ARROWHNTR
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I thought that I would share with you some pictures and the story of my buddy Brandon?s Hunt:
Monday the 8th was the 15th day we had spent hunting the big bulls of the Wasatch and needless to say we were starting to get pretty frustrated. We awoke that morning a little renewed knowing that all the spike and cow hunters were gone and we would have the elk to our selves the next five days. We headed out and immediately after light we heard two bulls fighting and another bull bugling in a small draw across the canyon. We made our way towards the bugling bull running into the satellite bulls along the way one of which was a 315 class bull that offered us no shot. We proceeded to sneak to within 150 yards of the bugling bull which turned out to be about a 360 to 370 class bull. We worked the bull for over 30 min?s bugling at him cow calling and raking trees, but the big guy would not leave his cows. Finally we decided that I would stay back and continue to call why Brandon worked in for a shot. He managed to slip to within 24 yards of the bull but no shot presented itself. Finally the bull moved into a small opening at 44 yards, Brandon ranged the bull drew back and let one fly only to se his arrow glance of a branch about half way to the bull and fly over his back. We were both pretty frustrated as this was the first close encounter with a great bull after 15 days of hard hunting. We returned to that spot that evening hoping the bull would return, but he was no where to be found.
Day 16 brought heavy rains, and although we hunted through the rain the day was pretty much a loss and the only thing we had to show for it was wet clothes, packs and boots. One positive note was that we did see a bull working some cows in an area I am very familiar with and we had that as an option for the next day. We were frustrated to loose a day and with rain predicted the next few days and time was running out and things were looking grim.
After spending the night drying out our gear we awoke early the next morning and headed for the spot Brandon had shot at the large 360 bull. After spending the morning chasing bulls with no luck we found ourselves at the base of the mountain we had seen the bull the previous night. By this time it was around 9:00 we were tired and once again wet from walking in the soaked brush, and in perfect position to walk back to camp, but something told me we needed to go up the hill and try and find that bull I was confident I new were he would be bedded with his cows. So after a quick break we headed up the hill and slowly made our way towards were I thought the bull was bedded. As we got into the pines the bull chuckled down the draw and I knew they were right were I thought they would be. We moved about twenty yards towards the bedded bull and I set Brandon up in a spot he could see through a small clearing were I thought the bull would come. I moved back into the timber and begin to cow call. As I called the bull responded with bugles but it was obvious to me he was not getting up. I let out a bugle, followed by more cow calls and then another scream, and this time the bull responded and was coming in. The problem was I could tell the bull was not coming for the clearing but wrapping around and coming to me. I quickly jumped up and moved back into the pines about twenty yards. I continued to cow call and bugle, then I grabbed a branch and started racking the tree, this sent the bull nuts and I new he was close. I slowed the calling down just watching I could not see Brandon because of were I moved to and I could not see the bull but I new he was coming in. As I watched towards Brandon I heard the unmistakable sound of an arrow flying through the air and sinking into the bull. As it turns out the bull had came into the exact spot that I was sitting and calling originally offering Brandon a perfect 24 yard shot. The bull only made it about fifty yards before piling up.
I have hunted the Wasatch my whole life and as many people who know me will tell you I know it well. I have hunted with family and friends on this archery hunt over the past few years with some success, but I will tell you this is a very difficult and hard hunt. I give a tone of credit to Brandon passing up small bulls and giving the hunt 17 days of hard effort, he truly deserves this bull.
The bull is very unique he is an older bull on his way down; he has a ton of mass and is very wide. He scores in the 320 range which surprised me a little because after seeing him the night before I put him closer to 300, but with the extra mass and width he ended up better then I thought.
Thanks for reading I hope you enjoyed it I know I did!
Kody
Monday the 8th was the 15th day we had spent hunting the big bulls of the Wasatch and needless to say we were starting to get pretty frustrated. We awoke that morning a little renewed knowing that all the spike and cow hunters were gone and we would have the elk to our selves the next five days. We headed out and immediately after light we heard two bulls fighting and another bull bugling in a small draw across the canyon. We made our way towards the bugling bull running into the satellite bulls along the way one of which was a 315 class bull that offered us no shot. We proceeded to sneak to within 150 yards of the bugling bull which turned out to be about a 360 to 370 class bull. We worked the bull for over 30 min?s bugling at him cow calling and raking trees, but the big guy would not leave his cows. Finally we decided that I would stay back and continue to call why Brandon worked in for a shot. He managed to slip to within 24 yards of the bull but no shot presented itself. Finally the bull moved into a small opening at 44 yards, Brandon ranged the bull drew back and let one fly only to se his arrow glance of a branch about half way to the bull and fly over his back. We were both pretty frustrated as this was the first close encounter with a great bull after 15 days of hard hunting. We returned to that spot that evening hoping the bull would return, but he was no where to be found.
Day 16 brought heavy rains, and although we hunted through the rain the day was pretty much a loss and the only thing we had to show for it was wet clothes, packs and boots. One positive note was that we did see a bull working some cows in an area I am very familiar with and we had that as an option for the next day. We were frustrated to loose a day and with rain predicted the next few days and time was running out and things were looking grim.
After spending the night drying out our gear we awoke early the next morning and headed for the spot Brandon had shot at the large 360 bull. After spending the morning chasing bulls with no luck we found ourselves at the base of the mountain we had seen the bull the previous night. By this time it was around 9:00 we were tired and once again wet from walking in the soaked brush, and in perfect position to walk back to camp, but something told me we needed to go up the hill and try and find that bull I was confident I new were he would be bedded with his cows. So after a quick break we headed up the hill and slowly made our way towards were I thought the bull was bedded. As we got into the pines the bull chuckled down the draw and I knew they were right were I thought they would be. We moved about twenty yards towards the bedded bull and I set Brandon up in a spot he could see through a small clearing were I thought the bull would come. I moved back into the timber and begin to cow call. As I called the bull responded with bugles but it was obvious to me he was not getting up. I let out a bugle, followed by more cow calls and then another scream, and this time the bull responded and was coming in. The problem was I could tell the bull was not coming for the clearing but wrapping around and coming to me. I quickly jumped up and moved back into the pines about twenty yards. I continued to cow call and bugle, then I grabbed a branch and started racking the tree, this sent the bull nuts and I new he was close. I slowed the calling down just watching I could not see Brandon because of were I moved to and I could not see the bull but I new he was coming in. As I watched towards Brandon I heard the unmistakable sound of an arrow flying through the air and sinking into the bull. As it turns out the bull had came into the exact spot that I was sitting and calling originally offering Brandon a perfect 24 yard shot. The bull only made it about fifty yards before piling up.
I have hunted the Wasatch my whole life and as many people who know me will tell you I know it well. I have hunted with family and friends on this archery hunt over the past few years with some success, but I will tell you this is a very difficult and hard hunt. I give a tone of credit to Brandon passing up small bulls and giving the hunt 17 days of hard effort, he truly deserves this bull.
The bull is very unique he is an older bull on his way down; he has a ton of mass and is very wide. He scores in the 320 range which surprised me a little because after seeing him the night before I put him closer to 300, but with the extra mass and width he ended up better then I thought.
Thanks for reading I hope you enjoyed it I know I did!
Kody
