Another successful elk hunt!

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sledboy

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LAST EDITED ON Sep-21-07 AT 11:29AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Sep-21-07 AT 11:25?AM (MST)

Two years ago, I told you all about my first elk, a very nice spike. Well, the saga continues and here is the story of my hunt this year.

I have always had a desire to get a mature bull but never thought it would happen. Then, two years ago, Utah changed their laws to allow disabled hunters to hunt the general elk hunt during the middle of September, about a month before the hoards of other hunters. This has been a great benefit and blessing to me. I had totally given up on elk hunting until they changed the laws. That year, on the last day of the hunt and after a lot of hunting, I finally made a successful shot on a huge spike. It was my first elk and I was extreemly happy with the results.

I hunted last year without ever seeing a bull.

Then this year, my friend Victor and I heard of a spot that elk will sometimes travel through. So we planned the hunt. We would walk/roll in about half a mile, set up a blind and see if we could ambush some elk as they passed through. Saturday morning turned up nothing but a distant bugle. So I moved on to another area that also turned up nothing.

I did not have the time to hunt the second day but Monday I was back at it. That evening, Kody (my 12 year old son), Victor and I sat in the blind waiting and hoping. We were on the side of a small, tree covered hill looking through a clearing towards another knoll covered with trees. Victor had seen elk in the past skirting along the group of trees that we were watching. We had gotten there at about 4:30 and was hoping to see something before dark.

Well, we waited and waited and waited. It was about 7:40 and with only about 5 more minutes of shooting light, I had almost given up hope. I think Victor was also getting frustrated and he got up to walk around the knoll to see if there was anything sneaking around the back side. He had been gone for about a minute when Kody and I heard a bugle far off in the distant. I thought to myself that there was no way that the elk could travel that far in the little time we had left.

Then, all of the sudden, I caught some movement to my left. There was a cow and two calves trotting down through the middle of the clearing, much closer than I had expected. They were passing directly between the two knolls, about 60 yards away. I threw my gun up and got ready. A few seconds passed and about 4 or 5 more cows and calves passed by us. There were only about two good shooting lanes between the trees and branches that we were hiding behind. I waited for what seemed like a minute but was probably more like 20 seconds. I remember thinking in frustration, "COME ON! THERE HAS TO BE A BULL FOLLOWING THEM!". About then, I saw another elk trotting slowly following the same path as the others. Because it was pretty gray at this point, I didn't immediately see antlers. But a second later as he turned his head, I saw numerous white tips of antlers. As I saw him, I instantly knew that I wanted to take the shot. I rested the rifle directly down the first shooting lane and waited. When he entered my scope, I settled the cross-hairs just behind his shoulders and squeezed the trigger. It was probably more of a yank, but who's keeping track?

Now I am sorry but I must digress for just a moment. Victor is a big magnum fan and has always razzed me for my little girl gun, a .270 WSM. In his arsenal is a .375 RUM, .338 RUM, .300 RUM, 7mm RUM, .300 WSM, 7 Rem Mag and a .270 WSM. Last year, his weapon of choice for elk was the .375 RUM as he pounded a very nice 5X6. He mocks me saying the .270 WSM is his pea-shooter or "girl gun". :)

However, my dad has killed more elk with this .270 Win than most people see in a life time. So when it came time for me to get a bigger gun than my .243 that I had used growing up, I succumbed to the marketing hype and instead of getting a .270 Win, I got a .270 WSM. I shot my spike two years ago with a 130 grain Hornady Interbond. I hit him perfectly in the chest and the bullet exited. It ran about 40 yards before piling up. But after talking to people and reading on the internet that the lowly .270 is a little small for big bull elk and after having trouble getting the interbonds to group well, I tried some Barnes TSX bullets. I finally was able to get them to group extremely well, putting 5 shots in a group the size of a quarter.

One thing that everyone brags about the Barnes TSX bullet is that it knocks animals right down. Without really thinking about it, I got the stupid impression in my mind that if I shot an elk with this bullet, it would drop immediately.

Well, at my shot, I was kind of surprised that he did not drop. It was really a silly thought now that I think about it. As I recovered from the recoil, it did not appear that he had even flinched but actually quickened his pace. Cows were scattering and running away from us and in the direction they had came. But my bull was still up and running.

I have to tell you now that I was a little worried. About half way up the hill we had been watching was a fence. This fence marked the boundary of the hunting area. If the bull got to and jumped the fence, now only about 70 or 80 yards from the bull, he would be forever gone. Instinctively, I jacked another round in and settled my cross-hairs in the middle of the second opening between the branches. The bull appeared and I shoot a little quicker this time, hoping to put my second bullet through his shoulders. The bull slowed way down while turning away from me, staggered a little and went down. I waited for a few seconds to make sure he was not getting back up and the celebration began. Victor ran off the hill down to him to make sure he was going to stay down. Kody and I started whooping and hollering as we looked briefly for my brass.

I made my way down to him as the adrenaline subsided and the darkness settled in. The excitement level was off the charts. It was AWESOME! I am biased but I think he is a very nice, beautiful 5x5. I couldn't be any happier!

My first shot hit just behind the shoulder and exited. The other hit a little high in the shoulder, passing through the first shoulder blade and then breaking the second shoulder. We found it half way through the skin on the far side. I cleaned it off and weighed it. It started life as a 130 gr .277 bullet. It weighed 129.8 grains and expanded to a beautiful mushroom with a width of .58" at it widest point. Both bullets caused major damage and trauma. This is the first time I have used these bullets and personally, I think they are a little expensive. But I must admit that they seem to do exactly what Barnes claims.

I must thank Victor big time. He took time away from work to go with me. Then he spent until 4:00 am gutting, skinning and caping without a complaint. I owe him big time! It was an incredible hunt and I am glad I got to share it with Kody and Victor.

A big thanks also to Mike and Rod who made this hunt happen!

And most of all, thanks to my beautiful, loving and patient wife for everything she does. She spent all day hunting with me Saturday but had to work and take care of the younger kids on Monday.

Here is a picture of Kody and I:
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And here is a picture with Victor:
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GREAT story and pics! Congrats on a majestic bull. Utah is flat kicking butt this year with big bulls!
 
That story demonstrates what hunting is all about. Way to go on a nice bull. Hopefully many more for you in the future.
 
That is truly an awesome, trophy bull. Congratulations! Way to get out there and get it done!
 
Brian
First of all, congrats on a great bull. Being disabled myself, I can attest to the difficulty of hunting from a wheelcair, let alone being successful at it. Second, great job on showing your son that little or big inconviences shouldn't stop us from enjoying our passion for the outdoors. My hats off to your buddy.

Yelum
 
This picture impresses me more than any other pict posted this year. Very cool!


-DallanC
 
That is a great 5 pt. would drop him in a second on an open unit. I am glad to see things were changed to benefit you and keep you in the sport you love. Good luck in the coming years.

alpinebowman

>>>---shots that are true pass right through--->
 
Congrats! Great Bull!
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"Life's tough, it's even tougher if you're stupid." - John Wayne
 
Fantastic Bull & Hunt! What a great opportunity some states provide for disabled hunters - I wish they all did. You are a great inspiration to me. Can't wait to see your next trophy!
 
Thats a great Bull for a general unit just about anywhere! Congrats on the hunt...
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Brian,

Glad you had a great hunt! I cannot tell you how happy I am for you.

I look forward to working with you more in the future.

Best Regards

Mike R
Western Hunting on Wheels
 
I just let my kids and wife read your story, and then showed them the picture!! I don't even know you, and I am very proud of the drive you have to do what we all enjoy doing!!! Thank god for people like you!!
Awesome job and bull my friend!! Keep it up, and shoot straight!!


Work to hunt!! Live to hunt!! And the rest spent keeping the wife happy!!
 
Congratulations on a great bull and thanks for sharing your story and pictures. My son is also disabled and having been his "Victor" several times I can tell you that your friends and family get as much enjoyment out of and take as much pride in your hunts as you do. I know, you're just doing what you love and have adapted to a situation and make it happen. For that we all admire you. But for them, each time they are involved it has a profound effect on their lives. Your story does the same for us.

Thanks again.
 
Another incredible story and hunt! With your son no less. It doesn't get any cooler than that in my book!

Congrats,
Pete
 
Brian,
Congrats to you on an incredible hunt and also the pleasure of having your son and friend there with you. Great pictures and thanks for the wonderfull story of the hunt.

Brian
 
Great story!
The love you obviously have for the outdoors and our favorite sport has no doubt been passed on to your son.
Kudos to you!
You are an inspiration to all.
 

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