Wenaha West Muzzleloader bull

[Goose Pit]

It was an unbelievable hunt that started when my son drew a Wenaha muzzleloader bull tag, 1 of 3 tags in the unit. I wasn't sure how we would do justice to such a good tag between work, school, football and everything else but with the help from some truly great friends we were able to make this an unforgetable trip.

After an uneventful opening morning we weren't too sure what Tuesday would be like. We started in the same area as the first day but a little wind and some cloud cover was enough of a change that had the elk talking all morning. Our first set up didn't do much other than to push a bull out of the basin along with his cows but that set the stage for the remaining bulls to look for some love.

We had heard this same bull since Saturday night right from our camp. He couldn't do much more than growl so the name stuck. After the first bull left, Growler began to talk fairly close to us. So we planned the set up based on the wind and had Luke and Stan hang behind us about 100 yards. Lane and I set up watching a small basin below us where we hoped he'd walk out of. It wasn't more than five minutes and I could see antler tips moving through the brush and trees less than 100 yards out. He ripped off a bugle that made me hair stand on end from that distance. Lane, about 5 feet away, finally caught a glimpse of him and raised the gun. I whispered, "not yet" and he began to follow the bull with the barrel of the gun. The cow calling behind us intensified a little and pulled him closer, behind some trees and heading to our left which would give us away based on the wind. He was inside of 50 yards but still no shot as he screamed again at the "cows" making the noise. When he stepped out again, I knew it was going to be good. Maybe 30 yards but still had one tree blocking his chest. He roared one last time, took two steps and Lane pulled the trigger.

I watched as the bull lunged forward, took a few steps and looked at us. He then turned and moved off through the trees in a slow, lumbering trot. I hadn't seen any blood on him and was worried but the way he reacted made me think he'd been hit. A few seconds after he went out of view, I heard a distant crash and then nothing.

We all came together and talked about the shot, the scenario and how fast it all happened. Lane felt good about the shot and didn't get the shakes until after. We calmed ourselves and waited that agonizing 30 minutes to give him some time and then started working the trail. After 75 yards without a drop of blood, we began to have some doubts. I was up on a log glassing the forest floor for any sign when Lane said, "hey, what's that over there?". Looking across a small basin about 100 yards I see a light colored stump that I had already looked at 10 times, then I glance above it and see the bull, piled up against a tree and I let out a holler! He hadn't bled a drop until the last 25 yards before he tipped over. It was just lucky we were in a spot with good visibility.

I was so happy for my boy and couldn't thank my buddies enough. For Lane to stay steady and calm with the Growler right in front of him and to make a great shot for a clean kill, the kid shows the nerves of a seasoned elk hunter with this being his first elk killed.

[bucklucky]

Awesomley cool bull, congrats on a PIG!! Nice job!

[deerhunter_98520]

Thats awsome! Looks like an old warrior

[blackveltbowhunter]

 Awesome!!! Congratz love the mass and character!!

[Greenhorn]

Congratulations Lane, great bull!

[ellensburgpo]

Very cool bull, lots of character. Congrats

[Woodchuck]

  Awesome job. Congrats to the young man.

[PlateauNDN]

definitely looks like an old seasoned bull with nice character.  congrats to you and your son.

[huntnphool]

Way to go Lane, that bull has a lot of character

[Heavily Armed Hiker]

Nice bull and great story!  Can't wait until my kid is old enough to draw tags like this 

[ShaneTyTrey]

That is awesome, congrats to him, cool story and I can't wait to hunt elk with my boys.

[270Shooter]

Looks a like really old mature bull, congrats lane thats awesome

[chad s.]

Congrats on a TOAD!

[Austrian Hunter]

Congrats to the young gentleman!! This is a nice bull!!!!!!! 

[teanawayslayer]

sweet bull congrats.