Late Jarbidge Bull Tag!!

MSUcat61

Active Member
Apr 7, 2011
247
0
ABQ, NM
What makes me wonder, did they hit another bull but try and take this one, since it was the biggest?
I actually wondered the same thing. One of the raghorns in the bunch kinda looked like he was limping, but they adamantly denied shooting at the smaller bull when I asked them about it. The tagholder didn't seem incredibly experienced and I'm convinced she just flat out missed. If I hadn't of been there to kill the bull, they never would have even seen him again.
 

MSUcat61

Active Member
Apr 7, 2011
247
0
ABQ, NM
That's awesome. Great story and pictures. I'm surprised you didn't get a shoulder mount!
I like European mounts and my wife tolerates them a whole lot more than the "furry" mounts. If the bull had been bigger I would have done a shoulder mount for sure, but couldn't really justify the cost difference on this guy. Plus, I actually had to make the decision in the field and spending the extra time to cape him out with absolutely no help wasn't gonna happen at that point. Not to mention it was gonna be even more weight to the pack out.
 

velvetfvr

Veteran member
May 6, 2012
2,026
0
Nv
I actually wondered the same thing. One of the raghorns in the bunch kinda looked like he was limping, but they adamantly denied shooting at the smaller bull when I asked them about it. The tagholder didn't seem incredibly experienced and I'm convinced she just flat out missed. If I hadn't of been there to kill the bull, they never would have even seen him again.
Them trying to take your bull would me me skeptical. They probably saw you or went after the bull they thought or hit. Then they heard 3 more shots, went to see what you killed. Once they saw you with a nice but why not say they shot it? I wouldn't be surprised if this is what they tried to do. Regardless I would've told them to pound sand
 

Musket Man

Veteran member
Jul 20, 2011
6,457
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colfax, wa
Hell of a story and adventure! Sounds like those other hunters were just trying to claim your bull because he was the biggest bull in the herd and they missed whatever bull they shot at. As for the dying elk I say shoot it and put it out of its misery. No matter what species it is or if you have a tag IMO killing it is the right thing to do.
 

MSUcat61

Active Member
Apr 7, 2011
247
0
ABQ, NM
MSU I'd say you filled the adventure quota on this hunt. To me that is worth more than inches of antler. You got to hunt with your father, see hundreds of elk, witness the savagery of nature, the greediness of man (Twice), and have an up close encounter with an apex predator. YOu pushed your stock and yourself to the physical brink and survived.

That my friend, is a True Trophy Hunt Experience. Right up there with this CM Russell Painting.



You have lots to be proud of and this is the type story, I'd rather read than a 400 inch bull shot on opening morning.
I really appreciate your comments and think you're right. The experience itself is the measure of a hunt and not necessarily the end result.

I've always been a huge fan of CM Russell (I even owned a book of his paintings as a kid and convinced my folks to visit his museum in Great Falls) but I've never seen that particular painting. Thanks for sharing!
 

luckynv

Active Member
Aug 3, 2014
274
1
Henderson, Nv
Jimmy, great story!!! As I said before and many others have also stated you got a TROPHY of a lifetime!! And You did it by yourself. I hope to make it back in there again in my lifetime. Thanks and God bless
 

eastmont

Member
Feb 28, 2014
105
26
Reading the part about your solo pack out I relived a few of mine. The feeling once you get the final load to the truck is indescribable to anyone except for those that have done it. Congrats!
 

marcusvdk

Veteran member
Dec 13, 2011
5,397
1,662
Michigan
Amazing story and very well written. Thats a heck of an adventure you had and a great animal to go with it. Those hunters trying to take your bull is crazy i agree with the others. They missed theirs heard your shots and figured they would try to claim yours.
 

crzy_cntryby

Active Member
Dec 9, 2014
269
0
What an experience! Congrats on all of it. I love Jarbidge. Took my wife there for our honeymoon and again for an anniversary.
 

gonhunting247

Veteran member
Jan 21, 2014
1,216
797
Great work, must be a rewarding hunt after all that work! I'm trying to figure out if I should keep applying for Jarbridge or switch it up!