Montana Bull down (more pics added)

[vandeman17]

As many of you know on here, since I talked about it so much, my dad and I went on a rifle bugle hunt in Montana last week. We hunted with an outfitter in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Going into the hunt, we had high expectations, not only of amount of animals we would see but also on quality. We talked about strategy as far as what size of bull would be sufficient early on, midway, and last day etc. I think we jinxed ourselves right there.   On our 24 mile horseback ride into the main camp we passed through a preserve and heard probably 4-5 different bulls bugling and we thought we were in for the hunt of our lives. We got to the main camp after a nine hour ride, stayed the night there and got up early the next morning to ride the last 7 miles to where we would call home for a week. It was a cool little spot, next to a creek with an amazing view. There was 4 hunters, 2 guides and a cook in camp. The week before we got there it had rained every day and pretty darn hard. It drizzled on us a bit on the ride in but starting from the first day of our hunt, there wasn't a cloud in the sky, it was warm, damn close to 70 in the day and to make it worse, a full moon. Needless to say that made for some crappy elk hunting. We hunted our tails off, hiking and riding at least 50 miles trying to locate the elk. Over the first 4 days, all that we saw were a couple deer, a black bear and alot of sunshine. We hadn't heard a single bugle either and we were all very discouraged. Our guide, who is my age, and I decided to take a short scouting hike the evening of our 4th day. We were hiking back in after dark and were about 300 yards from our camp when he told me to stop. We stood there for a minute and suddenly heard an elk bark from the ridge across the creek. We called back to him and he continued to bark a few times back and forth. That brought me at least a new vigor and motivation for the next few days as it was starting to fade quickly. The next morning found us across the creek at first light bugling. We finally got a response from a bull that sounded like it was back on the side of the valley that camp was on so we set off after it. Once we got over and made our way up the hill a bit we heard him again and figured out that what we heard was an echo and he was actually back on the other side opposite of the camp so off we went again. Long story short, we would call and within 5 seconds he would scream back. We got to within about 100 yards of him, made sure the wind was right and set up to try and call him in closer. It was at that point that he went completely quiet and we never heard or saw of him again. We still don't know what happened as we had the wind right and everything. Only thing we could think of was that we had worked him for so long and made such a big loop around to get the wind right that he might have got uneasy and left. Again, I was disappointed and thought we had blown the one chance we might have to take a bull. The next morning, our last full day of hunting, found us in the same spot at daybreak bugling. We again heard what sounded like a bull across the creek respond but figured it was an echo. We stayed along the creek and worked our way down a ways and gave another call. When he called back we knew he was on our side still, not far from the one the day before and the game was on again. We figured out where we thought he was, got the wind right and set up. My dad set up about ten yards behind me and the guide about 25 yards behind him. He started cow calling and it wasn't long until be belted out a bugle that made the hairs on my neck stand up. He was pretty close but I couldn't see him in the timber. My dad motioned from behind me that he saw him but that he was moving. Finally, straight up hill from me I saw a bit of brown but not neck or head, and no shot. He made a quick motion back to where he came from and I thought he busted us. My heart sank and I sat there wondering what went wrong. Then I saw him working his way through the timber again towards where the calls were coming from. I had two SMALL shooting windows in the timber. I watched as he passed through the first but he was farther back then I hoped so a few small trees blocked my shot. I watched out of the corner of my eye and had my scoped pointed in the last window. There was a little brush right in front of me so I had to get up high on my knees to shoot over it. Finally I saw him step through the probably 2 yard wide opening and I said to myself, "now or never" and I let him have it. One shot at 35 yards through the heart and a 75 yard death run later and I had my first elk! I was so happy that I could barely talk. The feeling of relief, excitement, joy, everything was almost more then I could take. To top it off, my old man got to witness the whole thing and share the moment with me. It is something neither of us will ever forget.

This is the only picture I have right now, its back at home in Washington. Once I get some more off my camera I will put those up too. This is off my camera phone.

[GoldTip]

Congrats, sounds like you had a tough but succesful hunt.  I've been in and around the Bob most of my life and know guys who have hunted it every year for years, and you did well.

[archery288]

Congrats Adam!  My buddy guided and hunted back in the Bob this year.. Same type of story you had.. No bugling and hot weather..

[Fullabull]

Well done Vanedman!!!

Congrats on the bull and nice story to boot. Our hunt was similar here also. I was able to take my son for the first time and at least he was able to see some elk and heard a bull bugle but other than that is was pretty slow this year. I would love to try and get him out in the late season to try and get him a cow but we'll see how that goes.

I hope your experience was one to remember. I'm sure it was

You can tell me all about it at the RMEF dinner next year!

Great job,

Fulla

[vandeman17]

Thanks guys. I just wish I didn't have to come back to the "real" world and have to work. There is something refreshing about being away from the phone, tv, computer, running water etc that recharges your battery and shows you what really is important.

[zackmioli]

congrats! youll never forget that hunt!

[Pathfinder101]

very cool

[brianb231]

Nice Job!!!!  Who was your outfitter if you dont mind me asking?

[carpsniperg2]

congrats was thinking it was about time for a update. glad you got your bull

[vandeman17]

Nice Job!!!!  Who was your outfitter if you dont mind me asking?

We went with Mills Wilderness Adventures. All it all they were a good outfit. Now that I am back and heard that the hunting has been tough all over, it makes me feel a little better about our experience. No matter what, it will be etched in my memory forever!

[Michelle_Nelson]

Thats a nice looking bull~

[WonkyWapiti]

Way to go Vandeman!  I know what you mean about having to come back to work.  After coming back Sunday night after a long muzzy deer season and archery elk season I am in a fog. 

[C-Money]

Nice bull, congrats!

[bow4elk]

Nice bull!  Right on 

[vandeman17]

Way to go Vandeman!  I know what you mean about having to come back to work.  After coming back Sunday night after a long muzzy deer season and archery elk season I am in a fog. 

This whole work thing sure is tough to get used to. At least now I have things to look forward to like trying to fill both my deer and elk tags here as well as duck hunting almost every weekend.