bow hunter
New member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2009
- Messages
- 199
i left out for northeastern nevada for my archery bull hunt a couple weeks ago. i had talked to a few people from this site and i had a pretty good idea of where to start looking. the first morning i glassed 30-40 bulls. mostly raggys but a huge 400 class 7 pt and several nice 6pt shooters were there as well. the 3rd day i watched them go into this drainage of lodge pole to bed down and slowly and quietly walked into the bottom of it. the wind was good and i began to cow call a lil. a bull bugled and in no time came in to 40 yards. just then the wind swirled and he was gone. a few minutes later a small 5 came in and i let him walk. then, moments later a 350 class 6 pt was coming right to me. he was 25 yards away when he walked behind a tree and i drew my bow. i was shakin a lil but was doing well until he looked my way and screamed one of those deep throaty bugles right in my face. i missed but i blame it on the poop that was runnin down my leg. although i was bummed, i was thinking this in itself has already made my hunt a success. the next few days was quiet and didnt really get to close to anything else. then yesterday i awoke to a cool morning a several bugles. i hiked in from the tent about 1/4 of a mile and saw 3 bulls in this meadow bugling. i sat in the quakies and began calling. it wasnt 5 minutes before a nice bull came in perfect. was was walking below me about 30 yards and i sent a arrow right behind the shoulder i thought. he bolted and i walked down to find the first blood. i waited an hour and began tracking. i had constant good blood, even chunks, for 8 tenths of a mile. i got him up from his bed and he must have clotted up and i never found another drop of blood. i looked for 8 hours. every hunter that has been there knows that sick to your stomach feeling i still have. i decided to punch my tag as i know in my gut thats a dead bull. i hate it, but i think its the thing to do. that being said, anyone that hasnt ever chased bulls in the high country with a bow during the rut is missing out. you owe it to yourself to do what ya got to do to make it happen. youll have a memory forever. to see the aspens all turning colors and hear elk bugling all night as you try to sleep is a memory i know ill have to revisit often. congrats to all of you that have filled their tags and good luck to all that are heading out.
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