Desert Elk
January 2000

I waited three years for the opportunity to draw an elk tag in Utah. Maury Butterfield, owner of Broken Arrow Outfitters, set up the hunt for me.

When I reached camp, I met my guide, Dan. He is a retired bullfighter with lots of good rodeo stories and plenty of scars to back them up. He loves to hunt and who now makes saddles and leather goods for a full-time living.

On the first day of the hunt we started at noon which gave me time to practice with my bows and make sure nothing got knocked off or damaged on the plane. That afternoon it was extremely windy which gave us the opportunity to stalk the animals to our advantage. We walked down a canyon, checking out wallows, and would occasionally hear an elk bugle.

As we were looking at a wallow about 150 yards from us, a dandy 6x6 bull stood up out of the brush within 40 yards of us. There was no shot opportunity--he never turned broadside--just walked away from us. Dan said "don't worry, there will be plenty more opportunities". Within the next hour, moving through the canyon, we were surrounded by elk. I'd never seen anything like it! A massive 6x7 bull came up the canyon to within 60 yards and really got my heart pounding. However, he never presented a good shot either.

When I returned to camp that night my two friends, Tracy and Kelly, had similar stories, as did most of the other six hunters in camp. Tracy said to me "it's not a matter of if you're going to get a bull--it's a matter of which bull you want". I had heard the same remarks previously from my friends, Warren Strickland and John May, who had hunted this area several times in the past. After my first night, there was no doubt in my mind that they weren't kidding.

Three days went by and I had already passed up several elk that were good P&Y bulls. I told my guide, Dan that I would like to harvest an animal that would score 340 or better. I had already taken two nice bulls in the past from other areas, so I was being a little selective.

That afternoon Dan had taken me into a bedding area that had several maple trees in it. It was like being in an elk hunter's dream. Between the smell and the signs, it was unbelievable! It was like someone had turned on the "elk switch". They were screaming everywhere. It was the first time I had ever been elk hunting that I didn't know which animal to go for.

When one particular bull bugled, it almost sounded like a bear growling. We decided to get in closer for a better look. He had several cows with him, which kept me from getting close enough in the thickly wooded area to see him. Dan tried cow calling to get the bull to come into us, but he didn't pay any attention to the call. We decided to try and move in a little closer and you might know it--there was one more set of eyes that I didn't see. Just that quick the cow ran right through the herd and down into the canyon and that's when I got a good look at the bull. There was no doubt in my mind that he was a shooter.

We followed the animals into the bottom of the canyon. Several cows had surrounded the bull and now he was in the open in the middle of a small creek. I told Dan that there was no way that we would be able to get close enough for a shot. I no more than said that when a cow came running off a hill across from us, followed close behind by another good bull. The cow ran down into the herd and spooked all the other cows sending them in all directions. The bull I was pursuing stepped forward and started raking his head in a large bush. The second bull then turned and ran.

As the bull was raking the bush, it gave me the opportunity to move down the steep hillside to get close enough for a good shot. When I was within 40 yards, the bull started to move. It didn't seem to bother him that all his cows were no longer in sight. He walked back into the creek and started drinking. I still didn't have a clear shot because of the brush. I checked my range finder -- he was at 41 yards. The bull then turned toward me and started walking in my direction. He turned his head and looked behind him to where the other bull had entered the thick brush, which gave me the opportunity to draw my bow. The bull then stepped forward and started feeding on some grass. I knew any movement on my part would send the bull off in the opposite direction.

I held my bow at full draw for what seemed forever. Finally the bull lifted his head and turned completely broadside. I figured him at about 35 yards from me now. Just then Dan let out a cow chirp behind me and when the bull stopped, I released the arrow. He ran across the creek and into the thick brush. Dan was now cow calling extremely loudly. I turned around and looked at Dan and he gave me the "thumbs up" with a big grin on his face.

We sat down and waited for a half hour before tracking the bull. Dan told me that was the first time he had ever seen a pass through on an elk. As we approached the large bull lying on his side, I shook Dan's hand and for the first time ever I said I was having such a good time that I wished the hunt wasn't over. I estimated the 6x6 bull to be around 345. It was one of the most exciting hunts I'd ever been on.