The Land of the Giants!, Part 2

Read Land of the Giants, Part 1

The next morning I headed out with the thought in my mind that this monster sounding growler must be one of the large bulls I had seen scouting. I finally arrived at my spot at 5:15 am. I listened and heard nothing. I grabbed my gear and headed toward the nearby ridge figuring that maybe I could glass a bull. As I started across a sage meadow, I cow called and was answered by the low deep growl that Jeff had described. The bull was across the meadow. I called again and the bull began to work his way up the ridge. As I got across the meadow I checked the wind; it was crossing from my right to left. The bull topped the ridge and answered each time I cow called. As I topped the ridge I realized that the wind was blowing at a 45 degree angle and if I moved any farther, that bull was going to circle the wind and all would be lost. I backed off the ridge and circled around to get the wind in my favor.

From past experience I have learned that if a big bull is on the top of a ridge, they are reluctant to drop back down the hill to catch the wind. The whole time I was moving I was cow calling softly. I use a multiple cow call theory trying to sound like a little herd of three to four cows. As I topped the ridge and went over the rim, the wind was right and I called again. The bull must have thought the cows had topped out on the ridge, so he headed my way growling with that deep tone. His chuckle sounded like a big beef bull bellowing his way to water.

Bull Elk Coming Toward Me

Finally I see the bull about 25 yards away coming through the junipers. The junipers are thick but I can make out a heavy set of horns with a great top and long G-1’s. I originally hoped that he would be a 390 bull but felt comfortable that he was pushing 380. As the bull maneuvered through the junipers, I made my final move next to a small pinon. I picked my shooting lane and continued to call over my shoulder as needed to keep the bull’s interest. The bull came to a stop behind a large juniper. He was looking for his cows. He growled again and I answered with some soft calls to my left. I needed him to take two steps and he would be in the lane.

I have been in this position several times with hunters but now it was my turn and all the wheels were turning. The bull took one step and as he began his second step, I draw my bow. The bull stopped in mid-stride. His head and neck were in the shooting lane but the rest of his body was covered by junipers. What has gone wrong? Then I realize that the morning is as still as if it was Christmas morning when the ground was covered with fresh powdered snow. I knew that the bull did not see me draw due to the cover, but he heard my arrow slide across the rest and that was enough to make him nervous.

Now What??

Old bulls don’t get big without being aware of everything around them. So there I was at full draw with a giant, heavy horned bull looking my way, now what? Well I told myself, “Hold your draw until he steps clear or turns his head”. After what seemed like an eternity the bull finally turned his head and took a step backward. He knew something was not right. As the bull turned he began to walk back. He knew something just was not right. I began to softly cow call again and the bull turned and came back toward me. But this time he went around a different tree forcing me to adjust for a different shooting lane to my left. Again the bull growled for the cows and I began to call back over my shoulder to my right while the bull turned and walked towards the original shooting lane.

The Blood Trail

I drew my bow and the bull stopped, again hearing the arrow on my rest. I held my draw and continued to softly mew over my shoulder trying to keep one eye on the bull. After about 30 seconds he took the step I needed. I cow called loudly to stop him in the shooting lane and released the arrow. I heard what I believed was a pass through and the bull exploded, running from where he stood. I immediately cow called again and as the bull crashed through the trees he stopped and growled one last time. Now what do I do?

Figuring there was no possible way I missed the bull, I slowly sneaked to the shooting lane and searched the area. Five yards away I found blood. Awesome! I dropped to my knees and gave thanks to God for giving me this opportunity and asked Him to say “hey” to my brother Rob who passed away from leukemia a year ago. I back tracked to the shooting lane to look for my arrow. I found it covered with lung blood ten yards from where the bull had stood.

I started on the blood trail and then I heard the bull in the death moan. There is no other sound like it. I gave the growler twenty minutes to die in peace with his atmosphere around him without seeing me as his last vision on earth. I walked forty yards and there lay the big bull. He would definitely push the 380 mark! I stood staring and admiring him and realized that I was not by myself. I felt the presence of someone close to me just lingering around, thanks Rob.

I dressed out the bull and dragged him under a tree ten yards away to keep him cool. It took an hour and a half to move the bull. I hiked back to the truck and headed to the base camp. At camp Teresa had a fabulous meal on the stove for brunch. Jeff and Bill were busy eating and Teresa tried to feed me but I was still pumped up about my bull and couldn’t eat. When I couldn’t stand it any longer, I broke the news that we had work to do and I needed some assistance. They wouldn’t believe me because I was so clean. I reminded them that I had dressed more bulls than that they had ever seen and that is the reason I am so clean. But I did have blood on my boots which helped to convince them.

Two More Bulls!

Later I delivered the bull to the butcher shop and headed back to camp. On the way I got a call from the two Jeffs. They had called in a 370 bull for Bill and he had dispatched it with a thirty yard shot. The bull had a 52-inch spread was a jumbo, a term we use for a large framed bull. I couldn’t believe that in two days we had taken two jumbo bulls.

Now it was Alan’s turn. After a couple of days of hunting we took Alan to another honey hole where he shot a nice 320 bull called in to 25 yards.

Next we would head off to Unit 10 for the early rifle bull hunt but that is another story!

In Arizona it is so difficult to draw a tag and when you do every bit of assistance is helpful. I would like to thank the following people for their assistance on this hunt. Thanks to the Nevada 300 Club: Jeff Hemphill, Jeff Polacek, Chris Hazel, Daryl Macintosh, Brady Dupke and Teresa Sullins. You all made this camp complete. Most of all I want to especially thank my wife and children for understanding this passion I have for hunting the majestic and mighty Wapiti.

JP Vicente
Outfitter
Big Chino Guide Service
P.O. Box 2020
Chino Valley, Arizona 86323
928-636-1601 Office
928-273-0929 Cell
928-237-6448 Cell