Size Doesn't Always Matter

It's pretty easy to get wrapped up into the whole size/numbers game when it comes to hunting.  I know I've done it.  It's especially hard when you're in the guiding business.  But here's a little story that really put things into perspective, at least for me.

Last year, I met a 12 year old boy from Clarkston, Washington by the name of Spencer Clegg.  He had drawn an early rifle bull tag in unit 4B and traveled to Arizona to hunt with his Dad, Matt, and good friend Matt Toniolli.  They hunted hard and chased some good bulls.  With time winding down, they decided to contact us in hopes of some help.  With only a day and a half left in the hunt, we met in Heber at 3:30pm and headed out for the evening hunt.  While driving to our desired hunting area, we drove up on two bulls that were watering at a tank near the road.

We ditched the truck and circled around the tank to get the wind and try to get into position.  Within minutes we were on the backside of the tank and had two 150 yard shooting lanes despite the thick cedar trees.  Suddenly a heavy 6x7 bull walked through the trees heading away from the tank.  We could also see the smaller bull still watering at the tank.  I turned to Matt (Dad) and explained that the 6x7 that walked off was a good bull and that I believed we could get on him in the clearing he was walking towards.  Or we could wait out the 5 point that was watering and that he would walk thru our shooting lanes when leaving the tank.  Here is where "perspective" comes in.

Being the good Dad that he is, Matt turned to his 12 year old son and asked Spencer what he wanted to do.  Go after the big bull in hopes of getting on him again, or wait for the smaller bull to exit the tank???  Spencer's response was simple and direct.  "I just want to shoot a bull, Dad!"

Within minutes the 5 point finished drinking and walked into view.  Spencer made a perfect 135 yard shot and dropped the bull with one shot from his 270.  I will never forget the celebration that erupted once the dust cleared.  I don't know that I've ever seen a more excited 12 year old.  It's moments like this that we love the most about hunting with youth.

Congratulations to Spencer on his first bull elk.  And Congrats to Matt Clegg for allowing his son to make the decision that I wouldn't have made.  But I'm glad he did!!

  Spencer's AZ Bull



Proud Dad Matt Clegg and Spencer



Spencer Porter, Rusty Ulmer, Me, and the Cleggs



Weekend Antelope Scouting Trip

Well we braved 40 mph winds and extremely dusty conditions to spend a little time in my archery antelope unit this weekend with my two grandsons. I have been promising to take them camping this spring.  After a long night in a tent with the wind not slowing down at all the boys were all ready to hit the four wheelers for a long day of  looking at some new country and trying to find some bucks.

We put 20+ miles on the four wheelers finding pretty dry conditions every where we went and only seeing 10 antelope and two coyotes. But the good news is one of them is the buck Devin was trying to kill last year on his archery hunt. He knick named him the heart shaped buck because his horns almost touch at the tips. I will for sure be back in the area to get some photos and film of the heartshaped buck in the near future...... Stay tuned..

Treyden and the boys got him spotted

Deagan in Training... He sure spotted alot of white rocks

Eating some lunch

We only lost one of them

Deagan with the big find of the weekend

Picking Up Horns

Having been out 3 of the last 4 weekends with my son in-law Colby and son Devin we have logged several miles up and down and in and out of numerous canyons. We have been in units 1, 3C and 23 with alot of blisters and really finding out how out of shape I have became this winter.  We have had decent success finding close to 30 horns and had some great times horsing around with each other and enjoying the nice spring weather we have had. Enjoy some pictures from our past adventures.

Devin with a nice set

Getting ready for the pack out

Spotted this horn from a good distance

Can't wait for next year

Shed Hunting Trip

It's always been a hobby of ours to go horn hunting in the spring.  With antler prices up this year, it was just the motivation we needed to go tackle some rough, thick canyons in search of some brown, elk horns.  J Lewis, Andrew Crandell, and myself spent half a day sweating and swearing while fighting thru mansanita thickets and hiking in and out of canyons.  By the time we reached the truck, we had each found 4 antlers a piece.  Andrew found the only brown horn of the morning.

Although I didn't find a brown horn, I did pick up two of the biggest sheds I've ever found.  The first shed was a #2 (last years horn) that's in great shape.  I was so excited when I found it, that I didn't get a picture of the horn were it laid.  The horn measures 168" (mid 370 class bull).
The other big horn I found is at least 3 years old and was laying in the open (see pic).  It has an amazing top-end with a 26" G4 and 18" G5.  This horn scores 177" (low 390 class bull).

Maybe next time we will find some horns that we can sell to at least pay for our gas.  But I'm not parting with my big horns.  They already look good on my pot shelf.  Enjoy the pics.

J Lewis was the first to find bone

My first big antler of the day

Andrew's first horn

Too bad he's all broke up!

Andrew's brown 6 point.

How cool is that???

Probably the biggest horn I've ever found

Three tired dudes!  Not bad for a half day trip

400" or "Bust"

I'm sure most of us would take a "Bust" just to kill an incredible bull like either one of these AZ monsters.  Both bulls score just inches under the magical 400" mark and would be extremely hard for anyone to pass them up.  This first bull was taken while guiding for Chappell and Scott Guide Service and was harvested by good friend Mike Katich with a muzzleloader.  The bull had great thirds and an incredible split G-2 on his right side.  This hunt can be seen on the Extreme Bulls 5 video series produced by Chappell hunting productions.

This next incredible bull was harvested by Mike Baron of CA during the AZ early rifle hunt.  We chased this bull for 2 seasons in the exact same location before Mike Baron and Daniel took him on the third morning of the hunt.  We had nicknamed this bull "Caribou" due to the way his right side G-4 hooked forward like a bull caribou.  Two incredible bulls harvested by two great hunters.  Thanks for the memories guys...

Mike Katich's Monster AZ Muzzleloader Bull

Check out the incredible split G-2

Mike Baron with an AZ monarch

Mike Baron with the "Caribou Bull"

Sticks and Strings and Bugling Bulls

These three great AZ bulls were killed in 3A/3C by Larry Friedman of CA, Shane Hunt of AZ, and Ben Tenney of AZ.  The first two bulls scored over 360" which is quite an accomplishment with a stick and string.  Ben's bull was not far behind at a score of 350".  Archery elk hunting is by far our most anticipated hunts of the entire year. We all wait for that magical month that the bulls are bugling, the trees turn colors, and we get to travel the woods with family and friends.  Thanks guys for letting us be part of your hunts.

Larry Friedman with Mike and Daniel

Shane Hunt with a great AZ archery bull



Ben with his best archery bull.

Bulls, Bulls, and More Bulls...

Here are a few more bulls that were harvested with us over the last few years.  Chester Crandell, my father-in-law, was lucky enough to draw a muzzleloader tag with only 3 bonus points.  After missing the bull of his dreams, he was able to take this great 360" bull at only 18 yards.  Last year BTO had the opportunity to hunt with Butch Herman of AZ on his 4B early rifle bull hunt.  Butch made two amazing shots to put down this 357" beauty on opening morning.  Our good friend, Damon Hughes, was also fortunate to take a good bull with us last year in 23 North.  Damon smoked this bull at 40 yards on the second evening of the hunt.  Damon's bull scores 346" as is and should break 360" if not broke.  Congrats to all the guys and their great trophies.
More bulls to come........

Chester's 3C Smoke-Pole Bull

Butch's 4B Bull

Damon's 23N Bull