FHL Birthday Bull

[gdt]

If you've been following Mel's thread at FHL you'll know that my son has been hunting up there also. First I'll start by thanking Mel and all the people who contributed to his thread because it helped me figure out what to do up there, especially since it was my first time at FHL. We had a rough start to our hunt. My son's "Uncle Pete", who is my best friend, died of cancer the day we left for the hunt. So with heavy hearts we set out on the hunt. We met up with one of my friends who was going to help spot for us. The first day found us up in TA 24 early in the morning. The rainy weather had made the roads soft and mushy so we decided to hike into an area where we had information of where some bulls might be. Upon arriving to a valley, we spotted a herd on a hillside and we started our stalk.

Just as we got to where we wanted to be, a gunshot went off down below us and the herd took off over the hillside towards TA 20. We tried to follow them to see where they headed but gave up after seeing how far they had travelled. We hiked back to the truck and decided to try TA 25. We went up a ridge on the backside of the training area and found a group of bulls feeding on a distant hillside. We made a quick stalk to the top of a ridge looking down at the bulls. We had just set up for the shot, when a gunshot went off in the next valley. Immediately, the bulls bolted and were gone. We could not believe it happened to us twice! We went back to the truck to eat lunch and try to figure out what to do next.

As we sat there, we heard bugling a couple ridges over. We drove over to where we thought it was coming from and hiked along the ridge. My friend spotted a large herd moving over another ridge so we decided to give chase. Unfortunately after going up and down twice and across a large plain, we watched them cross the road and into TA 22 which is off limits. After 8 miles of hiking and chasing bulls we decided to end day one. Day two started out with us back in TA 25. After a morning of driving around, we decided to leave. We tried to get to TA 13W, but the roads were too tough to navigate. (I really didn't want to get stuck) We went back to the check in station to eat lunch and the rain started around noon. The wind also picked up big time. With the weather we decided to try the border between TA 19 and 20. We walked along the border and came upon two bulls who were walking 500 yds ahead of us.

 

[Big Moose]

And.....opcorn:

 

[Mel Carter]

Aahhh come on! I can't wait to hear the rest of the story, congrats to you and your son.

 

[solus]

Where's the rest of the story?....

 

[gdt]

The wind changed direction and blew our scent right to them and they took off. My son as we walked back to the truck slipped and fell on a wet boulder. He slammed onto his knee and dropped the rifle, scope side down. At that point we were at our very low. We were soaking wet, tired, and decided to head home for Christmas eve/day and regroup. The 26th found us back up at FHL with new hope. The rifle was sighted back in. It shot 2 inches low and to the right after the fall. This time it was only my son and I.

We tried TA 25 again near the 29 border for the last 2 hours of the day, but nothing was seen. The next morning was beautiful blue bird day. In the morning we tried that border on 19/20 again. Spent the morning hiking and glassing but nothing was seen. We later found out that a 6x6 bull was taken on the other side of the ridge from us in 20. The hunter had seven big bulls come in front of him first thing that morning. After lunch we decided to head 24 again. We walked the long valley to no avail. The end of the day found us wondering what to do next. My son was getting pretty depressed. He was hoping to be home for his birthday on the 29th, but knew he would stay if he hadn't got his bull by then. That night I spoke to the biologist, and he said he would help glass for us. Being that my son was a junior hunter, he really wanted to see him get his bull.

The next morning the biologist and his friend were there to meet us. It was a cool 27 degrees that morning and rain was scheduled to come in that evening. We headed off to TA 20 off on Gabilan rd. We spotted a herd near a hillside, but another hunter was stalking them. We decided to go further down the road. As we stopped to glass the last herd was spooked by the other hunter right toward us. My son hurried up the hill to get ready for a shot. . . . I have to preface now that this is my son's second hunt. He took a deer when he was 12 from inside a blind where everything is kind of controlled. This hunt was his first spot and stalk style hunt. . . . So as I got the sticks ready for him to shoot off of, and I range the 6x6 herd bull at 147 yards, I hear my son desperately whispering "I can't get the bullet in! I can't get the bullet in!" I'm watching the cows separate from the herd bull and he standing perfectly broadside. As I look back at my son's rifle I see that he has jammed his .308 bullet slightly off center. I fingered the bullet back to center and the bullet gets chambered. By the time I look up, we had taken too much time and we watched the herd run off.

Now my son is really depressed and mad at himself for not taking the time to chamber the bullet before going up the hill. All we could do was keep encouraging him, and we went off to another area. We ended up driving deep into TA 24 again. The roads were still bad, but manageable. We ended up glassing the long valley but nothing was seen. We decide to drive out the Woodrow trail, when we came upon a mud hole in the road that went for 50 yards. I watched as the jeep ahead of me squirrel through it, so I made the run through. I've never been that deep before and slid so many different ways, by the time we came out I had such a rush. It was also at that moment when we saw a another herd of elk up on a nearby ridge.

 

[KTKT70]

and than.....

 

[gdt]

We immediately got out of the truck, got our gear and tried to cut them off on the other side. As we climbed the ridge I asked "uncle Pete" to help my son. Suddenly we saw the herd passing through some trees about 275 yards away. Fortunately, the wind was right and they hadn't seen us yet. My son and I decided to close the distance a little by dropping down a cut and up a small knoll. We set up and watched through an opening as the herd walked by. All we saw were spikes and cows. Finally, my son says "there is a bull just right behind the tree on the right of the opening. I ranged him at 217 yards. He steps out a little ways into the opening, I see a shoulder shot and give the okay for my son to shoot.

A second later, it felt like forever, the gun goes off. I watch as the bull staggered backwards, and I tell my son to put another one in the chamber. The rest of herd runs off, but the bull just stands there for awhile. He then starts walking forward and now is perfectly broadside. I tell my son to shoot again. The uphill shot is true to the heart, and the bull goes down. We start screaming and yelling. The biologist and his friend came running toward us. Hugs and high fives were given. We got to the bull, it was a young 5x5. The biologist figured he was about 3-4 years old. After picture taking and dressing out, we got the bull back to the skinning station. It may have been a day early, but this was the best birthday present. We went home the next day, on his birthday, with an elk in the back of the truck. Again thank you. This site is the best for information and camaraderie.

 

[KTKT70]

wow. good job :smiley_green_with_e

 

[Mel Carter]

Big congrats! Knowing how the weather was during this hunt, you guys made the best of it and persistence paid off. Memories that will last a lifetime.

 

[solus]

Congrats and happy birthday to your son. Thank you for a great story you had us all in suspense for awhile

 

[easymoney]

Very nice bull and congrats on the successful hunt. I love stories like this, that end with a big smile on a kids face...

 

[BLU]

Perfect...just perfect! Amazing hunt with an amazing story. A tule elk hunt, over Christmas, for your birthday.

Tough conditions but good job Dad and a huge congrats to your son. I'm very happy for you both.

 

[Kentuck]

Awesome. Congratulations

 

[24mileboy]

Congratulations to your son on an awesome bull!

 

[Bossbrott]

Congrats to you and your son on a great hunt

 

[spectr17]

Way to go gdt and son, your hunt just shows we should never give up. This is such a great post even the elk is smiling in the 2nd pic. Wish I could have been here to meet you guys and see the elk.

 

[Bubblehide]

Congratulations! Great thread, it clearly demonstrates some of the many lessons to be learned; and that young man of yours stayed with it, wow.

 

[flingem71]

Stories like that, are exactly why I like this forum so much. Congtrats and thanks for sharing!!

DISCLAIMER: some of the things I say may be unfiltered, offensive, or even complete B.S.

 

[Live2hunt]

Hey gdt, Nice bull and congrats to you and your son. I came by on Saturday to help a guy and his daughter on Saturday and they told me about you and your son's bull. Glad you guys were able to score.

We got the girl on her antlerless elk in area 16A. It was not an easy packout as your son's bull but we got the thing out in pieces. Thanks to warden Look and Gil for coming out to help carry out the front shoulders.

 

[snoopdogg]

Way to go young man!