6X6 or 6X5?

P.T. spent a good portion of his archery elk hunt helping his wife (who had waited years to draw a tag) with her archery elk hunt in a different unit.  He finally decided to be a good husband and call in a Big Bull for his wife, and it was a Big Bull she didn’t miss when he stepped out!

Now it was his turn to pack a bow!  After a handful of days chasing bulls by himself, and a handful of close calls, Bryant McGee showed up to help with the calling.

Next morning, the two hiked into a area that had been hot for the last few days.  As daylight started to creep in, P.T. and Bryant listened as a handful of bulls began working their way out of the flats toward their location.

The two could get a look at a few bulls as they worked their way toward the trees.  A good bull, but one side was busted off!  A average bull, but missing half his points!  Another big bull, but busted just below his third on the right side!  Nothing that wasn’t broken up!  A couple bulls were already close so it was time to get to work!

Bryant tried a couple cow calls, and got an immediate response from a bull that was working his way up the ridge a few hundred yards off.  P.T. began working toward the bull while Bryant stayed back a good 100-150 yards.  P.T. stayed between Bryant’s cow calls and the bugeling bull that was heading his way!  Suddenly a few glimpses of the bull, but the thick trees made it difficult to get a good look!  Before P.T. knew it, the bull stepped out at 25 yards in the thick trees!  P.T. saw him coming, and drew his bow!  With one small window to slip an arrow through, P.T. tried to get a look at the bull and decided to let it fly!  At the shot, the bull spun and ran a few yards before slowing to a stumbling walk!

The bull disappeared down the hill, and P.T. let out 3 quick cow calls, a signal to let Bryant know to head toward him.  The only thing P.T. really knew about the bull was he looked heavy!

P.T. and Bryant discussed the shot and waited about 40 minutes before they started the tracking job.  As bulls bugled around them, the two tracked the bull down the hill.  After about a 150 yard tracking job, the bull was found piled up near the bottom of the hill!

Turned out P.T.’s bull would have been a 6X6, but just like the rest of the bulls they looked at this morning this bull had busted his main beam just below his 5^th point!

 

You can watch this, and other hunts on MuleyBull Outfitters “Just Hunting Volume 1” found at www.amazon.com