Eastside Bull Down

[Timberstalker]

Here are some pictures of my little 5-point bull I killed on opening day.  I had scouted 4 weekends in the unit and did not have a very good lead on any elk.  I knew where I wanted to be on opening day, but I had very little confidence.  The elk just weren't in my GMU like they usually are.  I made it to the drainage I wanted to be in on opening morning and started glassing.  About 30 minutes in to the day I spotted this bull feeding on a little finger.  He had 2 cows with him and he was in a decent spot to sneak on.  I knew I had a chance to close the distance and possibly get a shot.  I left my ridge at 7:00am and headed down into the canyon.  The bull was approximately 1 mile from me, but 90% of the pursuit would be easy ground to cover.  At 8:30am I was about 200 yards from the Bull.  He had bedded along with the cows.  The wind was good and the land provided me an opportunity to shave the distance off.  I got to 121 yards and noticed that the cows were up and feeding.  The bull was still in his bed and didnt seem to care.  The problem was, the cows were walking right at me.  I had a small disaster brewing.  I laid down, all the way down, on my back as the cows started to feed my way.  At 12 yards I figured the rodeo would start for sure .  Luckily the cows fed by and jumped the fencline I was on.  They fed down and out of sight.  My next problem was the bull had bedded right behind a 5 foot tall piece of Sage.  I had no shot whatsover.  I continued to sneak the bull and started to get close, crazy close.  At 41 yards I could see a softball size portion of his vitals and knew I could kill him.  I was fine up untill this point, adrenaline was good and I really hadnt started to worry about the shot.  It all changed as soon as I rolled the hammer back and heard it lock.  The nerves kicked in, I could hear my heart thumping.  I took one last look at the bull and at that point knew I how real it was; the bull's eyes were closed and his head was tucked in his shoulder.  He didn't have a clue in the world I was there.  No idea whatsoever.  I took the shot and couldnt believe my eyes when the smoke cleared. The damn bull was running up the hill.  I didn't know if I should cry or scream.  How could I have missed him at 41 yards.  I reached for a speed loader and started to reload.  For a split second I looked up; the bull was coming over backwards.  What the hell?  He hit the ground stone dead.  I couldnt believe it. 
I had some work in front of me and it was close to 10:00am.  After skinning, gutting and packing the first load of meat to the truck, I knew I would need help to get him out.  It was going to be a long night.  I called my Dad and he came up to help.  We got the last load of meat and the head to the truck and 10:30pm.  It was a great day.
Also, BLUEBULLS-THANK YOU.

[ellensburgpo]

Sweet, sounds like a Fun hunt.

[carpsniperg2]

Congrats!

I hate that feeling when you pull the trigger and don't know what happened when the smoke is all around you I did it last year and was sick until the smoke cleared and I saw then buck rolling down the hill. Then the screaming of oh stop! hit me as he was boucning down the canyon to the bottom

[bucklucky]

Nice Job

[wackum]

Sounds like a great hunt and congrats.

[WenHunter]

Great job and congrats on a nice bull !!!!!!

[bearhunter99]

Congratulations!  Looks like a nice bull! 

[Greenhorn]

Nice bull, congratulations!

[Michelle_Nelson]

Good Job!

[coachcw]

sounds like a great stalk congrats !

[buck man]

 :tup:Congrats.

[SniperDanWA]

Oh yeah!  Nothing like the rush.  Congrats on the sneak in and kill.

[combs338]

Nice work!!  Great stalk

[ribka]

Great job

[h2ofowlr]

Congrats!  Nice write up!