My 2012 Rosey Bull

[Goldeneye]

Here’s this seasons bull.  He’s not anything more than a bull that will go into my freezer.  He does have some pretty colored horns with something that looks like knuckles on a few tines.  Excuse the fuzziness of the “As He Lays” picture.  It was with my cell phone and I was in a hurry because dark was not too far away.
  Here’s the story.  I was coming up a ridge that has multiple “mini ridges” on it.  I come around a corner and I’m busted.  Some cow’s and a couple branch bulls take off up the hill.  I see the legal’s with my naked eye so I’m off on a race up the ridge since they are now out of sight.  At my current age I have a personal rule.  I only run when something is trying to kill me or I am trying to kill something.  So anyways, I know at the top of the ridge these elk can go any number of places.  I need to get there before the elk do on the adjoining ridge line.  Keep in mind I cannot see them at all during this run.  Just trusting from my knowledge of the ridge that I know where they are trying to get to.  All this while I’m doing my best imitation of a world class hurdler, leaping over any number of buckskin logs and other man traps.    Well after a run of a couple hundred yards I reach my spot I wanted to get to.  I am about as out of breath as a guy can get.  I am 46 and not really a fan of running up ridges like this.  Anyways, as I reach my target area so do the lead animals running along the other ridge.  The two bulls are up front right at 200 yards out as I shoulder my rifle the first bull goes out of sight and the last bull is airborne cresting the ridge soon to be gone.  I square up on his shoulder and squeeze.  He drops to the ground and doesn’t move.  I watch for a minute and there is no movement so I make my way over to him.  There is no movement, but some shallow breathing so I put one more round into the base of the skull.  Game over.  Upon quartering up the bull I find that my shot hit a little high at the top of the shoulders.  His shoulders were messed up and his neck broken.  The 180gr Barnes XBT had done it’s job well.  I’m blaming the higher shot on the fact that I was breathing so hard due to my run just prior to the shot and that the shot was off hand and not on a rest.  I am normally a much better shot than that.  Anyways, that’s my story and this is my 2012 Rosey Bull.         

[erk444]

Congrats and good shot! Looks like a tough spot to get him out of.

[cem3434]

Congrats, looks like a decent rosie. Glad to hear you got the lungs burning to get him.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Nice bull! Congratz!

[doyourtime89]

 

[Jonathan_S]

Awesome! Way to get it done. So far running after deer hasn't worked out. It gives a better chance though sometimes.

[Bean Counter]

Love the red antler color! Congratulations

[ShaneTyTrey]

Nice bull, good work!!!

[muzbuster]

  :tup:nice bull congrats

[D-Rock425]

Nice work 

[Kc_Kracker]

meat! love thos knuckles, they would make bad-ass knife handles 

[stickbuck]

Nice job. Congrats on a great hunt.

[elkoholic1]

 

[luvmystang67]

Did he stop on the top of the crest for the shot?  How did you get him to pause?

[luvmystang67]

Also, awesome colored antlers on that bull.

[Goldeneye]

Did he stop on the top of the crest for the shot?  How did you get him to pause?

There was no pause.  He was actually in the air cresting the ridge.  Literally, the only shot I had as he would be gone over the other side after cresting the ridge.  It's been a while since I hit a running bull so hard that he came to the ground and didn't move.  I've killed running bulls before, though.  This is not a shot I would recomend for someone new to the sport.  A lot can go wrong...   

[snocohunter]

Congrats on your bull. I don't big game hunt, but have been doing my homework to prepare for an Elk hunt in Montana I'm planning. I want to prepare for every possible situation. How do you practice for running shots without actually shooting at a real moving animal? You mentioned you have a lot of experience hunting, but i have always been told if the shot is marginal don't take it. I would never want to have to track am elk that wasn't well due to my error . I guess I'm just trying to learn how to make that judgment to pull the trigger or not. A lot of old timers i know, as well as from comments I've read here frown upon those type of shots.

[Goldeneye]

Lot's of shooting and knowing the load you are shooting.  Being able to clearly see the target in the crosshairs.  Knowing what your load does down range in different conditions.  Having a load that will hold together while breaking through bone.   

A running bull is never a preferred shot.  I prefer them standing still as most do.  They do not always cooperate  At 200 yards I know my load will hit where the cross-hairs are with no drop.  I am swinging on him much like you do duck hunting.  I am not trying to be fine with the shot.  I am actually going for the front shoulders.  A bull will not be lost or cripple off with broken front shoulders.

I learned about elk hunting from my dad.  Where we lived there were lot's of elk.  He got me on my first bull when I was 10.  His words were to always"break them down".  Roosevelt elk are tough animals.



A type of shot I will never take is one where all you have to shoot at is the butt end of the animal.  If you do this you damage a lot of the meat, probably gut shoot the animal etc...  To me this is the type of marginal shot I won't take.

I see you live local to me.  Do you belong to the Seattle Rifle and Pistol Assoc. with the range down in Machias? 

[luvmystang67]

 

Congrats on your bull. I don't big game hunt, but have been doing my homework to prepare for an Elk hunt in Montana I'm planning. I want to prepare for every possible situation. How do you practice for running shots without actually shooting at a real moving animal? You mentioned you have a lot of experience hunting, but i have always been told if the shot is marginal don't take it. I would never want to have to track am elk that wasn't well due to my error . I guess I'm just trying to learn how to make that judgment to pull the trigger or not. A lot of old timers i know, as well as from comments I've read here frown upon those type of shots.

I typically try to startle my deer with a quick blast above their head and then blaze them on the run with my semi auto.  Figure if I can learn how to take down a deer at full blast, an elk should be no problem.  Start small and work your way up 

[snocohunter]

Good information. Just trying to learn. I am not a member there, i thought there was a waiting list?

[snocohunter]

I typically try to startle my deer with a quick blast above their head and then blaze them on the run with my semi auto.  Figure if I can learn how to take down a deer at full blast, an elk should be no problem.  Start small and work your way up 

May as well challenge yourself and your weapon on a regular basis. What's the fun in a standing still shot? 

[Goldeneye]

Good information. Just trying to learn. I am not a member there, i thought there was a waiting list?

There is a waiting list.  2 to 3 years long.  You best get your name on the list if you would like easy to access to a range to work with your rifle loads. 

[snocohunter]

There is a waiting list.  2 to 3 years long.  You best get your name on the list if you would like easy to access to a range to work with your rifle loads.

That's what I had heard. I don't reload yet either. That range kinda has a bad reputation of being a lot of elitist a-holes that think their crap don't stink. Probably not true, but it kinda shyed me away. Never understood why its called Seattle anything. We're a long ways from Seattle and its way of doing things.

It is right in my backyard though. May have to stop by and see for myself. Do they ever allow visitors?

[Goldeneye]

There are public sight in days and other events.  Check out their calendar to see when those happen.  There are several members on here that belong.  The most famous (or infamous) being H20hunter.  I have not ran into the elitist guys yet.  I just work my hunt loads there.