2005 Dutton Bull

E

e_cruiser

Guest
I don't know why it took me a year to post my '05 story, but I guess better late than never. My buddy and I began putting in for Elk when we were in college. 15 years later, we drew. We figure with the 5 year wait and another 15 years, we'll be drawing social security before we draw again! Anyway, my buddy shot his bull on opening morning. What an experience. We got down in this deep canyon and could hear 'em bugling all over the mountain. We started cow calling and three bulls came down off the top like sailors to a whore house. We could here them crashing through the timber and they were bugling like crazy. I mean WOW! Just that right there was worth the 15 year wait. My buddy shot one of them and I could see the other ones and I thought, "if I shoot, that's 2 down and we're in deep dookey!" Can you imagine a couple of amatuers with 2 bulls down in some deep Dutton canyon? Hell, one was bad enough! Long story short, we got his bull out the next day thanks to a local rancher with horses. That's the best $400 we ever spent. I felt bad for the horses! Poor fellas. Anyway, we kept hunting and on the 7th day of the hunt we were basically spent. I was starting to regret not shooting one of them suckers I saw opening morning. We decided to go sit on a pond we knew about that was down low in the cedars. We could drive right to it and take a day off. Honestly, I had given up. I was done! We parked about 1/2 mile below the pond and walked up to it right before the sun came up. We weren't there but 5 minutes and we heard a buggle. He was RIGHT THERE! He was coming in to wallow in the mud. I thought "you gotta be kidding me!" So I got up to where I could see him while my buddy dug out the camcorder. He got the whole thing on video. I shot him with my 270 and the first shot hit him about as good as a 270 can. But he didn't go down. My second shot totally missed. Damn elk wouldn't hold still in my scope. He was hit hard from the first shot but he wasn't down. He just stood there. My third shot was a dud. 4th was a dud. 5th - 10th were duds. Turns out, my firing pin broke on the second shot! Now I got a wounded elk and I'm out of bullets. Luckily, my buddy had a revolver in his bag. I had to walk up to this bull with a little pee shooter and finish him off from about 10 yards. I put all 6 rounds into him and that's what it took to end it. Wow, was my heart pumping! Anyway, here's the pictures of the most exciting 10-15 minutes of my life. Hope you enjoy them.

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Great bull! Thanks for sharing the pics and story! I have had nightmares about my firing pin breaking while on target with a buck or bull!!

TUFF
 
Great BUll and a great first post!! Welcome to the "family" (disfunctional) At least the pic didnt break before you shot!!
 
cruise,

Thanks for the pictures. Very nice bulls. You guys did well! That can be a tough hunt physically.

Isn't that mountain a dirty rotten SOB? No way would I tackle that roadless mess without a horse. You guys were smart getting help so you did not kill yourselves!

Good job!
 
That's a great bull. Congrats and thanks for sharing. These are some tuff animals aren't they? After going on the rifle hunt with my Brother-in-law this year, I was amazed at what these bad boys can take.

Dub
 
Now there's a story you'll be telling when your 80 years old. Great one and great elk. Congratulations.
 
Even with the help, we almost killed oursleves. Because of the 2002 fire, practically that whole unit is overgrown with quakey sapplings. What a ##### it is to hike anywhere on that unit! But you know what? I wouldn't trade last years hunt for anything! I have him hanging over my front door and I see him every morning coming down the stairs. My wife hates it! Aint it great?
 
good for you, 'cruiser'. very nice bull, and a good story, too. thank you, and welcome aboard....
 
nice! wow today is a great day to surf horn porn.
this is three great bulls in three posts in a row.
and to top it off nobody is bickering.
i love hunting season.
 

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