My wife was lucky enough to draw a tag in the Valles Caldera for the second year in a row. We saw two bulls on the evening of the scout day. One giant 6X7, at least in the 350 inch range and a freak 6X7 that was a normal 6X6 with a 15 inch or so point coming up between the G2 and G3, he was probably around 290. These bulls were in seperate herds each with 20 to 30 cows.
Opening morning came and we spotted the giant. We were bordering the Valle Grande, a No hunt zone, so we only had a few hundred yard window to catch them in before they went up into the trees which was open to hunting. We hurried about half a mile or so to get in position where we thought they would head up into the trees. We got to 300 yards but could not get a shot on the big guy because cows were either in front of or behind him.
We put on a few miles in another area and bumped a few cows. That evening we set up where we thought the herd may come down the hill. 6 cows passed us at 40 yards but no bulls with them. The majority of the herd came down a few hundred yards behind us and we did not see them.
Next morning, looked for the big guy but he was no where to be found. Put on a few miles and did not see much.
That evening we set up at a dirt tank. Finally with about half an hour of shooting light left a few bulls came down. We were trying to decide on one of them for a few minutes and my wife's bull came down. After a minute or two she decided this was the bull for her. She made a great shot at 250 yards. Another shot was put in him to make sure the deal was done. We were extremely happy with her 325 inch 6X6. He is very symmetrical and has good mass.
A big thanks to Mick and Johnny at the Valles Caldera, they were very helpful, and we had a great hunt.
Opening morning came and we spotted the giant. We were bordering the Valle Grande, a No hunt zone, so we only had a few hundred yard window to catch them in before they went up into the trees which was open to hunting. We hurried about half a mile or so to get in position where we thought they would head up into the trees. We got to 300 yards but could not get a shot on the big guy because cows were either in front of or behind him.
We put on a few miles in another area and bumped a few cows. That evening we set up where we thought the herd may come down the hill. 6 cows passed us at 40 yards but no bulls with them. The majority of the herd came down a few hundred yards behind us and we did not see them.
Next morning, looked for the big guy but he was no where to be found. Put on a few miles and did not see much.
That evening we set up at a dirt tank. Finally with about half an hour of shooting light left a few bulls came down. We were trying to decide on one of them for a few minutes and my wife's bull came down. After a minute or two she decided this was the bull for her. She made a great shot at 250 yards. Another shot was put in him to make sure the deal was done. We were extremely happy with her 325 inch 6X6. He is very symmetrical and has good mass.
A big thanks to Mick and Johnny at the Valles Caldera, they were very helpful, and we had a great hunt.
