king' s outdoor world - Index

king' s outdoor world - Hunting Illustrated Magazine Dec/Jan 2008 - Coyote Crazy! - Index

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would be taking the next two days
off. This gave us the opportunity to
do a lot of glassing.
On the third night, I elected
to disobey doctor’s orders and I
headed up the mountain. Mike told
me about a bull I should come around
the mountain and check out. It was
the 8x9! I hurried as it got darker,
but there was not enough time to get
in for a shot.
That night Coby and I
decided that because there were
other people after the bull, we should
sleep on top of the mountain in the
truck. This proved to be the most
uncomfortable night of my life!
Another one of my hunting partners,
Greg, also came in that night to join
in on the fun and to help out if I ever
connected on an elk.
Sunday morning, Greg and
Adam set up on the west side of the
ridge. Mike was on the east-facing
side so that wherever the bull was
spotted I could drop off the respective
side and close the distance.
It was not long before Mike
hollered at me, “Three spikes.”
There were no other elk on his side.
I hollered at Greg and
Adam to fi nd out that they had a big
bull that they felt was a “shooter” on
their side. Coby and I took our shoes
off, lost the packs and slipped off the
side of the hill for what would be the
most grueling and exciting stalk I
have ever been on.
Coby and I saw the fi rst antlers
at around 100 yards. From that point
on, it took us about one hour to close
in for the shot. At around seventy
yards, the going got extremely slow.
HUNTING ILLUSTRATED.com
The timber we were in was dark and
noisy to move around in. I had cramps
in my thighs, my feet, even in my
backside. We crept along at a pace that
a snail would laugh at.
Finally, Coby ranged the bull
and hand gestured “54” to me. I began
to shake. The bull was raking his horns
and feeding, but the timber was too thick
for a shot. Just then, another one of the
three bulls that were present came up
to the big bull and they started rattling
their head gear together. This gave me
just the opportunity I needed to get into
shooting position. Coby ranged the bull
again - “48.” The bull turned a little
from quartering forward to broadside
and I let the arrow go through a small
opening I had picked out. The arrow
smacked hard and the bulls all bolted. I
turned to Coby to tell him it was a good
hit. He was still looking where the elk
were and all of a sudden he said, “He’s
rolling! He’s rolling!” Coby lost his
mind right there. We hugged so hard I
5BOWHUNTING5
thought that dude would break my
ribs.
After a while we had all
the guys around the bull for a photo
shoot. This hunt far exceeded the
expectations I had for this hunt.
My old friends and a few new
ones helped to pack my bull off
the mountain - Coby, Greg, Adam,
Mike, my tracker Shandon, Walter,
Cory, and Heath (Mr. Kodak).
When we got to the road
there was another local waiting there
to help. He hauled us and the elk
back to camp where he put a tape
to the bull. An unbelievable 398
6/8ths! The bull was around forty
inches bigger than my “settle for”
goal.
I would like to give a
very special thanks to my beautiful
wife. She put up with my one track
mind, putting off chores, forgetting
responsibilities and countless other
screw-ups. I love you Amy.
Hunter: Keith Johnson • Location: Southern Utah • Area: Public land • Guide: Self • Date: August 26, 2007 (my
birthday) • Time: 8:15 am • Days scouted: 10 • Days hunted: 4 • Weather: Cool & dry • Temperature: 60 o f • Moon:
99% waxing gibbous • Terrain: Heavy dark timber (30 o -45 o incline) • Camoufl age: King’s Mountain Shadow (best
there is) • Bow: Hoyt Trykon • Draw Weight: 70 lbs • Strings: Winners Choice • Site: trophy taker 7 pin sight • Rest:
Ripcord • Quiver: Alpine Archery 5 arrow • Arrows: Beman 400 • Nocks: Lumenok (sweet) • Broadheads: G5 Tekan
II • Silencers: Limbsaver • Release: Tru-fi re Judge (once you try it you’ll never go back!) • Spotting Scope: Swarovski
20x60 • Binoculars: Bushnell Legend • Range Finder: Bushnell • Footwear: North Face hiking shoes • Pack: Field line
fanny pack (Dwight Schuh) • ATV: Polaris 400