My DIY Archery Valles Caldera, New Mex. Bull...359 & 3/8's!!!

[et1702]

INCREDIBLE Place!!!  I shot a cow elk opening day here in WA before I had to go to New Mex. for my Valles Caldera hunt.  While in New Mex.  I had shot opportunities everyday at big bulls and passed up shots at smaller bulls the first couple days.  I had two 360 to 370 inch bulls fighting in front of me on opening morning and drew back on them a couple of times but had to let down as I just couldn’t get the shot (i.e., they were moving around and timber was pretty thick).  Same morning, I was hiking out and came across a big bull that was bedded on other side of log.  I estimated 40yrds and center punched the log beside him.  He was 52 to 53yrds...Darn they grow them big down there!  On the second morning, they were going up the hill early and in the dark.  Bugling all around me, plus had a bull cross in front of me in the dark at 15 to 20yrds...too dark to shoot.  After he passed on by, I chose one of the big boys bugling on either side of me and  followed a big bull & his cows up the hill.  I was able to shadow them to their bed.  Perfect set up, they were on a bench above me and steep slope that I was on below them.  SO, I just kept watching the bulls antlers (i.e., make sure he wasn't startled and still looking away from my position) and I was able to get within 30 yards of him while he was bedded down near top of the mountain.  When I peeked up over the lip of the bench, he had his rear to me and no shot.  So, as I was waiting for him to stand up, the sun was getting higher overhead and the wind started to shift from downhill to uphill and he winded me.  Bull and about 8 cows didn't wait to see where I was at or how close I was and just took off.  On the third afternoon of the hunt, it was warm and I decided to hunt a water hole out in the open valley.

That evening there were 80 to 120 cows spread out along the tree line for a couple miles with numerous bulls all around different groups of cows w/herd bulls fighting off all the satellites.  But, it was warm and even the big boys had to leave the cows and come down to the water hole for a quick swim to cool off and then trot back up the hill where the action was located.  Within 20 minutes of sitting at the water hole, I already had two smaller satellite bulls that came down and were rolling in the mud at the far end.  They just decided to wait until the cows came down for the evening.  But, the bigger bulls would come down, drink some water, go for a swim and then back up the hill.  Before I got set up at the water hole, I saw a nice 345/350 bull came down and did just as I mentioned.  So, I was just lying in the grass on the back side of the earthen dike and waiting to hear splashing before seeing if it was the bull I wanted.  When I heard one splashing in the water hole, I peeked up over the top of the dike and all I saw were the tops of BIG antlers. I knew he was a big one and I didn't even do a quick count.  I just got my knees up underneath me and then drew my bow as I straightened up to shoot over the top of the dike.  I estimated 40yrds and put the pin behind his shoulder, settled in and touched off.  At this point, the bull was standing in the water and the arrow hit right at the water line.  A perfect lung and heart shot, as he was slightly angled away and I was shooting downhill. When the arrow hit he bucked like a mule and ran through the water and then trotted up the hill where he bedded down about 100yrds away.  I watched him and his head was getting heavy.  He dropped his head a couple times and I thought he was done.  Then, he stood up and I thought "oh *censored*."  But, he only took a couple steps and then put his head down.  He then buried his brow times in the dirt in front of him to stabilize him from falling over.  I could see him getting wobbly in the hind end and then he just did a four-legged flop onto his side and was down for good. Obviously, all this only took a couple minutes, but it seemed like forever.  Absolutely amazing to see it all, rather than just hearing the crashing in the trees when they go down.  Like I said, I didn't really judge how big he was when I first saw him at the water hole.  So, when I walked up to him, I was absolutely amazed. Then, I saw how big he really was, plus the double brow tine too!  Lots of Mass, long tines and he scored 359 & 3/8 as non-typical 6 X 7!!!  The Valles Caldera crew estimated that he was between 700 and 800lbs on the hoof and was approx. 7 to 8 years old.  I also gave them the heart and kidneys for further evaluation of herd heatlh.

An absolutely amazing place!!!  Wish I could live there.  In the meantime, I'll continue buying lottery tickets every year!!!  I’ve attached a couple pics for everyone.

ET

[Maligator]

Man that's a BEAUTIFUL bull!!  Congrats to you!!!! 

[Bigshooter]

Nice bull.

[wamuledeer]

Awesome bull, congrats.

[christopheri]

What a great hunting trip! Thanks for shareing

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Thats a dandy bull you got!

[deerhunter_98520]

Awsome bull....sounds like a hell of a hunt!

[270Flat]

Awesome job! Great story

[Wea300mag]

Very nice story and elk, congrats!

[et1702]

Thanks everyone!  I forgot to mention that there were only 15 hunters allowed during my second archery season at the Caldera.  With New Mex's tag allocation system, 13 tags are for residents, one for outfitters and one for non-residents.  I was lucky enough this year to draw the one non-resident tag!  The hunt was Sept 14th thru the 18th, and I shot him on Sunday the 16th at about 530pm.  This same afternoon/evening, three other archers were also successful and tagged out.  One of the guys shot a 382" monster.  Where my bull has weak 3rds, his was really long on the 3rds.  Two other guys had tagged out on the first day, plus one more on the second day.  Most of the other bullls were between 298 and 345".  So, when I tagged out, success rate was approx 50% with two more days to hunt.  Also, jus about all the other hunters had passed on smaller bulls the first couple days, so shot opportunity was 100%.

ET

[BIGMIKE]

awesome bull bro. congrats.

[ellensburgpo]

Very nice write up. Beautiful bull.

[jackelope]

Congrats again, Ed. Beautiful bill..,Glad you got the pics to work.

[et1702]

Congrats again, Ed. Beautiful bill..,Glad you got the pics to work.

Hey Josh,  Thanks for the help w/resizing the pics!

Take care,

ET

[BOWHUNTER45]

Hell yeah that works ...congrats