azcouesandelk

That is an awesome bull you got yourself Cory! It will definately be a tough one to top! Love the AZ Elk Society hat!

Great job on going 4 for 5 and on another great looking buck!!!

Man that is funny I guess What is really funny is that Jim actually looks like an elf in there Sorry Jimbo.

Magnificent write-up and buck!!! I am envious of your hunt and the total experience! Definately a once in a lifetime hunt!

Well I am back from my archery elk hunt and it was a tough hunt! My dad went up midday on Wednesday and Manny (mjmhunter) showed up right around dark and I pulled up late that night. All day Thursday was spent scouting with a lot of smaller bulls and some decent bulls with a couple of large bulls spotted in the afternoon by Manny . That night my buddy Brad showed up to help with the glassing and filming. Day 1 Woke up bright and early at 3:30 and left camp about 4:00 to 4:10. Got to our parking spot around 4:45 and started our slow walk into the area. While walking in we were shocked to see a headlamp on the hill above us coming towards us and another headlamp following us. So we continued walking in and waited for first light. We would walk a ways and listen and continued this til we reached a knob that we could see some decent country from. We only saw a spike and a cow opening morning and never heard a single bugle. After getting back to the truck my friend who was up on the hill glassing told us he had seen some smaller bulls and 4 other hunters!!! That afternoon we went into an area where we had seen a couple of big bulls the night before. We still hunted the area and listened for bugles with no success. We never even saw an elk until we were driving out. Day 2 Woke up at the same time and decided to go into a little higher elevation area hoping that the bulls were bugling. We walked out of the truck and we finally heard our first bugles of the hunt. We walked about ¾ of mile or so into an area where the bulls were starting to bugle pretty well. We had about 4 bulls sounding off within 200 yards of us. So we setup to try to bring one in. After about 5 or so minutes of calling Manny brought in a decent 5 point that I elected to pass at 25 yards with it being early in the hunt. We followed a good bull with cows for another hour but could not pull him away from them. That afternoon we went into an area near where we had the bugling in the morning. We were slowly working our way up a hillside to get on a plateau when Manny spotted a cow on a ridgeline. After looking it over he spotted a good bull in the 340 to 350 range. We worked our way over to the last spot we saw him and he was about 120 yards below us. He never offered us a shot so we followed him hoping that he would start bugling. We worked the plateau and came up with nothing. While working our way back we jumped him out of his no more than 50 yards away from us. After that we started to lose light fast and we headed out. Day 3 Stayed on the same schedule and went to the same area we were in opening morning this time with no company. We still hunted and listened for bugles and at 6:00 or so we still had not heard a bugle when all of a sudden we heard one right below us. We got the wind in our favor and setup. Manny started to call and we had 2 bulls sound off. At about 6:15 we had a good bull step out in front of me. I drew back while he was walking behind a juniper and shot him as he stepped out. I thought the bull was quartering towards me more and I made a bad shot. We gave the bull a little more than an hour and started to track him. We followed his tracks and very little blood for 400 yards when all sign disappeared. We then marked the spot went back to camp and got some help. We had 7 people looking for several hours and we never found any more sign. After reviewing the video it looked like the shot was way to far forward and it was not a fatal hit. At this point I am devastated and don’t know what to do or think. My buddy had to leave that day for school and work so now it was just my dad, Manny and myself. That afternoon we went into the area we were in the morning before and still hunted only turning up a small group of cows with a raghorn and never heard a bugle. About 9:00 another buddy (Kit) showed up to help out for the next 2 days. Day 4 Same schedule again . Went to an area where a friend had told me he had seen some monsters in there during the years past. Went in and heard a few bulls sounding off every now and then. Tried several setups but with the wind it was almost impossible to draw a bull in. About 8:30 we heard a bugle right infront of us. So we start to try to get infront of him and Manny catches a glimpse of him and says he is a definite shooter. We did several setups and finally with some aggressive calling and a tree attacking Manny the bull came in. He was a great looking bull with good backs and long beams and would be in the 350 range. The only problem was I was on the wrong side of the juniper! I tried to sneak around but the bull just walked away. After that we decided to back out and not pressure the bull anymore. That afternoon we decided to go into an area where I had seen a unique nontypical in hopes of finding him. We went into the area and heard several bugles starting around 5:30. We then started to chase bugles and ended up in the middle of a herd of cows. After backing out and getting on another bugle we almost ended up where we had started when Manny says there he is. I drop down and see the nontypical about 100 yards away when all of a sudden he spooks. He then slows down to a walk and then we hear a thump and there is an arrow in the bulls left pedicle. The bull acts like he is going to fall and then recovers and takes off running. After this scenario we decided to name this bull Headshot. We tried to get on another bugle but it shut off and we were losing light. When we got back to camp another buddy of mine (Cody) showed up to help out for the next 2 days. Day 5 Woke up at the same time and got out to my spot and started to follow what we thought was the biggest bull I had found during my scouting. Followed him for a while and got one setup but he either heard us or smelt us. Then we went to get on some bulls that Kit had glassed up. Setup in a drainage and had a spike stop broadside at 7 yards. Let me tell you that was really tempting . Tried to call in a good bull that was bedded in the area but never could get him to come in. That afternoon we went into the area where Headshot was and did not hear any bugling and we got a call saying that my dad and Kit had some decent bulls located. So we booked it up to the area and got into some good action. We had about 5 bulls bugling and raking trees. I was able to draw back on a good 5x6 that was at 40 yards but he was behind a small tree and stayed inline with it and never offered a clear shot. Kit had to head home so it was down to my dad, Manny, Cody and myself. Day 6 Woke up the same time and the wind was blowing hard! We went into the area where I passed up the 5x5. We started to hike in and saw a really white colored coyote but he stayed just out of range. We worked the area another hour before we got blown out. That afternoon we went up to a glassing point to try some spot and stalk. I glassed up a small 5x5 and attempted a stalk. Made it to my first destination and relocated the bull about 350 yards away and continued on. Got to about 10 yards and drew back and stepped around a juniper for a clear shot but there was some brush blocking a clear shot. Day 7 Woke up at 3:30 to the trailer shaking in the wind. Decided it was a good day to sleep in since we thought the elk would be quiet. Cody had to head home this morning so he could go to work so it was back to my dad Manny and myself. Went out that afternoon to the same glassing point to try to get on some good bulls I had seen in the area. Manny glassed up a good 320 class bull and we made our move. We tried to get on him but lost him during the stalk. While walking back up to the glassing point Manny spotted the bull bedded about 300 yards away. Manny stayed up high while I stalked in. Got to my destination and the wind shifted. Dropped to my knees and saw his hooves at 35 yards and then he busted when the wind shifted. Got back up to the glassing point and glassed up some bulls and cows way off. Day 8 Went in to the area where we had been glassing the last 2 afternoons. Got in there and we weren’t hearing any bugles. Manny spotted a 5x5 going up over the ridge. While working my way up the hillside with Manny I spotted a raghorn down in the bottom. Worked the raghorn and a spike for an hour or so with no good shot opportunities. Got down in to the bedding area and Manny was able to get a bull to respond. The bull came in on a string and was a funky 6x1. I drew back and tried to get a smoker shot at 12 yards but hit a branch and had a clean miss. Another buddy showed up (Rob a.k.a. Basser) to help out for the afternoon before he went to help another friend in a different unit. Went into where we got on Headshot and got some bugles around 5:00. We tried to follow bugles but the wind was blowing in all directions it seemed. We decided to sit by the meadow and waterhole hoping the bulls would funnel through. We had about 7 bulls bugling around us and we setup on a really deep growling bull. We started calling and it sounded like he was working his way in. I was able to see his cows but never him. Then all of a sudden we had a weaker bugle coming in. We all thought it was going to be a raggy but I was willing to shoot anything at this point since it was Manny’s last afternoon calling for me. The bull stepped out and we were all surprised to see a 6x6 that had dark antlers and ivory tips. The bull was coming in on a string. He dropped down through a drainage which was my opportunity to draw. He came up out of the drainage and stopped at 22 yards facing me. I held at full draw for over a minute when he bugled. I then decided at 22 yards I was confident I was going to be able to put the arrow where it belonged. I took a deep breath after holding back for around a minute and a half and released. I watched as the arrow hit its mark and sunk in about 16 inches. The bull took off running and I saw him stop on a ridge about 100 yards away and lay down. He got up one more time and walked 4 steps and laid down. We decided to back out and come back after dinner. When we got back to camp I told my dad and he wanted to go right then. Then Pops showed up to hang out for the night and have some ribs that Gary had made and we ate some of the best ribs if not the best ribs of my life. We went back out to find the bull about 2 ½ hours later. Went to where we last saw him and he was laying right there! I could not believe it after 37 days of scouting and 8 days of hunting I finally was able to harvest a great bull. I would like to thank everybody who came up to help scout and help on the hunt. I couldn’t have done it without all of you guys. Also I owe Manny big time. He stayed up there for over a week calling and trying to get me my first elk and we did it. Here he is guys. Not a monster but a great bull that a lot of people worked hard for.

Here is a picture of my buddies early 12A West buck. He was lucky enough to get the tag with 1 BP and made the most of it. He will post a story later on. The buck gross scores right around 168 and has 2 small droppers on its right side.

I heard of a big typical 3 coming out of 23 that would go in the high 120's but I am not sure if it is the same buck. Would love to see the picture you saw!

Big congrats on all the success on the hunt!!! Now go get yourself one with your bow!

Don't worry Doug I wrote them down and I am willing to sell them for a good price

Congrats again on a great buck Ryan!!! I just wish I could have been a bigger help!

Atta boy keep up the good work! You already have a bigger buck than me and an animal I have yet to harvest!!!

First off that is a great picture Josh and I bet you can't wait til he turns 10! As for the score of the shed I am gonna guess 52 and some change!

Not a problem just glad I could help out. Also I came up with 88 to 90 was a score! Awesome looking buck none the less I love his eyeguards!

Honestly I have gone through it back and forth for 3 weekends and it isn't all that bad. The traffic flowed smoothly through and you can cruise 55.

Magnificent looking buck and big congrats to your dad! I am going to say 92 and please share measurements when you get them it is always good to see how far off i am

You can try this one if you want it might look better. I lightened up the shadows and it looks alright. I will send you a link with the Avater link if you want to use this one.

Tell her congrats on a great looking animal.

That is an AWESOME buck to say the least!!! Big congrats to you and your mom!

That is definately one of the most massive 3 points I have ever seen! Great write up also!

PM Sent!!!

Well said Jim except for the part of selling the original antlers. I would have a hard time parting with them but I would sell the rights for the cabelas, bass pro and sportsmans warehouse stores to use replicas.

Awesome job on a dandy of a buck.

Great tall buck with alot of mass. Awesome looking buck man.

WOW what a start! Keep up the good work guys that is a great buck!

Congrats on a great buck! That is what dreams are made of!