How often does your hunt work out exactly as planned? How often do you draw these seemingly impossible tags? I’m here to tell you that lightning does strike. I had been applying for all species in Utah as a non-resident for years. My good friend, Kelvin, had drawn an elk hunt in Utah a few years back. As we hunt together often, I figured if I ever drew that his knowledge of that unit and hunt would be invaluable. When Utah added new hunt options in 2023, I picked one of the new hunt dates thinking it could fit my schedule well. When draw results were released, I certainly did not believe it. I had gotten very, very lucky. With three non-resident any bull tags, I was the one lucky random draw with far less points than required for this hunt. Clear the October schedule, I was headed to Utah.
Thankfully, Kelvin was more than happy to help and come along. I also spoke with quite a few previous Huntin’ Fool tag holders and narrowed down my plans. I had not realized my October hunt dates coincided with the annual spike and cow hunt in that unit when I applied. It was definitely a gut check to my expectations. After a lot of online research and navigating onXmaps, we took a weekend trip in June to check out the unit. Just driving in, we were seeing plenty of elk and deer along the main roads. It was pretty uplifting. We set camp, explored the unit, and put glass on a lot of wildlife. It was a fun recon trip, and it helped us make a general plan for the hunt. I was still pretty worried about all the added pressure of the spike and cow hunters. I noted a lot of good areas that were easily accessible, but also checked out a few hard to access spots that would get me far from any roads. The general plans were set.
After months of waiting, the season finally rolled around. Kelvin and another friend, Kris, both were coming along. Living in Colorado, I am used to hunting the backcountry timber and burning boot leather with my camp on my back. This hunt was much different. It was mostly open glassing country with a well-established road system. Kris and Kelvin brought every toy a hunter could want. A Polaris Ranger, wall tent, heater, grill, cots, generator, and freezer. We were hunting in style! We chose to show up a couple days early to try and locate target bulls. We saw one decent bull the first evening on the long drive in and then set up camp. That left one day to find a better bull and hopefully make a plan A, plan B, plan C, and on down the line. At first light the next day, we located a better bull pushing some cows. I definitely would be happy with him, plan A. We figured we could keep searching and hopefully put him to bed in the evening since he was only a few minutes’ drive from camp. However, the bulk of the day was uneventful. We did find one more area with some decent sign but had not seen any more elk.
We returned to where we saw the shooter bull that evening, and he was thankfully still following the playbook. After putting him to bed, we hiked back to the vehicle. Here’s where things got interesting. I happened to glance behind us as I climbed into the Ranger and thought I noticed movement on a further hillside. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, guys. There’s more elk out there. Check the further ridge. Oh man, the bull pushing that herd is way bigger!” I couldn’t believe what I was saying. A bigger herd with a no brainer shooter bull had crept out just before dark one ridge further than where we had been glassing. New plan A. We were even able to get some pictures and video of him through the spotting scope. I was ecstatic, but that enthusiasm was quickly put in check as we passed a group of hunters driving out to that same glassing knob in the last minutes of light. Over dinner, we discussed the best route in for the next morning. I knew it was going to be hard to sleep.
We awoke for opening morning with a well-laid plan. Kelvin would head to the glassing knob to keep eyes on both bulls, watching both ridges where the elk had been the night before. Kris and I left earlier on the Ranger and parked at the head of the canyon that the plan A bull was in. We quickly descended into the canyon and fought our way through the oak brush via headlamp and moonlight. It was taking us longer than expected to navigate through the canyon and then sidehill to get into position. All along the way, I was worried our thermals would drift too close to the elk. The plan was to position ourselves for a roughly 300-yard cross canyon vantage from where we had seen them emerge from timber the night before. If they followed the same bedding pattern and elevation line, our thermals would stay below them. Cutting the distance, we began to hear bugles and were racing the dawn light to get into position. I had pinned both the elk and our target location on onX the night before. We barely made it there before being exposed by the morning light and found an opening to set up.
As the light revealed the canyon, elk slowly appeared with the emerging dawn. Cows were spread out high on the hillside and patterning down in our direction. The bull was losing his mind trying to keep them together. Dashing from one group to another, bugling and raking, his cows only saw him as an annoyance. As cows would draw near us, he would break in our direction and I would get ready for a shot, only to have him turn and chase cows further away. It was a nerve-racking hour of near shot opportunities as he would sheep dog all over the hillside, checking his cows. At one point, he came to 300 yards, and I was bearing down on the trigger when he turned, only to run off again. I was really kicking myself for not being faster on the shot. I kept asking Kris if I should shoot at the longer distances. Thankfully, he kept very calm and continued to assure me the bull would eventually come closer and stay on pattern to the bedding area. However, this was a big bull in a visible location. Thinking other hunters had to be creeping in or a cow would eventually catch our scent, my anxiety only grew with time.
Two distant cows soon dropped into some thicker cover lower in the canyon than we could see. When the bull headed their way and followed suit, my heart sank. Tensity grew as we waited, wishing he would reappear to chase down any of the cows on the hillside we could still see. Then, a loud, grumbly bugle erupted. Kris exclaimed, “He’s right below us!” He was close and directly under us in the canyon bottom where we could not see. After an edgy hour of waiting and watching, it all happened so fast. Within a few seconds of that bugle, the bull emerged into view at only 160 yards. Autopilot took over. On rifle, target acquired, I rapidly whispered, “Shooting now.”
The shot rang out and quickly reported that welcomed “Thwap!” every hunter hopes for. It was a solid hit, and the bull was dead on his feet. He stumbled a few yards and stood broadside, partially blocked by a standing dead tree. I whispered to Kris, “Should I hit him again?” He had barely replied when the gun barked a second time. Lacing the shot as tight as I could, the bull was anchored to the bottom of the canyon.
The hunt was over. I could not believe that it was opening day, within an hour of light, and I had just taken my biggest bull. And it’s a good thing because we certainly witnessed the overlapping pressure of the spike and cow hunts over the course of the two-day pack out. We connected with Kelvin, and he confirmed another group of hunters had been moving in when the shots rang. He was able to watch the whole show and both herds with shooter bulls the whole time.
Thanks goes to Kelvin and Kris for coming along, providing their knowledge, gear, and backs to make the hunt a success. I could not have done it without them. I sure hope I can draw an elk hunt in Utah again. What a fantastic hunt.
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