LAST EDITED ON Sep-17-10 AT 05:10PM (MST)[p]Seems like there are a lot of the "First Bull" stories going around and I'm fortunate to be counted in the bunch. Here's my tale x-posted from another forum:
Well, it finally came together for me last night. I really can't believe how it all unfolded. My first elk, a nice 6x6 taken from 10 yards (treestand) with a Hoyt Alpha Max 35, Easton FMJ arrows and the Grim Reaper. It couldn't have happened any better, truly. As a good friend of mine said,
I've worked very hard this year and last at bowhunting, to the point of darn near driving my wife and business partner nuts. But they are two of the coolest people I know - understanding and committed to the core for my passion of chasing elk with my bow.
I had been out in the Uintas all morning and pulled a rookie move and missed a chance at a nice bull when I bumped him and his cows from their beds in the timber, not 10 minutes from the car. So when my buddy Bill called and wanted me to head out for the evening hunt in the extended Wasatch area I wanted to go so bad but the amount of work on my plate, my looming trip to Canada tomorrow (today actually, just landed - hunting Whitetail in a few hours) and the fact my kids and wife haven't seen much of me had me ready to decline...until my wife basically pushed me out the door, camo in hand and said I should really go since Bill doesn't get out to hunt much at all. I love that woman!!
There's an old treestand in this area that I sat in last year for about an hour but lost my patience. Then last week I sat in it and called in a spike, only to have it hold up long enough for it to get too dark to shoot as it walked out broadside at 25 yards. I knew if I tried to shoot and didn't hit good, I'd never find it and that wasn't something worth the risk. So I held off.
So as we climbed up the mountain I told Bill and J that I was going to the top to sit in the treestand. They said something to the effect of "ah man, bad call. You're not going to see anything up there". I had a good feeling about it.
I got settled in and only had an hour of daylight left when I heard an elk thrashing trees about 200 yards out. I cow called and he started coming in...but promptly stopped. Looked at my watch and it was 7:15. I thought, "A lot can happen in 45 min, just relax". I stopped calling as I thought I was spooking him off or something. 7:30 rolled around and nothing. I was starting to doubt. 7:45 and the light was dimming, something had to happen quick. Then it happened. I heard a sound behind me (down hill, the treestand faces uphill) and low and behold he came out of the trees 40 yards below me and started to head uphill. I grabbed my bow, stood up slowly and as he rounded the tree I drew back. He magically stopped exactly uphill from the tree, 10 yards away. I couldn't believe it. I put the 20 pin mid ship and let it fly, striking him squarely in the lungs. The arrow was sticking out about 8" and I later saw that it went in and through both lungs and stopped against a rib bone on the far side. He turned and bolted downhill about 45 yards, stopped, hunched up and rolled 3 times to his final resting point. My first bull down!!
I offered up a prayer of thanks, did a number of fist pumps and tried not to pitch off the treestand. Climbed down and whistled for my buddy to come over from where he was at and we walked up to find him.
A long night and some heavy trips to the truck ensued but what an amazing hunt and a beautiful animal I was blessed to harvest.
I just wanted to say thanks for all the advice, stories, etc shared on this forum. I don't post much here but lurking for info has been a good investment so thank you.
On a complete side note - any idea what he may score from those photos? 4ths are 11.5", 3rds are 9" and he's about 39" at the widest point. Just a couple of quick measurements
Well, it finally came together for me last night. I really can't believe how it all unfolded. My first elk, a nice 6x6 taken from 10 yards (treestand) with a Hoyt Alpha Max 35, Easton FMJ arrows and the Grim Reaper. It couldn't have happened any better, truly. As a good friend of mine said,
Truer words have not been spoken.
I've worked very hard this year and last at bowhunting, to the point of darn near driving my wife and business partner nuts. But they are two of the coolest people I know - understanding and committed to the core for my passion of chasing elk with my bow.
I had been out in the Uintas all morning and pulled a rookie move and missed a chance at a nice bull when I bumped him and his cows from their beds in the timber, not 10 minutes from the car. So when my buddy Bill called and wanted me to head out for the evening hunt in the extended Wasatch area I wanted to go so bad but the amount of work on my plate, my looming trip to Canada tomorrow (today actually, just landed - hunting Whitetail in a few hours) and the fact my kids and wife haven't seen much of me had me ready to decline...until my wife basically pushed me out the door, camo in hand and said I should really go since Bill doesn't get out to hunt much at all. I love that woman!!
There's an old treestand in this area that I sat in last year for about an hour but lost my patience. Then last week I sat in it and called in a spike, only to have it hold up long enough for it to get too dark to shoot as it walked out broadside at 25 yards. I knew if I tried to shoot and didn't hit good, I'd never find it and that wasn't something worth the risk. So I held off.
So as we climbed up the mountain I told Bill and J that I was going to the top to sit in the treestand. They said something to the effect of "ah man, bad call. You're not going to see anything up there". I had a good feeling about it.
I got settled in and only had an hour of daylight left when I heard an elk thrashing trees about 200 yards out. I cow called and he started coming in...but promptly stopped. Looked at my watch and it was 7:15. I thought, "A lot can happen in 45 min, just relax". I stopped calling as I thought I was spooking him off or something. 7:30 rolled around and nothing. I was starting to doubt. 7:45 and the light was dimming, something had to happen quick. Then it happened. I heard a sound behind me (down hill, the treestand faces uphill) and low and behold he came out of the trees 40 yards below me and started to head uphill. I grabbed my bow, stood up slowly and as he rounded the tree I drew back. He magically stopped exactly uphill from the tree, 10 yards away. I couldn't believe it. I put the 20 pin mid ship and let it fly, striking him squarely in the lungs. The arrow was sticking out about 8" and I later saw that it went in and through both lungs and stopped against a rib bone on the far side. He turned and bolted downhill about 45 yards, stopped, hunched up and rolled 3 times to his final resting point. My first bull down!!
I offered up a prayer of thanks, did a number of fist pumps and tried not to pitch off the treestand. Climbed down and whistled for my buddy to come over from where he was at and we walked up to find him.
A long night and some heavy trips to the truck ensued but what an amazing hunt and a beautiful animal I was blessed to harvest.
I just wanted to say thanks for all the advice, stories, etc shared on this forum. I don't post much here but lurking for info has been a good investment so thank you.
On a complete side note - any idea what he may score from those photos? 4ths are 11.5", 3rds are 9" and he's about 39" at the widest point. Just a couple of quick measurements
