When you think of hunting bison, most folks think of an iconic, once-in-a-lifetime hunting experience out west. Ask most hunters who have drawn a House Rock Arizona Bison tag in Northern Arizona and you’ll likely hear about a mentally challenging two weeks in a blind that constricts your world down to looking at salt blocks out the window of your blind. My 14-year- old son, Thomas, and I are here to tell you that doesn’t have to be the case. Contrary to popular belief, sitting and waiting isn’t the only ticket to success. Thomas and I were able to use tracking techniques to crack the code and allow him the opportunity to harvest a giant old bison bull.
In 2015, I drew a bison tag for the House Rock herd on the Kaibab Plateau in Northern Arizona. Fortunately, I was able to track and harvest a mature bull on a tough spring hunt that had seen less than 50% success. Fast forward seven years and my youngest son, Thomas, was able to draw a limited opportunity tag in the same unit during the rut. Even though the rut is the optimal time to hunt a mature bull, it can still be a very limited opportunity hunt as the bison mainly stay in the Grand Canyon National Park and don’t venture too far across the boundary when they do leave.
The hunt just prior to Thomas’ ended with only 2 of the 12 tags being filled. Knowing the bison were not very active outside of the park, I was determined to find opportunities for my son in his quest for a mature bull by using techniques that would help him crack the code.
To find a starting location, Thomas and I did a scouting trip and talked with folks who had some intel to share with us. Dean, James, and Hunter were all very open to sharing info from past hunts. We were also able to connect with Eric Bachofner from Huntin’ Fool. He had the tag prior to Thomas’ hunt and graciously shared info on a big bull he had hunted.
Opening day found Thomas and me hunting a spot where Eric said the big bull’s tracks had been seen, while my brother, Joe, checked other spots further to the west. The first two days, we sat in a blind from sunup to sundown, spending a lot of time reviewing photos of bison to determine sex and shot placement. By day three, monsoons had arrived and there was no bison activity being reported by other hunters or my brother. With water now available in the park and grasses greening up quickly, we knew our technique had to change or we were in for four and a half more weeks of sitting with no activity.
On day three, we began slow hunting along the boundary, looking for sign of bison. In the location we were hunting, we knew we would not be seeing big herds of cows, calves, and bulls. If we found bison, it would most likely be a single or small group of bulls. Knowing this, we were still fine being in this area as it would avoid the stress of chasing limited spots with the other 11 hunters.
On day four, we found our first set of bull tracks. We were excited as the tracks indicated a big bull was indeed in the area. Over the next eight days, we would turn up this same bull’s tracks on seven different days. We began using the wind and shadows to mask our movement as we quietly crept in and out of the area each day. We began to focus on a small draw that the big old bull liked to use. Each morning, we would be set up a half hour before dark and wait to see if sunrise would bring a sighting and end each day sitting in a different location with the hopes of spotting the bull just before dark.
On day 10, our morning setup produced the same results, tracks from overnight but no sighting. Thomas and I had found the big bull’s fresh tracks as he hit a small puddle in his usual draw. Knowing exactly where he had wandered back into the park, we decided to back out and try the same area in the evening. By now, Thomas and I were feeling the sleep deprivation of 10 days of waking up at 3:15. After tracking this bull for eight days with not a single sighting and knowing there were not a lot of bison in this area, I suggested to Thomas that we try a different area for a few days. Thankfully, Thomas was persistent and wanted to stay on this bull. His exact words were, “Dad, we know there’s a giant bull here. We just have to stay on him until he makes a mistake. No other hunters are even seeing tracks right now, so let’s stay on him.” As a father and fellow hunter, those words made me feel very proud that my son had blossomed into a hunter who understands what it takes to be successful.
As we arrived at our big bull spot that evening, we parked our usual mile out and silently made our way in to the spot where we last saw the big bull’s tracks. Since the area we were hunting was primarily a large, open ponderosa pine forest, we decided to use some camo netting I carry in my pack to set up a small makeshift blind to hide our movement. We set Thomas up to look down the draw towards the bottom where the big bull had been crossing. At 16:45, Thomas and I settled into the shade of an aspen tree to wait and watch the draw for the next several hours. Fifteen minutes later, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the giant bull standing at the top of the hill 250 yards out, staring down at the mud puddle he had hit early that day. I quickly whispered to Thomas that the bull was coming. He got set up behind his rifle and started tracking the bull through his scope. Since we had already ranged everything, we knew he was already in shooting range, but since he was working directly towards us, Thomas had to wait for a better shot angle. The image of that giant bull and his full head of hair swaying as he trotted down the hill towards us will forever be burned into our memories. As the bull reached the mud hole and began searching for water, he turned, quartering towards us at 115 yards. I told Thomas, “There’s your shot, hit him.”
Thomas’ first shot staggered the bull backwards a few steps and then he spun 180 degrees. Thomas already had another round loaded and quickly hit the bull just behind the shoulder. I could see the bullet’s impact on the dusty hide of the bull and knew it was another perfect shot, but since he was still up, Thomas quickly chambered another round and put another perfect lung shot in him before the bull could make it 30 yards. This third shot stopped the bull, and as Thomas repositioned for another follow-up shot, we saw the bull start to sway. As he tipped over, the pent-up emotions of 10 days of tough hunting began to flow out of the both of us. Thomas was struggling to catch his breath while I was struggling to stay collected and provide fatherly advice. We made our way up to the fallen bull, and despite knowing we were on the track of a giant, the sheer size of this bull was still an absolute surprise. Knowing we had some daylight left and that we would need a lot of help, I left Thomas with his bull and ran back to the truck. I drove back to camp to call my brother and wife to let them know Thomas had finally caught up to his giant bull. I also stopped by the camp of our good friends, Hunter and Jared, to recruit their muscle and bison quartering experience to help us care for the bull.
What a father-son moment! It’s truly indescribable, but I hope so many more folks get the opportunity to experience what we shared. Using a tracking technique to crack the code and harvest our bulls is not popular with some groups. However, given the care to play the wind and stay undetected, we are both proof that the iconic bison hunting experience does not have to be measured in days or weeks spent looking out of a blind. You can still take in all that nature has to offer, from birding to catching horned toads, while working bison sign and developing your plan to crack the code.
Login