Arizona Archery Elk

[IdahoBugler]

Sorry its taken me so long to get to the story but I have really been swamped. It's not getting any slower so I'm going to try and post some things when I can. Here are a few random pics of some of the cool things I saw during my experience in the great state of Arizona.

Now to some wildlife:
Here are a few turkeys I encountered while out and about. Stan and I had a great time watching and calling too these guys.

A little fella I encountered while at a tank one night.

This was a pretty cool encounter. Little guy was a little confused I think.

The hunting was tough but after a little bit of investigating there might be a few elk around here after all!

 

[browtine]

oh man!!! Keep em coming!

 

[IdahoBugler]

Before I start into the good stuff I need to thank a couple guys here. I was very lucky to have drawn this tag in the same area that Stan (AZ402) was going to hunt. He is a great hunter and did his homework in this tough unit. He was gracious enough to allow me to tag along to the spots he had scouted and it showed as we were on good bulls opening day. I also wanted to thank his friends that were also hunting the area for their guidence and letting me share the same camp with them. My success had a lot to do with what these guys did for me.

With that being said.... I had reservations about using all 10 of my points for this unit but Stan assured me there were good bulls there. That was good enough for me and I applied and pulled tag #1. This unit was a very tough unit to hunt. With the combination of the hunt being 5 days earlier then last year, the hot weather, and the full moon it all played its part in slowing the rut down. During the hunt I encountered a grand total of 30 elk in 9 days. 19 of those being bulls. Two bulls that I suspect were bigger then mine but those two were glassed at over a mile away. I had tried for them but they had picked up and moved out of the area.

I'll start with a few pics and videos of elk we encountered during our hunt. This first one was at our pre-determined glassing point on opening morning. I started off with some light cow calls with no response. Stan was on the opposite side of the knob doing the same thing I was with the same results. About 1 hour into the day I hear some sticks breaking just below me. I stand up and catch a cow elk walking my way at 40 yards. She walks past and after a minute busts down the mountain. Stan just happened to be coming over when she was coming up. We chated a bit and heard some more noise from below. I told Stan to go out in front and see if we could call him in. Not 20 seconds after he was setup here comes theis little guy. 12 yards from Stan and 8 yards from me.


A little later in the morning we head down to some bugles we hear off in the distance. We sneak our way towards them silently. We are getting close and can hear him racking the trees. There are 2-3 bulls bugling and we are closing in on the biggest sounding bull. Which Stan knows is a really heavy 7 point that has a stunted right side. Still a bull he would have loved too shoot. We just round a tree and a cow busts us just before we could see the bull. We guessed him at less then 50 yards at that point just beyond our brush line. The cow takes the bull but just down around the mountain. We now are calling and letting the herd know there are some lost cows near by. The bulls start bugling like mad and we call this bull into 15 yards. He tries to bust out of there but I stop him with a cow call quartering away at 20 yards. Stan is to my right and has a perfect shot to take the bull if he wanted it. Great video and a great opening morning.


That evening we head back in after the big 7. We start calling early and get back into the herd. He busts us at 100 yards but still isn't sure what we are. We sneak closer and get within 40 yards of a couple cows. He goes through an opening at 70 yards but no shot availble. He is gone and never seen again.

The next four days were tough with only a couple bulls spotted. Definitely a lot different then opening morning. By Tuesday Stan had to go back to work and I was on my own for a few days. Stan would make it up for evening hunts and then head back home. During that time I encountered a few more elk and was able to get these pics of a decent bull bedded down at 70 yards. He was in my way so I decided to have fun with him. Thinking he was alone I started calling at him. He stood up and started walking off. I then turn on the estrus whines and just finish a sequence when I look down to see a cow and calf standing at 50 yards. They head right up the hill towards me and cut off at 25 yards. I pick up the camera and film as the bull follows them towards me. He's a chip shot away and I let him walk. I was very happy to be back in elk again. You'll have to wait for video until another day.
Can you see the bull?

How about now?

I see 3 other bulls that day and call another elk into range. Due to the thick brush I can't see what it is. He walks and ends a great evening hunt.

Tomorrow is the day and one I won't soon forget.

 

[BillyGoat]

Good stuff. Your lantern does look just like a feeder. If you're ever in Tucson, go to the AZ Sonoran Desert Museum. They've got a sweet hummingbird exhibit that you go into and the birds are buzzing all around you.

 

[ELKCHSR]

Those are all some awsome pics and potential shots...

 

[noharleyyet]

Awesome video.

 

[mtmiller]

Great pics and looking forward to hearing more about the hunt.

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

BILLYGOAT, that was funnee! Been there, done that!
IB, man!!!! I just don't know what to say....maybe I should take up sticks and strings again.....naw!
Way to go!!

 

[Muleyslyr]

Sweet....some good footage and pics! Keep em' coming! The Hummingbird pics are classics!

 

[Jimmy G]

Great stories, pics, and video. Makes me want to get back out.

 

[Big Fin]

Bugler:

Great stuff, as always.

I must say - I never had any doubts that you would have something like this to share. You make this stuff seem pretty easy, when we know that it is one of the hardest things in the hunting world.

Congrats on a hell of a bull and the work it took to do it. Congrats to Stan and friends for their assist.

I read your other posts on the thread where you used AZ402's computer. Very cool stuff.

Thanks for sharing and congrats on a tremendous bull.

 

[Moosie]

Congrats again.. I love your stories and Video !!!

 

[T Bone]

Thanks for taking us along Bryce. IMO, When a person notices the little things like plants and little critters, he is sufficiently slowed down to enjoy most of what the outdoors offers.

 

[IdahoBugler]

Here is the video from the bull that I had walked up on as he was bedded.


I woke up early and headed to the same spot as the night before. I let out a bugle about 20 minutes before light and instantly got a response. I called again and I could tell he was rounding up his cows to leave. I didn’t give chase because I wasn’t even close to where I wanted to be yet. I took off and dropped into the canyon I wanted to go. I instantly started hearing bugles, I guessed around 5-6 bulls were going off.

I was on the top of this little ridge and could tell I was less then 100 yards from the closest bull. The only problem was I had about 80 yards of Manzanita brush between the two of us. I don’t know if you guys know what this stuff is but it will rip your clothes off if you try and walk through that stuff. I ended up crawling underneath this stuff for about 100 yards. To keep the wind good I had to go way around the bull.

It took a good 45 minutes and I was worrying that they were going to head to bed soon. I cleared the brush and hustled down the mountain to get a little closer. The whole time the bulls kept bugling and I knew it was just a matter of time before I got to see the first elk of the day. I snuck as close as I dared and started to call softly to the bulls, instantly bulls started screaming at me. Looking up the ridge I catch a glimpse of a mature bull walking through the trees. He walked the ridge about 80 yards away, just long enough to look for me and then back to his cows.

After 15 minutes I decided to close the gap. I headed up the mountain about 40 yards and let out a soft mew. He erupted with a bugle and I finally saw the whole package. He was a very old 5X6 bull, massive as ever but just too short tined to shoot. I would guess he would score around 280. He walked by and posed for me at 30 yards and started walking to his bedding ground.

It was now a little past 8:00 and getting very hot. By far the longest I had had any elk activity. With hardly any elk bugling I debated my next move. I decided to walk up to the ridge and let out a couple cow calls. After about 2 minutes a lone bugle breaks the silence a little ways down the mountain. I sound off again with a little more urgency. He bites and for the first time I let out a bugling challenge to him. He hits right back, hard this time with a couple grunts. I wait a second and poor on the estrus whines then follow with a wimpy bugle. He bugles and I sprint down the mountain and up the other side maybe 200 yards or so. I find a good spot and prepare to call in the bull.

Before I can even settle in I see him coming fast at 40 yards. A quick glance confirms a good looking bull with 7 points on each side a no brainer at this point in the game. I then notice the wind is blowing slightly down hill towards his position. He is now 30 yards and drops down behind a clump of trees heading straight for me. I slowly draw my bow and he walks up, head on, at 20 yards.

At this moment I know he smells me, he flinches just a little and turns slightly giving me a perfect broadside shot. He was ready to bolt but it was too late. My Magnus Stinger was on its way and traveled the short distance in a flash, blowing through both lungs and ending on the other side of the bank. He ran about 30 yards and slowly walked over the little rise he had come from. Not 20 seconds later I hear a huge crash as the bull rolls down the mountain. It was so load I thought for sure he had busted every tine on his head.

I sit down for a little bit and reflect back on the last week. I can’t help but think how lucky I was to be in that exact position at that very moment. A little sad that no one was there to experience the excitement I had just felt. I snap back to reality as I know the bull is already down. I walk down pick up my arrow and slowly walk up the rise. I follow a blood trail a blind man could follow straight to my first Arizona Elk. He is a very handsome bull with long sweeping main beams that measure 56” long. He did sport 2 broken tines that just proves how battle tested this monarch was.

Here is a pic of what I saw as he came up the hill for the shot.

Can you see the arrow?

My First Arizona Bull.

 

[IdahoBugler]

So now I have a bull down about 1 mile down into a little hole. I'm by myself and know I have a big job in front of me. I hurry to take some pictures and get ready to prepare the bull. I start digging into my pack and look for the typical tools of the trade. I completely empty my backpack and I find out I have no knife with me. Big brain fart!!! I stop and remember a story my dad once told me about using his broadhead to clean out his elk. I grab a new arrow out of my quiver and start whacking away. It was surprisingly easy and the job was done with only a little extra time needed. I left the elk to get my pack frame and knives to finish the job. A return in less then an hour and start boning out the elk and putting the meat into bags. A nice one hour rain storm comes and cools everything down nicely. I get everything done in about 3 hours and start up the hill with a heavy load. I get lucky and contact a couple guys from camp and they help me out with the rest.

I stay for a couple days to help out with other guys but unfortunetly the rutting activity is gone again.

 

[Pickle]

Congrats on a great Az elk. I'm getting ready to head to Co in 3 weeks for my first elk hunt. Stories like yours and most everybody else on here is getting me pumped.

 

[Oak]

Nice job, IB. Thanks for taking time to share the story and pics. You earned that one.

 

[TheTone]

Great story, great pics, and a great bull. Congrats IB! Way to improvise on the knife as well.

 

[jabber]

Great story, pics & video. Sounds like you had an amazing time.

 

[1_pointer]

Great recap to a great hunt!!