2020 Muzzy Bull

[cmiller85]

Here is the bull I got on the Muzzy opener. I located and pinpointed him right at dark on the day before. He didn’t bugle very loud and liked to chuckle.

It was about a 4.5-mile hike into where he was at from the main road; so, we were up and at it around 3:30 am to get into the area by daylight. We made it to the cut that he was in right at daylight and sat a while to listen hoping to get an update on his exact position. All was silent…

Not knowing where the elk were at, we opted to circle lower in the cut to keep the wind in our favor. We found fresh tracks and followed them around the eastern side of the cut as we worked our way up and back to the west where I suspected the bull to still be. As daylight broke we through out a couple of bugles but did not get a response.

As we slowly worked our way up the mountain, I thought I heard the back end of a bugle with some chuckles. Shortly after, a bull about a half a mile across the canyon let out a lazy bugle. The bull across the canyon was clear as day, but I wasn’t convinced 100% that I didn’t make up the other bugle in my mind. The bugle did come from the area I heard the bull the night before and I suspected him to still be so we decided to head that way.

Just before cresting a small ridge that would put us looking into the bowl I thought the bull would be in, I stopped to mark some fresh sign on my OnX. Right about the time I marked the waypoint, I heard brush breaking up the hill to the west of our position. I hurriedly got the attention of my Dad and pointed to the top of the ridge. Three cows were working their way through the brush headed back to the east and up the ridge. They were about 70 yards away.

I quickly crouched down and assessed the situation. The brush they were in was belly high and, assuming that bull would be following up behind them, it was a shot I didn’t want to have to take. I also didn’t want to be passive and have that bull parallel the cows down the back side of the ridge and never even see him or get a shot. With the voice of Elknut in my head from the hours upon hours I spent over the past few months listening to his teachings and podcasts, I decided that the best thing to do would be to call to his cows. I grabbed my bugle off my back, pointed it out behind me, and let out a moderately urgent round up bugle. The bull responded immediately and I cut him off with a more intense challenge bugle. I heard the familiar sound of breaking brush and within seconds the bull came running over the ridge. He ran down to thick little stand of brush and trees, stopped at about 30 yards, and let out and angry bugle. He looked around for about 5 seconds, didn’t see a bull and, without hesitation, began trotting down and around the tree that was in front of me. As he rounded the corner, I pulled up and shot him at about 18 yards. The bull whirled around ran back up the hill to about 70 yards and after what seemed like forever, finally tipped over.

From my first bugle to the shot was probably less than a minute. It is just crazy how fast things happen sometimes.

[cmiller85]

Sorry. Can't seem to get the pics to rotate.

[vandeman17]

awesome story and bull. Can't beat interacting with them and having a plan come together!

[Limhangerslayer]

Congrats, nice bull!

[trophyhunt]

crazy fun times!!  congrats!

[Pegasus]

Nice bull. How was the packout?

[cmiller85]

Nice bull. How was the packout?

Awful! It took us about 12 hours with 3 guys to get him back to camp! I had to run out and come back in, about 9 mile round trip, with the gear just to pack him out again. I had about 22 miles on the feet/bike that day.

[Axle]

Nice bull. How was the packout?

Awful! It took us about 12 hours with 3 guys to get him back to camp! I had to run out and come back in, about 9 mile round trip, with the gear just to pack him out again. I had about 22 miles on the feet/bike that day.

Sounds like a nice walk in the park 

[TheStovePipeKid]

What a great hunt. It's amazing how many hours it takes, then it all comes down to one or two minutes of make or break action.

[elkboy]

Congratulations!  Nice bull, great pics, great story! 

[teanawayslayer]

That’s a dandy 5x5! 

[Wanttohuntmore]

Nice job!  All that work makes memories.   Was this in E wa?

[Pathfinder101]

  Nice work

[Gonehuntin01]

Congrats on a great bull.  Way to stick with it and get it done.

[cmiller85]

Nice job!  All that work makes memories.   Was this in E wa?

Definitely won't forget this one!

Yes. 113

[Watimberghost]

Cool hunt and nice bull! Fun to do that with friends!

[rosscrazyelk]

Congrats

[phildobaggins]

Congrats on the bull!

[phildobaggins]

Do you have a red Toyota Tacoma? I think I saw you hauling the rack at the north end of town

[cmiller85]

Do you have a red Toyota Tacoma? I think I saw you hauling the rack at the north end of town

No Sir. 'twas not I.