Post by: 7mmfan on October 24, 2014, 09:02:58 PM
He drew the Bethel modern bull tag this year after 9 years of applying. We are pretty familiar with this unit, but the area that we always hunted was being logged and burned this year, so we had to branch out.
Monday was pretty uneventful for him, but Tuesday we found a lot of sign in a tucked away canyon a long ways from the nearest road. He passed on a spike and small bull that night, something I never thought he would do.
The next morning we were back in there still hunting up the canyon at daylight. At about 8:30 we were glassing the far side of the canyon when we heard a bugle ring out close by. We got set up and waited, and not 2 minutes later a cow stepped into the open. We waited patiently and suddenly he stepped out. It was just like you see on TV and like we all dream about so often. We didn't know how big he was, but knew that he was mature. I ranged him at just over 300 yards, dad took a deep breath and squeezed it off. The bull absolutely dropped in his tracks. We waited and watched for a minute while the rest of the herd took off, and he never twitched. Bull down! There was a few minutes of hugs, high-fives, and holy-$#&% that just happened, and then we started off across and up the other side to Dad's bull.
I hoped to get some good photos of him walking up on his bull so I hustled up the other side as fast as I could to get set up, boy was it steep! I'll never forget the look of awe and appreciation for the animal when he walked up, photos don't do it justice.
Now the works starts. We were right at 4 miles from the truck. I had my frame and game bags, but dad did not. I left my stuff with him so he could get to work quartering, and took off back to the truck to get his frame and a couple more bags. About this time, the rain started, and ohhhhh did it rain! We loaded heavy and worked hard, managing to get all the meat and head out in two trips. The last load hit the bed of the truck at 7:00 pm. Soaked and completely spent we ate some elk spaghetti (fitting) and hit the hay.
The next morning we slept in and then cleaned and prepped the meat and dried our gear out.
It was a very hard earned bull but so worth it. Dad is ecstatic and I couldn't be prouder of him for sticking it out all these years. He's taught me most of what I know about hunting and made me as successful as I am. Congrats Dad, great bull!
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on October 24, 2014, 09:06:40 PM
Good story we just need pics! >:(
Post by: 7mmfan on October 24, 2014, 09:07:01 PM
Post by: Bob33 on October 24, 2014, 09:08:54 PM
Post by: jrebel on October 24, 2014, 09:11:04 PM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on October 24, 2014, 09:14:31 PM
Post by: 7mmfan on October 24, 2014, 09:27:58 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on October 24, 2014, 09:33:18 PM
Post by: jackelope on October 24, 2014, 09:33:45 PM
Post by: mdbuck5x5 on October 24, 2014, 09:45:20 PM
Post by: full choke on October 24, 2014, 10:03:58 PM
Post by: SniperDanWA on October 24, 2014, 11:13:20 PM
Post by: Limhangerslayer on October 24, 2014, 11:22:03 PM
Post by: lemondog on October 25, 2014, 08:02:29 AM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on October 25, 2014, 08:09:26 AM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 25, 2014, 08:54:12 AM
Post by: Ridgerunner on October 25, 2014, 02:31:52 PM
Post by: MLBowhunting on October 25, 2014, 03:10:32 PM
Post by: tgomez on October 25, 2014, 10:07:15 PM
Post by: mkcj on October 25, 2014, 10:20:35 PM
Post by: elkoholic1 on October 26, 2014, 04:14:33 PM
Post by: 7mmfan on October 27, 2014, 12:44:31 PM
Post by: 7mm Bob on October 28, 2014, 04:54:03 PM
Post by: C-Money on October 28, 2014, 05:00:28 PM