Fish Lake Archery Bull

B

BHBISH

Guest
My brother and I had a great time hunting together with his Fish Lake archery elk tag. Weston, my brother, has hunted elk only a few times and has never killed a bull and he was looking forward to the opportunity of harvesting an elk. We spent the last week on the unit and had some good days and bad days. Typical for a pre-rut hunt. The bulls, for the most part, were bugling but not responding to cow calls. We never did call one in. So our stratigy was to chase bugles and try to work the wind so we could get in on a bull. As you know, this is not an easy way to hunt because bulls with cows have the advantage with all the eyes and noses and the swerling winds. He had a few chances for 280" to 300" bulls but held off hoping for a bigger one. Our mother was mad we had passed on the smaller ones. She just doesent get it. It did pay off for us on the last morning of the hunt! We got on a game trail and walked ever so quietly and listened as we walked. We had a few bugles a far off before we walked onto a bull bugling on a small ridge in front of us. We walked to the edge of the aspens and Weston got set-up. We had a very small clearing that ran to the bottom of the ravine with heavey pines against the opposite slope. We could hear the elk in the pines and noticed a calf at the bottom and then a cow walked out into the meadow facing us and walking up the trail toward us with ten other cows and calves behind her. I thought we would get busted before we even saw the bull. We were lucky when the lead cow worked from right to left in front of us and didn't come up the trail. The wind was slighty in our face and the cows were within 15 yrds. Five minutes and still no bull as the cow continuded to feed; although, we could hear him walking around in the pines and he would let out his raspy bugle every once in a while, but he would not show himself. Ten more cows and calves and a spike walked into the meadow from the bottom and filled the small meadow with elk, all the while I was hoping the wild would hold true. Finally, the bull showed himself and walked into the middle of the meadow like he owned the place and took charge by letting out another bugle. I marvled at his ivory tipped antlers as he postured himself amongst his cows and knew this would be a bull of a lifetime for my brother with his bow. He was 30 yards away with no clear shot because of the other cows around him. One of the cows came up the trail at us and looked straight at my brother and jumped back unsure of what she had seen. Actually, I think it's because my bother is ugly! She knew something wasn't right and the only reason she didn't blow out of there, is because she never winded us. She worked to the right of us moving up at a 45 degree angle, wanting to clear the meadow into the thick cover. The bull followed her as my brother drew his bow back waiting for him to stop. He put his 30 yard pin on him and as the bull paused, he let the arrow fly. The bull went to the ground instantly! His shot was high because the bull was within 20 yards and the arrow broke the bulls back. He put another one in him to finish him off and we then looked at each other and new we had pulled off the improbable. It goes to show, that at times, it is better to not force a situation and let things unfold without getting involed with calling. I thought about cow calling before the cows had showed them selves and I'm glad I didn't. We also stayed put and didn't try to close the gap into the pines where the elk was bugling before we saw any of the cows. Many things went our way that morning and you could even say we had luck on our side, but we were patient and put ourselves in the right place at the right time and just let things unfold. Weston is now the proud owner of a 355" bull off the Fish Lake unit. The taxidermist said that he believes the bull to be 10 plus years old and taped him out a bit over 360". I didn't give him so many inches and taped him up at 355". His teeth were worn down to the nub. His fifth on the lift side is just shy of 4" the other fifth is close to 12". He would be a solid mid 360" bull if the 5th's matched. O well, if wishes were kisses, we'd all have chapped lips! We are very happy with the out come and will remember the hunt for as long as we live. Thanks for passing on the smaller ones Weston and giving us the opportunity to "live the dream"!
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Me with Westons bull.
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Congrats on a sweet Archery bull. Way to be patient and let things work out!

Hunting is my way of life
Sgt. Petersen
USMC OIF OEF Vet.
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-15-09 AT 01:18PM (MST)[p]Dang you guys! I think you killed "my" bull...
I can't see the left side real well but does he has a really short 5th there? He looks exactly like the bull I had been watching and hoping would get thru to the late hunt!

(edit) I reread your post and it does have the short 5th...

PM me please...would like to get a little more info if you are willing to tell me...
Congrats on a nice bull!!! no Great bull....no "my bull"...lol

Good job to your brother!
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-15-09 AT 01:44PM (MST)[p]antlerrick-
Not sure how to "PM" someone. You can give me a call at my office 435-586-1025. Ask for Bryce
 
My dad had that tag last year and we had a ball! The elk will be good and hot by then. We got into them every morning and night. If I could choose a tag, it would be the one you have in your pocket! Good luck and let's see some pictures.
 
Bryce, Tried to call later but remembered you said you were at work? anyway, here is what you do to get to your PM's.

After you log on go to the conference page, and there will be a "you have a message" in Bold writing right above the word confernece headline. or look on the line above that which show you are logged on. Click on the one that says "Inbox" and you will see my PM..



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Is this the same bulll?

LAST EDITED ON Sep-15-09 AT 10:23PM (MST)[p]I've went back and looked at some video and wanted to know what you guys think about whether this is the same bull or not?
I am having a hard time finding anything to tell me it isn't the same bull, so thought I'd see what you guys think?
I took these photos from the video...It was a long ways away this day..


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RE: Is this the same bulll?

sure looks like him. that short (busted?) 5th and the "wag" in the left main after the 4th sure match.
 
RE: Is this the same bulll?

I was hoping I could find something to make me think he was still alive and a different bull, but I am losing hope!
 
RE: Is this the same bulll?

Damn, I know the odds were low, but I really wanted to smoke that puppy!!!!
That is one of the better bulls I found this year up there...
I know there are better, but that one was close to the road..lol....j/k
 
RE: Is this the same bulll?

He is sure gonna look nice on the wall...

:-( But someone else's wall:-(

Congrats guys!
 
RE: Is this the same bulll?

Thanks for sharing some Summer time pictures of the bull! He looks great in the velvet. Thanks for all the great things you've all said about the bull. I'm pulling for you antlerrick! You deserve the opportunity to kill a great bull.
 
RE: Is this the same bulll?

Dale, I believe so.. I have visited with Bryce and he gave me some of the details I was wanting to know and I am happy for them. He is a neat bull. I was just kidding when I called it "my bull" because I know there are lots of hunters, lots of days, and lots of miles from the times I watched him until my hunt..
I'm glad that at least I know I don't need to bust my butt looking for him and that he now has a new home!!!
Kind of cool to see the final product once he had finished out and rubbed his velvet.. I'm glad they posted the photos...
 
RE: Is this the same bulll?

I'm sure you have more then one ace in the hole. You know the elk habits and that mountain as well as anyone. I can't wait to see what you get. It is a fun time of year!!
 
RE: Is this the same bulll?

Awesome bull, thanks for posting the story and pictures.
 
I would have to agree that the cow was running away from ugly Weston;). That is awesome you guys, way to go Weston, I'll have to come by and check it out.
 
Weston, great bull.Good thing you listened to your brother.Its probably the only time you ever had,and probably the only time he has ever been correct.(just kidding) bryce.
Also good luck on your desert blackpowder,if you dont see the biggens,go to where I told you. BB
 
And live the dream you did, congrates and a great bull and story. Thanks for posting.
OMB


There's room for all of God's creatures, right next to the mashed potato's and gravy.
 

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