than I had expected, but is all worth it(though there were a few moments...). We worked all summer scouting and searching for elk. Missed a couple for our family vacations, but stuck with the plan knowing how hard it would be. Our wives are extremely great women!!! We had found great groups of elk and were excited about what August/September would hold. The night before the opener, we glassed this bull with the spotting scope for an hour or so at about 900yds. Feeling great at the idea that we ONLY had to close the distance another 870yds the next day. We were able to have close encounters with this bull a few times, over the next couple weeks. The excitement and lows of elk hunting are so hard to describe. Bitter/sweet at best. From having him raking trees just steps away at times to watching him run like mad when his cows found us at other times. Needless to say, he was winning the game. We eventually lost him and his cows, along with traces of the other groups of elk we were watching. It then became an elimination game for us. Start checking every bowl and grouping of trees till we found him again. We had committed to go after this bull. We spent the next 8-10 days searching, listening, and tracking to no success. Not a sound, no fresh sign, nor tracks could be found. These are the low times of elk hunting. I went home to be with family for a couple days, catch up on work, and gain some much needed desire to hit it hard again for the grand finale. Patriot instructed me to watch a good elk hunting dvd and seek inspiration as I'm sure we all do at times. We met back up at his house the night before I was headed in for the duration of the hunt. We studied google earth to re-affirm our game plan that we had decided on earlier, and went to bed. The next morning, got up as early as us elk hunters do so that we could be set up plenty before light, to hope we could catch some sort of indication that we had found him. As it became light, we started working hoping to catch a little movement, and ran into another hard working hunter with the same hopes that we had. Feeling that maybe our chances in the area may have been busted, I made the decision to back out, feeling quite discouraged. Wanting to see family and run away from elk hunting altogether, we walked, and for a guy that wears his emotions on his sleeve, I'm sure I looked a little rough. Coming into a small clearing moments later, the most amazing chain of events happened. A cow came running out of the quakies, followed by another, and then another, until there were 9-10 cows right in front of us. Looking on and hoping, it happend, one more cow and then a set of antlers that completely took my wind. It was him. Our last confrontation. His cows were 10yds to our right, and he was tucked up by the last cow in the back. There eyes fixed on the two sillhoutes with the morning sun at their backs. Knowing they wouldn't stay long, I was so thankful that I hadn't taken that spit soaked reed out of my mouth. It would be my only chance. As the cows started to get restless and move back up, the bull was still scanning the area. Once they passed him, he turned to leave and I drew my bow while I let of a soft mew and he turned back for one more look, which proved fatal. My arrow hit where it needed, leaving him a short 60 yard run. Hearing his last grunt, he fell behind some quakies. We gave him a moment, found the arrow which fortunately was a complete pass-through, and waited him out. Wanting to move on him so bad, we waited and glassed. Moving into a position to see behind the quakies, we saw tips of antlers, and decided to go take a look. We walked on him, and shouts and excitement had hit us. We had done it. I say "We" in this story because to be honest with you, I am not that great of a hunter. I could not have done this without Patriot. He is as good a elk hunter as I know. My only regret is that he was not there for the actual kill shot as he had work commitments. He had already sacrificed probably enough time off to hurt his chances on his tags that are still to come. Yet we found him on the mountain within the hour for the hard work that was begining. I am also grateful that long time friend and share-er of many elk hunting campfires was able to spend a little time out of his busy schedule with me. My wife is the greatest wife around. Sorry guys. It's true! As we packed out the rest of the bull on the last trip, we realized what had happened. After 14 days of hunting, and many hours scouting. We had beat the North Cache. It would beat us 9 out of 10 times as we know, but this one was ours. As Patriot said before, tons of luck! He is not the spider bull, nor the largest bull that will be posted, but he is ours, and we are proud of him!
elkantlers
Long Time Member
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Great story and a beautiful elk. The hard work makes it all the more special.
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coltwayne
Guest
Listen to this guy not that great of a hunter, please! hes a freakin killer, and you already know how I feel about the spyder bull. JK congradulation on an awsome bull BR.
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apollosmith
Guest
Awesome story! You guys put in the work and it paid off. Congrats on a great hunt, a great bull, and memories of a lifetime!
270Whatelse
Active Member
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- 761
Gotta love when a plan comes togehter!
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Buckrub
Guest
That is a tremendous bull !! You should be very proud, and I really enjoyed the story of how you got him!!
CONGRATS !!!!!
"Good mass & long brows"
CONGRATS !!!!!
"Good mass & long brows"
OutdoorWriter
Long Time Member
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Coloradoboy
Very Active Member
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Awesome story and awesome out come man. That just shows that putting in the time and effort pays off in the end. Thats what I love so much about bowhunting elk. It can take you from the ultimate low to the ultimate high in a matter of seconds. I know how how that feeling is. I had a tough season just like that this year with alot of let downs and frustrations to the point I wanted to give in and go home. But thats beautiful thing about hunting you never know what is going to happen so always keep your head up and stay out there cause sometimes god will grant you a gift much like he did for both of us this season.
Leftysbowman
Member
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- 99
That is a great bull...well earned on a tough unit and with a bow is just icing on the cake!
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sneekeepete
Guest
Wow that is an Awesome Cache bull! Congrats to all involved on the hunt!!!
Hunting is my way of life
Sgt. Petersen
USMC OIF OEF Vet.
Hunting is my way of life
Sgt. Petersen
USMC OIF OEF Vet.
