Which bull would you take?

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Founder Since 1999
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I'll set the scene .... it's the 3rd day of the hunt. You haven't seen much at all while hunting, but in July you did see a 6x8 370ish bull in the same canyon you're in now. You can afford only to hunt 6 days, then you've got to get back to work.

It's been light for 30 minutes when the bull in the top photo steps out at 250 yards.
While you're setting up to decide whether to take a crack or not, the bull in the lower photo walks into a small meadow in the bottom of the canyon at 525 yards or so. He's feeding and moving quickly through the meadow, but stops for a few seconds a couple of times, presenting quick shot opportunities. The bull at 250 isn't moving at all, just standing there looking around.

All of this is happening in a matter of 2 minutes. What do you do? Is either bull big enough? Which do you shoot at? Is bull #2 too far? Do you pass on both and hope to see bull #2 again? Or just take a shot at bull #1 and call it good? Or hold out for the 6x8 seen in July?

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#2 is a 6X8 bull. Is it the same bull seen in July. I would not shot the first bull with the second bull hanging around and possibly even a better second 6X8 bull.

If I was set up and very solid and the second bull stopped while I was on him and I felt calm and comfortable I would drop him.
 
#2 for sure!
I'm a sucker for main beams that curl back at the tip. #1 curls forward and doesn't trip my trigger much.
 
I'd try for #2 but closer than 500 yards. If it didn't work out, oh well I still have 5 days. Seeing these two bulls opening morning, its a good unit I will have more chances.. :)

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"
 
Bull #1 at 250 yards because he's the sure shot, no long range ego here. With 6 days to hunt I can take my time packing him out allowing my hunting buds to get their elks down, then help them pack out.

Knowing I have a freezer full of meat with the bonus of a nice new set of antlers for the wall... I would not pass on #1.

2f350s: Hunt hard, hunt ethically.
 
It's the 3rd day of the hunt, so the hunt is almost halfway over.

I'm assuming this is a rifle hunt, but either way I'd probably have to make a play at bull #2...and who knows, maybe I can still find the bull I scouted.
 
No way for me to answer this without more info. I could make the 500 yard shot if conditions are real good. But if the wind is blowing hard - like it always is here in SE Wyoming, or without a good rest, I'd slip closer to #2 and try to whack him.

But after seeing #2 I'd slip past #1.
 
Given I'm not a fanatical elk hunter, I'd have shot #1 before seeing #2 I'd guess. I couldn't be unhappy because #1 is the only bull I've seen and I would be happy. A bird in the hand...

However, if we happen to see both at the same time, I know I'd be trying for the larger of the two. This has happened on some previous archery deer hunts for me where smaller bucks were closer and easier to shoot, but I went after bigger deer- and never got a shot.

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24
 
I'd smoke #1 with a quickness.


Honestly - what is the score difference here you guys estimated?

I have held 2 great tags and only seen small bulls or seen huge bulls at 1000 yards we couldn't get on. I'm more happy with a nice bull in the back of my truck than an unpunched tag and haunting memories of the booner that got away...
 
There would be no setting up to take the shot at bull 1. He would already be dead. 1 is a real good bull. 2 is better. I would be down on one knee and have a shot off in a matter of seconds. I wouldn't be looking anywhere else at that point.

250 yards is a shot distance that any western hunter should be able to hit regularly. If you have to "set up" for that distance, then 525 is out of the question imo.
 
Neither. Cause when I came over the hill would be right after they both disappear into the timber. :)

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
Hauling out a bull elk is a lot of work, and I'm ok with the idea that I might not ever see another bull elk that per my mind would be worth it. That said, no. 2 and the possibility of an even bigger one would be worth holding out for. If I still have two or three days to hunt, I probably would not take the 500 yard shot. If it was day five or six, it would be a little harder for me to hold off.
 
>I'd smoke #1 with a quickness.
>
>
>
>Honestly - what is the
>score difference here you guys
>estimated?
>
>I have held 2 great tags
>and only seen small bulls
>or seen huge bulls at
>1000 yards we couldn't get
>on. I'm more
>happy with a nice bull
>in the back of my
>truck than an unpunched tag
>and haunting memories of the
>booner that got away...



Your talking maybe 270 vs 320-330
 
Definitely the first one. By far and away larger than any other bull I've killed and a 250 yard, unhurried shot is great. The other is outside my scope of shooting competence.
 
Number 2 and shoot now if I can get a dead solid rest. If not three days is still a lot of time to turn up July boy, #2 or even #1 again for that matter.
 
Tough one, Bull #2 makes Bull #1 look like a satellite bull, and I would like to someday shoot a bull with large whale tails.

That said, I'd probably shoot the 1st bull, and be happy about it, as the 250 yard shot is within my comfort zone and after getting set up there are no guarantees bull #2 will present a good shot today (or tomorrow). Hunters who have had more success over the years than I and looking for that bad ass king of the mountain bull should probably take the chance on Bull #2 as they might be disappointed and fell regret about shooting bull #1.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jun-09-17 AT 07:40PM (MST)[p]It's easy to say all this in the absence of adrenaline, but I would like to think I would handle the scenario like this...

First though, the scenario painted describes these bulls as being down the hill from me so I am assuming they are not skylined like in the photos. If they are positioned like shown it's a no shot because of that, regardless of distance.

With more days left...let 1 and 2 walk and work on getting a setup for a better opportunity later in the hunt. I usually have younger hunters in my group, so I would try getting them setup later. For me it's about being out there with my group more than me filling a tag.

Having seen bull 2 in the area early in the year and again during season, bull 1 is off the radar for me in absence of the young hunters. If I am solo and get bull 2 < 350 yards with good conditions, the young ones would be learning about packing them out of a hole.

I practice at 600 - 800 yards, and will shoot an antelope at 550 yards if there is no wind and dead solid rest. Deer I will go 450 yards in the right conditions. Granted elk have a bigger kill zone, but elk are big and can cover to much ground for me to feel good about going longer than 350.

Now ten years ago...I would probably have caved to the adrenaline and tried something I might have regretted. That said ten years ago I was the only one putting meat in the freezer, so bull 1 would have hit the dirt before I saw bull 2.
 
I'd have a tough time not trying to shoot the 6 x 8. I'd probably miss or gut shoot him and catch hell from my MM friends for taking a 500 yard shot.

DC
 

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