After several years of hunting this hole for the big growler in the hole we hunt. I got it maybe but who really knows. I don't do a lot of game cams i always believe there elk in the canyon no need to scout and disturb them I just go hunt and find em.
This season started like any other season set up camp before Labor day and spend the weekend with my wife.Then go listen for bulls at night i don't call i just walk in and listen. My son took leave from the navy to hunt we with me so it always a special time whether we get one or not. We decided to check the trailhead where we go in and someone actually put there awning over the trail trying to keep people out that was going to fly, so we parked down the road at 330 am and walked past their camp at 4 they were still snoring as we walked by with our red lights on. Anyway we were the first ones up and the bull we wanted wouldn't come in but two others did .after a couple days with know shots at 6 bulls I thought i"d walk that trail again it was late but after a 45 min walk to hunt for a half hour it was worth it the bulls were screaming,and I called two smaller bulls right in I would have shot but the big one was just out of range.So I didn't shoot, it got dark and I walked out excited for the morning.My son and I left camp at 3 am got to the trail head and two trucks were there, we were bummed drove around to the otherside and walked 2 1/2 hours through the timber straight up in the dark.After getting to a place to cool off and eat a bit we could here some guys calling below. So we waited til light and never heard a bull bugle the wind was really picking up by now. I told my son lets drop into this side drainage we never hunted, he argued and said he wanted to go down where we seen the big bull, I said i think he went over here away from all the noise. Of course he went to the other way than me , but not before saying "tell me thanks now i said for what because everytime we split I shoot something. So dropped off and called some soft cow calls waited 30 min nothing and moved 200 yards setup called again nothing moved 200 yards again soft cow cows then I heard a pop so i pewny bull bugled and the woods erupted something was running hard right at me so I got ready he stop at 15 yards no shot then walk within six steps away, at this time I didnt know how big he was just that there was black horns in front of me. I found a hole let the arrow fly. He took off and turned away from me all I could do was go wow that was wide.I waited awhile took off and walk up on him still trying to make back up the hill. Man I have a lot of respect for these animals so Couldnt watch anymore so I put another arrow in him. I let him pass walked up and said my elk prayer and looked up and said thanks for giving me another year to do this.started yelling for my son he found me and on my 51st birthday I was able to shoot a seven point bull on the westside and pack out meat with my son. I have some really bad knees i pray I can get a couple more years out of them. It was a good day..
