Well after lurking on this site for a few years hearing stories of big Utah bulls I was pretty pumped when I finally drew my Wasatch muzzleloader bull tag. I made a trip out camping in Strawberry area with my wife to learn the area and did some scouting. I was back with a friend a few days before season and we located a couple nice bulls. It was difficult to sleep with bulls screaming around the tent all night.
Things turned out to be a lot tougher than we anticipated. I expected the bulls to be call shy but they readily answered my bugle though they always managed to slip away when we tried to close the distance. Any attempt with a cow call and they all shut up. I've hunted Montana/Colorado/Wyoming and never experienced that kind of response.
We spent 13-15hrs a day in the field every day but could not get on a big bull. The last morning we worked a herd bull for about six hours before we finally got between him and his cows to force him to show himself. He had a monster bugle that sounded like a cross between an elephant and a beef cow. Turned out to be a modest 6X6 but after the wonderful chase I decided to take him. I was able to get two shots at him and he appeared to be hit - leaving his cows and heading stiff legged downhill. Unfortunately we could locate no blood and the bull vanished. The midday sun rapidly melted the snow and turned the mountainside to mud. We searched to no avail. I hope they were misses though sadly I don't think so.
Just wanted to thank the guys on this site. The knowledge I gained here gave me an amazing opportunity to experience what has got to be some of the finest elk hunting in the country. Utah is a beautiful state and the residents I met were as friendly as they come.
I figure I could get another tag in 15-20 years, which would only put me in my early 70's....
Any good recipes for tag soup?
Dean
Things turned out to be a lot tougher than we anticipated. I expected the bulls to be call shy but they readily answered my bugle though they always managed to slip away when we tried to close the distance. Any attempt with a cow call and they all shut up. I've hunted Montana/Colorado/Wyoming and never experienced that kind of response.
We spent 13-15hrs a day in the field every day but could not get on a big bull. The last morning we worked a herd bull for about six hours before we finally got between him and his cows to force him to show himself. He had a monster bugle that sounded like a cross between an elephant and a beef cow. Turned out to be a modest 6X6 but after the wonderful chase I decided to take him. I was able to get two shots at him and he appeared to be hit - leaving his cows and heading stiff legged downhill. Unfortunately we could locate no blood and the bull vanished. The midday sun rapidly melted the snow and turned the mountainside to mud. We searched to no avail. I hope they were misses though sadly I don't think so.
Just wanted to thank the guys on this site. The knowledge I gained here gave me an amazing opportunity to experience what has got to be some of the finest elk hunting in the country. Utah is a beautiful state and the residents I met were as friendly as they come.
I figure I could get another tag in 15-20 years, which would only put me in my early 70's....
Any good recipes for tag soup?
Dean
