First, let me start by saying a truly heartfelt Thank you to BrianB, ThrophyHunt and my son, Michael. They made this trip of mine a true Hunt of a Lifetime and I will never forget it! Brian and Trophy put in a LOT of their own time (without me many times) scouting and preparing for this hunt! It was such a blessing to have my best friend, my cousin and my son on the mountain with me that day. Each of them contributed an important part of the final success, but more importantly I got to share in some of life’s best moments with guys I love, respect and appreciate - it would not have been the same without them.
My story …. (sorry for the length- believe it or not, I left a lot out) ..
I think Jerry said it best when he said this was an “EPIC HUNT”. Although it only lasted 1 day, I had more bulls around me in a single day than I have had in maybe the last several years combined! It was unbelievable!! If I remember right, I cocked the hammer back 7 times!! One of my goals has always been to pass on a bull. As many of you big bull killers have told me, you can’t kill a big one if you shoot the first thing to come in. However, due to other plans (an Oregon deer hunt we leave for tomorrow) I only had about 4 days to get this done. With that in mind, I told myself and the guys that I was going to only shoot a 6 pt or better on day one OR possibly a BIG 5 of it would hit the 300 mark. After that, I would take any branched bull.
Opening morning started off with great anticipation and excitement as the bulls were sounding off like crazy – like Jurassic Park! We set up on a growler at first light but he wouldn’t come in. So, we tried going to him. Straight up! We never got to him, but that began a day of almost CONSTANT bugling elk, and many close encounters! One bull almost fell early as BrianB and Mike were set up behind us calling and Trophy was with me upfront with a camera over my shoulder. This bull was going nuts listening to the beautiful cow and estrus calls from the guys behind us but unfortunately came out in a thicket of vine maples and presented no shot. He then went uphill and circled out of my range and went right to Brian and Mike. Ugh!
You can imagine the frustration, but the sound of other bulls kept the excitement running high and pushed us further up that mountain.
After stopping for a quick break, Brian B walks of this ridge line about 20 yards away and starts waving us over –“Hurry up! They are screaming over here!!” Packs back on, and UP we go to set up again. This time we set up in between 3-4 different bulls. A nice, wide 6 point showed himself, but was out of range, so Throphy and I moved forward a bit to position ourselves in between that one and the other bulls. As soon as we set up again, a cow walked about 10 yards in front of us, and was soon followed by a bull! The bull froze up in the trees only showing bits of his rack, but we think he was a small 5pt. These bulls eventually got quiet and once again Throphy says, “let’s just get to the top” (as if there is ever really a TOP) … so up we go. As we “crest” the next ridgeline, we hear this beautiful, amazing, ANGRY bull, screaming at the estrus call. We set up a bit, but the bull was not moving, so we decide to sneak in on him. After pushing through some very thick stuff, we break through into this bedroom of criss cross trails, full of beds and rubs. Once we entered that, the woods lit up!!!
We had at least 6 bulls going nuts! And I don’t mean the type of bugle where someone says’ “Did you hear that ?” These bulls were CLOSE and all getting closer! The big screamer did not want to move, but we held tight as another was clearly coming right to us! I heard some braches breaking to my right when Trophy says “I see him!” I look right and there are antlers coming through the trees right to us. It is a nice 5 pt that Brian and Mike brought in to 20 yards broadside! (Brian B is a MASTER caller, and Mike is quickly learning the ropes and doing well at his side) I cocked the hammer, thought quickly and decided not to shoot. I can’t describe the feeling and physical shaking that overtook me after passing that bull. It was strange and awesome all at the same time. I wondered if I had just made a big mistake when the screamer reminded me that I went up that mountain for a 6 pt or 300 class bull.
There were so many bulls screaming, we didn’t know which to pursue, but the screamer kept us focused on him and Trophy finally got eyes on him! He was a beautiful bull (a big 7pt I think???) – but of course he was up the hill…. So we continued up… We ended up getting within about 30 yards of this guy, but he never presented a shot.
The 4 of us meet up and discuss what to do next, and of course Trophy says, “ lets just go to the top” … we remind him that it is now 4:30 ish and we don’t have a lot of time if we are going to get off the mountain in the light. He says, ” I just have to look over the ridge”, so up we go…. As we get close, Brian B lets out a sweet estrus call and a bull screams back! I look across the next ridge and here comes a beautiful 5 pt RUNNING to us! I pulled up my binos and immediately told Trophy, “He’s a shooter!” So we set up on him knowing he was going to come in above us. I set the sticks the best I could on this steep hill and prepared while this bull crossed 300- 400 yards of canyon pushing his one cow. All this time another bull was screaming below us and was getting closer. I tell Trophy to keep an eye out for him and I was staying focused on the 5pt up hill. All the sudden the 5 pt is in the trees at 120 yards. He holds up a bit looking for the cows he thinks he is about to hook up with. Trophy advises – “don’t shoot – too far and he’s coming”. So I wait. He gets to about 75 and he says, “wait…” so I wait. He moves into about 50 yards and presents a frontal shot. I dial in and am about to pull the trigger when Trophy says “Big bull, left.” I look over and instantly know I am not going to shoot the 5pt! This bull is beautiful and standing at about 75 yards broadside! BUT, my new Accura V2 was pointed uphill on my shooting sticks and I knew if I lifted up my muzzy, the sticks would fall and probably scare the bull. I decided I had no choice, so I raised my gun, the sticks fell, the bull stayed still, I dialed in and squeezed the trigger! BOOM!! White smoke filled the air! Trophy asks’ Did you hit it?” I say, “I’m pretty sure” when all of the sudden I hear that sound – the one you hear when you get a good lung hit …. and then the hugs began. We stayed cautious in our excitement though until we found blood and shortly thereafter this beautiful 7x6 piled up. I was in shock and disbelief at what had just happened. I am not a rifle guy. I shoot bows, not guns. So to land that 75 yard off hand shot, standing at a steep angle – I can only say that was a gift from God.
I am so grateful for the experience, the friendships, and the bond that we all shared. We all pushed ourselves beyond our limits (except Trophy – that guy is a BEAST!!
) And were rewarded with blisters, cuts, scrapes, bruises, raw toes, AND a beautiful bull with memories to last a lifetime! Thank you guys!
Finally, a sincere thank you to those of you here on HuntWa that offered up help, advice and intel for this hunt. I won’t name any names because most help was offered via PM’s and I want to respect that privacy, but you know who you are. THANK YOU!!
Brian C.
Here are a couple more pics .,...
