Appreciate ColMike and everyone for your kind comments about the bull and to Alex for posting some pics. I miss being on here with you all, been hiding for awhile.
A bull of firsts in many ways. I used a carbon arrow for the first time ever. I finally took a bull on Dave’s mountain, up on the BLM section. I was by myself which is strange since my father has been by my side on every other bull elk taken. And lastly, it was the first bull I have taken since my devastasting divorce two years ago.
I got somewhat of a late start to the evening hunt on Tuesday(Sept 6). Pop and I had been in the high country the last few days and we were seeing very few elk. I needed a change of pace so after the morning hunt, Pop and I drove off the mountain back to Durango. My plan was to go the “low country” location. We hunted relatively hard in the morning and Pop elected to take the evening off. I cleaned up, gathered my gear and made my way to the gate at the bottom of the mountain.
My intentions for the evening were to simply get up high on the mountain and glass a ton, hopefully hear a bugle. I arrived at a good spotting location at approximately 6pm. A very calm evening, I watched a red tail hawk fly around for awhile as I settled into an evening of waiting and watching. I let out a couple of cow chirps and a mew at 6:15. Despite my glassing, I hadn’t seen any elk but had the pleasure of seeing a big 4X4 Mule Deer buck walk right in front of me at only 125 yards. Rare to see up here in this elk country. Still no elk or any bugling.
I cow called again at 6:30. After only a few minutes, I heard a sound in the Aspens on my left that got my attention. I listened intently, chirped once and was greeted with two cow chirps that made me think that this could be a calf. Immediately, more sounds of elk going through the thick Aspen jungle occurred and I caught movement. This was no calf, I was stunned how quickly the bull showed up. He was a small 5X4. I put on my facemark and drew an arrow out of my side quiver. He made two more soft cow chirps, eeeaa, eeeaa. I have witnessed this before. Bulls coming in and making soft chirps as they approach. I stood up and watched him come right up broadside onto the ridge I was on. I drew back my PLX and anchored. The bull was well within 20 yards, as I held the string, I thought, “please stop”. Almost on command the bull stopped, I looked at a spot behind his shoulder and released. The 715g carbon arrow with the heavy Tuffhead went right where I aimed and the arrow passed through the bull. He barely even reacted to the shot. He stood there and then slowly started to walk away. I cow called at him and he stops looking in my direction. He then turns completely around and heads right towards me! I kept calling as the bull approached. At about 10 yards, I could hear sounds from the exit wound of exhaling. The bull presented me with an opportunity for a second shot but when I saw the exit wound, there was no need for the follow up. He headed another 10 yards straight down and crashed into the Aspens. I shot him at 6:40 and the entire sequence after was maybe 20 seconds.
I went down to the bull and said a prayer. Being by myself made the experience very unique. Due to all my elk calling after the shot, a bull across the creek erupted in bugling, which made cutting up on the bull pleasant as the bull carried on for awhile. I got ahold of Pop on my cell and he brought my oldest son Isaiah with him. I left the bull and hiked out to the gate, gathered Pop and Wolf and headed back up the mountain with our headlamps. We cut up the rest of bull and took out a load with our backpacks. It was the first time Isaiah had been with us carrying out a bull. We finally got home at 2am. I am proud to say Isaiah went to high school the next morning! The following morning, I grabbed my good friend Eric and we took out one last load and Pop carried out the rack.
It was a solo kill but it turned out to be a tremendous family experience. The excitement that Isaiah showed was very special to me. Watching him work side by side with his grandfather was very gratifying. And good ol Pop, going strong at 75, carrying meat off the mountain once again. Hopefully he is next. I still have a mule deer buck tag to play with and a pronghorn tag that ends on the 20th. Gotta love September!
