 One of Montana's leading
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2009 Archery Photos & Newsletter
(BOOK NOW FOR THE 2010
SEASON)
Bullseye Outfitting in Trout Creek, Montana |
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Bullseye 2009 Archery Update
Hello Friends,
Once again Archery Hunting this past fall was very
successful and full of excitement for our clients. The elk
population is still at a very high level so that bugling
action very good.
Along with this update you’ll find pictures and stories of
some of our successful hunters and their bulls from this
year. It will give you an idea of how your hunt could play
out if you booked a hunt with us. Hope you enjoy them.
One thing we would like to bring to your attention is that
we do have tree stand hunts available for the hunters that
are not interested in hiking the mountains searching for
bugling bulls. We can cater to an individual’s desire.
Hunting bull elk here in the mountains can be very physical.
However it can be a lot less demanding depending on how and
where we take you and each hunt will be set up for your
abilities, so remember we can set a hunt up for you even if
you are not in the best of shape.
Also the outfitter
sponsored licenses didn’t sell out this year so that means
there will be a reduction in the price for the next year
2010. This will help you out on the total cost of your hunt.
This is about all from
here. If you have any questions feel free to call or e-mail
us for further info. And we still have hunts available for
2010. It’s time to get a hunt lined up for next fall.
Good hunting,
Ben & Jeff
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Chris Simon, MI
Chris Simon of Michigan
came out with expectations of getting into some good bugling
action. Chris and his buddy Chad were in good shape and
ready to cover the country. The first bull that came in was
a nice 5X6 at 14 yards. However he was quartering towards
Chris, he held until he couldn’t hold any more, and the bull
bolted a short distance, but wouldn’t come back in. This
definitely fired up Chris and Chad. They would be a little
more experienced when the next bull came in.
The next day a couple of bulls were bugling in the distance
with the guide in the lead working towards the bull that was
bugling the most. Business was about to pick-up. It was
obvious the bull was coming. So, setting up in a good
location, Chris and Chad were both ready. It wasn’t long
before the bull, along with a couple of cows, were within
sight of the hunters. It took a little coaxing with the call
but the bull started working right up beside the hunters.
Chris took the first shot and hit the bull good. He went
right by Chad but he was moving so fast Chad didn’t shoot.
With the guide calling in the back ground the bull came
right back and that time Chad released his arrow and the
bull didn’t make it out of sight before he hit the ground.
What a morning! Chris had his first bull and another
exciting morning of bugling.
Later in the week Chad had an opportunity, but the arrow hit
an unseen twig and deflected low. All in all it was a great
week of hunting, and we’re looking forward to seeing these
guys down the road.
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Gabe Knapp
Gabe Knapp
graduated high school with his sights on a western elk hunt
of his choice,
with his father Steve as his sponsor and
camera man.
After talking with the two of them at the Illinois Deer and
Turkey Show, an archery elk hunt was decided on and their
trip was scheduled for September during the rut.
The first couple of days bulls were heard in
the distance
responding to the call, but they were not coming on the run.
However, each day the action kept getting closer. One
morning a couple of bulls were raising quite a commotion
right in front of us before they got in a big fight,. That
ended the party and they both went their own way. Lots of
excitement! That is the fun part of archery hunting
around here.
The morning Gabe arrowed his bull. 7 different bulls were
heard in the canyon where we were hunting that day. However
the wind wasn’t as steady as they would have preferred. A
couple of different bulls came in, but the swirling wind let
the bulls know something was up before getting in range.
Eventually,
after following a bugling bull for about a mile across a
game trail, the guide, Gabe and Steve decided to eat a
sandwich and take a little break and also see what the
bull’s next move was going to be. As it turned out, with the
guide not calling while eating, the bull got curious and
started coming back to see where the intruder was. He was
coming back to see where the intruder was. He was coming
back on the trail. The guy’s were sitting in, so Gabe moved
ahead on the game trail to get in position for a shot. The
bull kept coming, and the closer he got, the more he was
bugling. When Gabe could see the bull coming he came to full
draw. The bull kept coming until 26 paces away. The bull
stopped and knew something wasn’t quite right but couldn’t
distinguish what Gabe was. As he slowly turned to leave, one
cow call stopped him perfect and Gabe let the arrow go. He
hit the bull good and he raced down the mountain.
Gabe knew it was a good hit, so while waiting they were
listening for a death moan from the canyon below. It took a
little while, but Steve heard the moan. After figuring where
it came from as good as possible, they headed down to locate
the bull. It took a couple of passes but Steve spotted the
dead bull. It turned out to be a lot bigger bull than was
expected.
There was a
lot of back slapping going on as they admired Gabe’s
beautiful 7X8. What a bull.
A great bull for a nice young man.
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Jerry
Over the years our archery elk have all been taken on the
ground while calling. We have been getting feedback from our
clients about tree stand hunting. They have buddies who
could stand hunt but not hike the mountains each day.
This
year we put out a couple stands after our first groups had
left. We put them on wallows that were getting used. It
didn’t take long to see what the result would be. Jerry took
a nice six X six.
The
second morning on stand the bull was bugling his way down a
game trail on his approach to the wallow. Jerry had a nice
broadside shot and watched the bull go down. Next year we
plan to do more stand hunting and expect good results.
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Wade Prasil
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Cedar Rapids, IA
Two years ago, Wade
Prasil came out on a bow hunt with us and took home a nice
5X5 bull. Since Wade shot his bull on the first day of his
hunt he decided he needed to try againand hold out for a bigger bull.
On the first day of his hunt this year a very large bull was
called into 10 yards, but the bull never gave Wade a
broadside shot. Another 6X6 came in later in the day with no
shot possible. Other bulls were heard bugling in the area so
Wade’s guide decided to give the area a try in a couple
days.
Things
didn’t go quite as planned though. Before they could return,
Wade shot a real nice six point in another area.
The day
started like most mornings walking out a trail in the dark,
trying to get a bull to answer the call. A couple bulls were
bugling across a canyon so Wade and guide started in their
direction. After going over a couple ridges they found the
bull that they were looking for. The bull answered from a
couple hundred yards and started coming.
Wade got set up and
in a very short time the bull was in site. The guide gave a
bugle to give the bull the direction and here he came. Wade shot
him at 16 yards. The bull went down after 80 yards
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Bob Onica,
Keego Harbor, MI
For those
of you who have read our hunting reports, you should
recognize Bob Onica. He has hunted with us a dozen times
with five of those trips being with a bow. He has taken a
bull elk on each of those bow hunts. This year he was trying
to go 6 for 6 and keep his streak alive.
One day three of Bob’s hunt a bull bugled shortly after
daylight. The bull had answered the guide but come in
downwind. When things don’t work out we just go over the
next ridge and it’s a new game. A bull was bugling across
the next canyon so Bob and guide started going its
direction. Part way down the hill we ran into another group
of elk. They were feeding in dark timber unaware we were
close. With one bugle from Bob’s guide the herd bull
answered only 60 yards away. Bob knows these kind of
situations can happen fast and he was ready. The bull came
at Bob head on and turned broadside at around 15 yards. Bob
was at full draw and let him have it through both lungs. Bob
collected a nice 6X6 on his sixth hunt.
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