JB148's 2014 Bull

khensley · Jan 31, 2015

JB asked that I post this for him, I'll let him tell the story......

BCS · Feb 1, 2015

Nice bull

oneaway · Feb 1, 2015

That's a keeper! Can't wait to hear the story.

khensley · Feb 1, 2015

He worked graveyard last nights, so I imagine he'll get on sometime later today.

JB148 · Feb 2, 2015

After 14 years of applying I finally drew a Nevada late season elk tag. I grabbed a new notebook and started scouting on the phone. I got great information, but the 2013 late hunt was a snow out.This was to be a solo DIY hunt, it wasn't sounding so hot. Long story short I learned my wife drew the Juniper late muzzy tag. She authorized me to look at a guide. I called Bull Ridge and spoke to Trevor friends have hunted with them before, but they were booked the first week already. I learned another friend had hunted 2014 with Triple H Outfitters, I got booked with them and started working lots of overtime to pay the bill.

After a 17 hour drive true to my luck I pulled into camp and the engine light on my 99 Tahoe came on. I tend to be worrier and these types of things bother me. Triple H is a 3 man team the owner Bruce Hubbard, Master guide Craig Hubbard and sub guide Sean Thomas. They had a muzzle loader hunter in camp with me. I met Bruce and Sean, Sean started showing me pictures of bulls including the sure thing bull, which was a 350 type 6x7. I texted my buddies Kyle and Lostin Oregon for thoughts, but everything changed when Craig arrived and had found 2 bulls. One bull a 380 6x6 the second a broken bull that would go 370 broken. Next post

JB148 · Feb 2, 2015

Opening morning Craig had spotted a bull as he was driving ahead of us. He thought it was a 370 class bull. Sean and I started hiking from 9000 feet to 11000 feet. We split up about halfway up Sean wanted a better view of a nearby canyon. I was trying catch my breath when I saw the bull, which looked like a beacon in the middle of a mahogany patch. Sean was still close I whistled him over. The bull a nice 7x7. We hiked another 2 hours to get above the bull. Once we did Sean said he thought the bull was 363 on the low side and 370 high side. Here I am from Oregon great bull in front of me I finally decide lets go after him. Well we got within 500yards I couldn't get a ethical shot on the bull and he feed over the ridge. I felt rather sick about the decision. Day 2 we saw a lone young 7x7 which was probably 320ish, but we ended up getting snowed out.

Day 3 we hiked from 9000ft to just over 12000ft which nearly killed me. Once up high we had great viewing but no elk. We started hiking down the ridge toward the truck.

JB148 · Feb 2, 2015

Well we came to a saddle and Sean spotted 2 big bulls feeding about 1 mile away. With only 30 minutes of light left we started running down canyon to try and get close. We hit the bottom and started the climb up ridge to find the bull. The bull was about 300 yards away feeding, a big 6x6. I rested the rifle on Sean's pack I fired hitting the bull behind his shoulder, I fired again hitting the bull in the neck and he went down. We started to celebrate only to see the bull get up and start running again. My third shot hit the bull in the chest and he was down for good. The hunt was not over, there was a road about 500 yards below us. Sean asked me to cape and quarter the bull and he would get the truck. He called me on the radio and told me it would be 20 miles to the truck on the road, so he was headed back over the mountain. I got the bull caped and quartered. It was 17 degrees I laid up under the hide of the bull to stay warm. I was picked up at 1 a.m. At 4 a.m. taking off my pants and under armor found I had run my knife into my leg. The bull scores 378 green 57" main beam, 22" in 4ths not heavy or wide.