2009 Muzzy Wilderness Bull

[Wahoo]

After waiting 12 years for the chance to shoot a big one I was pretty excited leading up to the hunt. I had hunted the area several times years previous but always had to watch them walk away chasing the (sometimes mystical it seems) spikes.

I hiked in the day before opening and the elk were bugling just getting me more amped. I arrived at my campsite finding everything in 2 inches of snow. I set up my tarps anticipating a wet time and boy was I glad I did as the first three days it was constantly either snowing, raining or hailing on me. 

Opening Day: I wake up to three elk bugling, crawl out of my tent, hear about three more bugles from them and everything goes quiet (darn). I fail trying to get a response so I head to one my familiar areas. I get into a bedding area and hunker down for little. 10 Min's later I hear elk coming and a cow pops out with two calves. I sit tight waiting for horns to follow and here they come, a 4 x 4. I decided immediately he is too small but when he gets within 10 yards of me it sure made it difficult to pass up such an easy shot. Later that afternoon I finally get a response to a bugle and thought he sounded further away then he was. I go charging after him, thinking I had a lot of ground to cover, and ran right into a herd of cows busting them everywhere, oops. Finally when it got close to dark I was working my way back to camp when I jump two cows hearing another elk take off in a different direction. I go to investigate what went on its own and end up getting into a 5 x 5. He had long tines but still wasn't big enough for opening day as I had told myself only a 6 x 6 or a huge 5 on opening day. End up going to bed pretty excited after the first day’s action.

Second Day: Hunted my butt off all day not even bumping an elk and got very wet in the process (thank goodness for fleece).

Third Day: Woke up to a very cold morning. With all my clothes and boots being wet from the day before they were frozen solid in the morning. I had to breathe on my sleeves to loosen them up so I could get my arms through and had to walk a ½ mile in my boots before they thawed enough to lace them up (tongues were frozen straight up).  Hunted hard all day without seeing elk (trying a new area) until that afternoon when I decided I need to get back to an area I know. After getting to this area and making a big loop to get the wind in my favor I am sneaking through the woods when I hear something that made me cow call. A bugle came instantly back that was a clean bugle but sounded like a 5 year old kid had done it. My first thought was it was another hunter but knowing there weren't many of us back in here I looked for a position I thought had the best window if an animal approached from where the bugle came from. I got into my shooting position cow called again and it came charging in. Lucky enough it popped out broadside in my window at 30 yards. I didn't even bother counting the points as I just saw a lot of horn and decided this was it.  He only went 30 yards and he was down. Gutting him I found that I had double lunged him.  I didn't get back to camp until 10 that night after the skinning and bringing out the first load and ended up doing that in a complete white out blizzard. With the snow falling so hard I ended up sticking to the horse trail instead of taking my shortcuts which added almost a mile and a half to my hike back to camp.

Got everything back to camp the next day with the wonderful help of a neighboring camp who had horses. The two fellow hunters were awesome guys and are getting some nice whiskey and meat soon for the favor. Ended up hiring an outfitter to bring the meat down off the mountain and considered the payment to be one of my best purchases in quite some time. Ended up making the pack out with all my gear in one heavy trip. Horns are at the taxidermist now where I am getting a European mount (compromise with the wife). I am still on a high from this trip and can't wait to draw another bull tag. Hopefully it won't be 12 years again. Unfortunately, I didn't have the best camera with me and all my pictures were on the timer being alone.

[jollyskwala]

Way to get after it! Sounds like you earned every tine! Great pictures!

[halflife65]

Great job!  When it's easy there is no story to tell...way to earn it.

Congratulations on a fine bull.

[Elkpiss]

Awesome, Those front tines are freakin long, should score good.....

[BLKBEARKLR]

Very nice bull, it is funny that you mention the bugle sounding like a 5 year kid. I had one last year that sounded like a kazoo, thought it was another hunter, and never got ready next thing I know there is a 6 pt bull at 35 yards from me broad side.

Congrats on your bull

[scoyoc5]

what a great bull! thanks for sharing your story.

[Ridgerunner]

great job on a nice bull, love teh fronts on him.

[brianmtsinc]

Awesome!  Way to work for it!!!  Not many would go through what you did to make it happen.
Thanks for sharing!  It gets me pumped for the late season!!!

[bowsandhose]

wow. great work on a great bull

[Holg3107]

Beautiful bull it sounds like you earned it. Congratulations.

[Austrian Hunter]

Great story, Congrats on a great bull, you earned it

[NWBREW]

Good job wahoo. A hARD HUNT IS ALWAYS REWARDING. Makes it even better when you get what you set out for. And those front tines are awsome.

[markts]

Holy crap those fronts are well holy crap. Congrats Mark

[bullchaser]

well done!

[SkookumHntr]

--That Bull has some Bad Ass eye guards, Nice Bull!