James was drawn a tag for one of the hardest units to get. He was beyond excited! Because we had just had the girls, he hired a guide from Mossback. He was not able to scout like he would need to to be successful because of the girls at home, so he would need help.
September came and I could see the nerves begin to take over...I assured him to just have fun and don't worry if you don't get an elk, this is an experience to enjoy! Well, the 5th day of the hunt, he called me in the morning to let me know the good news! He got his monster elk! I was so proud of him and elated for him!
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| James and his elk |
I just want to start out by saying 2011 has been a great year for me!!! I was blessed with twin girls in March, after having 3 boys Gavin, Jordan, and Ryan. Emily and Chloe were long overdue. I also managed to draw my first early Bull Tag in Arizona. My unit 10 tag caught me completely off guard after hunting elk in units like 6a, 5b, 4a, and 23 for 20 years; I figured it was time to try 9 or 10. With 7 bonus points I figured I wouldn’t get drawn for a few more years and would have time to learn these units. Well I was wrong. After finding out a dream come true, I quickly gave a few outfitters a call for several reasons: not knowing the unit, newborn twins, and commitment to coaching my boys’ baseball team, along with a few others. After talking to Jay Lopeman and a lot of referrals, I knew that team Mossback was the way to go. After getting rid of the stress of making sure I had the best odds of taking a mature Bull and not coming home empty handed, I began to focus on my archery skills. I consider myself to be an average shot, after months of practice I was able to build confidence and consistency beyond yards that I would not pull the trigger on a live animal. I guess you can say I was ready for the hunt.
Jay appointed Joe Gonzales to guide me on my hunt, after speaking with Joe, he invited me up 2 weeks before my hunt to check out some elk. We saw enough elk to make the hunt look promising in 2 days. We glassed and saw over 80 elk, around 8 bulls that were 330-350 with a nice 6x7 that would go mid 370’s that had harem of 20+ cows. The same afternoon before sunset a 380+ giant was seen on the move a long ways off with the kowas. After chomping at the bit for months I was happy to get some scouting in and see what unit 10 was all about.
The 8th of September came around not soon enough and we were loaded and on the road. I was accompanied by my uncle, Dennis Person, the best hunting buddy any guy could ever ask for, and long time family friend and hunting buddy, Mike Watts. The only person I was missing to share this experience with due to health issues would be my Grandfather James Person who gave me this addiction when I was 6 years old. After meeting up with Joe and heading to set up Dennis’ toy hauler at a campsite, we were invited to share with Ronnie and Aaron, AKA (Cowboy & Bravo). I couldn’t say enough about our elk camp, it was top notch with great company .The 9th came and it was time to get it done. The bulls were buggling 30 min before sunrise but would quickly stop about an hour after first buggle . Temperature was hot and rut activity was slow. We had set up calling several times after getting close to bulls they just weren’t fired up enough to come in. The morning of Day 4 we found ourselves chasing a gnarly sounding bull. If buggles were a tell all about size, he was a 440. After locating the cows Joe carefully glassed the area to locate all the eyes before we stalked in to find the bull. As some other hunters were closing in with cow calls, we decided to act fast. We moved quick and found ourselves with a golden shot at a 340 bull with awesome front end but rag horn back end. We videoed this bull then headed back to camp with a great encounter and high hopes for the afternoon.
The afternoon of day 4 found Joe and I playing cat and mouse with three bulls. Two of them we had close, 60 yards but unable to get a look, we moved on to the fourth bull who was the first fired up bull we found this hunt. After seeing this mid 370’s bull 100+ yards above his cows screaming his guts out and aggressively raking a tree Joe said let’s move. So we split the cows and had the giant bull at 50 yards. I drew back and was about to step out from behind a cedar for the shot when his 8 cows came running straight towards the bull to spook him out. I was baffled! We had a firm left to right wind, the bull was on my left and cows were on my right yet they ran towards me. We were able to get back on this bull and had him at around 50 yards again but day light had ran too thin for a respectable shot.
After raining all night the weather broke for the morning of day 5 and the bulls were going nuts. This is why September holds a special place in my heart and brings me to any elk hunt. Every September cow hunt, bull hunt, family, friend or friend of a friend’s hunt don’t care I’m all in. After moving in on a good sounding buggle we set up, Joe called this bull into range he was a mid 360’s bull but he was lopsided had a huge right side that would make him a 380 if matching, but the left side was a 340 type antler. We then moved towards the other bugles and one stuck out as it was a very deep growling sound. After setting up and calling in another bull that stood still in some thick cover with vitals showing for 3 plus minutes at 60 yards he was only a 330 type bull. In the mean time the growling buggle continues when we discover a group of 3 or 4 hunters moving in on the bull’s buggle. We then decided to keep moving in. After walking maybe 300 yards we discover a bull moving in front of us right to left, as I’m in the middle of knocking my arrow Joe whistles to stop the bull next thing I here is “shoot him, shoot him”. With no time to range I draw back then step out from a behind a tree to see the bull for the first time. With a surprising calm shot I figured my yardage at 55-60 yards. With my 50 yard pin placed inches above high lung I let it fly. Joe was spotting for the shot and said you nailed him, then after high five and seconds we heard the bull crash.
After a little celebrating we gather ourselves and give the bull time before we start to track it. Immediately we had good blood, but since it was muddy there was no problem just following the deep tracks from his distressed hoof prints. At this point I still have not seen the antlers of my bull; Joe had told me it was a good bull around 370 that’s all I had to go on. I know how weird that sounds but I know too many people that miss or make poor shots due to counting points before the shot.
As I walked up on my bull I saw a very nice 7x7 symmetrical rack, to say the least a very respectable archery bull. This was my third bull and my biggest yet, I was tremendously happy and humbled that we were able to get it done on this awesome bull.
I would like to thank Team Mossbacks Joe Gonzales who had me in elk every day we were out, his experience and skills are 2nd to none. This was a tough hunt and every one we spoke to had no luck and were seeing no elk. Also to my uncle, Dennis Person, and Mike Watts for being part of this memory, both who made sure I was eating right and getting rest with breakfast at 3am every morning, lunch and an elk camp dinner to die for. Ask Ronnie, he gained 10lbs. Also like to thank Ronnie and Aaron for sharing their camp spot and being awesome guys to hang out with and who I now consider friends. Last but not least my wonderful, beautiful wife, Amber Person, who lets me do what I love and supports my hunting tradition by taking care of our 5 kids and anything else while I’m gone every year.
