November 23, 2004
5:15 AM and the alarm clock makes its announcement. It is the last day of a late season rifle hunt for
Arizona bull elk. My guide for the hunt is Keith Hubbard from Arizona Hunting Adventures. Friend Henry
Reyes is along for the adventure. We all slowly crawl out of our sleeping bags to find four inches of
snow on the ground outside. By 7:00 AM we make it to FS road 124 but park the truck near the main
road because the loose muddy road threatens to keep us if we venture in too far. Starting off on foot in
the dark the forest was beautiful in its new white skin. Our intent is to catch the elk coming off beds by
glassing from the nearby mountains. 20 minutes into our hike and the wind is all wrong. For four days it
has been in our face when heading this direction but the recent storm has changed the pattern and we
will blow out the area we hoped to hunt if we proceed. In talking over options we discuss heading back
to the truck and resetting at another position on another road or hiking at different angle and making a
big fishhook shaped loop into the desired territory. Both options will cost us an hour or more of time in
the last day of our hunt. The fishhook wins out and we tromp on into the snowy morning. Eventually, as
our hook curves, we start to gain elevation and glass the nearby hills while we still hunt. Keith is quick to
spot a large cow, then a bedded cow, then a small bull. Our 10X42 binoculars can’t provide much detail
at 1,000 yards but the big 15X Swarovski’s come out of Henry’s pack and we size up the small bull. He
is probably a 3X3 or 4X4. He has a smallish main beam with some trash up top and is sleeping soundly.
Given that it is the last day of the hunt we decide to make a go of it to try and fill the freezer. We
discussed waiting him out and hoping that he will feed down into the valley and within shooting range but
opt instead for the more aggressive strategy of still hunting to him. It’s risky because of the cows and
also the likelihood that there are other yet unseen elk in our path. It’s also risky because the snow is
very squeaky to walk in. Henry stays behind to watch the bull and signal to us if he takes off. Keith and
I head down the hill to meet our bull. We pick our way along very slowly. Keith is very concerned about
getting busted by the cows. I keep wide scanning looks to try and catch any elk we had not picked up
when glassing from the hillside. Several drainages provide good cover and within 40 minutes we have
gotten very close to our destination. The wind has shifted again and starts to blow on our necks as we
make our final approach. Keith has me at ready with my rifle as we creep along towards the crest of the
ridge. It’s 9:15 AM when I notice something to my left. At 70 yards there is an elk watching us –
apparently unsure of what we are. I hiss to Keith for him to stop and then notice antler up top. As I
raise my rifle and settle the scope in the bull he turns for an excellent broadside lung shot. My instinct
kicks in and the shot hits the bull hard. Keith yells what a great shot and pats me on the back and
commends me for seeing the elk in the first place. The bull is still up and behind a downed tree so I
drop a second round high in the lung area. He spins and I put another through the lungs on the
opposite side. Down now, I reload and we wait. Not wanting to give up yet he raises and I put yet a
fourth bullet into the lungs. He stumbles forward and falls dead into a small tree. It has only taken
seconds to end what has been a very long and very difficult hunt. Keith signals for Henry to come join
us. He had been confused by the shooting since this is a second bull that we were unaware of. Walking
closer we can see that he is a huge old 5x6 with heavy beams broadly palmated near the tops. His body
is very big and dwarfs the average but respectable antlers. He is most definitely old and on the decline.
After the photos we begin the skinning and quartering process. As the quarters come off they are
quickly hung off nearby tree branches to cool and to keep them clean. Once that job is done we size up
how to do this in as few trips possible. Keith takes a rear quarter, Henry a front, and me the tenderloins
and extra gear. It’s a little over ¾ mile back to the truck but luckily mostly downhill. One more trip and
we have the all the quarters and the antlers back at the truck and are on our way out of the woods.
What a great hunt.
5:15 AM and the alarm clock makes its announcement. It is the last day of a late season rifle hunt for
Arizona bull elk. My guide for the hunt is Keith Hubbard from Arizona Hunting Adventures. Friend Henry
Reyes is along for the adventure. We all slowly crawl out of our sleeping bags to find four inches of
snow on the ground outside. By 7:00 AM we make it to FS road 124 but park the truck near the main
road because the loose muddy road threatens to keep us if we venture in too far. Starting off on foot in
the dark the forest was beautiful in its new white skin. Our intent is to catch the elk coming off beds by
glassing from the nearby mountains. 20 minutes into our hike and the wind is all wrong. For four days it
has been in our face when heading this direction but the recent storm has changed the pattern and we
will blow out the area we hoped to hunt if we proceed. In talking over options we discuss heading back
to the truck and resetting at another position on another road or hiking at different angle and making a
big fishhook shaped loop into the desired territory. Both options will cost us an hour or more of time in
the last day of our hunt. The fishhook wins out and we tromp on into the snowy morning. Eventually, as
our hook curves, we start to gain elevation and glass the nearby hills while we still hunt. Keith is quick to
spot a large cow, then a bedded cow, then a small bull. Our 10X42 binoculars can’t provide much detail
at 1,000 yards but the big 15X Swarovski’s come out of Henry’s pack and we size up the small bull. He
is probably a 3X3 or 4X4. He has a smallish main beam with some trash up top and is sleeping soundly.
Given that it is the last day of the hunt we decide to make a go of it to try and fill the freezer. We
discussed waiting him out and hoping that he will feed down into the valley and within shooting range but
opt instead for the more aggressive strategy of still hunting to him. It’s risky because of the cows and
also the likelihood that there are other yet unseen elk in our path. It’s also risky because the snow is
very squeaky to walk in. Henry stays behind to watch the bull and signal to us if he takes off. Keith and
I head down the hill to meet our bull. We pick our way along very slowly. Keith is very concerned about
getting busted by the cows. I keep wide scanning looks to try and catch any elk we had not picked up
when glassing from the hillside. Several drainages provide good cover and within 40 minutes we have
gotten very close to our destination. The wind has shifted again and starts to blow on our necks as we
make our final approach. Keith has me at ready with my rifle as we creep along towards the crest of the
ridge. It’s 9:15 AM when I notice something to my left. At 70 yards there is an elk watching us –
apparently unsure of what we are. I hiss to Keith for him to stop and then notice antler up top. As I
raise my rifle and settle the scope in the bull he turns for an excellent broadside lung shot. My instinct
kicks in and the shot hits the bull hard. Keith yells what a great shot and pats me on the back and
commends me for seeing the elk in the first place. The bull is still up and behind a downed tree so I
drop a second round high in the lung area. He spins and I put another through the lungs on the
opposite side. Down now, I reload and we wait. Not wanting to give up yet he raises and I put yet a
fourth bullet into the lungs. He stumbles forward and falls dead into a small tree. It has only taken
seconds to end what has been a very long and very difficult hunt. Keith signals for Henry to come join
us. He had been confused by the shooting since this is a second bull that we were unaware of. Walking
closer we can see that he is a huge old 5x6 with heavy beams broadly palmated near the tops. His body
is very big and dwarfs the average but respectable antlers. He is most definitely old and on the decline.
After the photos we begin the skinning and quartering process. As the quarters come off they are
quickly hung off nearby tree branches to cool and to keep them clean. Once that job is done we size up
how to do this in as few trips possible. Keith takes a rear quarter, Henry a front, and me the tenderloins
and extra gear. It’s a little over ¾ mile back to the truck but luckily mostly downhill. One more trip and
we have the all the quarters and the antlers back at the truck and are on our way out of the woods.
What a great hunt.
2004 Arizona Bull Elk - Late Season Rifle
This old 5x6 Arizona bull elk
sported declining antlers but
his body was huge - and
very good eating too!
sported declining antlers but
his body was huge - and
very good eating too!
Friend Henry Reyes and
Guide Keith Hubbard from
Arizona Hunting Adventures
with very heavy loads of
meat.
Guide Keith Hubbard from
Arizona Hunting Adventures
with very heavy loads of
meat.
My favorite part of the day,
the very last load!
the very last load!
The unusual dropped antler
made for an excellent
looking European mount.
made for an excellent
looking European mount.
Recovered .300 WSM 180g
Nosler AccuBond retained
67% of the original weight!
Nosler AccuBond retained
67% of the original weight!
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