This was my first year as a resident hunter in Montana. I made the move from the Wet-side of Wa last summer. I had to learn a new area and was excited for the challenge. I was hunting solo in the backcounty and living off my back. I had 4 days worth of food and managed to get him on the morning of the 3rd day. I had close calls on 2 other bulls, but too much brush and could not make it happen. This guy was bugling like crazy on his own the night before while I was chasing another bull. I dropped into the canyon before day light the next morning. He was screaming on his own again well before day light. I dropped in down wind of him and waited for light. A few cow calls and he was on his way. I could hear him crashing through the timber about 300 yds up the hill. He was on a dead run, screaming him head off the whole way.
He came by me at 6 yrds and I stopped him and let him have it. Was the closes shot I have ever had. I was just over 5 miles from the trailhead. I got him boned out and down by the creek to cool. I made it out at about 8pm that night.
I phoned a friend and we went back in the next morning with my horse to get him out. I got the horse within 3\4 of mile of him. Between the horse and the two of us we got him to the cooler by 5pm. 301 lbs of deboned meat, he was a big bodied bull.
It was a great hunt and very rewarding to do it solo in the backcountry. Spending the nights on top of the ridges and listening to the bulls bugle all night is the way to go. I am a little sad its over for the year, but i have some friends that need a caller\packer so I can focus on that.
Congratulations to all the hunters this year.
