Wasatch bull

[dibb03]

So my story starts out in february. I had recently put in for 10 expo tags not really expecting much out of it, pretty much thought I was just donating money. The morning of the draw I casually scrolled down each unit looking at the ones I had put in for when to my surprise my name was on the top of the Wasatch any weapon bull tag. I couldn't believe it! I called everyone I knew hyperventalating, lucky things like this never happen to me! From then on, every spare moment was dedicated to finding bulls on winter ranges getting a feel for where I was to hunt the upcoming fall. The end of March rolled around and while playing basketball with friends I blew my knee out, on April 23rd I had an ACL reconstruction done... that is the kind of luck I am accostomed to. I thought my hunt would be ruined with it only being 4 1/2 months away. Rehab began and I worked my butt off to be ready for my hunt. To my surprise by the time the hunt came around my knee was about 75 percent the strength of my good knee. That was enough for me to get out and hunt.
Saturday morning was an awesome day, we had bulls within shooting distance and they were bugling like crazy. There were some nice bulls that morning but none that I wanted to put my tag on the first day especially with an expo tag. The next few days we had bulls come and go with no shooting. The bulls started to quiet down and hunting was very frustrating. The smaller bulls would come out of the trees but the bigger ones would hole up in the thick timber and not come out for the life of them. Evening hunting was almost a waste as the bulls wouldn't start talking until 30 min before dark, the full moon was messing them up pretty bad. Monday morning we had a sweet bull at 150 yards, his frame was a 360 frame, 3rds that would surpass 20 inches, royals pushing 20, great mass, and great fronts... well at least great on his left antler. The fronts on his right antler were a different story, they were only 7 inches and 5 inches long. I ended up passing on this bull because of those fronts, he just didn't look all that good with those really short fronts. The next morning I would have that same bull at 30 yards and once again decided to pass on him. After passing for a second time on that bull I was beginning to question myself. Wednesday and Thursday were tough hunting days, long hot days with not much success on finding larger bulls had begun to wear us down, we had now been hunting for 6 strait days busting ourselves everyday hiking down and up out of deep holes.

Friday morning arrived and we decided to try out a different area. We parked the truck and began walking over to a ridge where we would start about a 3 1/2 mile hike. Once we hit the ridge 3 bulls began to bugle about 350 yards away in a patch of pine/quakie mix. cows began to chirp and we knew one of the bulls had to be at least a decent bull. First a 5 point came out the trees followed by a small 4 point. The cows and the third bull remained in the trees. The cows began walking through open patches between the trees and then the bull came out. My buddy looked through the scope and said he has good fronts, good swords, and he is wide. I took a look through the spotting scope and decided to end my hunt. I had a blast on this hunt. I was able to share it with My brother(who had a tag also) another brother and friends. What a hunt, it was full of emotional ups and downs, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am happy with the bull I shot, its my first elk ever and he will look good on the wall.

These pictures I have are just of the antlers, the field photos are still on my buddies camera. I will post a few of them when I get them.

[attachment=2]bull.jpg[/attachment]

[attachment=1]bull1.jpg[/attachment]

[attachment=0]bull2.jpg[/attachment]

[DeadI]

Congrats on a great looking bull. What did he end up taping out at if you don't mind me asking. Great story to. It was a tough hunt this year, probably the hardest elk hunting conditions I have ever encountered. Way to use the Expo tag.

[AGCHAWK]

Awesome lookin' bull dibbs! CONGRATS! Sounds like you really earned that bull too!

I can't wait to see the field photos either.

[dibb03]

We taped him out a couple of times. The first time was 321, and the second time was 318. He lands somewhere around that mark. Not the biggest bull, but hes good looking and symetrical. it was a very tough hunt this year.

[sneekeepete]

Great bull man!!!!

[basingater]

great story and bull!!

[9er]

good looking bull,congrats on the success and even better that you only had one good leg

9er

[The Ox]

congrats!!! nice bull and i nkow how tuough the hunt ws so you must have worked hard to find a good bull like that!

[6x6 bull]

Congrats on a beautiful bull. Success is always sweeter when you have to overcome some adversity to achieve it.

[AZ_BOWHNTR]

congrats, nice bull