Utah Bull Elk Hunt

My first hunt of 2019 was a big one! Utah bull elk, high up in the mountains on a family piece of land. I was fortunate enough to get a tag from my father in law. Before we even began our drive up we stopped and admired the beauty.

It's stunning from the bottom to the top

There is just something about getting up to the top that makes you want to stop and enjoy the views and silence for a few moments

Even the big guy was enjoying the ride, barking at every little critter he saw, and just running around like a maniac

So, this was supposed to be a week-long hunt, and I was really looking forward to it, especially when I would look out into the distance 

I took a ton of pictures of all the great view's

The cabin was in pristine condition and is always a blast just to hang out in

Just sitting on the couch in the living room and looking outside is enough to relax anyone

My brother in law, James and nephew, Nathan were my guides. It had been a long number of years since I was last up here and Nathan knows the place like the back of his hand. Once we got settled and everything packed into the cabin Monday afternoon they had me hit the ground running. If you look back on my blog a few years ago James guided me on my first ever elk hunt in central Utah.

They cow called a decent sized 6 point elk within 19 yards of me. It was incredible to see one that close. That was not the only one. We all called another decent little bull to within 15 feet of us!

This guy came out of nowhere and he was dead silent

It sure was cool having one come that close again and just stare at the three of us. Here is a quick little video of it

Like I said before, we got up there Monday afternoon. After we called the first 6 pointer to us, we hiked back up the mountain and heard a bull below us bugling in a draw, and a bull above and behind us

Nathan had me high tail it down the hill a little and started cow calling. All of a sudden we heard another bull quite a distance away bugle back towards us. Little did we know Brianna and Steve (pop's in-law) were watching this bull for almost an hour work his way around the pond in front of the cabin.

This bull had been around the property for some time. My other brother in law, Garrett, got him on his game cam last year

Here he is a few moments before he dropped from my rifle

This guy came screaming in and bugling the entire way to us. I first saw him several hundred yards out and kept hitting him with the range finder until Nathan had called him into 119 yards. I took the shot and he dropped. Here is a video of Nathan calling him in and me shooting, but you do not actually see him drop. Listen close enough and you can hear him buggling at us like a pissed off teenager!

James was also able to get another angle, but he was a long-distance from us. You can see it below *****WARNING, THIS SHOWS THE ANIMAL DIEING AND IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART*****

When Nathan saw it, he told me it was a shooter for sure, and there was no way I was going to doubt him. I took the shot and he dropped right there where he was standing. Just listen to the video, I was super pumped. I knew he was big, but until I walked up on I had no idea how big he was

I could not contain myself. Steve heard that I had dropped a big elk and started to head over. While we were waiting we were able to snag a few more pics

Of course, they had me take a picture with it as well

Since Nathan and James helped so much I absolutely wanted them in on this picture as well

I also wanted Steve to get in on the action since it is through his generosity that he has the family hunt up there every year

Once I settled down, we gutted the elk out and decided to let it cool overnight as it was. It got into the low teens every night so mother nature acted as our freezer. It did snow on us, so we made a good choice

Even after trying to sleep through the night, I was still too excited. The next morning we went back out to start cleaning him out, and I still could not get over his size and mass

For reference, I am 6 feet tall and weigh 240. I snapped what I thought was a cool picture of this guy in the back of the side by side

After we got all packed up Nathan taught me how to debone quarters. While we were doing that James worked his magic and did a quick measurement of the rack. To be honest, just being up there was reward enough and I was only hoping for something in the 280-inch range. 

I had told James and Nathan earlier that if I shot something over 300 I would be over the moon. As James was doing his measurements he was asking us what we thought it would come out to. I believe Nathan guessed 320, I guessed 300. James came back and told us and I was blown away... 333 and 1/4 inches!!!!!! 

The hunt lasted all of a few hours on the first day. My only regret was that we did not spend more time up there. The drive down was just as awesome. 

I can not thank Steve, James, Nathan, and the rest of the family enough. It was something I will never forget and more than likely the largest elk I will ever shoot in my life! I can't wait until next year when I can go up and help someone else from the family take their bull. Next up, Utah Deer hunting!!