After successfully drawing a late rifle season bull tag, I was faced with either a DIY or guided hunt. With this most likely being my last Arizona elk tag, I opted for a guided hunt with Steve Chappell Guide Services. My guides, Tommy and Josh, were very familiar with the unit. They related that big bulls are hard to come by on this hunt but my expectations of a 330 - 340 were realistic and our chances were good. Immediately on opening day we were on to a good 6 x 6 but after a long stalk and nearing into position, he blew out of there when two other hunters suddenly broke over the top and dropped down into the area. Early afternoon found us glassing several bulls with one being an 8 x 7. It was game on again and another lung-searing and leg burning hike up the mountain to get into position. The nearest we could get was approx. 600 yds., a shot I was not fully comfortable with. With losing shooting light, I attempted two shots but failed to connect on either. I did not want to wound this bull and perhaps lose him so we backed out for the day. It was a quiet walk down the mountain and ride back to camp. My guides had performed as asked and I had failed to close the deal. Tommy and Josh repeatedly provided encouragement that evening and told me to shake it off; we were going back after him in the morning. The next day the bulls, had moved about 500 yds., but after planning the stalk, it was going to be a fairly close encounter in heavy cover. With Josh guiding us in from afar, Tommy and I found a small opening we could work from. It had to be a standing 197yd. shot on the tripod and the bull had to step into a small 10 ft. opening. I tried not to look at the antlers as his nose and brow tines first appeared, then the head and partial shoulder. Just one more step and he was clear of any branches and I squeezed the trigger and drove the round through both lungs. He ran about 15 yds. and then it was over as he came crashing down the mountain taking out small trees and came to a stop. In 
1-1/2 days of hunting I had went from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs and I was going home with a fine 355 Arizona bull.
1-1/2 days of hunting I had went from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs and I was going home with a fine 355 Arizona bull.
