azfisherman
New member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2009
- Messages
- 11
Well, I waited thru 9 rejections and finally got my archery tag for my home state in Arizona. Some how I got a unit I was very familar with but not one thought of as a premium unit, Unit 4B. Don't know what I was thinking when I put in for this unit but I was excited,none the less. Well a lot happened this year, I lost my job of 19 yrs,one month before the hunt, had to sell most everything important to me and would eventually move to Colorado. But not before my elk hunt!!!!! It took 8 days of the 14 day hunt for me to bag my first Arizona archery bull. Its not the biggest bull in Arizona, but as I said you don't expect that in this unit. My wife had just spent 7 days with me and had to return to work. She made the 3 1/2 hr drive back with a phone call from me at 6:45pm that I just watched my 7 x 7 elk hit the ground. I had simply stalked this bull and several others previously, with them doing all the calling and me, not making any calls at all. Two blown stalks and one good one in less than 24 hrs. Thats how fast things can change if you stick with it. It was a no moon night and I had 20 minutes or less to gut the elk and try to let him cool so I could return in the am to finish him. Somehow I got it done , gps'd the spot and walked out to my atv. It was a pitch black night with no moon, what a walk when the flashlight quit half way back. It was a long night with my wife showing up at almost midnight and we getting back to the elk at first light , before the heat started again. I now miss Arizona, as it is much different then most states, I miss the couse hunt I can't go on , as I have now moved. But I have a good memory of working hard, sticking with it, changing up the plan that wasn't working, and finding a way to be successful for my biggest elk to date. Sorry about the pictures but I was too late in the pm to take pictures and get done before dark.Viewer discretion advised.
