H
HuntinKyhl
Guest
I was one of the many who decided to burn my points on an archery tag after holding out for a rifle tag for 10 years. I left several points on the table and hoped for the best. We scouted hard locating a handful of shooter bulls prior to the hunt starting. As always, they slowly disappeared as the hunt got closer. The first two weeks of the hunt I spent most of my time glassing in the mornings and evenings and checking trail cameras during the day. Sitting water during the day wasn't a smart option because there is water everywhere. The first two weeks went by without seeing a shooter bull. I was a little frustrated and nervous that I had hunted 11 of the first 14 days and hadn't seen a bull I'd shoot. On the third Saturday of the hunt we found a group of 11 bulls still in summer mode, way up high, grouped up, not worrying about the ladies at all. My bull was one of the 11. I made a move on him that day, but couldn't get in position fast enough. I hunted him in that location for the next few days without any luck or even seeing him. I moved on to a different location where the bulls were starting to talk for the rest of the week. By Saturday night we felt we had to give those bulls a break. We decided to go back into the area that held my bull, but lower on the mountain where they move into for the rut. By this point I had hunted 17 days and put over 200 miles on my boots. To say the least I was exhausted mentally and physically. Everyone had warned me not to burn my self out, but I had done just that. With the rain pouring down we headed back into the hills for Saturday night. We sat in a flat at the bottom of the hill. At 6:00 we let out a bugle and got a faint response up the hill. We tried him again at 6:15 and 6:30 with no response. At 6:45 I tried him on my cow call and got an immediate response. I tried him again and got another response. He had to be over 1200 yards up the hill. We moved quickly up the hill into the trees. We found an area with several shooting lanes and got set up. I cow called again and got a response about 400 yards away. I called again and he was closer, called again, and again he was closer. This went on for 60 seconds or so when my friend spotted him through the trees about 50 yards away. The bull had paused looking for the source of the call. After a few seconds he started our way. I drew as he came into view. I shot as he passed through my second shooting lane at 28 yards. When I pulled the trigger I didn't know he was the bull from a week ago. I just saw that he was plenty big enough for me.
I couldn't be happier with this bull. It is my first archery kill. I've hunted big bulls a lot with family and friends, but nothing has compared to putting in the time and effort needed to shoot a big bull with a bow. It is very humbling. I couldn't of done it without the help of good family and friends. Thanks to all of you who helped.
I couldn't be happier with this bull. It is my first archery kill. I've hunted big bulls a lot with family and friends, but nothing has compared to putting in the time and effort needed to shoot a big bull with a bow. It is very humbling. I couldn't of done it without the help of good family and friends. Thanks to all of you who helped.