Day 1 was great with a bull bugling at us at first light. Who would have known that he would not come into the cow, calf, or bugle. We decided to get aggressive, who would have know that 50 yards later we found him walking towards us . Standing at only 50 yards with every tree in the forest in our shooting path, we found him gazing upon us at 60 yards, all we could do is watch. With him just walking off, well it was time to push on.
My Dad Bill and Me
My Buddy Rick and Me
Day 2 was slow, no bugles in the morning and only spotting a Rag horn and 2 cows at the tree line 500 yards away with them staring at us. We then pressed on to sit the salt for 1/2 the day with no success. Later that afternoon we did see a few cows (5 or 6) with a nice satellite but the stalk fell short when they took off with the bull bugling while trotting away (sounded like he was laughing at us.)
Rick, Bill, and Me
Day 3 was by far the best bugling day in the 2 weeks we were there. We had 3 bulls going nuts at the bottom of the canyon only 100 yards away. One started to come to us. Did you notice how I said started? LOL
Rick
Day 4 well....was day 4 lol, day 5 though we decided to try water in the afternoon. We had a Cow and Calf come in at only 35 yards. Now boys and girls that got my blood pumping thinking, (there I go again thinking) this was how it was going to happen.
My Dad sitting the butt sore pond. LOL
Day 6 great start, bulls sounding off at first light. Walked to the pond and oh my BULL, BUT, BUT, BUT, we were busted walking in. With 60 yards to his vitals and just enough light I thought I better pass (better safe than sorry, figures). After a few dad decided to take off after one that had been laughing at us for an hour only to find out he snuck right up to them. Here comes the bad news they busted when he finally saw the bull (bad wind in that canyon swirling ALL the time.) Just after he busted them I was sitting at the pond still and had a nice Cow come in, again at 35 yards. Sat again that afternoon and nothing. The next 3 days of sitting that STUPID pond (LOL) a BIG FAT nothing came in.
Now day 10 was the FIRST kill. Dad took off east and I took off west to the pond ( he just could not take the pond no more). I just sat down knocked and arrow with the new Inverter Broad head, took my gear off and saw movement. In came 3 coyotes. They stopped 25 yards from me, marked their territory, and huddled together. With the first ones head in a great position to the 2nd and 3rd ones vitals all in 1 arrow path I thought ( there we go again) I could get a trifecta, WRONG. First one dropped and did not move but I thought I may have gotten 2 but as you can tell in the photos the arrow stopped. Holy crap what a shot and now that makes 2 yotes with a bow in less than a year.
Coyote
Inverter Broad Head & Yote
Day 11 I woke up thinking well now its Monday almost the end. I hate that feeling, we were getting very nervous. My dad and I talked and decided that we can't call them in you could get 30 yards up to 300 yards but as soon as you call they would take off. We knew we would have to try and cut them off. We took the road that was 2 ridges east of the pond. Every bugle we heard was heading that way in that area. We drove stopped, drove stopped, without bugling or cow calling just to see if they would talk and they were not. As we got to the very bottom of the canyon we heard one southeast of us. We just came from the south down the ridge, figures. Then it happened, the bugle got closer. We jumped out of the Jeep and grabbed the bows I turned and looked southwest when all of a sudden I saw a Cow and Calf come off the ridge and through the canyon 90 yards away. Of course I thought that's where he was going to go. I looked back for my dad and he was gone. What the heck is all I could think this was supposed to be his elk not mine. This was his year to get one because I got one back in 2008 and he didn't. Not knowing where he went I started over only to have the bull chuckle less than 150 yards south of me. I ran over to get set up 45 yards where I saw the cow and calf come thru almost to the bottom with no calls with me I stood motionless waiting for it to happen. Just then a few cows came over the ridge, all I could think is oh no you guys are too far up come towards me. They all stopped turned and what would you know, started toward me. Ok, ok, ok, here we go 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, oh crap the 6th was the bull ramming his brow tines into the last cows butt pushing her. Man they were on the move straight to me. Then I saw him his width his body oh my there goes my body it felt like it was 70 below zero. "Stop, stop, stop," dang cow was coming right towards me getting way to close zig zagging down the hill not knowing where to go. I had to hurry and draw but I could not, I was moving so much I have no idea how she did not see me. I could have stuck my bow out and slapped her across the face. With her being so confused where to go they turned and walked straight away from me then turned and headed down the hill about 35 yards away. I drew my bow and the bull stopped broadside perfect vitals position looking right at me I could not miss. Away went the arrow glancing off a log that was right under him. He bolted off, all I could do was whistle to try and stop him, well he did at 65 yards. Away went another arrow, MISS, whistling away the whole time he stopped again 70 yards I said to myself, "okay Clay last pin steady, steady", away the arrow went...........1 step, 2 steps, on the ground. Oh my I did it I fell over laughing and crying at the same time saying, "I killed him thank you lord, thank you lord." Here come my dad hearing this thump me crying and him thinking I am saying, "it is killing me"....yep he thought I fell on an arrow. "He is right there I killed the bull" I said to my dad. Then something happened to me that never has, I started to dry heave. My stomach was all in knots hurting because of my nerves oh my that was one heck of an experience. I jumped up gave my dad one heck of a hug and turned around only to see the Jeep about 30 yards behind me and the elk 70 yards in front of me. We just walked right up to the Bull and he was out no movement what so ever only a 3 minute wait.
5X5 Bull Elk 4B
Here comes the Twist in the story. You know the first shot that glanced off the log well it hit high mid body at of course an upward angle cutting the main artery under the spine and the last shot right thru the heart. I could not believe it. I ran back to camp grabbed the trailer and took the Bull to Jeremy at BROWNING'S CUSTOM MEAT PROCESSING, 404 SOUTH ST. PHILLIPS PAYSON, AZ 928-978-3512 OR 602-708-1920.
Unfortunately my dad did not get his bull and I think I am more heart broken about that then he is. I truly look up to my dad as not only a Father but my best friend also, with him not getting one I then felt bad because this was his year. Only if he would have been right there when I turned around. I love you dad and thank you for showing me how to hunt and without you I would not be the hunter I am today. To that I have named the bull PA BILL BULL. I also want to include my mom for always letting me go with dad and being so supportive of the great hunt and outdoors, to that I love you mom. Here was the hard part the wife and kids. My wife supports me in everything I do and so do the kids but man it was hard this year to be away from them, to that thanks babe I love you. I also had the great accompany of some of my closest friends Rick Lopez with Double Buck Taxidermy http://www.doublebucktaxidermy.net/ and Steve Banovich rep. of Bowtech http://www.bowtecharchery.com/and more . These guys are some of the best boys around, thanks for coming up and helping out. I did also meet a few great guys, Jerry and his friend Dickey, also Leo and his boy Matt. We all got to share a few beers and talk about past hunts and this hunt. It was great to meet you guys. To that, sorry this was so long and I hope you enjoyed my story I hope it made you feel like you were there (that's what I was shooting for LOL).
My Little Guys Zack and Dada (he wanted a pic with his dad)
