1st Bull - Manti Archery LE

A

alchemyinvest

Guest
This is the first mature bull I have ever harvested and wanted to thank my brother and others that helped me check this goal off. I've been reading several posts about the elk hunting this year and the conditions were pretty much identical in my area. The elk were way more vocal this time last year, and I found this year that the cow herds were much smaller and scattered. I sat at water; I stocked in close to groups of cows, but never really ran into any branch antlered bulls until the last week. We ran into sheep a little bit, the stinging nettle was high and the grass got dry and loud the last couple weeks. One thing I did notice was that some of the larger groups of elk were down in the lower draws of the canyons rather that being deep in the heads. On Sept 5th it was as if a switch went off?.my bro and I started walking up a familiar ridge and decided to take it slow and hit the cow call every 100 yards. We hadn't made it up the ridge 200 yards when we had a bull respond, he was probably 200 more yards up the ridge and just off the top. We dropped off slightly and started to get set up. When we looked up there were two cows about 75 yards away that had us pinned down. I thought for sure the hunt was over, but as I stood still my brother was able to sneak back the way we came. He hit his call again; the bull responded and had cut the distance in half. I saw antlers going through the trees right at us. I drew back only to have the bull walk straight into me head on at about 10 yards. I held my draw and nerves long enough to count that he had 6 on each side. I had to have counted 10 times. Finally the bull started to turn broad side and I hit the release. Again I want to thank my brother and the rest of our party for helping me accomplish this goal.
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Gorgeous bull!!! I love the length of that main beam. Holding on that bull at 10 yards must have been quite a thrill. Congratulations!
 
Congrats on a fine trophy. I had the tag also, and it was a tough hunt this year. I would have really liked to have taken one like you did, but I'm happy with the one I shot. Congratulations again. That's awesome.
 
Congrats alche! Damn, you gotta be happy with that one!

Nice to start seeing a few dead ones showing up. From what I am hearing the conditions were tough. Good job!
 
Carbonnation is that you in the third picture? Nice bull Bailey boys. Congratulations!
 
Yeah I have gotten a little fat.....but I can still out hike mark. It was a great hunt. One of those "meant to be" types. But hey we would rather be lucky than good any day.

I just want to be friends.
 
Way to go! Looks like some lucky tag holders are starting to fill their tags on some great bulls.


"You only live once,but if you work it right, once is enough" -Joe E. Lewis
 
Congrats on your first mature bull and a great one at that. Sounds like a great hunt and with great freinds and family. Thanks for sharing.
 
I'll give carbonnation props for being able to out-hike me, but had we raced up the ridge we never would have shot this guy. Thanks for the comments.
 
Awesome bull and story! I am so glad to see some bowhunters getting it done! Tough year but you did awesome anyhow! Congratulations! You should be dang proud of that bull!

Chad
 
I did forget to put this picture up. Had this bull not covered 200 yards in 60 seconds we would have set molly up in all her glory to strut her stuff. I just laugh every time I see this pic. Looks pretty real to me.

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Mark, nice bull. Not bad for a old, washed up catcher. By the way could still use some help coaching in the summer time. Again nice bull and congradulations, Jeff
 
Nice bull Mark, looks like you guys had a lot of fun. Now you guys are in shape you can come down and help my wife with her SJ Muz tag. Good job on a nice bull.
Kurt
 

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