Arizona Elk Hunt - Bow Hunting Elk - Arizona Trophy Bull Elk - 412 Arizona Bull Elk
My new friend and constant companion on this hunt, the video camera. This Sony is mounted on the Slik 713CF II tripod with a Manfrotto 701RC2 pan head. This set up is lightweight, stable enough for the job, and easy to run (even for a novice like me). The old style Badlands 2200 pack still works for day hunts.
I have spent the last four days up on the Rim bow hunting with my brother, Cody, and a couple of his buddies. I am not a bow hunter, at least not up to this point, so a hunt of this type has been quite an eye opener for me. It is simply beyond my ability to describe accurately what it is like to be a part of one of these hunts. My assigned task has been to film the hunt so I am put smack dab in the thick of things. Cody is out front with his bow, I am a few yards behind him with a video camera and tripod and his friend Jay is working his magic on the calls somewhere behind me.
We have seen a lot of bulls but, so far, Cody is sticking with his plan to go 360 or better. He held a full draw for a few agonizing minutes on a bull opening morning but decided to pass. 350 wasn't big enough for this hunt in this unit. We were very close again to the right bull yesterday morning but got busted by a last second wind change. The bull stopped, stuck his nose in the air and casually turned away at about 35 yards without giving Cody a clear shot. An hour later something of a drama played out when we got into a bunch of bulls that were bugling hard. We got set up and Jay did his thing. Within a few minutes Cody had a cow seven yards to his left and a young 330 bull to his right at 5 yards. The bull just stood there for almost 20 minutes slobbering, pissing, bugling and grunting and then just walked past us. In the process he nearly stepped on Cody Goff who was hunkered down about 10 yards to my right. As the bull walked around behind me all I could do was pan with him even though I could no longer see the view finder. Upon review of the tape, as the bull crosses my six o'clock you can see Jay hiding between two trees and smiling like the Cheshire Cat with the bull just a few feet behind him in the background. Incredible stuff and I got it all on tape.
I had to come home for a couple days but will head back up if they are still hunting. What an experience, I can't believe how much I have learned about how these bow hunters work.
On our way back to camp we ran into a friend of Jays, who took a big bull on the 14th. Here are a couple pics.
September 08 Arizona public land DIY bull elk bow hunt. Wow! Nice bull.
Now, I am not heavy into points and measurements and records but even I knew that this was something special. We had already heard of a 430 bull taken on the San Carlos Reservation but Jay said more than once that this was a monster and suggested that it would be the biggest public land bull taken in Arizona this year. Initial estimates are that it scores around 411. Whatever it turns out to be, it is big and a dream come true for this hardcore bow hunter. Congratulations Preston, well done.
Big, beautiful and unique. Another world class Arizona trophy elk. Check out the tip or tips of the left antler.
Looking forward to getting back up there with the guys. The days are long, the humps grueling but the company is good and the hard work is rewarding. Good luck to all those trying to fill a tag. Like the old Sarge on Hill Street Blues said, "hey...let's be careful out there."
Hunt smart. Hunt safe.
EDITORS NOTE - the bull measured 412 gross and 399 net but we'll have to wait for the official score in a couple months. Like I said, I think that entirely too much emphasis is being put on the numbers now. I could care less what it scores, it is a fantastic bull.
UPDATE - Here is the final score. No wonder why they wanted me to remove my pictures, it spoiled the mag cover deal that got made after I had already posted them. Fact is, I asked for and recieved permission to take those pics.
Good enough to make the cover of the December/January 2009 Eastmans' Hunting Journal which proudly proclaims the 412 score. Pick up a copy for the whole story. It's a good one.
Wade Nelson
Editor
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