CPAjeff
Well-known member
I've shared the pics of this bull already on a couple threads, but here's the story . . .
When the 2025 draw results came out, my confidence in my son hunting bull elk in 2025 was confirmed. My father, who is truly one of the greatest individuals I know, agreed to mentor an elk tag to my son in 2025. Fun fact - my mother, also one of the greatest individuals I know, also mentored a buck antelope tag to my son in 2025. The mentor program in Utah allows for tag holders to mentor/share/give a drawn tag to a youth (ages 12-18). To say that I'm a fan of the program is an understatement.
As daylight broke on Monday morning, we were greeted with the sound of bugling bulls. Our first encounter was a nice bull, looking for love. He came right into a few cow calls, but due to the thickness of the trees, he spooked as we tried to get a better angle for a shot. Lots of fun trying to line up a shot in this jungle!!
We continued on toward the sound of more bugling elk and our next elk encounter happened shortly after the first. At the unmistakable sound of a cow elk mewing, I let out a couple lost calf sounds and her motherly instincts kicked in. She approached to within 30 yards before deciding the lost calf was no where to be seen. After the cow eased off, the sound of a close bugle echoed through the trees. Slowing making our way to a better vantage point, two cows were spotted heading through a small clearing. Figuring the bull would follow the cows, I had my son set up and get ready for a shot - telling him I'd stop the bull when he stepped into the clearing. I first caught glimpse of antlers as the bull slowly began following his cows. Almost as a scripted event, the bull lumbered into the clearing and I let out a quick cow call to stop him. The sight of that bull standing in a small clearing, with the backdrop of snow and trees will be etched in my mind forever. Without any hesitation, by son touched off a shot and the 140 grain VLD from his 6.5 PRC smashed into the bull's shoulder dropping him. The bull quickly struggled back to his feet and hobbled back into the trees, as other nearby elk crashed through the trees in their escape. An eerie silence soon settled in. We made our way over and the bull was found, not 30 yards from the edge of the clearing.
We drug the bull out out of the tangled mess and got a few pics.
Hunting for me is about spending time in the outdoors, chasing wildlife with the people I love. Monday was an unbelievable morning in the elk woods, with two of my favorite hunting buddies.
When the 2025 draw results came out, my confidence in my son hunting bull elk in 2025 was confirmed. My father, who is truly one of the greatest individuals I know, agreed to mentor an elk tag to my son in 2025. Fun fact - my mother, also one of the greatest individuals I know, also mentored a buck antelope tag to my son in 2025. The mentor program in Utah allows for tag holders to mentor/share/give a drawn tag to a youth (ages 12-18). To say that I'm a fan of the program is an understatement.
As daylight broke on Monday morning, we were greeted with the sound of bugling bulls. Our first encounter was a nice bull, looking for love. He came right into a few cow calls, but due to the thickness of the trees, he spooked as we tried to get a better angle for a shot. Lots of fun trying to line up a shot in this jungle!!
We continued on toward the sound of more bugling elk and our next elk encounter happened shortly after the first. At the unmistakable sound of a cow elk mewing, I let out a couple lost calf sounds and her motherly instincts kicked in. She approached to within 30 yards before deciding the lost calf was no where to be seen. After the cow eased off, the sound of a close bugle echoed through the trees. Slowing making our way to a better vantage point, two cows were spotted heading through a small clearing. Figuring the bull would follow the cows, I had my son set up and get ready for a shot - telling him I'd stop the bull when he stepped into the clearing. I first caught glimpse of antlers as the bull slowly began following his cows. Almost as a scripted event, the bull lumbered into the clearing and I let out a quick cow call to stop him. The sight of that bull standing in a small clearing, with the backdrop of snow and trees will be etched in my mind forever. Without any hesitation, by son touched off a shot and the 140 grain VLD from his 6.5 PRC smashed into the bull's shoulder dropping him. The bull quickly struggled back to his feet and hobbled back into the trees, as other nearby elk crashed through the trees in their escape. An eerie silence soon settled in. We made our way over and the bull was found, not 30 yards from the edge of the clearing.
We drug the bull out out of the tangled mess and got a few pics.
Hunting for me is about spending time in the outdoors, chasing wildlife with the people I love. Monday was an unbelievable morning in the elk woods, with two of my favorite hunting buddies.
