Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Montana Archery Bull

So let's set this up...left WV on the 19th of September headed to Livingston for what we hoped would be an archery hunt dead in the middle of bugle time, Little did we know we nailed it. Arrived at the lodge Sunday morning to settle in and do some evening glassing/hunting. Watched quite a few elk at a distance that night. Monday evening was my first encounter. Guide called a bull in from ~1500yrds, I couldn't believe how fast one could close the distance if interested. It was a young 4x5 that gave me an opportunity to practice on 🙂. I drew on him an settled my pins, made the conscience desicion to let him walk(my 6&8 year old sons would have made fun of me).

Wednesday I had 2 spikes and a rag horn called in to 15 yards, I could hear them breathing...intense.

Little did I know what day #5 had in store for me. We got started well before day break, Bulls were going crazy and not just one...Many! I'd been elk hunting before but never had I been lucky enough to hear any bugle...didn't know what I'd been missing.

We watched and worked a bull for a good hour before we had his undivided attention. Setup in anticipation for the real action to begin. 15 minutes later I had a mature bull @ 43 yards looking straight in my direction bugling his a** off. I've done quite a few things in my life but all pale in comparison to how this moment felt! It was a moment filled with adrenaline just short of convulsions and [bleep] your pants.

Below is the great trophy I was given the opportunity to harvest with the help of a first rate guide and caller Jesse Banthem of Banthem Outfitting:

Digging the dark horns and white tips.

Sheeeeeeeeit! Great bull, good on you!

Holy awesomeness, Batman.
Outstanding work.
Congrats.

WOW!

Nice bull, Congrats.

Nothing like a bull screaming in your face.

Great bull. If I ever am blessed to take a bull, the icing would be antlers that dark! Wouldn't even much care teh size of the antlers

Excellent, very nice bull!

Really a pretty bull!

Love the color of the antlers too! Beauty eh?

Nice bull!

addicting during the elk rut aint it?

great bull there.

Congratulations on a great bull!

You nailed it...I have replayed the day everyday for almost two months now. Many have said I have little to look forward to now...I hope to prove them wrong!

Thanks for all the congrats

Congrats on a great bull!!!
And Jesse is a great guy as well!!