So here is the quick story. maybe quick...
This hunt started early in the summer as does most LE tags. The area he drew ranges in elevation from 4000 ft to around 10300 ft. He scouted high and low and located some great animals. This area is one of utahs lesser areas as far as tru monsters go. One day just before the opener he located a great 7x7 around 370. One of the biggest bulls on the unit.
This bull was in a desert portion of the unit. After a lot of trail cams being placed on different waters we discovered he was using a dank little puddle to water in. Long story short the bull came in 25 yards, My brother got a shot, And the arrow clipped a wire around the seep to keep cattle out and he missed. The very next day he was back! This time with 8 cows. no good shot was presented. After that his ladys kept him away. Dirk spent the next 10 days in the blind 14 hours a day wainting to no avail. The only thing that came in was a few deer and a couple of lone cow elk.
After the heartbreak of a missed opportunity he went to plan b. He moved to the area of the unit where the main density of elk is. He had a few close encounters with good bulls, and elected to pass on others.
On tuesday the last week of the hunt I left my house at 3:00 a.m. to meet Zeb and hike in. We arrived just before light an were greated with lots of screaming bulls! The rut is on!
That evening he decided to sit a spring between a wallow and bedding area. Dirk had been watching the bulls come in and wallow and drink just before dark. Zeb and I sal 600 yards down the ridge from him to watch the show and track anything that may be hit.
About 7:00 pm this bull comes in to drink. I am watching through the spotting scope. No sooner does the bull put his head down to drink and I see Dirk draw. Then the elk hunches up, takes 3 steps an lays down. Well now he is behind a rise and Dirk can't see him. 30 mins go buy and the bull still has his head up. Finally Dirk looks at us and we signal he is still alive. So with 10 mins of light left My bro takes off his shoes and sneeks with in 15 yards. The bull stands and gets another one in the sweet spot. I watch the bull run with a big red side and dissapear against a small band of quakies. Zeb thinks the bull is down, but well all decide not to push him. After a long night we walk to the last place we saw him and he was piled up right there.
Thank goodness for cell service. The night he arrowed the bull we called Zeb's brother Jed and he was waitng for us with 3 horses to pack the bull and camp out in one trip.
Thanks Dirk for letting me tag along and live through you on this hunt!