Fish Lake Muzzy Hunt

K

kjhunter

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Before the story, I will definately say this was the best week in my life. It was my first elk hunt and WOW, how awesome. My hunting trip started last friday when me and my brother (wyobigjohnson) went to the Gooseberry area to start scouting. We immediately got into bulls. We stayed in bulls every morning and night until after I pulled the trigger on my bull. Saturday, we moved camp close to the Rose Meadow/Broadhead area, then Sunday we went up top to UM Creek and Sevenmile. The scouting just got better.
Monday night, we ran into a 7x7 just off a trail. We went back Tuesday and found plenty of bulls but not him. My other brother and a friend joined us Tuesday night.
Wednesday morning came and we went back to where we saw him. We had 2 different bulls push their cows within 15 yards of us. We could hear them sniffing and grunting and making that popping noise (besides awesome bugling footage). We even saw a cow fight. Our legs and knees hurt so bad because we could not move because we did not want to bust them. That morning we got into about 10 bulls but nothing we wanted opening morning. We also almost got stampeded by a herd of spikes on a trail in thick pines that got spooked by a deer hunter We went back at night and again had chances at bulls at close range but I was holding off.
Thursday morning we were outside of the trailer making plans when we heard bulls bugling near camp. We went after them. They were in a mix of thick pines, aspens, and mahogany. We got within 40 yards of two different bulls. They looked good from the partial glances we could get but not sure of anything so I did not want to shoot. We ended up getting separated in the lava rocks and mahogany only to get pinned by a cow that barked at us for 10 minutes no more than 20 yards away. This whole time bulls were going nuts. I could not see any of them though. I had an opening of about 30 yards to shoot in and hoped one of the big ones would walk past. The cow took one bull that we deemed to be a shooter and headed through the crap and not in range or sight. My buddy (who was down the ridge 10 yards) got my attention telling me another was coming. Then all of a sudden he came into view. He was trotting right into the opening and I only had about 3 seconds to decide. Being separated from the spotters and having little time to decide sealed my fate. This bull came about 15 yards from me. He looked descent so I put the hammer down. He dropped like a rock. I do not think he was one of the two bigger ones but for a first elk, I was stoked. What an amazing time.
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The next pic was taken from where I shot him. You can tell how thick it was. How awesome though.
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Congrats on a heck of a 1st bull! Way to go! You will be hooked forever now! Elk have a way of getting in your blood!
 
that's a beauty, 'kj'...congratulations to all of you....thanks for the pics and the story...
 
Nice bull! Looks and sounds like the Fish Lake bulls finally woke up. I was down there for the archery and it was pretty quiet. Too hot and too many folks. Glad to see you did well.
 
That is awesome when it all workes out and comes together. Great job on a nice bull
Lambo
 
Yeah, they started talking. Even the rifle hunters struggled from what we heard. We had to cover the country and get off the beaten path to hear and find them. In the past, we have found them right near the bottoms of the canyons. This year they were all right on the tops of the mountains.
 
Way to go on an awesome hunt! I was down there during the rifle hunt helping my dad find a bull and had a great time as well. The bulls weren't quite in full rut though and it made it difficult but is sounds like you got into them.
 
What a fun hunt.I still keep replaying the whole thing in my mind. I am not sure if I have your right e-mail but if you send me a p.m. I can send you some of the pics I took.
Cant wait till I draw a tag.
Catch ya later.
 

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