The quest for bulls was on this year.  I hadn’t drawn a tag since 2006, so I was very excited to get back out and put in some work.  In 2006 I had been fortunate enough to shoot a 6×6 bull on day 2.  In 2007 my friend Tate shot a 5×5 bull from the same log.  In 2008 my brother got skunked, and we had no luck in 2009 when Karl drew his tag and brought his friend Ulf from Europe.  I was really hoping this would be our year to turn things around. The success rate is 20%, so even with 4 tags we weren’t guaranteed to get a bull.   We rolled into camp Tuesday just as the sun was setting and the snow was coming down.  The wall tent and stove kept us warm through the night.  The morning couldn’t come early enough.

When we awoke, I headed down to my favorite morning spot with my friend Karl while our friend Kevin would post up on another draw.  We got a late start, and found ourselves hurrying down the hill as everything became illuminated by the morning sun.  I sat down at the infamous “Pee Log” where I shot a bull in 2006 and Tate shot one in 2007.  The log is covered in bright green moss so it was appropriately named.

Within 30 seconds of sitting I could see a heard of about 40 elk moving across the furthest hill at about 1000 meters.  I signaled to Karl that I had spotted animals and he made his way to the log.  We quickly devised a plan of attack.  The heard was feeding across the hill from left to right.  I would head directly towards the heard, and Karl would move to the right while walking towards them to head them off.  That way if I spooked them he could pick up a bull as they busted out.

I made my way closer and stopped to glass at 600 meters.  I could see a large heard bull with white tips on his antlers.  He was a nice, big bull and had several cows around him.  The heard also had some sentry cows that were looking for threats from all directions.

I closed the gap to 400 meters and had a shot.  But I hadn’t shot too well recently and realized that I could probably get closer.  I walked down into a ravine into thick trees and across a stream bed.  I  used the trees for cover as I worked my way up the hill.  All of a sudden a large 5×5 bull and cow busted out of the thick brush.  I radioed to Karl that they were headed his way and waited to hear a shot.  But I didn’t hear anything and he said there were still elk on the hill.  He hadn’t seen the 5×5 come out in his area.  So I continued up the hill and the trees got sparse.  I went from one tree to the next and as I approached a small tree I saw the heard bull – a large, heavy 6×6.

He was 80 meters in front of me and was grazing with a cow.  I set up my bipod and took a deep breath.  The cow took one step back and I took my shot.  The bull collapsed and the rest of the herd erupted up the hill.  I watched above, and could see the big bull down.  I waited several minuted for him to expire, and then came up close to put him down for good.  I was standing over a magnificent creature and was overwhelmed.  I knew this was just the beginning so I got to work with my knife.

My 2010 Bull Elk - Public land - Northside Unit - Northwest of John Day

If you look in the upper right hand corner, we camp from the snow patch at the start of our stalk.

Back at Gunny's ranch where I got to store my meat and antlers.

502 HQ 2010