Seven Days, Four Backcountry Bulls - 3
We got up one last time and hiked up the mountain to find the elk had moved farther north because the weather had gotten considerably better over the last few days. We spotted the bull that had eluded us the night before as he trailed a large herd of cows over the peak of the mountain we were on. We glassed several elk and just didn't see anything worth going after. We walked around our last vantage point and just hung out for a few hours glassing.
Suddenly we glassed about 30 head of elk come out of the drainage to the north and migrating across the ridge up toward a saddle, just below the peak of the mountain. We devised a plan to get ahead of the elk and wait for them to get to us. We packed up our stuff and hurried up the trail to cut off the herd. We got up to the saddle just in time to see the herd making the corner and headed up our way. The two mature bulls in the herd both were bugling at each other every chance they got as they came our way. It was pretty awesome to see the herd wading through the snow as the bulls kept calling to each other as they got closer and closer.
The main part of the herd had cleared over the saddle as we waited for the last bull to stop for the shot. The bull stopped right at 200 yards and my buddy settled in for the shot. He shot, and nothing happened. The bull still remained there and we couldn't believe he wasn't hit. Suddenly my buddy realized he had accidentally shot the rock right in front of him as it was just low enough to not see in front of the barrel. The bull turned from the herd and had actually gone up the hill right in front of us. He slowly went right up toward the peak and rested at 460 yards. My buddy dialed up the scope and shot the bull. The bull slowly walked forward then laid down and expired.
We hiked up the snowy hillside to the bull and couldn't believe that the snow had held him up and were thankful he didn't roll down the hill to the bottom very far below. We snapped some pictures and butchered on the bull as we loaded our packs to head off the top of the mountain one last time. He couldn't have gotten a bull in a more scenic place. We all three agreed on that fact as we packed him off the steep hill side down to the ATV's.
As we were coming off the summit of the mountain I was going to step off of a rock and it broke loose underneath me, coming down on the side of my foot. I just knew I was going to roll my ankle. Surprisingly enough, my new Kenetrek boots held firm and I somehow didn't. I stood there amazed at how lucky I had just gotten with all that weight on my back, and my boots were strong enough to hold and keep me from being in a bad situation at 10,000 feet. Those Kenetrek boots seem to keep taking everything I have dished out to them.
We took a couple breaks as we were very much worn out from hunting and packing elk. We soon got off the mountain and back to camp where we loaded up our stuff and drove the 45 minute ATV ride back down to our vehicles. Our ATV's looked like 3 Gypsies were headed down the trail with all of the camping gear, coolers, and two elk. We got back to the vehicles right before dark and loaded up our stuff as we talked of a great trip and then went our separate ways.
Another Phone Call
I spent Thursday resting and helping ship some open cows down to the sale barn. Friday I went up on the Forest Permit and trailed a herd of stray pairs back down to the ranch. Looking back on it, this was a very action packed week even without out all the elk hunting. I got up Saturday morning, was drinking my morning coffee when I got a text message. It was from my Buddy Aziz and it said, "Big Bull Down!"
I texted him back and waited for him to get back to the wheelers and call me for instructions to go get the bull out. He got back and he told me the story. He, his wife and our friend Tyler had stumbled upon this bull in a recent burn area. They quickly got set up and Aziz talked Tyler into shooting the bull. This was Tyler's very first elk of any kind. We set up a place to meet and I notified my wife we would be packing out elk on that fine day. Amber and I got our gear packed up and drove north out of the ranch to go meet our friends.
We met up, and Tyler was just ecstatic about the bull he had just killed. We headed up the road and started our hike in to get the bull out. He couldn't have found this bull in an easier spot for a pack out. We got to the bull, snapped a few photos, and quartered him up to get him out. There were five of us so the pack loads were fairly easy on this trip. We headed down the draw, stopped to BS and rest at the bottom of the draw, and then headed up the hill for the last leg of our pack out. The weather was absolutely beautiful and the view was picturesque once again. After we got the bull out, we joked around and headed down to get another hard earned meal at the local café.
After the meal, I still could not believe about how fortunate I was to have taken part in 4 great elk harvests and pack outs. I don't think the week could be duplicated even if I tried. The next week, my wife and I moved to Western Wyoming to manage a ranch and start a new chapter in our lives. I could not live the life I do and get to hunt so much if it weren't for her patience and understanding I would not be able to do what I do. I would like to thank my brother, my wife, and all my hunting buddies that partook in this epic week of elk hunting. I also have to give one last thanks to a member on this forum. If it weren't for you trading powder with me, Mike, I wouldn't have had enough ammo to get through hunting season.
Andy Edwards grew up in Wyoming hunting and fishing as much as time would allow. He now lives in Western Wyoming where he is a ranch manager. Andy loves spending free time hunting, fly fishing, long range shooting and roping with family and friends.
Suddenly we glassed about 30 head of elk come out of the drainage to the north and migrating across the ridge up toward a saddle, just below the peak of the mountain. We devised a plan to get ahead of the elk and wait for them to get to us. We packed up our stuff and hurried up the trail to cut off the herd. We got up to the saddle just in time to see the herd making the corner and headed up our way. The two mature bulls in the herd both were bugling at each other every chance they got as they came our way. It was pretty awesome to see the herd wading through the snow as the bulls kept calling to each other as they got closer and closer.
The main part of the herd had cleared over the saddle as we waited for the last bull to stop for the shot. The bull stopped right at 200 yards and my buddy settled in for the shot. He shot, and nothing happened. The bull still remained there and we couldn't believe he wasn't hit. Suddenly my buddy realized he had accidentally shot the rock right in front of him as it was just low enough to not see in front of the barrel. The bull turned from the herd and had actually gone up the hill right in front of us. He slowly went right up toward the peak and rested at 460 yards. My buddy dialed up the scope and shot the bull. The bull slowly walked forward then laid down and expired.
We hiked up the snowy hillside to the bull and couldn't believe that the snow had held him up and were thankful he didn't roll down the hill to the bottom very far below. We snapped some pictures and butchered on the bull as we loaded our packs to head off the top of the mountain one last time. He couldn't have gotten a bull in a more scenic place. We all three agreed on that fact as we packed him off the steep hill side down to the ATV's.
As we were coming off the summit of the mountain I was going to step off of a rock and it broke loose underneath me, coming down on the side of my foot. I just knew I was going to roll my ankle. Surprisingly enough, my new Kenetrek boots held firm and I somehow didn't. I stood there amazed at how lucky I had just gotten with all that weight on my back, and my boots were strong enough to hold and keep me from being in a bad situation at 10,000 feet. Those Kenetrek boots seem to keep taking everything I have dished out to them.
We took a couple breaks as we were very much worn out from hunting and packing elk. We soon got off the mountain and back to camp where we loaded up our stuff and drove the 45 minute ATV ride back down to our vehicles. Our ATV's looked like 3 Gypsies were headed down the trail with all of the camping gear, coolers, and two elk. We got back to the vehicles right before dark and loaded up our stuff as we talked of a great trip and then went our separate ways.
Another Phone Call
I spent Thursday resting and helping ship some open cows down to the sale barn. Friday I went up on the Forest Permit and trailed a herd of stray pairs back down to the ranch. Looking back on it, this was a very action packed week even without out all the elk hunting. I got up Saturday morning, was drinking my morning coffee when I got a text message. It was from my Buddy Aziz and it said, "Big Bull Down!"
I texted him back and waited for him to get back to the wheelers and call me for instructions to go get the bull out. He got back and he told me the story. He, his wife and our friend Tyler had stumbled upon this bull in a recent burn area. They quickly got set up and Aziz talked Tyler into shooting the bull. This was Tyler's very first elk of any kind. We set up a place to meet and I notified my wife we would be packing out elk on that fine day. Amber and I got our gear packed up and drove north out of the ranch to go meet our friends.
We met up, and Tyler was just ecstatic about the bull he had just killed. We headed up the road and started our hike in to get the bull out. He couldn't have found this bull in an easier spot for a pack out. We got to the bull, snapped a few photos, and quartered him up to get him out. There were five of us so the pack loads were fairly easy on this trip. We headed down the draw, stopped to BS and rest at the bottom of the draw, and then headed up the hill for the last leg of our pack out. The weather was absolutely beautiful and the view was picturesque once again. After we got the bull out, we joked around and headed down to get another hard earned meal at the local café.
After the meal, I still could not believe about how fortunate I was to have taken part in 4 great elk harvests and pack outs. I don't think the week could be duplicated even if I tried. The next week, my wife and I moved to Western Wyoming to manage a ranch and start a new chapter in our lives. I could not live the life I do and get to hunt so much if it weren't for her patience and understanding I would not be able to do what I do. I would like to thank my brother, my wife, and all my hunting buddies that partook in this epic week of elk hunting. I also have to give one last thanks to a member on this forum. If it weren't for you trading powder with me, Mike, I wouldn't have had enough ammo to get through hunting season.
Andy Edwards grew up in Wyoming hunting and fishing as much as time would allow. He now lives in Western Wyoming where he is a ranch manager. Andy loves spending free time hunting, fly fishing, long range shooting and roping with family and friends.
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