I had been trying to find an affordable Tule elk hunt for nearly five years. I’d even put a $1,000 deposit down with a senile booking agent only to have him abscond with the money. I had researched cow tags, but that option held little appeal to me. I wanted a bull but was gun-shy of the $20,000-$25,000 prices on landowner tags for mature bulls. I was finally linked up with Arrow-Five Outfitters who offered me a reasonably priced management bull option. I jumped at the chance.
Jim and Tina-Marie Schassfma of Arrow-Five advised that the rut would be full on in mid-August. I made flight arrangements for my fiancé, Elizabeth Keith, and me to San Francisco. We wanted to spend some fun time in San Francisco plus some time in Napa Valley. My good friend, Dave Trinchero of Western Oregon Outfitters, arranged some quality time at his family’s winery in St. Helena. Liz and I relaxed and toured a part of our great country that neither of us had explored before.
From there, we headed north to Six-Point Ranch east of Ukiah, California. Ranch Manager, Dylan Baca, greeted us, made us feel like family, and then gave us a short first afternoon tour of the ranch. It was 90 degrees, warm by New Hampshire standards, but by northern California summer standards, it had cooled considerably from the previous week, which had highs in excess of 100 degrees. I was dubious that the bulls would actually exhibit rutting behavior in such heat, but the facts verified a strong ongoing rut.
The pre-dawn alarm seemed early, but it just felt that way because we’d lingered over California wine after dinner. Dylan showed us the first management bull of the day just outside of the main ranch corrals. We then proceeded easterly along a two-track road less than a mile. We saw a fine bull with a harem on our right. Then, on the left, we saw a big bull making his way toward the harem. I couldn’t believe it when Dylan announced that this large, over mature 6x5 bull was management quality. Normally, I try to milk every moment of a hunt for every drop of excitement, but I also know a gift when I see one. One shot from the loaner .308 gave me the Tule bull of my dreams. The bull was an older animal with 11" bases and his rack was getting smaller. He had already contributed his share of genes to the herd. It was an honor to take such a magnificent specimen.
The hunt was hardly over. Jim Schassfma had encouraged me to buy a bear license. The ranch has something of a bear problem. I passed on three bears before killing a chocolate phase bear on a short stalk. Liz and I spent quality time on the ranch’s main pond, catching bass and bluegills. The trout were stuporous below the thermocline. Dylan called in numerous bulls, including two which should easily net over Boone and Crockett Club minimums. We culled coyotes, and I very nearly got a feral pig at last light on the last evening. I missed the swine at bow range simply because it wasn’t that pig’s day.
I brought home two 50-pound sacks of backstraps and sirloins. The whole trip was made enjoyable by our host, Dylan. He’s an uber mature young fellow on his way up in the hunt game. Dylan made the hunt look easier than it really was. I love a mixed bag hunt, and this hunt did not disappoint.
P.S. Six-Point Ranch managed to elude the large fires that ravaged northern California a month later. They’re open for business, and I highly recommend their game management policies and hospitality.
California Elk Hunting
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