I had a successful Mudflow quality bull hunt. I scouted the area 5 times prior to the season start. I went up to the area and set up camp on Fri. the day before my hunt started. Both of my son in-laws came with me also. My one sone in and I went up to the trailhead to see if we could spot any elk Fri. Eve. We were planning on hunting the Boundary trail area. I met another Permit holder who had the same plan. We had a good talk and decided we could probably both hunt that area without causing either one of us any problems. I spotted this bull come up into the area Fri. evening. So, we decided to meet at the trailhead and not go in in the dark with head lamps and push the elk out of the area.
Opening morning finds me and my son in-laws running a little late. we get parked behind the friend I met (the other permit holder) and somehow my son in-law hit the truck alarm?? Oh boy what a start. I walk up to the trailhead and look for the other permit guy and his sons. I couldn't see them at all. So, I slowly proceed out the trail. I spot a small group of elk at about a thousand yards, and they seem to realize I am on the trail and after a bit take off and head up over the hill. As they take off the bull and his 5 cows pop out in the open. I slow down and try to sneak even more, but it appears they know I am on the trail. They finally run off into a little bowl to where I couldn't see them anymore. At that time I just head the direction the elk went. There is an old road that parallels where they went into, however, they were not there?
After some more hiking and looking I finally spot that bull with his cows just on the outside of the unit. Then some coyotes start barking and yipping and push them down to where I couldn't see them anymore. My son in laws finally catch up to me and we just hang out in the general are where I last saw the bull. And after about 2 hours that bull and his 5 cows showed up back in the unit and somewhat working our way. I made the decision to hike around the hill and see if we could get Infront of them. Somehow that tactic worked out. I walked out to where I thought I could get to be above that bull and his cows and realized the trail/ road ended and I didn't think it went far enough. Well after about 30 min low and behold those elk showed up at about 250 yards below me, and sure enough it was that bull. I sneaked down that road and then slowly slid downhill behind a tree and got to about 212 yards. Then I waited, ranged a couple spots and cows that were bedded. He was still working and moving his cows around. When he got to the two cows that were bedded, he was 162 yards. I settled into my shooting stick and let the smoke pole bark. As I try to reload, I see through the smoke he turns uphill and lays down. While I am loading, my son in law runs back up to get his binos he left on a tripod. And just as I get my cap on the bull starts a roll and then just slides down the hill and out of site. We head down and find him after sliding probably 200 yards in a creek drainage. Then it was a few grip and grins then the work began. This was a fun and grueling hunt. And I feel very blessed I was able to connect on the first day. Which turned out to be a very very long day!
