A much deserved bull and nothing I like better then seeing my buddy have a successful hunt. I sure wish I could have been there to see it and help my friend. It's been a longtime coming for Ryan but he never gave up on his dream of shooting a bull elk with his stickbow.
He will be along with the story later, you done good my friend! :bigsmyl: :thumbsup:
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/49E2B32D-2B31-4F29-8643-5E085D44A3EF_zpsobjxerp7.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/49E2B32D-2B31-4F29-8643-5E085D44A3EF_zpsobjxerp7.jpg.html)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/509AEAD5-6BA6-46C0-AD1C-1CEEEBBEA1BF_zpslve0dsx2.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/509AEAD5-6BA6-46C0-AD1C-1CEEEBBEA1BF_zpslve0dsx2.jpg.html)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/C3411E99-A288-4B64-8B62-7A51AEE8AB21_zpsr33vehmh.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/C3411E99-A288-4B64-8B62-7A51AEE8AB21_zpsr33vehmh.jpg.html)
Ryan and his dad.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/D83A1811-71B3-4F7A-A86B-393E297B2928_zps5qlmwb1e.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/D83A1811-71B3-4F7A-A86B-393E297B2928_zps5qlmwb1e.jpg.html)
Tracy
Outstanding.....congrats
Awesome job Ryan! :clapper:
Can't wait to hear how it all played out!
Did you put your backpack on upside down? Great bull. I'm envious to say the least. :thumbsup:
Awesome!
NICE!!! Way to go.
Had the pleasure of meeting Ryan and his family a few years ago, great guy that deserves that bull, He worked hard for it. Its good to hear about him again.
Congrats Ryan!
Wow! Can't wait to hear the story
WOW! Great work and super bull Brother. Looks like a massy mature one to a flatlander. Couldn't have happened to a better guy. Can't wait for the story.
:clapper:
Pure awesomeness !!!
Man that is so cool!!!!!
Congrats!
Nice!! :clapper:
Congrats, Outstanding elk.
CONGRATS!!!
I had a feeling this was going to be Ryan's year! Congratulations Bud!!
Good stuff!
Outstanding bull.......... :thumbsup: :notworthy:
OUTSTANDING!!!!!! :thumbsup:
Looks like he ws playing in the mud.
Way to go Ryan!
congratts! :thumbsup:
Agreed....couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! Congrats Buddy!
So Cool.... :clapper:
Very nice..congrats!!
Thanks guys! I apologize for not being on here much but with a new job and school and family, just not enough time.
This started in February when my little girl and I went to the expo in slc for thr chance in you know where to draw a tag. I drew a limited entry tag a couple years ago, and this is the only chance I would have to hunt bull elk here. I beat incredible odds and drew a tag back in the unit where I grew up hunting elk.
Scouting was rough this summer, but I knew from experience that the last week was the best. A friend helped me out by pointing out a great spot. Only accessible by foot and 1800 ft drop in quarter to half mile, steep!!
I really started hunting hard last Monday and saw a few bulls, a couple real studs. And they were starting to bugle.
I went back up Sunday night, saw a small bull and made a plan for the morning. The morning was slow until about 10. Then a couple bulls started talking. With nothing to lose I went after them. I ended bugling a spike into 30yards and a 2 point bull into 15yards, but couldn't shoot, it was too early.
I heade back in that evening to the sound of bugling bulls. I hustled down and got the wind right. I got within a couple hundred yards of the bulls and started bugling and raking trees. This fired up a bull to my right and by the sounds of his bugle, he was getting closer. I set up just as the 5x6 came into view. At 35 yards he let out a great bugle! Worth the trip right there. He was dripping with mud and started my way. At 25 yards I came to full draw, lined up my shot, expanded and followed through. A perfect shot flew right under the bulls armpit!
I couldn't be upset. Look at my tag line. I finally made a great controled shot, just he was 30 not 25! I headed out of there with several bulls bugling. I knew where I was headed inn the morning.
The next morning I headed back to the same area with bulls screaming in the cool morning air. They were bugling from the same area.
I went right back to the same area. I kid you not, I was 115 ft from where I'd missed a bull only 12 hrs earlier, I bugled my loudest, meanest bugle only to have 2 bulls fire back from less than a hundred yards. I screamed back and again the bull to my right got closer. I bugled one more time and got ready. The big 6 by stepped out 5 yards closer thaan the bull the night before dripping in black mud. Again, I drew to anchor, lined up my shot, expanded only this time to watch a perfect arrow appear in his armpit.
The bull spun, I saw my arrow flip out. I bugled at the crashing bull to hear him stop. 10 seconds latter a loud crash followed by labored breathing.
After 26 years of hunting these awesome animals, I'd finally done it!
I was shooting a stalker stickbow with static limbs 55#@29". A ce heritage (sorry surewood) tipped with a cutthroat bh. The bull only went 60 yards. Unbelievable....
Yeah Ryan.... well done. Elk are a special animal, and a special trophy. Congrats!
PS your hoodie is a mainstay around my house. Thanks again.
Congrats! That is really cool !
Well done
Great job Ryan!!!
Fantastic!!! Congrats, hopefully the wait and the miss only made it sweeter!!!!!
Wow!
I tell you what this made my day. I don't even care if I get back out in the hills this year.
So glad you got it done buddy.
:clapper: outstanding!
Well deserved,you have worked hard for too many hunting days,so close many times......congrats, Ryan.
Congratulations, and thanks for the story and pics.
Awesome specimen. Congrats.
Congrats Ryan.
Congrats! Nice Bull!
QuoteOriginally posted by FerretWYO:
I tell you what this made my day. I don't even care if I get back out in the hills this year.
So glad you got it done buddy.
X2, same here Randy I'm so happy for him :clapper:
Tracy
Awesome!!
Congats on the awesome bull!!!
Great Bull Ryan. For a guy who has his Priorities in order,m sometimes these trips are once in a life time. I applaud you in every way.
Congrats again.
Love it! :thumbsup:
Beautiful what a dandy of a bull..CONGRATS that's a heck of an accomplishment!
Great story and a Great Bull.
Congrats on one heck of a good bull! :thumbsup:
Ryan,
Way to go buddy, the monkey is off your back...
What a great Bull...!....nobody deserves it more..
Great Stuff Congrats !!!
This gets my vote for the coolest Tradgang post ever.
So happy for you buddy.
Todd
Ryan,savor the moment, its 26x as good as it would have been the first year, It took me 13 yeas and over 40000 miles flying to get mine and all my hunts but one were guided. My hat is off to you!!!!
Charles
Way to go, Steadman!!!!!! An elk with my longbow is very high on my bucket list too!
Congrats on a fine bull!
Bisch
Congrats buddy! Were you using one of your strings??
Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! Ryan I'm proud and happy at the same time. Congrats!!!!!
Congratulations on your great bull! I can imagine the excitement you're feeling.
-Jay
Too cool! I said it... I love this time of year!
Congrats!
Congrats Ryan ... good for you buddy
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Way to go buddy. Hard to top that one.
Wow! :clapper:
awesome awesome awesome awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The best part is that the feelings are far from over. I promise that you are going to relive that morning thousands of times in the years to come. And each and every time you will get the same grin on your face!
Congrats buddy - well done!!
What?!!! This is great to see Ryan. Even if it wasn't taken with a Surewood...haha Just kidding ya. What a stud bull. A miss and then you came back and got in on them again. Awesome. Congrats.
Great bull. Congratulations!
Outstanding! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Wow congrats!! That is awesome
amazing!!!
What a great story, and a great Bull Elk! Congrats Mr. That was a long time coming.
Great comeback!
Way to hang tough and get it done. Magnificent animal.
Well done Ryan! The wait is finally over...congratulations!!'
Congrats! Beautiful bull! :clapper:
Nice man. I almost teared up. I can tell how much you were smiling when you wrote that!
Super happy for you brother!
Nice Bull! Congratulations! :thumbsup: :clapper:
That is so cool!!! Congrats.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper:
That's awesome Ryan, congrats!
Ryan, No worries about not shooting it with a "Surewood". Just very happy for you Ryan. Congratulations from " Surewood Bob"
Congrats Ryan on a great bull!
By golly, recalling that adventure should put a dopey grin on the face for some years!!
LOVE the tagline.. hehe.. 7 year old Life Coach. :)
Nick
Wow! Great story, Congratulations.
Way to go Ryan. That bull is well deserved.
Wow! Way to go!
That's a beauty of a bull Ryan, congrats!!! I read your story over a cup of coffee this morning, and it made my day. Thank you. :thumbsup:
I envy you guys that are able to hunt elk. I get all fired up over a turkey bellering back at me as he comes into range. I can only imagine the feeling, having something the size of an elk doing the same. It's gotta be a thrill and a half. Congrats again.
Bob
Great looking bull, congrats
:clapper: sweeeeeeet :clapper:
What a great trophy! Congratulations on a very well earned bull! :clapper:
Bernie
Thanks everyone for all the great feedback!
Congrats on a well deserved bull!!